STEPHAN SKOUFALOS (Senior Member):  AV rated litigation attorney  with over 25 years of experience, founded Skoufalos LLC in 2006.  Mr. Skoufalos attended New York University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980.  He attended the University of Bridgeport, School of Law from which he graduated in 1984 with a Juris Doctor degree.  At the University of Bridgeport, Mr. Skoufalos was the President of the school’s highly successful Moot Court Board.  Mr. Skoufalos was admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New York in 1985 and is admitted to practice in the Federal District Courts of the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the District of Connecticut, and the Second, Third and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. His experience includes the handling of complex litigation arising from large casualties, commodities trading and marine insurance coverage and defense cases.  He has authored articles on the carriage of goods by sea, issues impacting brokers and intermediaries, intermodal transportation issues, environmental claims handling and liabilities arising from
intentional torts on ships. Mr. Skoufalos is a member of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association and the Connecticut Maritime Association.  He was appointed to the Town of Greenwich Inland Wetlands Agency in 2006.  Mr. Skoufalos was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is fluent in the Greek language.

E-Mail: stephan.skoufalos@skoufalos.com


JULIA PARIDIS (Associate):  Ms. Paridis graduated cum laude from Sacred Heart University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Spanish.  Ms. Paridis was Secretary/Treasurer of Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society) in 2003 through 2004.  She was also a member of Pi Sigma Iota (Modern Foreign Language Honor Society).  Ms. Paridis graduated from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2007 with a Juris Doctor.  Ms. Paridis is admitted to practice before the courts of Connecticut and New York and is admitted to practice in the Federal District Courts of the Southern Districts of New York and Connecticut.  Ms. Paridis has actively litigated claims in New York and Connecticut federal and state courts in the areas of immigration, personal injury, employment, maritime and general business law. She was born in Bronx, New York and is fluent in the Greek and Spanish languages.

E-Mail: julia.paridis@skoufalos.com

PETER G. DRAKOS (Of Counsel):  Peter G. Drakos is admitted to practice in the states of New York and Connecticut, focusing in the area of maritime law.  He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1978, and Gonzaga University School of Law, cum laude, in 1983.  He practiced with the law firms of Cardillo & Corbett (1983 - 2000), Healy & Baillie LLP (2001 - 2006), and Blank Rome LLP (2007 - 2008).  During his 26 years of practice in the field of maritime law, he has concentrated in the areas of charter party and bill of lading law, in rem procedures, ship sale and purchase, ship finance and registration.  He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, a past Vice-Chairman of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee of the American Bar Assocation (International Law Section), and immediate past President of the Connecticut Maritime Association.         

E-Mail: peter.drakos@skoufalos.com

NICHOLAS G. KARAMBELAS (Of Counsel):  Mr. Karambelas graduated cum laude from Union College in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Comparative Literature.  He graduated from Fordham University School of Law with a Juris Doctor in May 1978.  Mr. Karambelas received a Masters Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, School fo International and Public Affairs, in 1979.  He is admitted to practice before the courts of New York and Maryland, the District Courts of the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the District Court of the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Throughout his practice, Mr. Karambelas has counseled limited liability companies, corporations and partnerships in formulating business plans emphasizing compliance with state and Federal laws and regulations, financing, internal structure/organization and labor matters.  He has negotiated and drafted commercial contracts, leases and government contracts, leases, and real property sales documents.  Mr. Karambelas has drafted shareholder agreements, operating agreements, partnership agreements and business trust governing instruments and has developed succession plans for business owners.  He served as counsel to restaurant franchisors drafting franchise agreements, real property and equipment leases, security agreements and Franchise Offering Circulars for registration under state and federal laws.  Mr. Karambelas analyzed and advised on all aspects of state and federal franchising regulation.  He advised businesses on international export trade; drafted international sales and financing agreements; counseled U.S. businesses on exporting to, investing in and franchising in the European Union, Greece, Cyprus and the Middle East.  He is experienced in motions practice and trials in U.S. District Courts for D.C. and New York and D.C. Superior Court.  His cases involve international human rights, insider trading by stock brokers, insurance broker liability, franchise agreements, commercial contracts, injunctions, unfair labor practice, standby letters of credit and wrongful death.  Mr. Karambelas has experience litigating government contracts cases involving construction and services before the D.C. Department of Administrative Services and the D.C. Contract Appeals Board and litigates cases under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.  Mr. Karambelas drafted briefs and orally argued civil and criminal appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeal, D.C. Court of Appeals, and Appellate Courts of New York.  Mr. Karambelas has published several treatises and articles on the foregoing area of law, including International Business Transactionss published by West Group in 2008.                                          

E-Mail: nick@ngklaw.com