Top best L Lawyers in Buffalo | 1576 available

Concentrating her practice in toxic tort insurance defense, Jessica works extensively with defendants alleged to have sold "asbestos-containing components" and provides experienced legal advice to a wide range of asbestos clients. These include equipment and friction manufacturers and retailers. This work involves coordinating a team of attorneys and paralegals in managing discovery and preparing cases for trial in high volume, document intensive cases. Jessica handles all aspects of non-asbestos litigation including other product liability matters, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, labor law injuries, coverage litigation, and dog bite claims. Jessica has tried one bench trial to a directed verdict and second chaired two jury trials to verdict. On a more individual level, Jessica works as an Attorney for the Child, and represents parents in custody, visitation, and neglect/abuse cases in Family Court. Over a decade in Family Court has afforded numerous, numerous opportunities for trials.. Jessica reviews each case details individually and tries to identify early cases that could be problematic. She prepares each case for trial, in the event it is necessary, but finds effective and cost-efficient solutions to cases wherever possible. Jessica is always focusing on the details, while keeping the larger goals in mind.. Jessica is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Niagara and Erie County Bar Associations, the New York State Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the Tonawandas (former President). She is admitted to the State Bar of New York as well as the United States District Court (Western and Northern), and Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. Jessica presented at the DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar in Las Vegas in November, 2011; New Orleans in November 2013; San Francisco in November 2014; and Las Vegas in 2017. She is looking forward to presenting at DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar in Austin, Texas this coming November. Jessica serves as the marketing chair for DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar. She was named a Rising Star Super Lawyer five consecutive years, from 2014-2018.. A native of Buffalo, Jessica is a graduate of the Nichols School, Canisius College, and University at Buffalo Law School. In her spare time, Jessica teaches ballet and has coordinated groups of high school dancers to perform at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Compassion guides my approach to family law. Helping people navigate the layered financial and emotional challenges that come with family matters of every kind is exactly why I started this career in the first place—and what’s kept me going for more than 20 years. Open, honest, and clear communication lays the groundwork for every client relationship, because it’s extremely important to me that my clients know what to expect every step of the way. Traditional litigation isn’t right for everyone though, which is why we offer our clients mediation and collaborative family law as options as well.

Christopher Maugans concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and matters involving employment and labor law. With a focus on serving both public and private sector clients, Chris handles matters involving discrimination claims, improper practice charges, employee grievance arbitrations, General Municipal Law 207-c proceedings, and New York Education Law 3020-a hearings, as well as proceedings under Article 75 and Article 78 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR). Chris helps clients prepare for and navigate trials, mediations, arbitrations, and hearings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR). He regularly counsels clients and litigates the enforceability of restrictive covenants in employment agreements, including non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.. Prior to joining Goldberg Segalla, Chris worked in-house in a dual human resources and legal counsel role within a large community college in Western New York, where he helped draft and negotiate collective bargaining agreements, investigated grievances, and led internal investigations into employee attendance, performance, and harassment allegations. He also handled Freedom of Information Law requests, reasonable accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and issues involving the Family and Medical Leave Act.. Chris concurrently earned his M.B.A. and J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he held several prestigious fellowships and scholarships. He was a judicial law clerk with the Hon. Frederick Marshall and an extern with the United States Equal Opportunity Commission’s Buffalo office. He also worked as a law clerk for a global private food manufacturing company, where he drafted employment agreements and non-disclosure agreements, and edited employee handbooks.. Chris, who finished in the top 10 percent of his M.B.A. class and completed the University at Buffalo School of Management LeaderCORE™ certification program, is one of the founding members of the Buffalo MBA Consulting Group (BMC), Western New York's first pro bono consulting firm run by M.B.A. students. There, he provided management consultation services to a range of non- and for-profit businesses. From 2011 to 2014, Chris also participated in the WNY Prosperity Fellowship, a program which invests in the education of students possessing high potential to benefit the economic development of the region. He now serves on the Program’s Alumni Advisory Board.. Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Employment and Labor law and honored for his accomplishments in the field of human resources, Chris has served as a guest lecturer on human resources and labor and employment law topics at Canisius College, Daemen College, and the State University of New York at Buffalo. He also regularly drafts Goldberg Segalla’s Employment and Labor Alerts, drafts Goldberg Segalla’s Higher Education Alerts, writes for the firm's Life Science Matters blog, and is an associate editor of the firm’s Professional Liability Matters blog, offering insights on employment practices liabilities.

