logo

Biographical Information

Maria has litigated cases in all Capital Region courts that hear family law and divorce matters. After nearly two decades of practice, Maria offers extensive experience in the highly specialized areas of matrimonial law including agreements (prenuptial, postnuptial, and separation), custody and visitation, equitable distribution, spouse and child support evaluations, enforcement and modification proceedings, awards of counsel fees and expert fees. Maria also offers strategic, goal oriented representation in a variety of other practice areas, among them are matters involving all aspects of civil litigation, employment law, real estate transactions, and trusts and estates.

Maria has been featured as a speaker for the National Business Institute (NBI) and Lorman Education Services on a variety of topics, including civil litigation, and family and divorce law. She is an active member of the Albany County and New York State bar associations and is fluent in Italian.

Maria received the AV Preeminent designation signifying that she has been rated by judges and fellow attorneys as having the highest possible rating for legal abilities and ethical standards. The rating is awarded to less than five percent of all attorneys across the United States, and is the highest rating offered by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Maria also recently earned the prestigious “Client Distinction Award” from Martindale-Hubbell®. This award was made possible by her clients who completed a survey and rated her exceptional in the areas of Communication Ability, Responsiveness, Quality of Service, Value for Money.

Maria earned a Client Review Rating Score of 4.5 or higher on a scale of 1-5. Less than 4% of the 900,000+ attorneys listed on martindale.com and lawyers.com have been accorded this Martindale-Hubbell honor of distinction. This award serves as a point of reference which tells clients and potential clients, that others have confidence in her work. The AV Preeminent and Client Distinction Award rating are nationally-recognized acknowledgments of an attorney’s accomplishments and skills, and is known to position her among the elite practitioners in the country.

Maria was recently listed with the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Women Lawyers, which is only awarded to those Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer review rated women that offer top-quality representation in a given practice area. Only those women lawyers that have achieved the AV peer rating and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field are included.

Maria has been recognized by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, which is an organization devoted to recognizing the top family law attorneys in the nation. The NAFLA awards the best family law attorneys in each state with the most prestigious honor of being named “TOP 10”. Less than 1% of attorneys make the list. The attorneys that make the list are those that have demonstrated an extraordinary amount of knowledge, skill, experience, expertise and success in the practice of family law.

Super Lawyers has recognized Maria as among the top 5% of attorneys in New York State in 2010 through 2014.

Maria has also been recognized with a 10.0 or “Superb” rating from the Attorney rating site AVVO.com. The AVVO site which evaluates lawyers based on favorable client and peer reviews and recommendations has recognized Maria with the highest possible rating. One of the most important considerations when evaluating an attoney is the level of respect that attorney has earned in the eyes of their clients and other attorneys in the community. The perfect rating is a reflection of Maria’s commitment to achieving the best possible result for her divorce and family law clients.

Maria has been selected by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys as being one of the “10 Best” Attorneys for the State of New York. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys recognizes excellence of practitioners in the field. This is an exclusive list of the “10 Best” Attorneys for New York for Client Satisfcation in the practivce area of Family Law. This is a significant achievement.

Admission Dates & Jurisdictions

1994 State of New York

1994 State of New Jersey

1993 State of North Carolina

1992 State of Florida

Education

State University of New Yor at Albany – Bachelor of Arts Degree 1987

St. Thomas University School of Law – Juris Doctor 1990

University of Miami – Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M) 1992

Professional Experience

Attorney/Owner at Tebano & Associates, PLLC 2010–present
Partner at Tully Rinckey, PLLC 2009–2010
Partner at Ainsworth Sullivan Tracy & Knauf 1994–2009

Honors & Awards

“10 Best” American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 2014
SuperLawyers Thomson Reuters 2014
Top 10 The National Academy of Family Law Attorneys 2014
2014 Top Contributor AVVO 2014
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers Martindale-Hubbell 2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated Martindale-Hubbell 2014
Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters 2013
Superb Rating AVVO 2013
AV Preiminent Rating Martindale Hubbell 2013
Client Distinction Award Matindale Hubbell 2013
2013 Top Contributor AVVO 2013
Clients Choice Award AVVO 2012
2012 Top Contributor AVVO 2012
Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters 2012
Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters 2011
Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters 2010

Professional Associations

Colonie Chamber of Commerce

Speaking Engagements

Damages in Personal Injury Continuing Legal Education 2012
Family Law A-Z Continuing Legal Education 2012
The Mechanics of New York Civil Procedure Continuing Legal Education 2011
Debt Collection and Judgment Enforcement Continuing Legal Education 2010
Effective Case Presentation at Trial Continuing Legal Education 2010
New York Civil Procedure Continuing Legal Education 2010

Publications

Family Law A-Z National Business Institute Seminar 2012
Damages in Personal Injury National Business Institute Seminar 2012
The Mechanics of New York Civil Procedure National Business Institute Seminar 2011
New York Civil Procedure National Business Institute Seminar 2010
Effective Case Presentation at Trial National Business Institute Seminar 2010
Debt Collection and Judgment Enforcement Lorman Education Services publication 2010
Military Divorce National Business Institute Seminar 2009
Failure to Properly Manage Personal Affairs After a Divorce National Business Institute Seminar 2008