Class Action - April '19

Hon. Alexander W. Hunter Jr. ’74 will receive the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for the judiciary on May 9 at the group’s 57th Annual Dinner. Hunter is a United Nations Dispute Tribunal judge in New York City and a resident of White Plains, N.Y.

Hon. Julio M. Fuentes ’75 will receive a SUNY honorary doctorate in laws degree at the School of Law’s commencement ceremony on May 19. Fuentes is a U.S. Circuit judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, in Newark, N.J. He is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for the judiciary and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. Fuentes lives in Caldwell, N.J.

Vikki L. Pryor ’78 of New Rochelle, N.Y., was honored at the School of Law's Students of Color annual dinner on April 11. Pryor is principal and founder of Change Create Transform LLC in Rye Brook, N.Y. She is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association and an emeritus member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.

Daniel C. Oliverio ’82 will receive the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for private practice on May 9 at the association’s 57th Annual Dinner. He is a partner and chairman emeritus with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office and an emeritus member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. Oliverio is a Buffalo resident.  

Matthew G. Shaw ’84 has become director of trade compliance counsel, with Ralph Lauren Corp. in Lyndhurst, N.J. Shaw lives in Scarsdale, N.Y.  

Hon. Lisa Bloch Rodwin ’85, an Erie County Family Court judge in Buffalo, received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the School of Law’s Students of Color. Rodwin is a past recipient of a Distinguished Alumna Award for community service from the Law Alumni Association. She lives in Amherst, N.Y.

James P. Kennedy Jr. ’88, U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York, in Buffalo, will be honored at the Buffalo Law Review’s annual dinner on April 25. Kennedy lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Hon. Craig D. Hannah ’95 will be honored at the Buffalo Law Review’s annual dinner on April 25.  Hannah is a Buffalo City Court judge and supervisor of the Opiate Crisis Intervention Court in Buffalo, the nation’s first opiate intervention court. He is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for the judiciary and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. Hannah is a Buffalo resident.

William J. Karn Jr. ’95 has been named chief of police in Lancaster, N.Y., where he resides. He previously served as captain of the Lancaster Police Department’s detective bureau.

Suzanne Risman ’95, an Orchard Park, N.Y., resident, has been promoted to vice president and general counsel with Lactalis American Group in Buffalo. Lactalis produces Italian and French cheeses under a variety of leading brands.

Lenora B. Foote-Beavers ’97 of Buffalo will receive the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna Award for community service on May 9 at the association’s 57th Annual Dinner. Foote-Beavers is executive assistant to Hon. Gerald Whalen ’83, presiding justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, in Buffalo. She is a past president of the Law Alumni Association.

Caroline A. Wojtaszek ’97 will receive the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna Award for public service on May 9 at the association’s 57th Annual Dinner. She is Niagara County district attorney in Lockport, N.Y., the first woman to hold that position in Niagara County. Wojtaszek lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.  

Joel J. Java Jr. ’98 has become associate general counsel for corporate risk management with Kaleida Health in Buffalo. He lives in West Seneca, N.Y.

Christopher A. Wightman ’99 will receive the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for business on May 9 at the association’s 57th Annual Dinner. Wightman is a partner with PJT Camberview in San Francisco, where he resides. He is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.

Tiffany R. Perry ’00 of Buffalo received a Distinguished Alumna Award from the School of Law’s Students of Color at their 30th annual dinner on April 11. Perry is a court attorney referee with Erie County Family Court in Buffalo. She is a vice president of the Law Alumni Association.  

Suzanne Patrick ’01 has been named director of Equal Opportunity Services and Title IX coordinator with the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she resides. Patrick previously served as compliance officer and Title IX coordinator with Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

Jason J. Almonte ’07 of Brooklyn, N.Y., was promoted to special counsel with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Northeastern District Counsel’s Office, in New York City. He previously served as counsel. Almonte is also president of Chapter 299 of the National Treasury Employees Union.  

Steven C. Mindy ’08 has become a partner with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in the Washington, D.C., office. He is a member of the firm’s employee benefits and executive compensation team. Mindy is a resident of Vienna, Va.

Joshua M. Agins ’10 of Penfield, N.Y., has been elected a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC). He is a partner with Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP in Rochester, N.Y.

Emma L. Buckthal ’10 received the Director’s Community Leadership Award from the FBI in Buffalo. Buckthal is supervising immigration attorney with the Erie County Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers Project in Buffalo. She is a lifetime member of the UB Law Alumni Association. Buckthal lives in Eden, N.Y.