Christopher Floreale is a proven trial lawyer with a track record of achieving defense verdicts in the vast majority of the more than 75 cases he has tried to verdict. He focuses his practice on the defense of medical malpractice and negligence claims against nursing homes and long-term-care facilities, as well as the defense of a wide range of general liability claims that involve transportation, premises liability, and worksite injuries.. He has extensive experience arguing cases throughout the New York court system, including numerous jury trials before the New York State Supreme Court and cases before the New York State Appellate Division (Fourth Department). In his more than 15 years of practice, Chris has developed a particularly high degree of mastery in transportation litigation defense, an area in which he has successfully defended insured and self-insured clients from a diverse range of industries. In addition, Chris has experience working with clients in the health care industry.. As the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Trial Techniques General Committee and an active participant in numerous other prominent litigation-focused professional organizations, Chris is widely recognized as being at the forefront of trial practice today. He has written and lectured on topics that include trial tactics as well as transportation regulations.

Christopher Belter, a senior trial partner at Goldberg Segalla, dedicates his practice to resolving complex commercial, construction, and intellectual property disputes. He has represented clients in courts and arbitration forums in more than a dozen states over the course of his two-decade career, during which he has taken more than 100 trials and arbitrations to verdict or award. He is the chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Corporate Services and Commercial Litigation Practice Group, a team of 50-plus lawyers practicing across the firm's entire footprint, and chair of its 40-member Construction Practice Group.. In the commercial litigation arena, for which he and his team are recognized in the Chambers USA Upstate New York directory, Chris has achieved successful outcomes for a broad range of companies in complex disputes involving contractual relationships, misappropriation and fraudulent conveyance, commercial leases, licensing, claims of tortious interference, and other issues. He also defends directors and officers in matters involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and bad faith, as well as claims brought by the FDIC and the SEC.. With experience handling dozens of cases involving claims of trademark and copyright infringement, he is particularly adept at helping companies enforce their intellectual property rights and protect their invaluable brands.. In construction litigation, an area for which he is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, Chris handles breach of contract, delay and acceleration, design and construction defect, performance and payment bond, and other high-value claims for contractors, construction managers, and others in connection with large-scale private and public construction projects. He has extensive experience with complex litigation and alternative dispute resolution involving major solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects.. He is a longstanding member of the Commercial Litigation Steering Committee at the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the largest organization of defense attorneys in the country, and a past national chair of its Construction Committee. He co-authored the New York chapter in DRI’s Construction Litigation Desk Reference: A State-by-State Compendium, and he is a frequent speaker to national audiences on minimizing damages in contract disputes, litigation strategies in lawsuits combining business tort and intellectual property claims, and other topics in his areas of concentration.. Experience HighlightsCommercial LitigationDefending at trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery a corporation’s directors and officers against breach of fiduciary duty and more than 10 other claims brought by certain shareholders over a disputed business mergerObtaining for an owner of music royalties a rare multimillion-dollar recovery in a complex misappropriation and fraudulent conveyance action that reached across both domestic and foreign jurisdictionsDefending a $13 million commercial claim against a top soft drink manufacturer over the termination of a New York City distribution routeDefending a multimillion-dollar breach of contract and improper termination claim brought by a studio owner against the producer of a major-network television showDefending the manufacturer of one of the world’s most popular sport drinks against a competitor’s $15 million tortious interference claimDefeating through motion practice an injunction that sought to shut down six major metropolitan locations of a national pizza chainObtaining summary judgment for a construction supply manufacturer on complex warranty claims for roofing materialsSuccessfully guiding a value-added reseller of a major software suite through investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Defense, and other entities following the acquisition of the software developer by a computer industry giantDefeating through motion practice a prospective class action alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Construction LitigationSecuring a $70 million arbitration award for a national renewable energy contractor in a complex construction development dispute that involved issues of public bond and federal grant financing, construction delays and design deficiencies, claims of liquidated and consequential damages, and construction trust fund misappropriation; the award was rendered after extensive litigation and two months of arbitration hearingsRecovering through arbitration more than $4 million for a wind energy transmission contractor in a case involving major change order and delay and acceleration claims related to a stormRepresenting a pipeline installation contractor in disputes totaling over $100 million involving natural gas pipelines serving the hydrofracking industry; the case involves major delay claims, back-charge claims related to earth-slips, and complex and novel issues regarding the scope of the lien lawRepresenting a construction manager in an arbitration arising out of claims asserted by a private university for construction defects involving masonry, roof, and building envelope issuesObtaining summary judgment in favor of a commercial financer of hotels and resorts in a multimillion-dollar dispute over the financing arrangement for the construction of a timeshare property. Intellectual Property LitigationDefending a modeling agency in a jury trial in the Southern District of New York against copyright infringement and tortious interference claims brought by a photographer seeking over $10 million in damagesDefending a regional craft brewery against claims of trademark infringement from a nationally distributing breweryRepresenting a major tobacco company in a trademark infringement case against sellers of counterfeit cigarettes, resulting in the successful seizure of all counterfeit product, recovery of several hundred thousand dollars in statutory damages, and a permanent injunction

