Class Action - August '22

Hon. Paul L. Friedman ’68 received the Edwin F. Jaeckle Award at the annual Law Alumni Association Luncheon in Washington, D.C. The Jaeckle Award is the highest honor bestowed by the law school and its Law Alumni Association. Friedman is a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia and an emeritus member of the law school’s Dean’s Advisory Council. He resides in Washington, D.C.

Joseph A. Matteliano ’76 has become of counsel with the Sugarman Law Firm. He is a Buffalo resident.

Andrew C. Spacone ’77 has been named Weisberger Visiting Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, R.I. He is a residence of Providence, R.I.

Hon. Janice A. Taylor ’78 has been appointed to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, in Brooklyn. Taylor previously served as a justice with the New York State Supreme Court, 11^th Judicial District, in Jamaica, N.Y., where she resides.

Francis M. Letro ’79 of the Law Offices of Francis M. Letro has relocated to new office space in the historic Marin Building on Main Street in Buffalo, after 26 years at the Dun Building in Buffalo, where he resides. Letro is a past recipient of the Edwin F. Jaeckle Award, the highest honor the School of Law and the Law Alumni Association can bestow, and the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association and an emeritus member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.  

Jill L. Paperno ’84 of Pittsford, N.Y., received the Hanna S. Cohen Mentoring Award from the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys in Rochester, N.Y. Paperno is a civil rights practice senior litigator with the Empire Justice Center in Rochester.

Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee ’86 of Buffalo was elected a vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Johnson-Lee is a Buffalo City Court judge and a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association.

Joan Adams ’87 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She owns J. Adams & Associates PLLC in Williamsville, N.Y., where she resides.

Donna L. Burden ’87 has been elected to the board of directors of the International Association of Defense Counsel. Burden is a founding member of Burden Hafner & Hansen LLC in Buffalo, focusing on defending catastrophic transportation accidents. She lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Julie L. Kaufman ’88 of Jersey City, N.J., has been appointed regional attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, Region 22, in Newark, N.J. She previously served as deputy regional attorney with the NLRB in Newark.  

Robert L. Boreanaz ’89 has become chair of the labor and employment law section of the New York State Bar Association. Boreanaz is a senior partner with Lipsitz Green Scime & Cambria in Buffalo and a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association. He lives in Amherst, N.Y. 

Lauren E. Breen ’89 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Breen is executive director of Neighborhood Legal Services in Buffalo and a recent Buffalo Law Review honoree. She is a Buffalo resident.   

Hon. Brenda M. Freedman ’89 was appointed to the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Freedman is an Erie County Family Court judge in Buffalo. She resides in Williamsville, N.Y.

Robert Brucato Jr. ’90 was elected a vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is senior staff counsel with Counsel Press in Buffalo. Brucato lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Hon. Javier E. Vargas ’92 has been appointed to the New York State Court of Claims in New York City. Vargas previously served as a Kings County Family Court judge in Brooklyn. He is a School of Law OUTLaw Dinner honoree and lives in New York City.

Elizabeth G. Adymy ’93 has become special counsel with Hurwitz Fine, P.C., in the medical malpractice and nursing home liability practice groups in Buffalo. She is a resident of Tonawanda, N.Y.

Patricia S. Ciccarelli ’93 of Amherst, N.Y., was elected assistant secretary of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a partner with Schnitter Ciccarelli Mills PLLC in Williamsville, N.Y.

Martha R. Buyer ’94 received the Rev. A. Joseph Bissonette Pro Bono Award from the Bar Association of Erie County. She is a solo practitioner in East Aurora, N.Y., where she resides.

Charles D. Grieco ’95 received the New York State Bar Association President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the 8th Judicial District. Greico is a member with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in Buffalo, where he resides.

Heather Gresham ’96 has become counsel and vice president, people and culture, with RepresentUs, a political non-profit organization based in Florence, Mass. She previously served as director of talent acquisition with BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York/BlueShield of Northeastern New York, in Buffalo.  A member of the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association, Gresham lives in Snyder, N.Y. 

Hon. Stephen T. Miller ’96 has been appointed to the New York State Court of Claims in Rochester. Miller previously served as a city court judge in Rochester, where he resides.

Jeremy C. Toth ’96 has been appointed county attorney with Erie County. He previously served as first assistant county attorney. Toth is a Buffalo resident.

Holly A. Beecher ’97, a partner with Phillips Lytle LLP, has been appointed practice group leader for the firm’s family wealth planning practice group in Buffalo, where she resides.

Melissa Hancock Nickson ’97 was elected a vice president 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, she lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres ’98 of Buffalo has been appointed to the New York State Court of Claims in Buffalo. She previously served as a Buffalo City Court judge. Calvo-Torres is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council and an adjunct faculty member.

