Class Action - January '20

Richard F. Griffin ’57 received the Champion for Justice Award from the Bar Association of Erie County’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, in Buffalo. Griffin is a partner with Kavinoky Cook LLP in Buffalo, where he resides. He is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award for private practice.

Robert N. Gottfried ’75 has been named to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list for 2019. He is a partner with Gottfried & Gottfried LLP in New York City. Gottfried lives in Plainview, N.Y.  

Hon. Richard C. Kloch Sr. ’76, Niagara County Supreme Court justice in Lockport, N.Y., was named Jurist of the Year by the Western New York regional affiliate of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association in Buffalo. Kloch lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

David J. Clegg ’77 was elected Ulster County district attorney in Kingston, N.Y., where he resides. Clegg was previously a solo practitioner in Kingston.   

James M. Morrissey ’78 received the In-House Volunteer Award from the Bar Association of Erie County’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, in Buffalo. Morrissey is a former assistant attorney general with the New York State Attorney General’s Office in Buffalo, where he resides.

Hon. Michael M. Mohun ’80 will receive the Vincent E. Doyle Jr. Award for outstanding judicial contribution in the criminal justice system from the New York State Bar Association at their annual meeting on January 29. Mohun is a Wyoming County Court judge in Warsaw, N.Y. He lives in Cowlesville, N.Y.

Michael A. Battle ’81 will receive the 2020 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award at the School of Law’s New York City Alumni Luncheon on Jan. 31 at the Union League Club in Manhattan. Battle is a partner with Barnes & Thornburg in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council, the National Advisory Board of the Advocacy Institute, and a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award for Community Service. Battle lives in Arlington, VA.

Josephine A. Greco ’81 received the C-Level Executive Award from Buffalo Business First. Greco is a partner with Greco Trapp PLLC in Buffalo. She is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. Greco lives in Alden, N.Y.

David C. Schopp ’82 of Buffalo was named executive director of the Chief Defenders Association of New York for a one-year term. The association advocates for organizations to promote positive change in the criminal justice system. Schopp is CEO of the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo.

Hon. Kathy J. King ’84 was installed as director of District 2 of the National Association of Women Judges and was also elected secretary of its board. She is a Kings County Supreme Court justice in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she resides. King is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association.

Anna Marie Richmond ’84 received the Federal Court Help Desk Award from the Bar Association of Erie County’s Volunteer Lawyers Project in Buffalo, where she resides. She is a solo practitioner in Buffalo practicing civil rights and discrimination litigation.

Lynn W. Catalano ’97 has been named president of the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Foundation in Niagara Falls, N.Y. She previously served as executive director of the Mount St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation in Lewiston, N.Y., where she resides.

Scott A. Bylewski ’98 was named director of Real Property Tax Services for the County of Erie in Buffalo. He previously served as the county’s deputy budget director. Bylewski is a resident of Clarence Center, N.Y. 

Bridget M. O'Connell ’98 was named Lawyer of the Year by the Women Lawyers of Western New York, in Buffalo. O’Connell is a court attorney referee and alternative dispute resolution coordinator for New York State's 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Judicial Districts and Court of Claims. She is president of the Bar Association of Erie County in Buffalo, where she resides.

Hon. Bahaati E. Pitt ’98 was elected a New York State Supreme Court justice, 12th Judicial District, in Bronx, N.Y., where she resides. She previously served as a Bronx Criminal Court judge.

Hon. Russell B. Klein ’99 was appointed a district court judge, U.S. District Court, 1st Judicial District in Golden, Colo. Klein previously served as a senior assistant attorney general in the civil litigation and employment section of the Colorado Attorney General Office in Denver. He is a resident of Superior, Colo.

Christopher A. Wightman ’99 has been named chair of the Law School’s Dean’s Advisory Council. Wightman is a partner with PJT Camberview in San Francisco, where he resides. He is a past recipient of the Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for business and a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association.

Karlee S. Bolanos ’01 has become a partner with Bolanos Lowe in Pittsford, N.Y., where she resides. She counsels clients regarding labor and employment and corporate law.  

Destin C. Santacrose ’02 received the Sherwood Civility Award from the Defense Trial Lawyers Association of Western New York, in Buffalo. Santacrose is managing attorney for Liberty Mutual Group’s in-house counsel office in Buffalo, where he resides.

Elizabeth M. Klarin ’04 has been elected a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in the Buffalo office. She is a member of the firm’s immigration and cross-border practice groups. Klarin lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Yadira Ramos-Herbert ’05 was elected to the New Rochelle City Council, District 3, in New Rochelle, N.Y., where she resides. She is the dean of students at Columbia Law School in New York City.

David M. Gottfried ’09 of Plainview, N.Y., has been named to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list for 2019. Gottfried is a partner with Gottfried & Gottfried LLP in New York City.