Christina Holdsworth is a member of Goldberg Segalla’s General Liability Practice Group, where she focuses her practice on matters involving personal injury, trucking and motor vehicle accidents, sports and recreation accidents, sexual torts and defamation, and more.. During law school at the State University of New York at Buffalo School, Christina served as editor of the school’s Buffalo Law Review and was Vice President of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. She is active in both local and statewide legal organizations and was named a 2013 Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

Chris Wages has over 20 years of experience in the courtroom and strives to help his clients find solutions to legal problems.. Chris Wages graduated from University of Wyoming Law School, and began his career as a prosecutor in Sweetwater County. In 2001, he moved to Buffalo and went into private practice, in addition to serving as the Buffalo Municipal Court Judge.. Wages was elected as the Johnson County Attorney in 2003 and served the citizens of Johnson County for two terms.

Cheryl Possenti is a founding partner of Goldberg Segalla and has more than 30 years’ experience in the defense of complex personal injury actions. With a practice that focuses on product liability matters and related litigation, plus extensive experience that includes defending high-profile, high-exposure class actions and professional and medical malpractice claims, Cheryl helps clients navigate the regulatory terrain set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and other agencies.. A respected counselor to the makers of toys and other children’s products, small appliance manufacturers, and many others, Cheryl assists clients in maintaining CPSC compliance, manages product safety litigation, helps coordinate effective product recalls — both limited and widespread — and advises on mandatory government reporting and the assessment of civil penalties. Over the course of the past 20 years, she has handled more than 150 issues involving the CPSC, and serves as counsel to two of the world’s foremost toy and children’s products manufacturers.. Cheryl has handled various types of professional malpractice actions — including pharmacy malpractice, dentist malpractice, physical therapy malpractice, veterinary malpractice, and nursing malpractice — as well as licensing and disciplinary actions for health care providers. She has also represented a number of major hospitals in medical malpractice cases as self-insured entities.. Cheryl is a sought-after speaker and writer on product safety issues and is the past Chair and Panel Counsel Liaison of the Children's Products Specialized Litigation Group of the Defense Research Institute's (DRI) Product Liability Committee. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Society of Product Licensors Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE). Amongst her many other accolades and commendations, in 2014, Cheryl was named a Client Choice Awards winner by the International Law Office and Lexology. She holds the distinction of being the only lawyer in New York State — and one of just five in the United States and nine in the world — to be recognized in the product liability category. These unique awards are based solely on nominations and feedback by clients and in-house counsel.

Cherie L. Peterson is the litigation coordinator for the firm's Accidents and Personal Injury, Mesothelioma and Asbestos, and Workers’ Compensation Practice Areas, responsible for the administrative aspects of those areas of the firm. She also chairs the firm’s Client Services Committee, which coordinates the efforts of the Labor and Employment, Accidents and Personal Injury, and Workers’ Compensation Practice Areas to best serve clients' needs. In her 25 years as an attorney with the firm, Ms. Peterson has concentrated her legal practice in the personal injury, asbestos litigation, constitutional law, and criminal defense areas.

Catherine Aughey is an Attorney at the Deitrich Law Firm focusing her practice in Personal Injury. She has experience in all phases of civil litigation including depositions, motion practice, hearings and trials.. Catherine received her BA in English from State University of New York at Buffalo in 2013, graduating magna cum laude in 3 years. She went on to obtain her Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School in 2016.. Catherine has been selected by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as “New York’s 10 Best Attorneys” for New York Client Satisfaction. Catherine was selected as an Upstate New York Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2023 and as a Super Lawyers Ones to Watch in 2022. Catherine is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County, Western New York Trial Lawyers Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the New York State Bar Association. Catherine has also been selected as Top 40 Under 40 in New York by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys.

