Law Alumni Association to honor five distinguished practitioners and a non-alumna

Five alumni who have gone on to succeed in widely varied types of practice will be honored as the UB Law Alumni Association confers Distinguished Alumni Awards at its annual Law Alumni Association Dinner on May 9.

The 57th annual dinner, which also honors a non-alumna, will be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo.

This year’s distinguished alumni honorees include:

May 9, 2019

Time: Cocktail Reception at 5:30 p.m.; Dinner & Awards Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency Buffalo, 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY

Register online to attend the event.

Hon. Alexander W. Hunter, Jr. ’74.

For the Judiciary: Hon. Alexander W. Hunter, Jr. ’74, a United Nations Dispute Tribunal judge, was appointed by the General Assembly in 2016. He hears the appeals of former and current U.N. employees who contest administrative decisions. He previously served in the Bronx as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York from 1994 to 2016, when he retired from the Appellate Term, First Depart. He also served for eight years as a judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York.  He teaches trial advocacy at Pace School of Law and co-authored a chapter on evidence in a book on practice for trial judges.

Caroline A. Wojtaszek ’97.

For Public Service: Caroline A. Wojtaszek ’97, is Niagara County’s District Attorney, the first woman to hold the position in Niagara County. Elected in 2017, Wojtaszek previously served for 12 years as assistant district attorney for Niagara County, and for six years was confidential law clerk to Niagara County Court Judge Sara Sheldon. She has long been a leader in the fight against domestic violence and helped develop Niagara County's domestic violence protocols that later served as a model for district attorneys statewide.

Daniel C. Oliverio ’82.

For Private Practice: Daniel C. Oliverio ’82, of the Buffalo law firm Hodgson Russ LLP. A partner and Chairman Emeritus of the firm, Oliverio has built a nationally recognized practice leading the firm’s False Claims Act & Whistleblower Representation and Business Crimes, Regulatory Offenses & Corporate Investigations. He also is a member of the firm's Business Litigation Practice, leading the litigation of both civil business and white-collar criminal and regulatory matters, including corporate investigations and compliance.

Lenora Foote Beavers ’97.

For Community Service: Lenora B. Foote-Beavers ’97 is Executive Assistant to Presiding Justice Gerald J. Whalen for the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. She previously served as support magistrate for Erie County Family Court for 10 years. Active in the community she gives back by serving on the following boards: Erie Community College Foundation, Western New York Women's Foundation, True Community Development Corporation, Minority Bar Foundation, Inc., Western New York Chapter of the Women's Bar Association of the State of NY, Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, Canisius College Women's Leadership Council, and the Diversity Steering Committee for the Eighth Judicial District. She is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Christopher A. Wightman ’99.

For Business: Christopher A. Wightman ’99 is a partner at PJT Camberview, based in San Francisco. He advises clients on all aspects of corporate governance and shareholder engagement with a focus on shareholder activism, complex proxy voting, and executive compensation matters. Previously, he led the global corporate governance and portfolio compliance oversight programs for Vanguard. He currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council.

 

Ilene R. Fleischmann.

For Outstanding Service to the University and the Community by a Non-Alumnus/a: Ilene R. Fleischmann, vice dean for alumni affairs at the School of Law and executive director of the UB Law Alumni Association. Hired as the Law Alumni Association’s first executive director in 1985, she has served under four UB presidents, eight law school deans, and 33 alumni association presidents, following a career in journalism. She was a founder of many of the school’s signature publications and special events and helps more than 11,500 alumni connect with each other and their alma mater.