Attorneys
David Touger is one of the founding members of Peluso & Touger, LLP. and presently serves as the firm's managing partner, and leading criminal defense partner. David graduated Brooklyn Law School in 1984.
Upon graduation, David accepted a position with the Legal Aid Society of New York City representing individuals who could not afford to hire an attorney. Within 18 months at Legal Aid, David became the first Legal Aid lawyer in nearly 20 years allowed to represent a person charged with murder. Before leaving Legal Aid in 1988 David had tried over thirty cases and established a reputation as tough, hard-nosed litigator. Following Legal Aid went to work for a major criminal defense firm where he continued to battle to exonerate his clients.
In 1990, Peluso & Touger was established. David appears regularly in both State and Federal Courts and has represented clients in many jurisdictions outside the New York metropolitan area. He has represented clients charged in a broad spectrum of criminal conduct including white-collar crimes, union officials, violent street crimes and narcotics conspiracies. In recent months David has won a full acquittal of an alleged drug kingpin in the Southern District of New York. In a case of alleged union corruption David's client was the only defendant among the four being tried to win an acquittal on all counts. David has had many other high-profile cases through the years. Whether the case is a high-profile matter or not David always gives the client the same aggressive, intelligent and personal representation that every case deserves.
David was born and raised on Long Island. He graduated from The George Washington University in 1981 with bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics. While attending GWU he played Varsity Baseball and held numerous elected offices on Campus.
Carl T. Peluso is one of the founding members of Peluso & Touger, LLP. Carl has established himself as one of the top real estate litigators in New York representing numerous major landlords and corporate entities.
He is a renowned corporate litigator representing large and small corporations and has served as trial attorney for various Fortune 500 companies. Carl brings vast legal knowledge and an assertive style to every client he represents. He is able to bring even the most complicated cases to a successful conclusion for his clients. Carl has practiced both in State and Federal jurisdictions and is knowledgeable of the different codes that impact corporate and real estate litigation.
Carl was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Upon graduation, Carl worked at Robinson Perlman & Kirshner and then for Tenzer Greenblatt and in 1990 formed Peluso & Touger. Carl serves on various Continuing Legal Education panels, is a volunteer firefighter in Westchester County, and avid gardener.
Nicole M. Waknine, Senior Associate.
Nicole Waknine has litigated in a variety of practice areas, including commercial litigation, landlord/tenant, matrimonial, personal injury, and criminal matters in both state and federal court. She now focuses her practice on commercial litigation and landlord/tenant. Nicole also negotiates license agreements for property owners pursuant to RPAPL § 881 and advises property owners regarding all aspects of New York City’s local laws.
A native of New Jersey, Nicole double majored in History and Political Science at Rutgers University – New Brunswick, where she graduated cum laude. She received her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she served as Acquisitions Editor for the Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal.
Nicole is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.