Carlton K. Brownell, III, Esq. is a partner in the firm's Litigation Department where he defends cases involving products liability, premises liability, general liability, toxic torts, and personal injury claims. Mr. Brownell also handles municipal law and appeals of all defense matters.. Admitted to practice in 1990, Mr. Brownell is admitted to practice before all New York State courts and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.. In 2006, Mr. Brownell was recognized by his peers as Buffalo Business First's "Who's Who in Law" for his appellate work.. He is a graduate of St. Lawrence University (B.A. Government) and the State Unviersity of New York at Buffalo School of Law, where he was awarded the Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Practice. Mr. Brownell is a member of the Board of Directors for the Trial Lawyer's Association of Western New York, and a member of the New York State Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association, and the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.. Mr. Brownell is an active member of the Delaware Soccer Club in Buffalo, where he currently coaches both the travel and house leagues. He previously served as a board member and treasurer of the soccer club.

Brian Sutter is a Partner with Sugarman Law Firm and manages the firm's Buffalo office. He concentrates on advising and representing architects, engineers, surveyors, attorneys, physicians and other health care providers in the defense of claims brought against them. He has additional experience handling product liability claims, municipal claims, general liability claims, insurance issues, personal injury claims, wrongful death cases and toxic torts. He has also been selected to act as a mediator and an arbitrator in a variety of matters.. Mr. Sutter is admitted to practice before all New York State courts, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.. Since 2011, Mr. Sutter has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the field of Professional Liability Defense by the magazine Super Lawyers, a distinction based on peer recognition and professional achievement.. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame (B.B.A. Finance) and the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, he is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County, the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mr. Sutter has served as President of the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association.. Mr. Sutter is active in Sugarman's accredited program as a continuing education provider of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and has lectured on such topics as BIM, AIA Contract Documents and Contractual Indemnification Issues as they relate to Design Professionals. Mr. Sutter has also spoken on the topic of Opening Statements in the Trial of a Construction Site Accident Case on behalf of the New York State Bar Association.. Mr. Sutter has served as the Vice President of Travel Soccer for the Delaware Soccer Club in Buffalo, NY, and has also served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Brett Miller focuses his practice on workers’ compensation matters. A proven litigator with experience handling high-volume caseloads, Brett has handled all aspects of workers’ compensation matters, including controverted cases, drafting memoranda of law, writing appeals and rebuttals, litigating permanency, and negotiation and settlement where appropriate.. Brett graduated cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School where he clerked for Buffalo Human Rights Law Review. Brett also held clerkships with Hon. Jeremiah J. McCarthy in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, in the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel in U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and in private practice.

Brendan Lillis is an associate at Kloss, Stenger, and LoTempio and is a Registered Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. His practice primarily focuses on Intellectual Property Law, including patent, trademark, copyright prosecution and infringement litigation. In addition, his practice extends to Real Estate Law, Contracts (including patent and trademark licensing/royalty agreements), and Business and Corporate Law. Brendan previously worked as a consultant in the Healthcare Industry for Warp7Software, LLC.

Bradley Stevens defends insured businesses, municipalities, and individuals in a variety of complex liability matters in state and federal trials and appeals throughout New York, and also represents clients before the New York State Division of Human Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Small Claims Court.. Brad’s experience includes counseling and defending numerous municipalities and public entities in matters ranging from inmate confinement conditions to employment discrimination claims. He has successfully drafted and submitted motions for summary judgment resulting in dismissals in both state and federal court, assisted with and second-chaired trials in complex employment practices liability (EPL) matters, and drafted and argued winning appeals before the Third and Fourth Departments of the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division. He has also handled toxic tort matters related to lead paint claims.. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Elmira College, Brad earned an M.B.A. at St. Bonaventure University. He earned his J.D. at Albany Law School, where he served as Note and Comment editor for the Journal of Science and Technology. He graduated cum laude, and was also the Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trial Competition Champion. Before entering private practice, Brad gained experience in several legal internships, including with the New York State Attorney General’s Office Litigation Bureau.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY,  I am very proud to be one of the founding partners of Bennett Schechter Arcuri & Will, LLP.  Focusing my practice primarily in the area of Matrimonial law, I handle all aspects of divorce and post-divorce proceedings, as well as child custody, support and vistation matters. I am experienced trial attorney as well as a trained mediator and collabortive lawyer for those clients that are looking for alternatives to litigation.

