John Murad, of Jamesville, named to the SUNY Upstate Medical University Council

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — John L. Murad Jr., a partner with the Syracuse law firm Hancock & Estabrook LLP, has been appointed by the governor's office to serve on the Upstate Medical University Council.

The Upstate Medical University Council is an advisory board to SUNY Upstate President David R. Smith, M.D.

Murad's legal expertise includes the defense of product liability, commercial and environmental litigation.

He became a partner at Hancock & Estabrook in 1991; he joined the firm as an associate attorney in 1983, and has served on the firm's Executive Committee and as its Litigation Department chair.

Murad holds memberships in numerous law associations, most notably as fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the International Association of Defense and Corporate Counsel.

Murad was selected by his peers from Upstate New York for inclusion on the list of New York's "Super Lawyers" in the category of general litigation. The list is limited to the top 5 percent of practitioners in each category.

Murad has been active in numerous community organizations, including the local chapter of the American Red Cross, serving as its board chair, and Onondaga County Historical Association.

Murad received his undergraduate degree from Hamilton College in 1980 and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983.

Murad resides in Jamesville, with his wife, Renee James, and their three children, Matthew, Bess and Patrick.