With over a decade of experience in the realm of workers' compensation law, Angela M. Pugliese has built a reputation for her extensive knowledge of workers' compensation law, including appellate procedures, effectively managing claims and guiding clients through every stage of the process.

She has the unique advantage of having experience in both counseling and defending employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators across New York State, and passionately advocated for injured workers, ensuring their rights are protected and their voices are heard.

She has defended clients in a diverse array of workers' compensation claims, including those related to toxic exposures and soft tissue injuries. Her experience encompasses appeals, trials, depositions, and rebuttals before the WCB and the New York State Appellate Division, where her strategic approach has consistently yielded favorable outcomes. In her current role, Angela represents claimants by expertly navigating the complexities of the claims process.

She graduated summa cum laude from Touro Law Center in 2014, where she actively participated in various legal programs, including the Moot Court Honors Board, where she served as Program Editor, awarded the Member of Distinction Editorial Award, a quarter-finalist in the National Juvenile Law Moot Court Competition and received the Shirley and Murray Rubenstein Clinician of the Year Award in 2014. She was named Touro Law Center’s Alumni of the Year in 2025 and awarded the Law School Service Award. As a result, she received a Proclamation from the office of the Suffolk County Executive recognizing her unwavering commitment to both the legal profession and Touro.

Through her dedication, leadership and generosity, she has proven herself as a skilled attorney and tireless advocate, for those she serves. Her expertise and work within the legal industry are matched by her deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals.

Outside of work, Angela is a proud mom of three girls, an avid reader, and a self-proclaimed current-events junkie who can never resist a good true-crime deep dive or binge-worthy documentary series. When she's not practicing law, you will likely find her behind the wheel of my “mom taxi,” en route to the softball field or dance studio, or with her nose buried in a compelling autobiography or non-fiction book.

She also believe deeply in giving back to the community that helped shape her own professional journey and successes. Her connection to the Touro Law Center Moot Court Honors Board has continued long after graduation through her involvement with Touro’s National Moot Court Competition, a competition she founded and established during her time as a student. Now entering its 13th year, she remains actively involved and takes great pride in helping carry forward a program that provides future attorneys with the opportunity to strengthen their advocacy skills, challenge themselves, and gain the practical experience that helps prepare them for the realities of practicing law.

At the end of the day, however, she is passionate about slowing down and appreciating the little moments that life has to offer. She is happiest when she's sharing deeply rooted family traditions with my daughters, enjoying a cozy night on the couch with a board game and good company, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the life unfolding around her. In a world that often feels like it is constantly moving faster, Angela tries to remain grounded in the things that matter most: family, connection, tradition, and the small moments that, ultimately, become the ones we remember most.

IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE

- Injured workers with soft tissue, significant or complex workplace injuries, particularly cases involving minimal or substantial lost time, surgery, permanent disability, or disputed causation.

- Workers whose claims involve workplace injuries that have been denied or controverted, including cases involving disputed accident, notice, causal relationship, or employment issues.

- Workers with serious orthopedic injuries, including neck, back, shoulder, knee, hip, and other musculoskeletal injuries requiring surgery, injections, extensive treatment, or resulting in permanent limitations.

- Workers suffering from repetitive-use or occupational injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, joint injuries, degenerative conditions aggravated by work, and other occupational diseases.

- Workers with consequential injuries or medical conditions arising from an established workers’ compensation injury.

- Workers facing termination or reduction of workers’ compensation benefits, including disputes concerning permanency, loss of wage-earning capacity, or work capacity.

- Workers with permanent disabilities who may be entitled to a schedule loss of use or classification award.

- Workers who have been found partially or totally disabled and need assistance pursuing or protecting their workers’ compensation benefits.

- Workers who have exhausted their workers’ compensation medical treatment or are having difficulty obtaining authorization for necessary treatment, surgery, testing, or medication.

- Workers who have been advised to return to work despite significant ongoing restrictions or who are unable to perform their prior job duties.

- Workers who may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a potential claim for Social Security Disability benefits.

- Individuals applying for or appealing a denial of Social Security Disability benefits, particularly those whose disability is supported by significant medical evidence and work-related limitations.

- Disabled public employees and other workers with disability-pension issues, including applications, denials, disputes concerning disability status, and questions regarding eligibility or benefits.

- Clients with overlapping workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, and disability-pension issues, where coordination of the different benefit systems is particularly important.

- Referrals from attorneys who do not regularly practice workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, or disability-pension law and need a trusted attorney to take over or co-counsel on the matter.

- Cases involving multiple employers, insurers, or complicated employment histories where responsibility for the injury or benefits is disputed.

- Older or long-term injured workers whose work-related disability has significantly affected their ability to remain employed.

- Workers who are unsure whether they have a viable workers’ compensation claim and need an evaluation of their rights before accepting a settlement or abandoning a claim.

- Workers who have been injured at work and their employers do not carry the required coverage.

- An injured worker with a significant injury who is unable to return to their prior occupation and may have entitlement to workers’ compensation permanency benefits, Social Security Disability, and/or a disability pension.