James W. Smyton

Bob serves as the managing partner of the Buffalo office. He focuses on commercial real estate development, and municipal, industrial development and environmental law. Bob represents real estate developers, municipal entities, and companies in financing, leasing, and other matters related to real estate development/expansion and has extensive experience with the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program. He focuses on structured financings involving straight-lease transactions and bond trans...

Nick's broad-based litigation and trial practice includes criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, and professional discipline. Nick graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo School of Management with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School. While in law school, Nick was selected to the Buffalo Law Review and in his second year was elected ...

Chanel T. McCarthy has more than ten years of experience assisting clients with their business needs - from lease agreements and contract negotiations to operations and employment matters. Chanel has a wide range of experience in corporate law including with issues related to the hospitality industry. Chanel brings a wealth of experience in the areas of trusts and estates, and other matters before the Surrogate’s Court.

Melanie C. Marotto serves as the co-managing partner at Harris Beach Murtha's Buffalo office. Her practice focuses on assisting purchasers, sellers, governmental, and quasi-governmental agencies in development projects. She has a substantial background in real estate law, with particular attention to real property and title issues within New York's renewable energy sector. As examining counsel, Melanie works with two national title insurance companies and represents a variety of community-bas...

John Lipsitz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. John, who practices law in Buffalo, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Anne Joynt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Anne, who practices law in Buffalo, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David H. Alexander practices law in New York and Florida, and serves as a foreign legal consultant in Ontario, Canada. His areas of practice include wills, estates and trusts, estate planning and administration, business counseling, corporate law and taxation. He represents Canadian and other foreign corporations in the establishment of United States subsidiaries and in their conduct of business in the United States. He also represents Canadian and other foreign persons who purchase assets in...

I joined Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP as an Associate attorney in 2008 and was made equity Partner in April of 2011. Prior to being an attorney I was a Diagnostic Technician with Mercedes-Benz. I am from Scio, New York and obtained my Bachelor of Science Degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and graduated cum laude from law school at the State University of New York at Buffalo. I am admitted to practice law in both New York and Pennsylvania. I am a member of the Amer...

Michael Schiavone has provided legal guidance to businesses for 30 years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, commercial real estate, and estate planning. Mr. Schiavone is experienced in regularly counseling clients in a wide array of legal matters, including: Commercial lending and financial transactions Mergers and acquisitions Corporate, partnership, and limited liability matters Business formation Business succession planning Contract negotiation and dispute resolut...

When clients select The Barnes Firm to represent them in their personal injury cases, they have the right to expect an attorney who has extensive trial experience, as well as experience in dealing with insurance company representatives. As a senior trial attorney for a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurance company, I learned the inner workings of the insurance business, and how that industry accesses and resolves liability claims. This experience is particularly crucial in the evaluatio...