For nearly two decades Raymond Furey has been one of Long Island's leading civil-trial attorneys, with a remarkable record of trial successes defending physicians and hospitals against negligence claims. Diligent, and with a calm demeanor only slightly masking a lifelong competitive fire, Furey is highly regarded by his peers; he's well known as a key malpractice-defense attorney now in his professional prime. The Lynbrook, N.Y., native was an all-county lacrosse player who attended Rutgers on an athletic scholarship, and further supplemented his education with an ROTC commitment. A three-year lacrosse letterman, he received the prestigious Alfred Sasser Memorial Trophy. He considered a career in teaching, but instead decided to attend law school at Indiana, where "graduate school tuition was still low." After two years as a staff attorney for Hartford Insurance, Furey teamed up with his uncle, Jim Furey, and formed Furey and Furey. In less than 15 years, this firm successfully grew from four to 55 attorneys, which can be attributed to Ray Furey's trial successes and the 1980's explosion in malpractice litigation. In 1988, Furey founded Furey, Kerley, Walsh, Matera & Cinquemani, P.C., and almost from the beginning the Seaford-based firm has been one of the most successful tort-defense firms in the region. During his career, Furey made small professional adjustments that made him standout: "Early on I lost a case and I realized I had not told the story well enough - I had not held jurors on the edge of their seats." He resolved to strengthen his communications skills and over the years peers and rivals alike have grown to view Furey as a formidable courtroom opponent. "It is about becoming a well-rounded professional, and reaching a level of excellence." Today Furey's firm has 19 attorneys, including six partners, and Furey is the firm's most senior trial attorney. An avid golfer and traveler, Furey and his wife Laura are longtime residents of Manhasset. They have two adult children, Marie and Michael.