Split image showing two elements: on the left, a detailed circular emblem featuring a buffalo at the top, shield shapes with letters and symbols inside, and laurel branches around the edge; on the right, a person wearing a dark suit jacket, white dress shirt, and a solid purple necktie against a plain light gray background.

2026 New York City Alumni Luncheon and Jaeckle Award Presentation

University at Buffalo School of Law and the UB Law Alumni Association invite you to attend our rescheduled New York City Alumni Luncheon celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our New York City Program in Business and Law and honoring

David E. Franasiak JD/MBA ’78
Recipient of our 2026 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award

If you already purchased a ticket to the event on its originally scheduled date, you will be automatically registered to attend on March 24th.  If you are not available to attend on the rescheduled date, please email please email law-alumni@buffalo.edu to request a refund.

All others may purchase tickets online by or before Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026
11:30 a.m. - Cocktail Reception
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Luncheon and Ceremony
The Union League Club
38 E 37th St (at Park Ave)
New York, NY 10016 [View Map]

Recipient Bio

A person wearing a dark suit jacket, white dress shirt, and a solid purple necktie, posed against a plain light gray background.

David E. Franasiak ’78 JD/MBA
Principal, William & Jensen PLLC

David E. Franasiak is a principal at Williams & Jensen PLLC and a member of the firm’s executive committee, where he oversees financial management and serves as a trustee of the firm’s pension plans. Since joining Williams & Jensen in1992, David has been a trusted advisor to leading companies, trade associations, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations navigating some of the most complex policy and regulatory challenges in Washington.

With decades of experience at the intersection of tax, securities, financial services, and commercial real estate policy, David is known for his strategic counsel and ability to deliver results on Capitol Hill. His work spans a wide range of issues—from data access and antitrust to financial services and natural resources. He is sought after for his deep knowledge of legislative and administrative processes and his pragmatic approach to problem-solving.

Before joining Williams & Jensen, David served as a principal in the Office of the Chairman at Ernst & Young, where he advised on tax, securities, and financial institution matters. He has held senior roles in government and industry, including director of tax at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and he has handled tax, finance, venture, environmental, and energy issues for British Petroleum. Earlier in his career, he was staff director of the Tax Oversight Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee and worked on the legislative staff of city and county legislatures in New York.

A recognized voice on emerging financial and regulatory topics, David helped develop and launch the law school’s New York City Program in Finance and Law (now the New York City Program in Business and Law). He has taught in the program for the past two decades. His recent courses have explored securitization, cryptocurrency, and commercial real estate.

In 2017, his service and leadership was recognized by the UB Law Alumni Association with a Distinguished Alumni Award for business.

About the Jaeckle Award

The Edwin F. Jaeckle Award is the highest honor the University at Buffalo School of Law and its Law Alumni Association can bestow. The award is given annually to a person who exemplifies the highest ideals of the law school and its alumni association and who has made significant contributions to the school and the legal profession.

The Jaeckle Award is named for Edwin F. Jaeckle ’15, a founding partner of the Buffalo law firm Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, and a major benefactor of the school. Other esteemed members of the legal community who have previously received this award include Hon. Charles S. Desmond, Hon. Matthew J. Jasen, Manly Fleischmann, Jacob D. Hyman, Hon. M. Dolores Denman, William R. Greiner, and Hon. Hugh B. Scott, among others.