Class Action - July 2025

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'80s

Hon. Lois S. Bloom ’85 was appointed to the New York City Bar Fund Board for 2025-26. Bloom is a retired chief magistrate judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York.

Bradley K. Gordon ’88, executive director and staff attorney with UpSide413, formerly the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority, in Pittsfield, Mass., has been appointed to the Massachusetts Governor’s Housing Advisory Council.

'90s

Melanie C. Marotto ’92 was appointed co-managing partner of the Buffalo office with Harris Beach Murtha. She is a member of the firm’s commercial real estate practice group, as well as the real estate developers, energy, financial institutions and higher education industry teams. 

Hon. Monica P. Wallace ’94, former New York State Assembly member for the 143rd District, was appointed a judge of the New York State Court of Claims. She most recently served as a clinical teaching faculty member at the School of Law.

Stephen L. Yonaty ’94 was named managing partner with Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP in Buffalo, practicing in the areas of affordable housing and community development, historic preservation, New Markets Tax Credits and New York Practice.

Stephanie (Cole) Adams ’99 will be a contributing author in the upcoming 11th Edition of the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Manual. She recently represented the New York Library Association in an amicus brief regarding school library content selection. Her firm, The Law Office of Stephanie Adams PLLC in Buffalo, represents libraries across New York in matters ranging from premises liability and construction to human resources and censorship.

Woman smiling, wear black blazer and glasses.

Melanie C. Marotto ’92

Woman, smiling.

Hon. Monica P. Wallace ’94

Man wearing glasses, black vest with text that says Channon Heyman & Weiss, LLP.

Stephen L. Yonaty ’94

Woman wearing glasses, standing in front of a mural.

Stephanie (Cole) Adams ’99

'00s

Timothy C. Muck ’02 was elected a trustee of the Monroe County Bar Association in Rochester, N.Y. He is a partner with Barclay Damon LLP in the Rochester office.

Jennifer A. Beckage ’07 was named to Cybersecurity Docket’s “Incident Response 50,” a list recognizing the top 50 data breach response lawyers in the United States. Beckage is owner and managing director of The Beckage Firm in Buffalo.

Constance C. Giessert ’07, a partner with Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP in the Buffalo office, has been named to the firm’s executive committee, handling daily management decisions on behalf of the firm.

Ian M. Harrington ’09 was named deputy executive director, criminal, with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo. He previously served as attorney in charge of the Western New York Regional Support Center for the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services in Buffalo

Man smiling.

Timothy C. Muck ’02

Smiling woman standing next to office windows.

Constance C. Giessert ’07

'10s

Stewart E. Forbes ’13 has joined Hogan Lovells as counsel in the energy regulatory group in the Washington, D.C., office. He previously served as senior counsel with the U.S. Department of Energy and deputy assistant general counsel for Clean Energy Demonstrations with the department.

Kerisha H. Hawthorne-Greer ’14 was elected president of the Neighborhood Legal Services board of directors for 2025-26. She is principal law clerk for Hon. Stephanie A. Saunders ’00, New York State Court of Claims in Buffalo, and a past member of the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Joseph C. Smith ’15 was promoted to senior environmental counsel at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in Washington, D.C. His primary focus is on the company’s Starship/Super Heavy and Falcon rocket programs, as well as the Dragon recovery program. In addition to his role in space-related environmental matters, Smith co-leads SpaceX’s compliance and enforcement response programs.

Kaileen M. Balzano ’16 has been selected to participate in the Utah State Bar’s Leadership Academy. She is a shareholder with Strong & Hanni, practicing in the areas of insurance defense and transportation in Salt Lake City.

Andrew J. DeMasters ’16 was re-elected to the board of directors of the Civil Service Bar Association, the union that represents about 900 attorneys who are employed by the City of New York in its dozens of agencies and authorities. DeMasters is a senior attorney Level 3 with the Office of Legal Affairs, Lien and Support Recovery Litigation Unit, at the New York City Human Resources Administration in Queens.

Joseph G. Trapp ’16 was appointed deputy village attorney for the Village of East Aurora, N.Y., and deputy village attorney/prosecutor for the Village of Alden, N.Y. He was also appointed to the Charter Review Commission for the City of Buffalo. Trapp is an associate with Greco Trapp PLLC in Buffalo.

Robert J. Caggiano ’17 has joined Barclay Damon LLP as an associate in the Buffalo office, handling cases involving torts and products liability defense, mass and toxic torts, and professional liability. He previously practiced with Hurwitz Fine P.C. in Buffalo.

Man wearing red tie, standing in front of an office window, smiling.

Stewart E. Forbes ’13

Black and white photo of a woman, smiling.

Kerisha H. Hawthorne-Greer ’14

Man wearing grey business suit and red tie, smiling.

Joseph C. Smith ’15

Smiling woman in an office.

Kaileen M. Balzano ’16

Man wearing business suit standing outside.

Robert J. Caggiano ’17

'20s

Chanel M. Powell ’23 was the keynote speaker on July 17 at the Women of Color Virtual Summit, C.A.L.L. to Action: Commit, Assemble, Leverage, Lead, hosted by Eleversity Next-Level Workforce Education. Powell is a cybersecurity and privacy associate with Nixon Peabody LLP in the Rochester, N.Y., office.

Michael L. Lieberman ’24 has become associated with Hurwitz Fine P.C. in the firm’s litigation practice group in the Buffalo office.

Smiling woman standing in front of an office window.