Angela Zwirecki Miller ’98, a partner with Phillips Lytle LLP, has been appointed practice group leader for the firm’s banking and financial services practice group in the Buffalo office. Miller lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Patrick J. Long ’00 has been elected president of the board of directors of Neighborhood Legal Services in Buffalo. He is a lecturer in law, Legal Analysis, Writing and Research at the School of Law. Long is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Hon. Stephanie A. Saunders ’00 has been appointed a judge on the New York State Court of Claims in Buffalo, where she resides. Previously, Saunders served as principal law clerk to Hon. E. Jeannette Ogden ’83, New York State Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo.

Hon. Samuel P. Davis ’02 has been appointed a Buffalo City Court judge. He was previously of counsel with the Dolce Firm, P.C., in Buffalo, where he resides.

Tara R. Johnson ’02 has become general counsel with Centivo in New York City. She previously served as senior associate general counsel and director of regulatory affairs with UnitedHealthcare in Hartford, Conn., where she resides.

Elizabeth de León Bhargava ’03 of New York City has been named assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She previously served as agency review engagement liaison with the Biden-Harris transition team and served as New York State deputy secretary for labor and workforce.

LeVar N. Burke ’03 has been appointed chief of staff at Buffalo State College. Burke previously served as enrollment manager for strategic initiatives at City University of New York (CUNY) Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Langston D. McFadden ’03 was elected president of the Monroe County Bar Association in Rochester, N.Y., where he resides. McFadden is a partner with Pullano & Farrow PLLC in Rochester.

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

Amy P. Herstek ’04 was elected assistant treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association. Herstek is senior corporate counsel with Curia Global, a global contract research, development and manufacturing organization that offers products and services across the drug development field, in Albany, N.Y. She lives in Amherst, N.Y.

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

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

Jason G. Ulatowski ’07 was elected a vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Ulatowski is assistant general counsel with Delaware North in Buffalo, where he resides.

Stephanie J. Calhoun ’08 has become an assistant attorney general with the New York State Attorney General’s Office in Buffalo, where she resides. Calhoun is a member of the board of directors of the Law Alumni Association.

Stephanie A. Mack ’08 has become assistant director for alumni affairs at the School of Law. Mack previously served as counsel for the Hanover Insurance Group. She lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Regina L. Readling ’08 has become a partner with Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, in the firm’s executive compensation and benefits practice in the New York City office. She lives in Brooklyn.  

Hon. Gary A. Wilson ’08 of Buffalo has been appointed a Buffalo City Court judge.  He previously served as a principal law clerk to Hon. John B. Licata ’92, New York State Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo.

Michael J. Hecker ’09 of Clarence Center, N.Y., was elected president-elect 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.

Michael E. Reyen ’09 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Reyen is legal counsel with HSBC Bank USA in Buffalo. He lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Elise L. Cassar ’10 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a senior associate with Duke Holzman Photiadis & Gresens LLP in Buffalo, where she resides.   

John F. O'Donnell Jr. ’10 was named to the 2022 Albany “Power 100 List” by City & State New York. O’Donnell is managing partner with O’Donnell & Associates in Buffalo, where he resides.

Neil A. Pawlowski ’10 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Pawlowski is a founding partner of Duggan & Pawlowski LLP in Buffalo, where he resides.   

Matthew K. Pelkey ’10 has become managing partner with Colligan Law in Buffalo. Pelkey is director of the School of Law’s Entrepreneurial Law Center. He is a Buffalo resident.

Michael B. Hilburger ’11 has become assistant dean for student affairs at the School of Law. He was previously assistant director of UB’s Office of Student Conduct and Advocacy. Hilburger lives in Buffalo.

Michael P. Scott-Kristansen ’12 has become special counsel with Barclay Damon LLP in the Rochester, N.Y. office, representing health care and human services providers in litigation and compliance matters. He lives in Gates, N.Y.  

Samuel A. Alba ’14 has been elected president of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group.  Alba is senior deputy counsel with the Town of Amherst, N.Y., and of counsel with Friedman & Ranzenhofer, P.C., in Buffalo. He is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Henry A. Zomerfeld ’14 was elected president-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Zomerfeld is a senior associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo. He lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Andrea K. DiLuglio ’15 has been elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. DiLuglio is an associate with Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP in Buffalo. She is a past president of the GOLD Group and a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association. She lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Jamila A. Lee ’15 has become assistant dean for student affairs at the School of Law. Lee previously served as deputy chief clerk with Erie County Surrogate Court, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo, where she resides.    

Jaclyn F. Silver ’15 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an associate with Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan in Buffalo, where she resides.

Sarah N. Rodman ’16 has been promoted to partner with Feldman Kieffer LLP in Buffalo, where she resides. She concentrates her practice in medical malpractice, employment law and intellectual property.

