Top best Estate Planning Lawyers in ZIP 14068 | 7 available

With more than four decades of experience practicing estate planning and administration, elder law, business law, and taxation, David P. Lazenski is in a unique position to assist business owners, families, and elderly with their legal needs.. In addition to his work in the legal field, Mr. Lazenski is also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and as an Accident, Life, and Health Insurance Broker in New York. He has served on the Medical Ethics Committee and performed pro bono work for refugees. Mr. Lazenski is a frequent lecturer at continuing education programs for both attorneys and CPAs.. Mr. Lazenski is an alum of the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he received his J.D., M.B.A., and B.S. in accounting. He is admitted to the state bar associations of New York and North Carolina, as well the United States District Court, Western District of New York and the U.S. Tax Court.

Melissa Pezzino is an attorney working in Tiveron Law’s Estates, Estate Planning, and Elder Law Department. Ms. Pezzino drafts Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Powers of Attorney for clients and then represents those estates in a compassionate and caring manner. Ms. Pezzino handles all aspects of probate and administration, from the initial petition to accounting proceedings, and finally the closing of estates in Surrogate’s Court.. Prior to joining Tiveron Law, Ms. Pezzino practiced law in the Western New York area for several years under her established law practice.. Ms. Pezzino received her Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo and received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Oswego with a dual major in Psychology and Sociology.. Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Pezzino served as a social worker, assisting children and adults with severe mental illness. She has a particular interest and passion advocating for those with mental health diagnoses, both in and out of the courtroom. Ms. Pezzino strives to bring compassion and an understanding of the sensitive issues surrounding estate planning and handling the affairs of a loved one who has passed.

Megan Knepka is an Associate Attorney working primarily with the firm’s Estate Planning and Elder Law Department.  Ms. Knepka started with HoganWillig as a law clerk in the Fall of 2016 during her third year of law school.. Ms. Knepka attended Nazareth College in Rochester, New York where she graduated with her B.A. in both Legal Studies and Political Science.  She went on to obtain her J.D. in 2017 from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School where she graduated magna cum laude.  While attending law school, Ms. Knepka was a member of the Buffalo Law Review and Frederick Douglass Moot Court. Ms. Knepka also clerked for the Hon. Eugene M. Fahey at the Court of Appeals during her time at SUNY Buffalo.

Douglas Gawel is an attorney practicing in the Tiveron Law’s Estate Planning & Elder Law Departments, with an emphasis on Estate Administration, Probates, Trusts, and Last Will & Testament litigation.. Mr. Gawel obtained his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law, in Pittsburgh, and his undergraduate degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Douglas has been admitted to practice law in New York and Pennsylvania and is a current member of those States’ Bar Association.. Mr. Gawel’s prior experience at smaller firms taught him the importance of being able to handle a client’s case from inception to conclusion and the importance of being compassionate during an often highly stressful time in life.

Diane R. Tiveron has practiced corporate and business law since admission to the New York State Bar in 1990. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and her B.A. in economics and political science from Canisius College, magna cum laude. Recently, in continuing her education, she has successfully completed her . Certificate through Canisius College.. Ms. Tiveron has been with the firm for over twenty-seven years. In addition to managing the firm, Ms. Tiveron also is the head of Tiveron Law's Corporate & Business Law Department. She assists clients with business formations (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporations, and limited liability companies), acquisitions, sales or dissolutions, as well as the preparation of any commercial document/contract, ranging from an employment agreement to a lease. She counsels non-for-profit organizations on nonprofit law and governance, obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status and 501(c) classifications.  She provides practical strategies attuned to the unique needs of each client. She frequently advises clients in Landlord/Tenant Matters and has presented a number of seminars in this area of law.. Ms. Tiveron also counsels individuals with bankruptcy issues (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13) and assists many creditors with protecting their rights in bankruptcy. She is able to provide assistance to creditors with their general collection needs as well as provide troubled businesses advice and counsel. Additionally, she oversees the representation of an automobile lender statewide.. In partnership with our Litigation Department, Ms. Tiveron engages in civil litigation in all courts in Western New York with regard to commercial issues such as breach of contract, fraud, collections, foreclosure and business disputes. She coordinates the firm’s per diem assistance to law firms and attorneys outside the area.. Ms. Tiveron has been voted an Upstate New York "Super Lawyer" in the areas of Business/Corporate Law and Business Litigation every year since 2007. She has also been selected as one of Western New York’s Legal Elite Leaders in Business law for both 2014 and 2015 and is listed as “Top Attorney, Business” in accordance with her 10.0/10.0 rating on AVVO.. She has served as President of the Board of Directors for Amherst Meals on Wheels and on the Board of Trustees Member of Cardinal O'Hara High School; as Past Vice President and Board Member for Southeast Works, a local not-for-profit serving individuals with developmental disabilities; and currently serves as a volunteer for the Western New York Food Shuttle.

Brooke Barron is an Associate Attorney in HoganWillig's Matrimonial & Family Law and Estate Planning & Administration Practice Groups.. Ms. Barron obtained her B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo, and received her Juris Doctor in 2018 from American University- Washington College of Law.. While in law school, Ms. Barron was an Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition winner. Additionally, Ms. Barron was a law clerk for Commissioner Feldblum at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Washington, D.C. and a student attorney for American University- Washington College of Law’s Civil Advocacy Clinic. Ms. Barron had also previously been employed at HoganWillig as a law clerk.

Amanda Scott currently focuses her practice in the areas of Elder Law, Disability Law, Estate Planning and Adoption Law.  She has assisted clients in the creation and execution of their Will, Trust, Living Will, Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney documents.  She has also assisted clients with Medicaid planning, guardianship matters, and adoptions.  Since admission to the New York State Bar, Mrs. Scott has also handled numerous Matrimonial and Family Law cases in both the Family and Supreme Courts in Niagara and Erie counties, as well as various cases in the areas of Criminal and Traffic Law throughout the Western New York area.. Mrs. Scott has experience in all types of adoptions, including private domestic adoptions and agency assisted adoptions and finalizations. In addition, she routinely represents people in adult adoptions, second parent adoptions, step-parent adoptions, foster care adoptions and re-adoptions of international adoptions that were finalized outside of the United States.