Best Lawyers Near You in Buffalo, New York
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Practice Areas
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...
Thirty plus years as a trial lawyer has taught me there is no substitute for experience and hard work in the fight for the rights of the client. For five years, I applied those principles as a senior assistant district attorney prosecuting felonies on behalf of the victims of serious crimes. Upon entering private practice, I was chosen by the Chief Criminal Judge in that district to prosecute the perpetrator in a triple homicide case. Since then, through my time with Cellino & Barnes and ...
Ms. Berkman concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, Medicaid advisement and planning, accountings, kinship matters, wrongful death compromises and guardianship proceedings. She assists clients with preparation of estate plan documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care forms and living wills.
Robert L. Boreanaz focuses his practice in the areas of union-side labor law and plaintiff-side employment law. He has litigated cases throughout New York State as well as in Delaware, Texas, and Illinois. Mr. Boreanaz has extensive trial experience, arguing before state, appellate, and federal courts. As an example of Mr. Boreanaz’s work, he recently reached a settlement of $1.8 million in an employment matter on behalf of a corrections officer working at the New York State Department ...
Kevin Burke is a business attorney focused on the litigation of contract disputes, labor and employment issues, intellectual property protection, and trade secret cases. Kevin has represented both individuals and businesses since he moved home from Washington, D.C. in 1999, where he graduated with honors from Georgetown University and George Washington University Law School. He has tried dozens of major commercial and employment cases to verdict. He regularly handles appeals before the Appell...
Paul J. Cambria, Jr. is recognized as one of the nation’s preeminent attorneys. He focuses his practice in the areas of criminal trials, criminal appeals, constitutional law, First Amendment law, zoning and land use, antitrust, and professional licensing defense. Mr. Cambria has built a strong reputation for successfully representing individuals and businesses in complex, high-profile cases at all levels of the courts, including state, federal, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. C...
Mr. Chiari is a cum laude graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and currently is on the Board of Directors for the UB Law Alumni Association, Inc.. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers' Association, Western New York Trial Lawyers' Association, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates,...
Howard B. Cohen is focused on the prosecution and trial of substantial personal injury accident claims, which include automobile accidents, workplace accidents, wrongful death claims, construction accident and fall-down defect claims. He has also prosecuted substantial Insurance, Securities and Fraud claims.
John A. Collins practices in the areas of Civil Appellate and Motion Practice. He has argued appeals before the New York Court of Appeals, all four Departments of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits. Speaking Engagements Prepared course materials and lectured on Article 78 Proceedings and Appeals From Administrative Determinations for the New York State Bar Association as part of its New York Appe...
William B. Collins is the owner of the firm. He has been practicing law since 1982, representing people for serious personal injuries throughout the United States. He is admitted to the State Bar of four separate states: New York, Florida, Michigan and West Virginia. His successful litigation in venues throughout the country attests to his ability to perform at the highest level anywhere and under any circumstances. He takes special interest in complex industrial and commercial negligence, in...
John P. Comerford is a Senior Partner at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC. He grew up in Lewiston, New York, a small historic town near the Canadian border. As a young child, Mr. Comerford grew up in the shadows of Love Canal and personally observed the consequences of environmental pollution. After graduating from high school, he attended Cornell University and studied Environmental Science. Mr. Comerford devotes the majority of his time to asbestos personal injury matters. He has liti...
Terrence M. Connors has been recognized by his peers as one of the pre-eminent trial attorneys in the state. For the past seven years, he has been ranked as the number one lawyer in all upstate New York by Super Lawyers magazine. This year, the Erie County Bar Association named him Lawyer of the Year and, in 2006, the New York State Bar Association awarded him the prestigious Attorney Professionalism Award. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Membership in that organizati...
Barry N. Covert focuses his practice primarily in the following areas: New York State and federal criminal trials and appeals Constitutional law, including First Amendment, Second Amendment, and civil rights actions Qui Tam Act, also known as the False Claims Act Defending against allegations of scientific misconduct, scientific fraud, research misconduct, research fraud, plagiarism, and fabrication of evidence Defense of professional licensing, including for attorneys, doctors, and nurses Ti...
In addition to being the Managing Attorney of Gross Shuman P.C., Dave Elibol focuses his practice on business contracts and litigation, including, shareholder disputes, business divorce, and contract disputes. He has successfully represented individuals and businesses in jury and non-jury trials and in other proceedings in both state and federal court. Additionally Dave is a member of our personal injury practice group where he represents victims of serious motor vehicle accidents, workplace ...
Harry J. Forrest focuses his legal practice on personal injury claims involving motor vehicle collisions, construction site accidents, fall-down accidents and wrongful death. He also practices in the areas of civil litigation, business counseling and long-term disability claims and appeals. He has successfully handled cases in both federal and state courts and has tried cases to verdict involving claims for personal injury, property damage, contract disputes and constitutional civil rights vi...
