2023 UB Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards

Zoom image: Left to right: Sen. Shelley Mayer, Hon. Kathy J. King, Marc A. Alpert, James W. Grable, Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford, Anne E. Joynt Group of people standing: Sen. Shelley Mayer, Hon. Kathy J. King, Marc A. Alpert, James W. Grable, Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford, Anne E. Joynt.

Left to right: Sen. Shelley Mayer, Hon. Kathy J. King, Marc A. Alpert, James W. Grable, Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford, Anne E. Joynt

At the 60th UB School of Law Alumni Association Annual Dinner and Presentation of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards, five alumni and one non-alumna were recognized for the valuable contributions that they have made to their profession and community.

About this Interview

Date

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Place

Hyatt Regency Buffalo
2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo

Watch the Video

Explore the Video Index

magnifying glass over an icon of a video player.

Click to browse and search the indexed media:

  • View segment-level summaries
  • Keyword search and navigation
  • Data linked to corresponding video segment
See more context

Honorees

Award for the Judiciary: Hon. Kathy J. King ’84

Justice, New York State Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, New York City. For her conscientious and diligent performance in the judiciary. Presented by Diane M. Perri Roberts ’90

Award for Private Practice: James W. Grable Jr. ’96

Partner, Connors LLP., Buffalo. For his leadership by example as a private practitioner. Presented by Robert C. Brucato ’90

Award for Public Service: Hon. Shelley B. Mayer ’79

Senator, New York State Senate, 37th District, Westchester, N.Y. For her commitment to public service. Presented by Diane M. Perri Roberts ’90

Award for Community Service: Anne E. Joynt ’05

Partner, Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford LLC, Buffalo. For her many contributions to the betterment of our community. Presented by Robert C. Brucato ’90

Award for Business Achievement: Marc A. Alpert ’86

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Loews Corp., New York City. For his exemplary performance in business. Presented by Robert C. Brucato ’90

Award for Service by a Non-Alumna: Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford

Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, Rochester, N.Y. For Outstanding Service to the University and the Community by a Non-Alumna. Presented by Diane M. Perri Roberts ’90

Speakers and Co-Chairs

Master of Ceremonies: Elizabeth A. Kraengel ’07, President, UB Law Alumni Association. Remarks were presented by Aviva Abramovsky, Dean, University at Buffalo School of Law; A. Scott Weber, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University at Buffalo; Michael J. Hecker ’09, Diane M. Perri Roberts ’90 and Robert C. Brucato ’90

Dinner Co-Chairs were Robert C. Brucato ’90 and Diane M. Perri Roberts ’90

Interviews Featuring These Awardees

  • Hon. Kathy J. King ’84
    12/1/25
    Hon. Kathy J. King ’84, justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, New York City. A Caribbean American, she is committed to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession for women in the United States and throughout the world.
  • James W. Grable ’96
    12/1/25
    James W. Grable Jr. ’96, a partner in the Buffalo law firm Connors LLP, focuses his practice on complex federal criminal and civil litigation, handling trial and appellate matters in federal and state courts.
  • NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer ’79
    12/1/25
    Sen. Shelley B. Mayer ’79 is a Democratic New York State Senate member representing the 37 Senate District. She is chair of the Committee on Education. Before her Senate election in 2018 and three subsequent re-elections, she served in the state Assembly for six years.
  • Anne E. Joynt ’05
    12/1/25
    Anne E. Joynt ’05, a personal injury partner with Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford LLC, has been involved in volunteer leadership roles in multiple legal and non-legal organizations in Western New York, including as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the law school and president of the UB Law Alumni Association.
  • Marc A. Alpert ’86
    12/1/25
    Marc A. Alpert ’86, among our most prominent alumni in New York City, is senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for the Loews Corp., a global, diversified holding company with businesses in the insurance, energy, hospitality and packaging industries, headquartered in New York City.
  • Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford
    4/4/26
    Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford, chief judge of the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, is the first female judge to serve in the WDNY and the first woman to be its chief judge. Nominated by President Barack Obama in 2013, she became chief judge in 2021.