Karen Schaefer

Daniel R. Santola Albany, New York Partner, since 1987 phone (518) 465-5995 (800) 540-8742 fax (518) 426-4012 email Email Me Daniel R. Santola is a senior partner and co-founder of Powers & Santola, LLP. His practice is limited to the representation of catastrophically injured individuals, the field of law in which he has over 25 years experience. After graduating from Albany Law School, he became an assistant professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1987, he and longtime friend ...

James Locke is a business lawyer with experience in a wide range of business law matters. He has been the lead attorney on large public company mergers and on numerous asset and stock acquisitions and dispositions of public and private companies. Mr. Locke is also engaged in counseling boards of directors of public companies, in representing clients with respect to continued compliance with federal securities laws, and in certain venture capital and other financings, including those in the te...

Amber Wright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Amber, who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amber is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laurie Styka Bloom represents clients in complex and commercial litigation as well as environmental based litigation claims. What do you focus on? I use my 30 years of litigation and environmental law experience to assist my clients in solving their disputes efficiently and effectively. My practice is focused on litigation arising out of environmental issues, such as alternative energy, cell tower siting and land use as well as commercial and products liability/personal injury issues. Environ...

Lorna Affronti is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Lorna, who practices law in Rochester, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lorna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Paul G. Barden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Paul G., who practices law in Rochester, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christian Hancey is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group. He focuses on designing, reviewing and implementing a wide range of benefit and compensation programs structured to suit businesses and nonprofit organizations. What do you focus on? I counsel employers on all types of traditional benefit plans, including defined benefit pension plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, multiemployer plans, medical benefit plans, cafeteria plans, disability plans and o...

Francis (Chris) Affronti is a divorce, family law lawyer and appellate advocate. He handles cases where the marital estate might involve two blue collar employees who own a house and have some retirement accounts. At the same time, he handles high conflict custody cases and divorces with complex financial issues and extensive marital estates. He is a meticulous and strategic thinker. He handles child support, maintenance, and family offense cases in Supreme and Family Court. He prepares QDROs...

Richard A. Kroll, Esq. has an active practice in the area of Estate Planning, Trusts, and Probate. He is past or current member of the Special Needs Alliance, the Trusts and Estates sections of the New York State Bar Association, Monroe County Bar Associations, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Estate Planning Council of Rochester. A graduate of Brighton High School, Hobart College, Suffolk University Law School (where he was editor-in-chief of its Law Review) and Harvard L...

Richard focuses his practice on construction and surety law regarding all facets of construction work on both private and public projects, the resolution of construction disputes and commercial litigation. He handles contract negotiation, contract preparation and dispute resolution among owners, general contractors, subcontractors and construction managers. He also defends surety companies against claims made by owners, subcontractors and suppliers against payment and performance bonds. Richa...