Representing Students in School Disciplinary Hearings

Mark graduated from St. John's University School of Law and was awarded the Pro Bono Service Award for his work in the Criminal Defense Clinic. Upon being admitted to the New York State Bar, Mark began practicing criminal defense and represented individuals accused of crimes, as well as students facing suspension or expulsion all throughout NYC and Long Island. It was during his time in these disciplinary hearings where he discovered his passion for education law and ensuring that every child asserts their right to an education. After working as an associate attorney and then a supervising attorney at the largest special education firm in the country, Mark opened up his own practice carrying on the same kind of work. His focus is on avoiding lengthy settlement disputes and ongoing adjournments and diving directly into litigation in order to provide the best results for his clients. Mark also currently holds the position of Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University School of Law where he continues to coach and judge students in Moot Court competitions. When he is not practicing law, Mark teaches Youth Thai Boxing in Astoria, Queens. In 2022, Mark Gutman has obtained a CAS (Certified Autism Specialist) certification from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). As of November 2022, Gutman Vasiliou LLP is the only law firm with attorneys in NY to have obtained this qualification. Shorty after launching Gutman Vasiliou, LLP, Mark Gutman was selected to the SuperLawyers 2022 New York Metro Rising Stars List, an honor reserved for only 2.5% of attorneys in the New York Metro area. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a multiphase selection process consisting of 12 indicators of professional achievement including verdicts, experience, honors/awards, pro bono service, and more.

I have over a decade of multimedia experience as a desktop publisher, Livestream producer, PA announcer, webcast director, professor, emcee, and more. I am a radio broadcasting graduate with additional coursework in political science and journalism. I gained critical knowledge while shadowing veteran broadcasters. I have extensive training in creative writing, current affairs, freelancing, and story structure. I have crafted current affairs interviews with Justin Trudeau, Romeo Dallaire, Ed the Sock, Kenny and Spenny, and Mike MacDonald. I love working as a creative storyteller and having conversations with people from all walks of life. My goal is to connect with diverse voices and to foster discussions on complex issues while striving to make the conversations as accessible and inclusive as possible.