Class Action - October '14

Maryann Saccomando Freedman ’58 was listed in the 2014 Lawyers Who Lead by Example in the pro bono category by the New York Law Journal. Freedman is of counsel with Cohen & Lombardo in Buffalo, where she resides.

Gerald S. Lippes ’64 is listed in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. He is founder and senior partner with the Buffalo firm Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman. Lippes is a past recipient of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association's Jaeckle and Distinguished Alumnus awards. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Robert B. Conklin ’68 received the Special Service Award from the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, at the 24th annual Western District of New York Federal Court Dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester, N.Y. Conklin, of counsel with Hodgson Russ in the Buffalo office, is an emeritus member of the Law School’s Dean’s Advisory Council. He lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Hon. Paul L. Friedman '68, a U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia, was joined by his former clerks, colleagues, friends and family for the unveiling of his portrait which will be displayed on a rotating basis with other judicial portraits in the ceremonial courtroom of the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, DC. He resides in Washington.

Alan S. Wexler ’70 was named in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. Wexler is a partner and founder with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo, practicing in the real estate practice group. He lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

William E. Mathias II ’71, managing partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo, is listed in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. He counsels clients regarding business and corporate law and financial transactions. Mathias is a Buffalo resident.

Mark G. Farrell ’72, retired Amherst, N.Y., town justice, was elected to the board of directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling. He is a past recipient of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award and is a past president of the University at Buffalo Alumni Association and the Law Alumni Association. Farrell is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Thomas F. Segalla ’72 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. Segalla is a founding partner of Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo. He lives in Eggertsville, N.Y.

Paul R. Comeau ’73 is listed in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. He is a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, practicing tax and estate planning. Comeau lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Neil A. Goldberg ’73, a founding partner with Goldberg Segalla, practicing litigation in the Buffalo office, is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. Goldberg lives in Eden, N.Y.

Helen Osgood ’74 has been named in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. She is a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in the Buffalo office, practicing banking and finance. Osgood lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Dianne Bennett ’75 and her husband, William Graebner, co-authored the guidebook Modern Rome: 4 Great Walks for the Curious Traveler. The guidebook earned the 2014 Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Travel Guidebooks by eLitAwards.com and the Jenkins Group. Bennett is of counsel with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, where she resides.  

William F. Savino ’75 has joined Woods Oviatt Gilman as a partner in the Buffalo office. He concentrates his practice in business litigation and insolvency. Savino was previously a senior partner and chairman of the business litigation and insolvency department in the Buffalo office of Damon Morey. He is the 2014 recipient of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for business. Savino is a bridge course lecturer at the Law School, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and a past president of the Law Alumni Association. He lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Diane F. Bosse ’76 was elected to the Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. Bosse is of counsel with Hurwitz & Fine in Buffalo. She lives in Clarence, N.Y.

Louis P. DiLorenzo ’76 was listed among “The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys” by Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon. DiLorenzo is managing partner in the labor, employment, employee benefits and immigration practice group with Bond Schoeneck & King in the New York City office. He is an emeritus member of the Law School's Dean's Advisory Council.

Edward J. Kelly ’76 has received a second Fulbright Scholar Fellowship to teach negotiation and mediation at Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius, Lithuania, for the spring 2015 semester. His first fellowship was in Ukraine in 2003. Kelly is university counsel at East Tennessee State University and Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tenn. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Va. Kelly lives in Jonesborough, Tenn.

Rodney O. Personius ’76 of Hamburg, N.Y., received the Criminal Justice Award from the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, at the 24th annual Western District of New York Federal Court Dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester, N.Y. He is a partner with Personius Melber in Buffalo, counseling clients regarding white-collar criminal defense, business and commercial litigation, false claims act, health care fraud and complex litigation.

Sanford C. Presant ’76 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America in the tax category. Presant is a partner and chair of the real estate fund practice with Greenberg Traurig in Los Angeles, where he resides.

Laurence K. Rubin ’77 was elected chairman of the board of Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County. Rubin is a partner with Kavinoky Cook, specializing in public and private development, real property law and municipal law. He lives in Buffalo.

Garry M. Graber ’78 has been named in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. Graber is a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, and a member of the Law School's Dean's Advisory Council. He is a past president of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association, a past recipient of the association's Distinguished Alumnus Award and an adjunct faculty member at the Law School. Graber lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

John N. Lipsitz ’78 is listed in Super Lawyers 2014. Lipsitz is founding partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio in Buffalo, where he resides. He handles cases involving toxic torts including asbestos and mesothelioma.