Chanel M. Powell ’23

Smiling man standing in the lobby of a building, wearing yellow tie and business grey suit.

Michael L. Lieberman ’24

Recognitions and Awards

Bar Association of Erie County

  • Justice Award: Amanda G. Williams ’17, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, Buffalo

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Bar Association of Erie County 2025-26 Board of Directors

  • President: Brian M. Melber ’96, Personius Melber LLP, Buffalo
  • Treasurer: Nicole Graci ’99, Hamberger & Weiss LLC, Buffalo
  • Deputy Treasurer: Andrew J. Freedman ’96, Hodgson Russ LLP
  • Director: Ericka N. Bennett ’05, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo
  • Director: Elise L. Cassar ’10, Duke Holzman Photiadis & Ritter LLP, Buffalo
  • Director: Joshua E. Dubs ’08, Erie County Surrogate’s Court, Buffalo
  • Director: Milton D. Gordon ’15, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Buffalo
  • Director: Patrick J. Long ’00, School of Law
  • Director: Catherine J. McCulle ’16, Law Office of Lindy Korn PLLC, Buffalo
  • Director: Erin A. Tresmond ’13, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo Inc.

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Buffalo Prep Distinguished Alumni Award

  • Sarah M. Washington ’16, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., Williamsville, N.Y.  

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Chambers USA 2025
Florida Bar 50-Year Member and Senior Counselor Recognition

  • Norman J. Mattar ’60, Norman J. Mattar P.C., Williamsville, N.Y.
  • Alan R. Chase ’70, Cohen Chase Hoffman & Schimmel P.A., Miami, Fla.
  • Paul R. Comeau ’73, Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo, New York City and Palm Beach, Fla.
  • Judith D. Katzenelson ’74, Law Office of Judith D. Katzenelson, Williamsville, N.Y.
  • Martin S. Miller ’74, Law Office of Martin S. Miller, Monticello, N.Y.
  • Stuart M. Lerner ’75, Law Office of Stuart M. Lerner, Tallahassee, Fla.  

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Fourth Department, Attorneys for Children Advisory Committee's Hon. Michael F. Dillon Attorney for Children Award

  • Kevin J. Dwyer ’13, Ward Arcuri Foley & Dwyer Law Firm, New Hartford, N.Y.
  • Carol A. Flaherty ’87, DiFilippo, Flaherty & Steinhaus PLLC, East Aurora, N.Y.
  • Jeffrey C. Mannillo '96, Law Office of Jeffrey C. Manillo, P.C.

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LeMoyne College Madden School of Business and Economics Emerging Leader of the Year Award

  • Meghan A. Corcoran ’13, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., Williamsville, N.Y.                                            

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Minority Bar Association of Western New York

  • Emerging Legal Excellence Award: Mattie E. Davis ’20, Niagara County District Attorney’s Office, Lockport, N.Y., and Katherine T. McCarley ’20, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., Williamsville, N.Y.
  • Excellence in Promoting Diversity Award: Michael J. Keane ’92, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Buffalo
  • Judicial Excellence Award: Hon. Susan M. Eagan ’96, Erie County Court, Buffalo, and Hon. Shannon M. Heneghan ’98, Buffalo City Court
  • Hon. Samuel L. Green Lifetime Achievement Award: Hon. Lisa Bloch Rodwin ’85 (Ret.), Erie County Family Court, Buffalo

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Rochester Business Journal and Daily Record Excellence in Law Awards

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution: Chenoa A. Maye ’10, Maye Mediation LLC, Rochester, N.Y.
  • Top Women in Law: Leigh Ann Chute ’12, Legal Aid Society of Rochester, N.Y.

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Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter 2025-26

  • President and State Delegate: Anna S. M. McCarthy ’15, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Buffalo
  • Deputy Treasurer and Local Director: Taylor Schubauer-Waters ’17, U.S. Social Security Administration, Buffalo
  • Secretary and State Delegate: Michelle M. Schwach ’08, Erie County Family Court, Buffalo
  • Local Director: Olivia A. Binda ’23, Freid Klawon and Conners, Williamsville, N.Y.
  • Local Director: Rachael M. Pinnock ’15, Fanizzi & Barr P.C., Buffalo  
  • Local Director: Lisa A. Poch ’08, Chiacchia & Fleming LLP, Hamburg, N.Y.
  • Local Director: Anaiss Rijo Lelonek ’16, New York State Unified Court System, Buffalo
  • Local Director: Rachael M. Sparacino ’22, Serotte Law Firm LLC, Buffalo  

Births

To Ann C. Dillon Flynn ’15 and Conor T. Flynn ’15, twins, Clodagh and Fiadhna, on June 21, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

In Memoriam

The School of Law extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the following alumni/ae:

  • Thomas V. Troy ’51, Williamsville, N.Y.
  • Kenneth F. Plumb ’53, Springfield, Va.
  • Hon. Ann T. Mikoll ’54, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
  • Anthony J. DeMarie ’55, Williamsville, N.Y.
  • William J. Magavern II ’62, Buffalo
  • John P. Robshaw Jr. ’63, Summerville, S.C.
  • Hon. Patrick H. NeMoyer ’77, Orchard Park, N.Y.
  • William W. Berry ’78, Buffalo
  • Jennifer L. Krieger-Radziwon ’89, Orchard Park, N.Y.
  • Alan N. Parkin ’94, Eden, N.Y.
  • Christen D. Archer ’03, East Aurora, N.Y.