Meet our "family", here to help your family

Victoria (Torie) Hasseler Collins started her career path thinking she wanted to teach agricultural education after FFA (Future Farmers of America) had a profound impact on her life. She later changed career paths, attending SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Cortland before graduating summa cum laude from Albany Law School, earning a concentration in Estate Planning with high honors.

Torie was admitted to the New York and Vermont Bars in 2007. Before becoming a founding member of Collins & Hasseler Law, Torie worked with Weber, Perra & Munzing, P.C., until their closure and then Potter Stewart, Jr. Law Offices, P.C., both located in Brattleboro, Vermont, before joining Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP, in Watertown, New York, in 2010, where she became a partner and remained until the firm ceased to practice law in early 2022.

Torie is presently a member of the Northern New York Community Foundation's Cultural, Historical and Recreational committee, Secretary of the board of New Day Children's Center, and a member of the Lewis County Early Intervention Coordinating Council. In the past, she has participated with NNYCF's LEAD Council Program and served locally on the boards of Meadowbrook Terrace, Inc., Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc., and Hospice of Jefferson County, Inc.  

When not working, Torie enjoys spending time riding her motorcycle, hunting, spending time outdoors, and just being silly with her family. She lives in Croghan with her husband, two preschool-age daughters, dog, and cat. 

 Lawrence D. Hasseler has over 47 years of experience and has spent his entire career practicing in the Northern New York area. Larry retired as a partner from Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP in 2020, and shortly after that, the firm decided to close their office located in Carthage, NY. Larry decided to come out of retirement to serve his local community of Carthage and surrounding areas. 

 Since he was in the 6th grade, Larry wanted to become a lawyer.  As a result, after graduating from Watertown High School, he enrolled in and graduated from Syracuse University which offered a program that allowed students to complete their undergraduate and graduate law degrees in six years instead of the usual 7 years. After he received his Juris Doctorate, he was hired at Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP at age 23 and remained there, helping people, until he opened his own office. Shortly thereafter he became a founding member of Collins & Hasseler Law, PLLC. 

Larry has been on multiple non-profit community boards. He is currently on the boards of  Carthage Area Hospital, Watertown Urban Mission and the twin boards of Legal Services of CNY and Legal Aid Society of Mid-State NY.

When he is not at the office, Larry enjoys taking his dog for walks in the woods, fishing, reading, going to the gym, and spending time with his two granddaughters. He resides in Carthage with his wife, dog, cat and pet goldfish. 

Rebecca A. Simser graduated from Western New England College School of Law in 2010. She was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in 2011. Before joining the Collins & Hasseler Law family, she worked with Carrothers & Clough, PLLC, where focused her practice in the areas of Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability. 

Rebecca is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, St. Lawrence County Bar Association, Injured Workers Bar Association, WBASNY and the American Association of Justice. She is also a board member for the American Red Cross Upstate New York Chapter. Attorney Simser was admitted to the US Supreme Court in the Fall of 2018. Additionally, she was recently distinguished as a Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyer for 2019 through the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Tara has a vast wealth of experience, including as a paralegal for foreclosures, personal injury, mortgage refinancing, and foreclosure, in administration for a local school district, and most recently as a paralegal at Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP, before becoming part of the Collins & Hasseler Law family.

Tara has a generous spirit and exudes positivity. She is able to see the opportunity presented by each obstacle. She lives in Watertown with her fiancé and two children.

Tammy has many years of experience as a paralegal, including as a real estate paralegal for Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP, and handling abstract and title insurance requests for BRA and BRV Agency, Inc. Most recently, she worked with Larry D. Hasseler, Esq., before also becoming part of the Collins & Hasseler Law family.

Tammy's experience allows her to find creative solutions to challenges when they arise. 

She lives in Watertown with her family.

After graduating from Bryant & Stratton, Kirsten worked as a real estate paralegal, and later also as a de facto office manager, for Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP, in their Carthage office until that branch office was closed. She then worked as a paralegal for Campany, Randall & McArdle law firm in Lowville, before becoming part of the Collins & Hasseler Law family and returning to work with Torie and Larry and her former colleagues.

Kirsten is continually working to learn the "how" and "why" in order to find more efficient solutions for the office and how we serve our clients. A Lewis-county native, she lives in New Bremen with her family.

Lindsey joined the Collins & Hasseler Law family after working for years as Supreme Court Secretary and Supreme Court Assistant. Previously, she worked as a paralegal for Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP, and later Traveler's Insurance Staff Counsel focusing on major case insurance defense.

Lindsey is continually motivated to learn new things and work through unique situations - no two days are ever the same! She also serves as Justice Court Clerk for the Town of Philadelphia, New York.

When not working, Lindsey enjoys baking, supporting a local church where she serves as pianist, Children’s Church teacher and Treasurer, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.  She is a member of the Board of Trustees of First Step Daycare.