Ann E. Evanko ’79 received the Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of Western New York. Evanko is president of Hurwitz & Fine in Buffalo, concentrating her practice in business and employment law. She is founder and a past president of the Western New York Chapter of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. Evanko is a member of the Law School’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Daniel P. Forsyth ’81 has been named 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in Buffalo in the labor law management category by The Best Lawyers in America. Forsyth is a partner in the Buffalo firm Bond Schoeneck & King, practicing in the labor and employment department. He resides in Lewiston, N.Y.

Daniel C. Oliverio ’82 has been named in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. He is chair of Hodgson Russ and leader of the false claims act and business crimes practice groups in the Buffalo, New York City and Toronto offices. Oliverio lives in Buffalo.

Cheryl A. Possenti ’82 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. Possenti is a founding partner of the Buffalo-based law firm Goldberg Segalla. She concentrates her practice in product liability and professional malpractice actions. Possenti lives in Clarence, N.Y.

Hon. Colleen A. Brown ’83 has been reappointed U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Rutland, Vt. She is a resident of Middlebury, Vt.

Robert J. Lane Jr. ’83, a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, is listed in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. He practices commercial litigation. Lane lives in Lake View, N.Y.

Benjamin M. Zuffranieri Jr. ’83 has been named in the Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal 2014 Western New York Legal Elite. Zuffranieri is partner and head of the business litigation practice area with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Perry Binder ’84, John Thielman ’87 and Thomas J. Colson ’88 have created a digital certificate program in intellectual property at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, in Atlanta. Binder, a legal studies professor at Georgia State, resides in Alpharetta, Ga.

George W. Collins Jr. ’84 of Amherst, N.Y., is named in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the personal injury litigation-defendants category. Collins is a partner with Bouvier Partnership in Buffalo.

John P. Freedenberg ’84 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. He is a founding partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo, practicing personal injury law. Freedenberg lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Kenneth W. Africano ’85 is listed in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. Africano is a litigation partner with Harter Secrest & Emery in Buffalo and is a former member of the board of directors of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. He lives in Snyder, N.Y.

Brian V. McAvoy ’85 is named in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the trusts and estates category. He is a partner with Roetzel & Andress in the Naples, Fla., office. He counsels clients regarding estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate litigation, and general business and real estate law. McAvoy lives in Naples.

Alberto Manuel Benitez ’86 completed the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14. He is a professor of clinical law and director of the Immigration Clinic at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. Benitez lives in Alexandria, Va.

Donna L. Burden ’87 presented “It’s a Motor Carrier, It’s a Broker, It’s a Freight Forwarder, It’s Your Client” at the 2014 Transportation Lawyers Association Annual Conference/Canadian Transport Lawyers Association Midyear Meeting. She also presented “Major Claims From Minor Head Injuries – The New Age of Major Traumatic Brain Injuries” at the 2014 Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Upstate New York Chapter Meeting. Burden is a founding member of Burden Gulisano & Hickey in Buffalo, focusing on defending catastrophic transportation accidents. She is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Hugh M. Russ III ’87, a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, is listed in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. Russ lives in Snyder, N.Y.

John P. Thielman ’87 of Alpharetta, Ga., Perry Binder ’84 and Thomas J. Colson ’88 have created a digital certificate program in intellectual property at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, in Atlanta. Thielman is associate director of the college’s Center for the Economic Analysis of Risk.

Thomas J. Colson ’88, Perry Binder ’84 and John Thielman ’87 have created a digital certificate program in intellectual property at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, in Atlanta. Colson is founder and CEO of Executive IP in Buffalo.

Terrence M. Gilbride ’88 has been named in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. Gilbride is a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, practicing in real estate, public finance, higher education, commercial leasing and public/private partnerships. He is immediate past president of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. Gilbride lives in Eggertsville, N.Y.

Cora A. Alsante ’88 is named in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. She is a partner with Hancock Estabrook in Syracuse, N.Y., practicing estate planning, trusts, planning for the elderly and disabled, and estate and trust administration. Alsante lives in Jamesville, N.Y.

Richard J. Cohen ’89 of Williamsville, N.Y., is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. He is managing partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo and co-chair of the global insurance practice group, chair of the professional liability practice group and a member of the sports and entertainment practice group. 

Sean P. Beiter ’91 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. He is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in the Buffalo office, practicing labor and employment law and public-sector law, and handling discipline and discharge proceedings and grievance arbitration. Beiter lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Anthony L. Eugeni ’91 has joined Woods Oviatt Gilman as a partner in the Buffalo office. He handles cases involving corporate and commercial transactions, business formations, mergers and acquisitions, and represents lenders and borrowers in debt-based finance transactions. Eugeni was previously a senior partner with Damon Morey in Buffalo. He lives in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Thomas P. Cunningham ’92 is listed in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. He is a managing partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham & Coppola in Buffalo, practicing litigation. Cunningham is a past member of the board of directors of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association.