BENDERSON DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC (March 2014 - Present )Real estate attorney supporting Benderson's legal leasing department in retail lease negotiations, responsible for: Managing a high volume of leases, which includes but is not limited to negotiating, drafting and revising tenant leases and related agreements. Negotiating leases, lease modifications, waivers, subordination agreements, estoppels, and termination agreements with tenants, attorneys and brokers.. NESPER, FERBER & DiGIACOMO, LLP (March 2001- February 2014)Partner focusing law practice on business and corporate law, which includes, but is not limited to, business formation and dissolution; contract drafting; mergers and acquisitions; purchase and sale of assets; non-competition issues; employment matters; not-for-profit corporations; and other general corporate issues. I also work on real estate transactions, including commercial and residential leases, landlord/tenant issues, sales and purchases, and commercial loan transactions. I also assist clients with elder law issues, estate planning, and the administration of estates. In addition, I work with area fire companies on their legal matters.I focus on: Business & Corporate Law, Employment Law, Real Estate Transactions, Landlord/Tenant Matters, and Estate Probate & Administration.Nesper, Ferber & DiGiacomo has received Tier 1 Ranking in the 2011, 2012 & 2013 Editions of U.S. News- Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.”

Barry N. Covert focuses his practice primarily in the following areas:. Mr. Covert has represented numerous professional clients relating to licensing issues and defended a prominent research scientist against allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct involving several federally funded research projects involving the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). Mr. Covert is currently handling scientific misconduct cases at numerous prominent universities throughout North America.

Attorney Robert Ross Fogg is a proven advocate, both inside and outside of the courtroom. A consummate professional dedicated to serving his clients, Attorney Fogg has successfully litigated a series of notable cases throughout his decade of practice. Mr. Fogg also volunteers his time and expertise as a legal expert and motivational speaker for various community and civic organizations.

ATTORNEY PAUL G. DELL has the experience and skill to aggressively handle a wide range of criminal defense issues for his clients in state & federal courts.. Over the past 22 years, Paul has conducted more than 50 felony jury trials and countless Suppression Hearings. His cases, including many dismissals, are regularly reported in the Media. Paul focuses his practice in Downtown Buffalo - in city, state & federal court.

Attorney Charles A. Messina is a native of Buffalo who has devoted his career to matrimonial and family law.  He graduated from the University of Buffalo Law School (SUNY) in 2004 with honors and established his own family law practice in November of 2009.  Today, Attorney Messina is recognized for his reputation as a knowledgeable resource on the topics of divorce, child custody, and family court proceedings.

Associate General Counsel

Associate Attorney Justin L. Hendricks graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2007 with a major in Political Science and Economics, and a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service.. He graduated Cum Laude from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 2013 where he was Executive Notes Editor of the Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal. Mr. Hendricks also received the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for Excellence in Bankruptcy Award and the Laidlaw Law Alumni Association Award for Best Performance in the area of Commercial Law.. He is admitted to practice in New York State, and is a member of the American Association for Justice, the New York State Bar Association, and the Erie County Bar Association.

Ashlea Palladino focuses her practice on the areas of Matrimonial & Family Law. She assists clients in all aspects of divorce and separation, as well as Family Court issues including custody and child support matters.. Ms. Palladino received her Juris Doctor from Pace University School of law and graduated with an International Law Certificate. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Erie County Bar Association. Ms. Palladino has been selected and named a "Rising Star" by New York Superlawyers, Upstate Edition, annually since 2013.

As senior counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC, William holds a wealth of knowledge about family and criminal law – the latter not only from working as an attorney in the field, but also as a New York State Police trooper and investigator.. William earned his juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo Law School while working as a state trooper in the Cheektowaga barracks. He gained knowledge of all the elements surrounding felony, misdemeanor and DWI cases with his work as a State Trooper, and now uses that knowledge to help clients facing criminal charges.. William also has experience in family and matrimonial law through his private practice work. He has drafted motions in all areas of family law, including divorces, child custody and visitation rights, and he has attended numerous hearings and argued motions before the courts.. William earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Canisius College before pursuing his juris doctorate. Besides his careers with the State Police and as a sole practitioner, William has worked as an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Hilbert College and as an investigator/contractor with a bank.