Having appeared on over a hundred cases venued in local, state, or federal court in Upstate New York, Alishah’s practice focuses on representing those wrongly accused and those impacted by the actions of government institutions.
Alishah is known for never settling for less than the best possible outcome for her clients. She not only combs through the case file to explore all possible defenses but thoroughly discusses the case with each client to pursue creative strategies often missed by others. In addition, Alishah maintains constant communication with her clients to incorporate their goals, concerns, and values when resolving their matters.
Alishah is fluent in Spanish and has represented Spanish-speaking clients throughout New York State in civil rights litigation actions and state and federal criminal cases.
In addition to Alishah’s criminal defense practice, she serves a critical role in Hacker Murphy, LLP’s civil rights litigation practice. She participates in all phases of litigation from drafting pleadings, handling court conferences, preparing demands, reviewing discovery, taking depositions, and drafting oppositions to motions to dismiss or for summary judgment. In 2025, she has committed to trying a pro bono civil rights litigation case on behalf of a pro se plaintiff in federal court after she completed the trial advocacy program sponsored by the Northern District of New York Federal Bar Association.
Originally from Long Island, Alishah joined the firm as a law clerk during her second year at Albany Law School and accepted an associate attorney position upon passing the bar immediately following law school. As a law student, Alishah worked as a judicial clerk in Supreme Court, Nassau County and served on the Executive Board of the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology.
In addition to practicing law, Alishah is an accomplished equestrian and enjoys spending her free time outdoors and traveling. She credits her mother and father, who were born in Colombia and Tanzania, respectively, with her love of learning about new cultures.
- Obtained a non-aggravated felony disposition for a legally permanent resident to avoid deportation consequences in a federal criminal case, allowing him to receive a heart and lung double transplant that saved his life
- Secured a $275,000 settlement on behalf of a client injured by police in his home, which required surgery and post-surgical rehabilitation
- Negotiated an attempted murder charge to a non-criminal violation charge resulting in a sealed record
- Negotiated a global resolution in six different jurisdictions to non-criminal violations where the original charges included several felony grand larceny and petit larceny counts, resulting in seal records in all matters while preserving client’s good name
- Obtained a dismissal on all DWI-related charges in Albany County
- Secured several dismissals of Harassment in the Second-Degree charges in several jurisdictions on behalf of a journalist on First Amendment grounds
- Argued appeal of post-conviction motion for conviction of felony sex crimes at the Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department
- Negotiated favorable plea bargains for several clients with multiple DWI-related convictions, allowing them to retain their ability to drive
- Successfully avoided a disposition that would prevent a Canadian client from entering the United States, where the initial charges involved serious domestic violence-related counts
- 2024 United States District Court, Northern District of New York Trial Advocacy Program
- Donna Jo Moorse Negotiations Competition Finalist
- Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, Albany Law School
- Albany Law School Journal of Science and Technology
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and International Relations, State University of New York at Geneseo
- State of New York
- United States District Court, Northern District of New York
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
- NDNY Federal Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Albany County Bar Association
- State and Federal Criminal Defense
- Civil Rights Litigation
- Professional Licensing Defense