Attorney Profiles

John H. Fisher is a member of the law firm of Powers & Santola, LLP.

John graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government in 1988 and graduated from Notre Dame Law School in1991. John is admitted to practice law in New York, Connecticut and Illinois.  After law school, John had his own solo practice in Kingston, New York for two years, during which he engaged in general practice with an emphasis on real estate transactions. John was introduced to personal injury law by accident.

In 1993, a 30-year old African-American male came to John for advice concerning a bus accident. The young man sustained a significant brain injury when he was hit by a motorcycle after being let off a bus into oncoming traffic at a busy intersection. Having never handled a personal injury case, John was reluctant to take the case and wanted to refer the case to a personal injury lawyer. However, the young man had been to almost every lawyer in town and no one would take his case. John accepted the case.

John soon discovered an area of law that he would find intriguing, intellectually challenging, and in many ways fascinating from a medical and legal perspective. However, most significant to John was the gratification of helping a disabled young man, who would never be able to work again and suffered from cognitive deficits that few appreciated or understood. The case consumed John's thoughts and efforts until it settled two years later during mid-trial.

In 1994, John took an associate's position with the law firm of Tabner and Ryan in Albany, where he practiced for three years with an emphasis on real estate, commercial litigation, municipal law and personal injury. While John enjoyed the general practice of law, he realized that the only thing that he really loved was the representation of seriously injured persons in accident and medical malpractice cases. John hoped to dedicate all of his time to this pursuit.

In 1996, John was able to realize this goal when he joined Powers & Santola, LLP. Since 1996, John had dedicated all of his time to the representation of seriously injured persons. While the cases have ranged from brain damaged infants to paralyzed senior citizens, the one thing that does not change is the gratification that John gets from making a difference in the lives of his clients. To John, the practice of law is more than simply a way to earn a living, but the chance to make a lasting difference for his clients.

John is a member of various professional organizations, including the
Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and has lectured to paralegals, law students and civic organizations on numerous occasions. John particularly enjoys sharing his experiences as a personal injury lawyer with college and law students.

John was a Trustee of John A. Coleman Catholic High School, an independent, private high school in Kingston, New York, where he is still active in fundraising efforts. John participates in recruiting events for Notre Dame Law School and was the Chairperson of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Albany County Bar Association from 1997 through 2000.

Away from work, John enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, their three children, Alek, Tim and Liliya, and his bichon frise, Oscar.

Hobbies: Enjoys watching football, basketball, and baseball, especially the Chicago Bears and Notre Dame football. Played inter-hall football at Notre Dame. Enjoys history, particularly the American Civil War and Russian and Soviet history.  Speaks some German, but not fluent. Plays piano.