Richard Furlong has represented labor organizations for over 25 years. His work has covered all aspects of traditional labor law, including: organizing drives arbitration and agency hearings negotiations and all related court proceedings Mr. Furlong’s experience also includes counseling unions on non-traditional activities, including strategic campaigns, creative use of public relations, and other tactics geared toward empowering workers. His knowledge and experience have drawn the atte...
Erik Goergen is a litigator, based in Buffalo, who represents a diverse array of local, national and international clients in complex commercial disputes and product liability matters at both the trial and appellate levels. My focus My practice focuses on litigating disputes in a wide range of complex commercial litigation and product liability matters, representing international, national, and local clients in the aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, and commercial real estate industries. My...
Joseph J. Gumkowski practices in the areas of general business law, e-commerce, taxation, and intellectual property. His practice is concentrated in servicing select clients of the firm in the entertainment business. Mr. Gumkowski is an active member of the Sports Car Club of America; the Sports Car Club of America, Western New York Region; the South Towns Motor Club; and the Central New York Ice Racing Association. Mr. Gumkowski earned second place in the 2002 New York State Road Racing Cham...
Jeffrey A. Human practices in the areas of business, corporate, tax and religious corporations law. He is admitted to the New York Bar, U.S. District Court and United States Tax Court. Jeff is a member of the Planned Giving Consortium of Western New York, the Estate Analysts of Western New York, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Attorney Association, and the WNY Venture Association. Jeff served as the synod attorney for the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA from 2014 to 2022....
Laraine Kelley concentrates her practice in the areas of personal injury law, including medical malpractice, construction accidents, automobile injuries, and products liability. Numerous local attorneys refer their complex litigation matters to Ms. Kelley as her experience and dedication are valuable factors in difficult cases. Speaking Engagements Frequent lecturer in the area of civil litigation, particularly medical malpractice, products liability law, and civil trial procedure Practice Ar...
John F. Leone has practiced almost 30 years in the areas of wills, estate planning, estate and trust administration, qualified retirement plans and residential and commercial real estate. He received both his J.D. and B.S. degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo.In connection with his wills and estates practice, John has successfully defended proponents of wills subject to will contests, contested wills on behalf of beneficiaries, and has filed claims relating to breaches of ...
Over his 20 year career, Joseph J. Manna has distinguished himself as a tenacious trial attorney who aggressively pursues the best possible results for his clients. Mr. Manna’s reputation as an effective litigator has led many prominent individuals, including federal and state court judges, to retain him as their lawyer. He has handled numerous high-profile cases and represented a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations, including other lawyers, doctors, certified public accounta...
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.
William Moore is a senior partner of the firm and represents individuals who have suffered serious injuries. He has a reputation for being an aggressive advocate and for being highly accessible and responsive to his clients. Mr. Moore has extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts. Many attorneys, both locally and out of state, refer their cases to Mr. Moore. Doctors also frequently refer their injured patients to him. Mr. Moore has been named to The National Trial Lawyers: T...
Joe is an experienced trial attorney who focuses his practice on all aspects of personal injury, including motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, nursing home, and group home litigation. He has obtained multiple jury verdicts, including million and multi-million dollar awards, and reached countless settlements on behalf of his clients. Recognized by his peers as a zealous advocate in and out of the courtroom, Joe has obtained some of the highest verdicts and settlements in New York State. U...
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...
Patrick C. O’Reilly focuses his practice on matrimonial litigation, handling all aspects of divorce and separation and representing clients in matters related to the modification or enforcement of existing matrimonial judgments and orders. For more than 25 years, Mr. O’Reilly has served as a panelist and speaker on matrimonial and family law topic for numerous seminars, workshops, and symposiums sponsored by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New York State Office of Cou...
Scott Philbin is a Buffalo-based litigation attorney handling a broad array of business and commercial matters at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court. He routinely represents corporations, insurers and financial institutions in issues relating to breach of contract, the leasing of heavy construction equipment, enforcement of non-compete agreements, banking litigation, investor claims and commercial paper disputes. Scott also has experience in toxic tort cases involv...
Lawlor is a trial attorney with a broad-based litigation practice. He has successfully represented severely injured individuals, defended physicians in medical malpractice trials, represented corporations in contract and shareholder derivative suits, represented policy holders in insurance coverage disputes, and represented individuals, corporations, institutions, and municipalities in a wide variety of other matters. The notable client successes in which he has been involved include a $58.6 ...
Sarah P. Rera is an experienced litigation attorney who focuses her practice in areas of personal injury and business litigation. She has served as trial counsel in multiple complex business disputes and personal injury claims in New York State Supreme Court, receiving numerous successful verdicts for her clients. She is also an experienced appellate practitioner and has appeared before the Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals, the highest Court in New York. Sarah also serves ...