Michael T. Feeley ’92 of Amherst, N.Y., is named in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. He is a partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham & Coppola in the Buffalo office, practicing insurance defense litigation, insurance coverage, municipal defense and commercial litigation.

Trini E. Ross ’92 received the Trailblazer Award from the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, in Buffalo. She is chief of the fraud and corruption section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, in Buffalo. Ross is an emeritus member of the Law School’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She is a Buffalo resident.

Christopher J. Belter ’93 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. He is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo, practicing commercial litigation. Belter lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Thomas J. Cannavo ’93 has become a partner with Smith Sovik in the Buffalo office, practicing civil litigation. Cannavo was former principal law clerk to Erie County Supreme Court Justice Hon. Henry J. Nowak Jr. ’93 in Buffalo, where he resides.

John J. Jablonski ’93 has been named in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. He is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo, specializing in litigation. Jablonski is a past member of the board of directors of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Jeffrey F. Baase ’94, a partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham & Coppola in Buffalo, is listed in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. He practices insurance coverage and defense litigation and products liability and subrogation. Baase lives in East Aurora, N.Y

John P. Comerford ’95 is listed in Super Lawyers 2014. He is a partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio in Buffalo. He counsels clients regarding asbestos personal injury matters. Comerford lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Hilary C. Banker ’96 received the M. Dolores Denman Justice Award from the Western New York Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York. Banker is a partner with Burgio Kita Curvin & Banker, practicing civil litigation and insurance defense law, in Buffalo, where she resides.

Jeffrey C. Stravino ’97 of Grand Island, N.Y., has been named in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. He is a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, practicing business and environmental litigation.

Brian J. Bocketti ’98 is listed in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America. He is a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo, concentrating his practice in banking and finance. Bocketti lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Jodyann Galvin ’98 is listed in the 2014 Western New York Legal Elite by Buffalo Business First and the Buffalo Law Journal. Galvin, a partner in the business litigation practice group of Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, lives in East Aurora, N.Y.

Kathleen A. Garvey ’98 received the 2014 Legionnaire of the Year Award from the Erie County American Legion in Buffalo. Garvey is past commander of Erie County Women’s Post 1586 American Legion. She practices and resides in Kenmore, N.Y.

Brian D. Gwitt ’98 of Amherst, N.Y., has become a partner with Woods Oviatt Gilman in the Buffalo office, practicing business and commercial litigation. Gwitt was previously a senior partner with Damon Morey in Buffalo. He is assistant treasurer of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association.

Marc W. Brown ’99 was appointed vice chair of the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Title Insurance Litigation Committee. He will also chair the committee’s Long-Range Strategic Planning Subcommittee. Brown is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in the Buffalo office. He practices business and commercial litigation. Brown is vice president of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y. 

Robert J. Gutowski ’99 was named head of internal audit with MSCI Inc. in New York City. He will continue to serve as deputy general counsel and global head of compliance. Gutowski is chair of the New York City chapter of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. He lives in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Kimberly Kayiwa ’99 has become a senior claims examiner with Medmarc Insurance Group in Chantilly, Va. She lives in Fairfax, Va.

Stephanie A. Miner ’99 received the 2014 Trailblazer Award for professional achievement by a graduate of SUNY Buffalo Law School from the Law Alumni Association. Miner is mayor of Syracuse, N.Y., where she resides. 

Amy L. Hemenway ’01 has been named in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. Hemenway is a partner with Harter Secrest & Emery in the Buffalo office. She focuses her practice in federal and state court litigation as well as administrative proceedings involving labor and employment matters. Hemenway lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Marco Cercone ’02, a partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham & Coppola in Buffalo, is listed in the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. He lives in West Seneca, N.Y.

Andrew Miller ’04 has become a partner with Webster Szanyi in Buffalo. He handles cases involving commercial and business litigation. Miller previously practiced with Lipsitz Green Scime & Cambria in Buffalo. He resides in Kenmore, N.Y.

Nicholas M. Warner ’04 has been promoted to partner with Segar & Sciortino in Rochester, N.Y., where he resides. He practices workers’ compensation law.

Paul J. Avery ’05 has been named to the 2014 Super Lawyers Upstate New York Rising Stars list. He is an associate with Bond Schoeneck & King in the Syracuse, N.Y., office, practicing business law. Avery lives in Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Jamie J. Batt ’05 is listed in the 2014 Super Lawyers Upstate New York Rising Stars. She is a partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham & Coppola in Buffalo, focusing on business organization, contract drafting, and mergers and acquisitions. Batt lives in Snyder, N.Y.

