Mark C. Somers

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...

Jacqueline Phipps Polito is a trial attorney with substantial experience in all aspects of traditional and nontraditional labor and employment litigation. She represents both public and private sector clients, at the trial and appellate level. She has significant collective bargaining and labor relations experience. Her practical approach, combined with her management background, enables her to offer strategic employment advice to clients, recognizing the global needs of the organization. She...

Bruce Baker co-leads the firm’s Campus Infrastructure & Community Development team. He focuses on the construction aspects of real estate development and financing projects. What do you focus on? Design, development and construction contracts I represent owners, developers and lenders in connection with the structuring and negotiation of EPC, design/build, design and construction contracts for complex projects in all asset classes, ranging from commercial and institutional buildings...

Eric Paley is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits team and practice group co-leader of the Labor & Employment practice group. He advises clients on how to comply with the laws governing their employee benefits programs. What do you focus on? Three hallmarks distinguish my practice. Representing nonprofit organizations I work primarily (though not exclusively) with a wide range of nonprofit organizations—hospitals/health systems, colleges/universities, iconic arts/cultural...

Munesh Patel, based in Pittsford, New York, is an integral part of Harris Beach Murtha, focusing on Public Finance Law. Through his role as bond counsel, underwriter counsel, and issuer counsel, Munesh engages in both taxable and tax-exempt bond financings. His expertise covers transactions issued by Industrial Development Agencies (IDA) and Local Development Corporations (LDC), with a specialization in pooled tobacco asset securitization corporations. This variety of experience bolsters Mune...

Harry Trueheart, the firm’s Chairman Emeritus, focuses his practice on helping clients resolve business disputes, particularly international disputes, through litigation, arbitration and mediation. What do you focus on? Dispute Resolution I litigate a wide range of business disputes from investment, to M&A to competition, accounting and technology issues in courts and in arbitrations. I have particular experience in international arbitration, representing both businesses and governm...

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

Mark H. Stein is an attorney with Lacy Katzen LLP in Rochester, New York, focusing his practice on Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He has been included in Best Lawyers for this practice area beginning in 2026, based on peer review within the legal profession. Mark has practiced law for more than 20 years, with substantial experience in collections, evictions, and creditor-related matters. He is a partner in the firm’s Default Services Departmen...

Shawn Griffin, based in Pittsford, New York, is an attorney at Harris Beach Murtha, focusing on municipal, commercial, and corporate law. He assists clients in both private and public financing transactions. His work emphasizes various commercial and real estate transactions, involving industrial development agencies, urban renewal organizations, local development corporations, land use, zoning, and federal, state, and local incentives. His experience encompasses structured financing, includi...

Michael J. Hutter is a Professor of Law at Albany Law School of Union University, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1976. He is also Special Counsel to the Albany law firm of Powers & Santola, LLP. Professor Hutter is an honors graduate of Brown University and Boston College Law School. In law school, he was the Editor-In-Chief of Boston College’s law review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. After graduation, Professor Hutter served as law clerk to Judge Matthe...