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

Sarah M. Washington ’16 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a senior attorney with National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. in Williamsville, N.Y. Washington is immediate past president of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is a resident of Lake View, N.Y.  

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

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

Marina A. Barci ’18 was elected treasurer-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Barci is associate corporate counsel with the architecture and engineering firm Bergmann in Buffalo. She lives in Tonawanda, N.Y.  

Robert C. Freeman ’18 was elected secretary-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Freeman practices with Nesper Ferber DiGiacomo Johnson & Grimm LLP in Amherst, N.Y. He is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.  

Alexander D. Vilardo ’18 was elected treasurer 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.

Joseph C. Crozier ’19 is practicing as an associate with HoganWillig in Buffalo, handling cases involving matrimonial and family law with a specialization in professional golf representation. He lives in Amherst, N.Y.  

Dominick F. Roa ’19 has become associated with Stillwell Midgley in Buffalo. Roa handles cases involving insurance defense litigation for health care clients and personal injury. He is a resident of Kenmore, N.Y.

Alexandria N. Rowen ’19 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Rowen is an associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office. She lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Morgann K. Obrochta ’20 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an assistant county attorney with the Erie County Department of Law in Buffalo, where she resides.  

Jessica R. Simonetti ’20 has become an Attorney for the Child with the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, N.Y., where she resides. She was previously an associate with Harris Beach PLLC in Rochester.

Caroline R. Vilardo ’20 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an associate with Lippes Mathias LLP in Buffalo, where she resides.  

Elizabeth G. Adkins ’21 has become associated with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in the Buffalo office. She practices in the area of private equity and venture capital. Adkins lives in Buffalo.

Stephen J. Soos ’21 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is an associate with Magavern Grimm LLP in Buffalo. Soos is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Buffalo Business First Power 200 Women:

• Hon. Rose H. Sconiers ’73, Chair, Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable; retired from the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4^th 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
• Nora B. Sullivan ’87, Sullivan Capital Partners, Buffalo
• Diane R. Tiveron ’89, HoganWillig, Amherst, N.Y.
• Trini E. Ross ’92, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York, Buffalo
• Carmen L. Snell ’92, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, Buffalo
• Stephanie Argentine ’93, Centivo, Buffalo
• Jennifer M. Demert ’93, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Buffalo
• Cynthia E. Vance ’93, Jensen Marks Langer & Vance LLC, Buffalo
• Amy Habib Rittling ’95, Lippes Mathias LLP, Buffalo
• Kimberly A. Whistler ’01, Catholic Health, Buffalo
• Megan A. Gomez ’05, Univera Healthcare, Buffalo
• Crystal J. Rodriguez-Dabney ’06 (J.D.), ’07 (LL.M.), City of Buffalo
• Shatorah Roberson ’12, Tesla, Buffalo

Buffalo Business First Who’s Who in Banking:

• Cynthia E. Vance ’93, Jensen Marks Langer & Vance LLC, Buffalo

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Buffalo Business First Who’s Who in Education:

• Jennifer M. Demert ’93, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Buffalo
• Kevin C. Kelleher ’98, St. Mary’s High School, Lancaster, N.Y. 

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Buffalo Business First 2022 Women of Influence: Corporate Executive

• Andrea Schillaci ’82, Hurwitz Fine, P.C., Buffalo
  
• Anne E. Joynt ’05, Lipsitz Ponterio & Comerford LLC, Buffalo

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
• Laurie A. Donofrio ’91, Kelly White Donofrio LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Jon E. Bonavilla ’96, Evans Fox LLP, Rochester, N.Y.  
• Thomas F. Ferris ’96, Connors & Ferris, LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
  

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Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal Legal Excellence Awards 2022: Leaders in Law:

• Jeffrey J. Calabrese ’95, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Maritza C. Buitrago-Rodriguez ’99, Monroe County Family Court, Rochester, N.Y.
• Kelly L. Gotham ’00, New York State Unified Court System, Tonawanda, N.Y.
• Jason P. Livingston ’05, Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow PLLC, Rochester, N.Y.
• Kevin J. Mulvehill Sr. ’06, Phillips Lytle LLP, Rochester, N.Y.   
  

Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal Legal Excellence Awards 2022: In House Counsel:

• Shannon L. Hillier ’04, Livingston County Attorney’s Office, Geneseo, N.Y.
  

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Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal Legal Excellence Awards 2022: Lifetime Achievement:

• Ann E. Evanko ’79, Hurwitz Fine, P.C., Buffalo 

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Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal Legal Excellence Awards 2022: Up and Coming Lawyers:

• Ninteretse Jean Pierre ’16, Nixon Peabody LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Taylor L. Baker ’17, Goldberg Segalla LLP, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Sean M. McCabe ’17, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Senovia M. Moncada ’18, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.