Melissa A. Cavagnaro ’05 has become a partner with Mattingly Cavagnaro in Buffalo, practicing matrimonial and family law. She previously practiced with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria in Buffalo, where she resides.

Matthew R. Coseo ’05 received the 2014 Liberty Bell Award from the Saratoga County Bar Association in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was also named a 2014 Adirondack and Capital Region “20 Under 40” honoree by the Glens Falls Post Star. Coseo is an assistant district attorney with the Saratoga County district attorney’s office in Ballston Spa, N.Y. He is a resident of Saratoga Springs.

Joseph M. Hanna ’05 received the Legal Service Award from the Minority Bar Association of Western New York in Buffalo. Hanna is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo. He is president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York Foundation in Buffalo, a past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York and a member of the board of directors of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. Hanna resides in Amherst, N.Y.

Anne E. Joynt ’05 is listed in Super Lawyers 2014. She is a junior partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio in Buffalo, concentrating her practice in childhood lead paint litigation and personal injury. Joynt is a member of the board of directors of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. She lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Keith R. Vona ’05, a junior partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio in Buffalo, is listed in Super Lawyers 2014. Vona practices in the area of asbestos and mesothelioma litigation and lead paint poisoning. He lives in East Aurora, N.Y. 

Robert C. Whitaker Jr. ’05 of Camillus, N.Y., has been named in the 2014 Super Lawyers Upstate New York Rising Stars Edition. Whitaker is a partner with Hancock Estabrook in Syracuse, N.Y. He practices in the labor and employment, construction and intellectual property practice groups.

Rachelle S. Mercier ’06 has become manager of health care policy and analysis with the Massachusetts Hospital Association in Boston. She provides legal and regulatory updates and counsel to members of the association. Mercier lives in Cambridge, Mass.

Beverley S. Braun ’07 received the Pro Bono Award from the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, at the 24th annual Western District of New York Federal Court Dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester, N.Y. Braun is an associate with Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel in the Buffalo office, practicing business and commercial litigation. She is a member of the board of directors of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association. She lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Sarah E. Hansen ’07 was appointed to the Defense Research Institute Young Lawyers steering committee as vice chair of The Whisper, a monthly newsletter. She is an associate with Burden Gulisano & Hickey in Buffalo, concentrating her practice in personal injury involving trucking and transportation accidents, motor vehicle accidents and premises liability. Hansen is a resident of East Aurora, N.Y.

Erin Sylvester Torcello ’07 of Buffalo has been listed in the 2014 Super Lawyers Upstate New York Rising Stars Edition. She is an associate with Bond Schoeneck & King in the Buffalo office, practicing labor and employment law.

Daniel J. Pautz ’08, an associate with Bond Schoeneck & King in the Syracuse, N.Y., office, has been named to the 2014 Super Lawyers Upstate New York Rising Stars Edition. Pautz practices litigation including toxic tort and environmental litigation. He is a Syracuse resident.

Kathleen S. Weber ’08 has become associated with Hiscock & Barclay in the Syracuse, N.Y., office. Weber practices corporate and tax law. She lives in Liverpool, N.Y. 

Anant Kishore ’11 is practicing as an associate with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak in the Buffalo office. He practices insurance defense litigation and commercial litigation. Kishore previously practiced with Harter Secrest & Emery in Rochester, N.Y.

Lindsay M. McKenna ’11 was elected to the board of directors of Autism Services, in Williamsville, N.Y. She is an associate with Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel in the Buffalo office, practicing in the estates and trusts practice group. McKenna lives in Clarence, N.Y.

Nicole Middleton ’11 has joined HoganWillig as an associate in Amherst, N.Y., practicing civil litigation and business and corporate law. She previously practiced with Schröder Joseph & Associates in Buffalo, where she resides.

Matthew R. Palmieri ’11 has become associated with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo, practicing commercial real estate. He previously practiced with Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel in the Buffalo office. Palmieri is a Buffalo resident.

Paul S. DiCola ’13 of Mount Morris, N.Y., has become third assistant public defender with the Allegany County public defender’s office in Belmont, N.Y.

Micelle Ragusa ’13 has joined Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak as an associate in the Buffalo office, practicing insurance defense litigation. She is a Buffalo resident.

Timothy S. Rentschler ’14 is practicing as an associate with Vinal & Vinal in Buffalo. He handles cases involving no-fault arbitration and litigation. Rentschler lives in Amherst, N.Y.