Joshua M. Henry ’09 has been promoted to a managing partner with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP. He practices in the firm’s insurance defense practice group in the Buffalo office. Henry is a resident of Orchard Park, N.Y.

Nicholas J. Hoffman ’10 was elected a partner with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in the Buffalo office. He represents domestic and international clients in many different types of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions. Hoffman lives in West Seneca, N.Y.   

Aaron M. Adoff ’11 has been promoted to partner with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP in Buffalo. Adoff counsels clients regarding construction risk management and insurance defense. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Melissa C. Bennett ’11 has been promoted to a partner with Barclay Damon LLP in the Albany, N.Y., office. Bennett is a member of the public finance, financial institutions and lending and corporate practice areas. She is a resident of Watervliet, N.Y.

Amanda B. Burns ’11 of Webster, N.Y., has been promoted to a partner with Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP in Rochester, N.Y. She handles matters regarding insurance recovery and counseling, labor and employment, medical malpractice, product liability and tort defense.

Thomas J. Fennell ’11 has been promoted to partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in Buffalo. Fennel is a member of the firm’s real estate practice team. He is a resident of Lake View, N.Y.

Marshall H. Fiese ’11 was appointed director of labor relations for the St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Board of Education in Canton, N.Y. He previously served as supervisory attorney with the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Social Security Administration in Arlington, Va., where he resides.

Emily G. Hannigan ’11 of Delmar, N.Y., has been promoted to partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in the Albany, N.Y., office. Hannigan is a member of the firm’s labor and employment practice team.   

Aalok J. Karambelkar ’11 has been promoted to partner with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP in the firm’s insurance defense group in Buffalo, where he resides.

Anant Kishore ’11 has been promoted to partner with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP in Buffalo. He practices in state and federal court in civil and commercial litigation matters. Kishore lives in East Amherst, N.Y.  

Nevin F. Murchie ’11 received the Immigration Award from the Bar Association of Erie County’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, in Buffalo. He is a solo practitioner in Williamsville, N.Y., focusing his practice in immigration, real estate and business law. Murchie is a resident of Clarence, N.Y.

Brendan M. Sheehan ’11 was promoted to a partner with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in the Syracuse, N.Y., office, practicing litigation. He lives in Skaneateles, N.Y.

Kaitlyn M. Faucett ’12 has joined Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC as an associate practicing civil litigation in Houston, where she resides.

Brent C. Seymour ’12 has become a partner with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP in Buffalo, practicing civil litigation. He is a Buffalo resident.

Sean M. O'Brien ’13 has been promoted to senior associate with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in Buffalo. O’Brien is a member of the firm’s asset receivable management and consumer financial services and litigation practice teams. He lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.  

Eliza Friedman Shea ’14 of Chicago has been promoted to senior associate with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in the firm’s Chicago’s office. She is a member of the firm’s corporate and securities practice team.    

Sean P. Balkin ’15 has been promoted to senior associate with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in Buffalo, where he resides. He is a member of the firm’s corporate and securities practice team.

Christina M. Gullo ’15 received the Rising Champion for Justice Award from the Bar Association of Erie County’s Volunteer Lawyers Project in Buffalo, where she resides. Gullo practices with The Kantor Law Firm PLLC in Williamsville, N.Y.   

Kayla E. Leonard ’18 has joined Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP as an associate practicing in the insurance defense department in the Buffalo office. Leonard lives in West Seneca, N.Y.

Emma M. Savino ’18 of Amherst, N.Y., received the Income Tax Controversy Award from the Bar Association of Erie County’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, in Buffalo. She is an associate with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, in the firm’s state and local tax practice.  

Carolyn L. DeVaughn ’19 is practicing as an associate with Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, where she resides. She practices in estate planning, estate and trust administration and education law.

Thomas R. Grenke ’19 has become associated with Goldberg Segalla LLP in Buffalo, representing clients in the firm’s retail and hospitality group. Grenke lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

William H. Hython ’19 has joined Hancock Estabrook LLP as an associate in the Syracuse, N.Y., office, practicing litigation. Hython is a Syracuse resident.

Stephen C. Papia ’19 has become associated with Bargnesi Britt PLLC in Buffalo, practicing litigation. He is a Buffalo resident.

Rebecca R. Rabideau ’19 has joined Gross Shuman P.C. as an associate, counseling clients regarding personal injury, labor and employment and commercial litigation in the Buffalo office. Rabideau lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Alex Vacco ’19 has become associated with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in the Buffalo office. He is a member of the firm’s asset receivable management and consumer financial services practice team. Vacco lives in Boston, N.Y.

Lauren L. Wardynski ’19 is practicing as an associate with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP  in the firm’s self-insured and insurance defense litigation group in Buffalo. Wardynski is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.