Class Action - August/September '21

Daniel E. Barry Jr. ’62 will receive the 2021 Special Service Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. He recently retired as a public defender with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, with 58 years of service. He lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Robert S. Stephenson ’72 received the Rev. A. Joseph Bissonette Pro Bono Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. He is a solo practitioner in Buffalo, where he resides.

Robert M. Elardo ’81 will receive the 2021 Lawyer of the Year Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Elardo recently retired as executive director of the Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project. He resides in Buffalo. He is a past recipient of a UB Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for public service. 

Hon. Debra Givens ’81, acting New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, has been appointed to the New York State Court of Claims, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo, where she resides. She is the first woman and first person of color to be appointed to the Court of Claims in the district.  

Hon. Paula L. Feroleto ’82 will receive the 2021 Outstanding Jurist Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. For 12 years, until recently, she held the post of Administrative Judge for the 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo, where she resides. Judge Feroleto is a past recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award for the judiciary and is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council.  

Hon. E. Jeannette Ogden ’83 will receive the 2021 Charles H. Dougherty Civility Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Ogden is a New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo, where she resides. She is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association and a past recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award for community service. 

Laurie M. Rose ’83 of Lake Forest, Ill., was elected vice president, governance, of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, in Chicago. She is also president of the League of Women Voters of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area and founder of Visionairie in Lake Forest.

Daniel J. Marren ’85 will receive the 2021 Award of Merit from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. He is a law clerk with the New York State Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo. Marren is a resident of West Seneca, N.Y.   

Marc A. Alpert ’86 has become a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. Alpert is senior vice president, general counsel and secretary with Loews Corp. in New York City, where he resides.

Hon. Kevin M. Carter ’89 has been appointed administrative judge of the 8th Judicial District in Buffalo. He previously served as supervising judge of Family Courts in the 8th Judicial District. He lives in Buffalo.

Richard J. Cohen ’89, co-founder and managing partner with Goldberg Segalla LLP in Buffalo, has accepted a position as chief development officer with McAngus Goudelock & Courie LLC in Charlotte, N.C.

Andrew B. Isenberg ’92 of Williamsville, N.Y., will receive the 2021 Award of Merit from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Isenberg is district executive for the New York State Unified Court System, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo. He serves as liaison to the courts for the UB Law Alumni Association.  

Brette M. Sember ’94 has authored the newly released book WWII Battle Trivia for Kids: Fascinating Facts About the Biggest Battles, Invasions, and Victories of World War II. Sember is a retired attorney, award-winning author, book and content specialist, book coach, ghostwriter and editor. She resides in Clarence, N.Y.  

John J. Flynn ’95 was named president-elect of the National District Attorneys Association in Arlington, Va. Flynn is Erie County district attorney in Buffalo and a recent recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for public service. He lives in Tonawanda, N.Y.

Teresa Bair ’96 will receive the Women of Influence Award in the corporate executive category from Buffalo Business First. She is executive officer, general counsel and senior vice president, administration with Athenex in Buffalo, where she resides. She serves on the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Robert R. Fogg ’96 (JD), ’02 (LLM) was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a Buffalo solo practitioner, focusing his practice in federal and state criminal defense, immigration defense and representation, and personal injury. Fogg resides in Amherst, N.Y.  

Heather Gresham ’96 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Gresham is director of talent acquisition with BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York/BlueShield of Northeastern New York, in Buffalo. She is a resident in Snyder, N.Y.

Holly Tucker ’96 of Clarence, N.Y., was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is an assistant district attorney with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office in Buffalo.   

Melissa Hancock Nickson ’97 was elected secretary of the UB Law Alumni Association. Nickson is a court attorney referee and the Civil ADR program administrator of the Martin P. Violante Alternative Dispute Resolution Program for the 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo. A lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association, Nickson lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.    

Jeffrey C. Stravino ’97 was elected president of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a partner with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo. Stravino is a lifetime member of the association and a resident of Grand Island, N.Y.

Brian J. Bocketti ’98 has become a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. Bocketti is a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in Buffalo, where he resides.  

Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres ’98 of Buffalo has become a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She is a Buffalo City Court judge.

Bridget E. Niland ’98 was named dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y. Niland previously served as director of youth sports initiatives with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. She resides in Amherst, N.Y.

Elizabeth Snyder Fortino ’00 has been named director with the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division Fourth Department, Mental Hygiene Legal Service in Utica, N.Y. She is a resident of New Hartford, N.Y.

Tiffany R. Perry ’00 was elected vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Perry is a court attorney referee with Erie County Family Court in Buffalo, where she resides.

Heather A. Giambra ’04 was elected treasurer-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association. Giambra is a partner with Schroder, Joseph & Associates in Buffalo. She lives in Youngstown, N.Y. 

Anne E. Joynt ’05 has become a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She is a junior partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio LLC in Buffalo and immediate past president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Joynt is a resident of East Amherst, N.Y.

Jessica Ortiz ’05 has become deputy inspector general and director of investigations at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She previously was a partner with MoloLamken LLP in New York City. Ortiz is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She lives in East Brunswick, N.J. 

Tracey M. Rinaldi ’06 has become a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She is assistant vice president/relationship specialist with the Capital Group Cos. in Chicago, where she resides.

Crystal J. Rodriguez-Dabney ’06 (JD), ’07 (LLM) was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association and appointed to the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission Advisory Group, New York State Unified Court System, 8th Judicial District, in New York City. The commission studies bias and systemic racism in the courts and legal profession, with a mission to promote racial and ethnic fairness. Rodriguez-Dabney is chief of staff to President Katherine S. Conway-Turner and chief diversity officer with Buffalo State College in Buffalo, where she resides.

Elizabeth A. Kraengel ’07 was elected president-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a lifetime member of the association and a partner with Duke Holzman Photiadis & Gresens in Buffalo, where she resides.

Richard J. Marinaccio ’07 was elected assistant secretary of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a partner with Phillips Lytle in Buffalo and a member of the firm’s Canadian Cross Border team. Marinaccio lives in Amherst, N.Y.

James M. O'Keefe ’07 was elected vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. O’Keefe practices with William Mattar Law Offices in Williamsville, N.Y. He is a past president of the Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group and a lifetime member of the association. He lives in West Seneca, N.Y.  

Lawrence S. Rosenthal ’07 has formed the solo practice Rosenthal IP Law in Westfield, N.J., where he resides. He is a registered patent attorney and his practice also encompasses trademarks and copyrights.

Daniel A. Sikka ’07 has become a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. He is managing counsel, Global Labor & Employment Law, with McDonald’s Corp. in Oak Brook, Ill. Sikka is a Chicago resident.

Jason G. Ulatowski ’07 was elected treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is associate general counsel with Sensors at PCB Piezotronics in Depew, N.Y. Ulatowski is a Buffalo resident.

Stephanie J. Calhoun ’08 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Calhoun is assistant legal counsel with the Buffalo Public Schools, where she resides. 

Wendy L. Hauck ’09 has become special counsel with Goldberg Segalla LLP in the Rochester, N.Y. office, practicing in the firm’s workers’ compensation group. She is a resident of Victor, N.Y. 

Michael J. Hecker ’09 was elected vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Hecker is a partner with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office and a past president of the Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He lives in Clarence Center, N.Y.

Shatorah Donovan ’12 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Chief diversity officer for the City of Buffalo, she lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Nicholas A. Romano ’13 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is an associate with Connors LLP in Buffalo and a past member of the board of directors of the Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He also serves as a director on the UB Alumni Association. Romano is a resident of Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Samuel A. Alba ’14 was elected president-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is a junior partner with Friedman & Ranzenhofer, P.C., in Buffalo and a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Earl K. Cantwell III ’14 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is associate general counsel with Aleron in Buffalo, where he resides.  

Todd J. Potter Jr. ’15 of Buffalo was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is a Buffalo solo practitioner, handling cases involving real estate transactions, matrimonial and family law, estate planning, corporate formations and litigation.

Emily M. Rudroff ’15 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Rudroff is senior sales administrator with Moog Inc. in Elma, N.Y., where she resides.