Tiffany D. Bell ’12 was promoted from senior associate to partner with Andreozzi Bluestein LLP in Buffalo, where she resides. She focuses her practice on tax controversy, individual and corporate litigation, and international tax compliance.

Nate T. Yohannes ’12 received the Trailblazer Award from the School of Law’s Students of Color at their 30th annual dinner on April 11. He is director of corporate strategy and business development with Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence unit in San Francisco, where he resides.

Shannon B. Howley ’15 has become associated with Barclay Damon LLP in the Buffalo office. She is a member of the mass & toxic torts, professional liability and torts & products liability defense practice areas, defending companies and individuals in all stages of state and federal civil litigation in matters involving mass and toxic torts, motor vehicle accidents, and premises liability. Howley lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Anna S.M. McCarthy ’15 received the 2019 Excellence in Law Award from the Daily Record. She is an associate with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, in Buffalo, practicing labor and employment law. McCarthy lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Derek C. Kettner ’16 has joined Harter Secrest & Emery LLP as an associate in the firm’s private equity and venture capital practice in the Buffalo office. Kettner resides in Amherst, N.Y.

Sarah N. Rodman ’16 has become associated with Feldman Kieffer LLP, practicing medical malpractice defense. She lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Robert M. Zielinski ’16 has joined Gross Shuman P.C. as an associate in the Buffalo office, counseling clients on a variety of business and corporate matters including business formations, agreements, mergers & acquisitions and securities law. Zielinski lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Jordan S. Joseph ’17 joined Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP as an associate in the Buffalo office. She practices in the firm’s real estate practice group. Jordan is a Buffalo resident. 

Krystal C. Chapin ’18 has joined Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson as an associate in the New York City office. She practices in the firm’s real estate practice group. Chapin is a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Joshua D. Mertzlufft ’18 has become an associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office. Mertzlufft practices in the intellectual property and technology practice group. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Peter A. Sahasrabudhe ’18 has joined Hodgson Russ LLP as an associate in the Buffalo office, practicing business litigation. He is a Buffalo resident.

Emma M. Savino ’18 of Amherst, N.Y., has become associated with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office. She has joined the firm’s state and local tax practice.

David J. Yovanoff ’18 is an associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office, practicing corporate and business law. He lives in Buffalo.

James J. Zawodzinski Jr. ’18 has joined Hodgson Russ LLP as an associate in the Buffalo office. He practices in the firm’s business litigation practice.  Zawodzinski lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Rochester Business Journal and The Daily Record Corporate Counsel Honorees:

• Daniel DeLaus Jr. ’87, Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, Rochester, N.Y.
• Robert S. Attardo ’92, LaBella Associates, Rochester, N.Y.
• Jeffrey A. Rosenbloom ’98, Avangrid Networks Inc., Rochester, N.Y.

Rochester Business Journal Women of Excellence Awardees:

• Lisa Baron ’86, Greentopia, Rochester, N.Y.
• Hon. Kristina A. Karle ’97, Ontario County Court, Canandaigua, N.Y.
• Elaine M. Spaull ’98, Center for Youth Services, Rochester, N.Y.

• Thomas R. Beecher Jr. ’59, Barrantys LLC, Buffalo
• Carl J. Montante ’67, Uniland Development Co., Amherst, N.Y.
• Thomas M. Montante ’68, Montante Group LLC, Tonawanda, N.Y.
  
• Terrence M. Connors ’71, Connors LLP, Buffalo
• David J. Colligan ’77, Colligan Law LLP, Buffalo
• Ann E. Evanko ’79, Hurwitz & Fine P.C., Buffalo
  
• Ronald J. Tanski ’79, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., Williamsville, N.Y.
• Hon. Paula L. Feroleto ’82, New York State Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, Buffalo
• Rick W. Kennedy ’82, Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo

• Daniel C. Oliverio ’82, Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo
• Hon. Gerald James Whalen ’83, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, Buffalo
• Hon. Eugene M. Fahey ’84, New York State Court of Appeals, Buffalo
• Richard J. Cohen ’89, Goldberg Segalla, Buffalo    
• Kevin B. Quinn ’89, HSBC Bank USA, Buffalo
• Daniel J. Scully ’89, Buffalo Medical Group, Williamsville, N.Y.
  
• Eric L. Recoon ’90, Benderson Development Co., Buffalo
• John J. Flynn Jr. ’95, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Buffalo     
• Christopher L. Jacobs ’99, New York State Senate, Albany, N.Y.
• Peter J. Savage III ’03, County of Erie, Buffalo