About Paul Vincent
Paul Vincent Ciminelli has spent his career at the meeting point of military service, public prosecution and private practice. He brings a mixture of courtroom experience and institutional knowledge to his work. Colleagues and clients see someone who understands both the tactical and procedural sides of litigation.
His academic record began at the University of Rochester, where he earned a B.A. in political science in 1981. He then took up legal studies at Rutgers University–Camden and received his J.D. in 1987. Later he completed a Master of Strategic Studies at the United States Army War College, a degree awarded in 2007.
After law school, Ciminelli joined the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. In the Major Felony Bureau he handled serious criminal matters and learned how complex cases move through trial and pretrial stages. That early courtroom work shaped how he approaches evidence, witness preparation and jury narrative.
He also maintained a long association with the United States Army. He served in uniform and ultimately attained the rank of colonel. His military education and service informed a complementary strand of legal work and opened doors to appellate practice in military and federal forums.
In 1994 he became a managing member of Ciminelli & Ciminelli, PLLC. The firm role placed him in charge of trial preparation, case strategy and supervising other lawyers. Over time he balanced firm management with a caseload that included both trial-level matters and appeals.
Ciminelli is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. He is also admitted to several federal appellate courts, including the Second Circuit and the D.C. Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Those admissions reflect a practice that reaches beyond a single courthouse and that often involves matters of federal law or military justice.
His work spans trial advocacy, appellate briefing and courtroom appearances in state and federal settings. He is experienced in handling contested proceedings, drafting appellate briefs and representing clients before appellate tribunals. He manages files from the firm’s main office and coordinates litigation strategy across jurisdictions.
Today he continues to practice from the firm, dividing his time between litigation and appellate matters in both civilian and military courts. His current practice focuses on courtroom litigation and appellate advocacy in state and federal forums.
