2026 New York City Alumni Luncheon and Jaeckle Award Presentation
Please be advised that, due to expected inclement weather in the New York City area, the presentation of the 2026 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award—originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 24—has been postponed for the safety of our guests.
We look forward to honoring our Jaeckle Award recipient, David E. Franasiak ’78, and celebrating the 20th anniversary of our New York City Program at a later date.
Questions? Contact the Alumni Office at law-alumni@buffalo.edu.
Recipient Bio
David E. Franasiak is a principal at Williams & Jensen PLLC and a member of the firm’s executive committee, where he oversees financial management and serves as a trustee of the firm’s pension plans. Since joining Williams & Jensen in1992, David has been a trusted advisor to leading companies, trade associations, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations navigating some of the most complex policy and regulatory challenges in Washington.
With decades of experience at the intersection of tax, securities, financial services, and commercial real estate policy, David is known for his strategic counsel and ability to deliver results on Capitol Hill. His work spans a wide range of issues—from data access and antitrust to financial services and natural resources. He is sought after for his deep knowledge of legislative and administrative processes and his pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
Before joining Williams & Jensen, David served as a principal in the Office of the Chairman at Ernst & Young, where he advised on tax, securities, and financial institution matters. He has held senior roles in government and industry, including director of tax at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and he has handled tax, finance, venture, environmental, and energy issues for British Petroleum. Earlier in his career, he was staff director of the Tax Oversight Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee and worked on the legislative staff of city and county legislatures in New York.
A recognized voice on emerging financial and regulatory topics, David helped develop and launch the law school’s New York City Program in Finance and Law (now the New York City Program in Business and Law). He has taught in the program for the past two decades. His recent courses have explored securitization, cryptocurrency, and commercial real estate.
In 2017, his service and leadership was recognized by the UB Law Alumni Association with a Distinguished Alumni Award for business.
David E. Franasiak ’78 JD/MBA
Principal, William & Jensen PLLC
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
11:30 a.m. - Cocktail Reception
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Luncheon and Ceremony
The Union League Club
38 E 37th St (at Park Ave)
New York, NY 10016 [View Map]
About the Jaeckle Award
The Edwin F. Jaeckle Award is the highest honor the University at Buffalo School of Law and its Law Alumni Association can bestow. The award is given annually to a person who exemplifies the highest ideals of the law school and its alumni association and who has made significant contributions to the school and the legal profession.
The Jaeckle Award is named for Edwin F. Jaeckle ’15, a founding partner of the Buffalo law firm Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel, and a major benefactor of the school. Other esteemed members of the legal community who have previously received this award include Hon. Charles S. Desmond, Hon. Matthew J. Jasen, Manly Fleischmann, Jacob D. Hyman, Hon. M. Dolores Denman, William R. Greiner, and Hon. Hugh B. Scott, among others.