George E. Riedel, Jr. practices in the areas of trusts and estates, elder law, estate administration, estate planning, guardianships, and adoptions. Mr. Riedel is a director (from 1995 to present) and past secretary for the 100 Club of Buffalo. He is also a director (from 1999 to present) of the Western New York-Jamaica Partners of Americas. He was elected a fellow of the New York Bar Foundation in January 2001. He also serves on the advisory board of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the ...
John K. Rottaris concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, creditors’ rights, commercial collections, landlord-tenant law, bankruptcy law and tax certiorari. He also represents manufacturers and manufacturers’ sales representatives in commission and contract disputes. John has represented clients in all phases of trial and appellate practice before local, state and federal courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution forums. He has extensiv...
Jonathan D. Schechter’s practice and experience includes business counseling and corporate law, commercial real estate and financing, estates, trusts, taxation and cross-border and business tax planning. Using his in-depth knowledge of tax law, he assists owners of both publicly traded and closely held businesses with their legal needs as well as their personal estate planning. Jonathan provides day-to-day counsel and representation to publicly traded companies, small business enterpris...
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...
As an attorney in private practice, Ms. Schröder has been providing employment and labor services to private and public sector clients for more than thirty-two years. Ms. Schröder represents, on both a local and national level, some of the nation’s largest publicly and privately owned companies and municipal entities, in traditional labor and/or regular employment law and/or employment discrimination matters. Ms. Schröder has been named one of the top ten attorneys in Ups...
Scott M. Schwartz has extensive experience representing clients in all areas of plaintiff’s personal injury law. Practice Areas Accidents and Personal Injury Car Accidents Farm Accidents Dog Bite Injury Injury on Property Motor Vehicle Accidents Product Liability Tourist Accidents Workplace Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Mesothelioma and Asbestos
James T. Scime is widely recognized as one of the region’s most skilled and respected attorneys. He practices in the areas of personal injury, construction accidents, products liability, medical malpractice, and automobile accidents. He devotes the majority of his time to trial and litigation matters. Mr. Scime is widely respected among his peers for his trial and negotiating skills. Many local attorneys refer matters to him when their clients have sustained serious injuries. Over the c...
Michael Stuermer represents individuals who have suffered personal injuries. He has a reputation for being a strong advocate for his clients and working diligently to recover damages that will assist in compensating for the injuries they have endured. Mr. Stuermer focuses his practice on all areas of personal injury law, including: Automobile Accidents Construction Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Premises Liability Workplace Accidents He is a senior partner in Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria&rsquo...
Mark L. Stulmaker practices in the areas of employee benefits and taxation, serving as counsel to trustees of public and private pension and health and welfare benefit plans as well as to closely held businesses. He is also involved in estate planning and administration, especially in connection with charitable trusts, foundations, and large retirement plan distributions. Practice Areas Employee Benefits Tax Resources Mark Stulmaker is distinguished by the depth of his experience and knowledg...
Richard P. Weisbeck, Jr. is a senior partner of the firm. For over 25 years, he has focused his practice in the area of personal injury law, including construction accidents, workplace injuries, automobile accidents, defective products/products liability, slip and fall accidents, and amputations. Numerous local attorneys refer their complex cases to Mr. Weisbeck. His experience in resolving difficult matters as well as his nationally recognized litigation and trial skills are essential for su...
Mr. Coren concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, international litigation, and data security and privacy. He has litigated cases in federal and state courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, as well as in arbitration. He is the Chair of the International Law Committee of the Bar Association of Erie County. Mr. Coren focuses on complex business litigation, shareholder disputes, derivative actions, breach of contract, business fraud, and commercial ...
Carolyn Lavin DeVaughn concentrates her practice in corporate law, banking and finance, estate planning, and representing school districts, private schools, and charter schools in education law matters. Corporate Law Carolyn works with clients of all sizes across various industries on a full-range of corporate services including: Small business formation including LLCs and corporations Drafting operating agreements Creating articles of organization and corporate bylaws Assisting with the sale...
Kevin Lelonek focuses his law practice in the areas of business litigation and business bankruptcy and reorganization. He works closely with clients ranging from large private-sector companies, to family-owned businesses and non-profit organizations. In every matter, Kevin works closely with the client to identify the nuances of their individual situation, and craft a plan that best meets their unique needs. Business Litigation As a member of our litigation practice group, Kevin works closely...
Nick Pusateri is a Shareholder in Gross Shuman’s Business and Corporate Law practice area. Nick focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, corporate governance, and commercial contracts. He is a graduate of Niagara University where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. Mr. Pusateri earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he served as a publications editor of the Buffalo Law Review and an associate of the Buffalo Public ...