Joseph G. Trapp ’16 was elected treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is an associate with Greco Trapp PLLC in Buffalo and CEO of Third Estate Analytics in Buffalo. Trapp is a lifetime member of the UB Law Alumni Association. He lives in Alden, N.Y.

Sarah M. Washington ’16 was elected president of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is senior attorney with National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. in Williamsville, N.Y. Washington is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She lives in Lake View, N.Y.

Erin K. Ewell ’17 was elected secretary-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an associate with Wilder & Linneball LLP in Buffalo. Ewell is a resident of Cheektowaga, N.Y.   

Ari M. Goldberg ’17 was elected secretary of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Goldberg is an associate with Barclay Damon LLP in Buffalo. He lives in Clarence, N.Y.   

James M. Specyal ’17 has become associated with Goldberg Segalla LLP in Buffalo, handling cases involving general liability. Specyal is a Buffalo resident.    

Alexander D. Vilardo ’18 was elected treasurer-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is an associate with Colligan Law LLP in Buffalo. Vilardo resides in Amherst, N.Y.     

Mohammed A. Alam ’20 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is an associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo, where he resides.

Natalia Marte ’20 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an appellate court attorney with the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.   

Lisa M. Zaccagnino ’20 has accepted a position as an associate with Barclay Damon LLP in the Buffalo office, focusing her practice in trust and estate planning and administration. Zaccagnino is a member of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group board of directors. She is a resident of Amherst, N.Y.

The Daily Record Power 20: Personal Injury

• James V. Philippone ’54, Philippone Law Offices, Rochester, N.Y.
• Peter T. Rodgers ’76, Lacy Katzen LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
• Richard J. Barnes ’80, The Barnes Firm, Buffalo
• Ross M. Cellino Jr. ’82, Cellino Law, Buffalo
  
• Kenneth R. Hiller ’83, Law Offices of Kenneth Hiller PLLC, Amherst, N.Y.
• Laurie A. Donofrio ’91, Kelly White Donoforio LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
• Jon E. Bonavilla ’96, Evans Fox LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
• Thomas F. Ferris ’96, Connors & Ferris LLP, Rochester, N.Y.

UB Fast 46 - named in honor of UB’s founding in 1846, Fast 46 honors the success of 46 of the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UB alumni or former students from around the world.  

• Jeanette L. Dixon ’95, Manning & Kass Ellrod Ramirez Trester LLP, New York, N.Y.  
• Marco Cercone ’02, Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham LLC, Buffalo   
• Jamie Fiegel ’04, Fiegel Carr & Joyce, Buffalo 
• Kelly L. Carr ’12, Fiegel Carr & Joyce, Buffalo
  

• Hon. Rose H. Sconiers ’73, Racial Equity Roundtable, Buffalo; retired from the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, 8th Judicial District, Buffalo   
• Laurie J. Irish-Jones ’84, Irish Welding Supply Corp., Buffalo 
• Jennifer J. Parker ’84, Jackson Parker Communications LLC, Buffalo 
• Sharon L. Wick ’84, Phillips Lytle LLP, Buffalo  
• Jill K. Bond ’85, Rich Products Corp., Buffalo 
• Karen M. McMahon ’86, New York State Assembly, 146th District, Albany, N.Y.     
• Nora B. Sullivan ’87, Sullivan Capital Partners LLC, Buffalo

• Carmen L. Snell ’92, Highmark BlueCross BlueShield Western and Northeastern New York, Buffalo 
• Jennifer M. Demert ’93, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Buffalo 
• Cynthia E. Vance ’93, Jensen Marks Langer & Vance LLC, Buffalo  
• Monica P. Wallace ’94, New York State Assembly, 143rd District, Albany, N.Y.    
• Amy Habib Rittling ’95, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, Buffalo  
• Teresa Bair ’96, Athenex, Buffalo 
• Kimberly A. Whistler ’01, Catholic Health System, Inc., Buffalo  
• Danielle E. Shainbrown ’05, McGuire Development Co., Buffalo 
• Shatorah Donovan ’12, City of Buffalo