Class Action - February '19

Hon. Eugene F. Pigott Jr. ’73 was recognized by the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association for distinguished judicial service. Pigott is an acting New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo, and a former senior associate justice of the New York State Court of Appeals. He is a member of the national advisory board of UB School of Law’s Advocacy Institute, a past recipient of a Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Edwin F. Jaeckle Award, and an emeritus member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. Pigott lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Diane F. Bosse ’76 was named to the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, created to expand access to civil legal services. Bosse, a special counsel with Hurwitz & Fine, in Buffalo, is chair-elect of the Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. She is a past recipient of a Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna Award and an emerita member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. Bosse lives in Clarence, N.Y.     

Charles W. Stotter ’77 has become of counsel with Carlton Fields in the Short Hills, N.J., office, counseling clients regarding corporate and commercial litigation. He was previously a principal with Bressler Amery & Ross P.C. in Florham Park, N.J. Stotter lives in Westfield, N.J.

Hillary J. Exter ’79, of New York City, recently volunteered with the Sanctuary Caravan and Al Otro Lado at the Tijuana/San Diego border in support of asylum seekers. Exter most recently served as interim director of public interest scholars and counseling with Fordham University School of Law.   

Jean C. Powers ’79 was named the UB Alumni Association’s Graduate of the Game at the National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration at UB’s Alumni Arena on Feb. 9. Powers is a retired partner with the former Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, in the Amherst, N.Y., office. She is a member emerita of the Dean’s Advisory Council and a past recipient of a Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna Award. Powers is a past president of the Law Alumni Association and the UB Alumni Association. She lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Michael J. Surgalla Jr. ’82 of Silver Spring, Md., has retired from the U.S. Department of Justice, in Washington, D.C., after serving for more than 30 years. He is currently a consultant to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, focusing on improving international cooperation in criminal matters in East Africa, with a particular emphasis on combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Surgalla is a past recipient of a Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association and a past chair of the Washington, D.C., chapter.

Hon. Lisa Bloch Rodwin ’85 received the 2018 Robert Bennett Award for Service to Community by Every Person Influences Children (EPIC), in Buffalo. EPIC helps families, schools and communities raise children to become responsible and successful adults. Rodwin is an Erie County Family Court judge in Buffalo. She is a past recipient of a Distinguished Alumna Award from the Law Alumni Association. Rodwin lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Marc A. Alpert ’86 has become senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Loews Corp. in New York City. He previously served as head of the public companies practice group with Chadbourne & Parke LLP in New York City, where he resides.

Donna L. Burden ’87 has been appointed to the Audit Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel and its Foundation. The Foundation works to serve as a platform for educating the public and the legal community on current litigation issues and supporting the integrity of the legal system throughout the world. She also presented “Autonomous Vehicles, Vessels & Aircraft” and “What Claims Professionals Need to Know about the Legislative, Regulatory and Legal Impacts on Business, Insurance and Everyday Life” at the annual Themis Advocates Group Conference and Seminar on January 24, 2019 in Miami. Burden is a founding member of Burden Hafner & Hansen LLC in Buffalo, focusing on defending catastrophic transportation accidents. She lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Diane M. Perri Roberts ’90 received the 2018 Shira A. Scheindlin Award for Excellence in the Courtroom from the New York State Bar Association. She is a senior partner with Lipsitz Green Scime & Cambria LLP in Buffalo, practicing employment and commercial litigation. Roberts lives in Lewiston, N.Y.

Melanie C. Marotto ’92 has become a partner with Harris Beach PLLC in the Buffalo office, practicing commercial real estate. Marotto is a resident of Amherst, N.Y.

Monica P. Wallace ’94 was appointed to the New York State Assembly judiciary committee. Wallace is a New York State Assembly member, representing the 143rd District, in Albany, N.Y.

Hon. Melissa L. Barrett ’95 was appointed a Rochester City Court judge in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides. Barrett previously served as a principal court attorney with Rochester City Court.  

Phyliss A. Hafner ’97 of Amherst, N.Y., has been elected to the board of directors of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western New York in Buffalo. Hafner is a partner with Burden Hafner & Hansen LLC in Buffalo.  

Bridget E. Niland ’98 was named the UB Alumni Association’s Graduate of the Game at the National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration at UB’s Alumni Arena on Feb. 9. Niland is director of youth sports initiatives with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Niland resides in Amherst, N.Y.

Matthew T. Kerwin ’00 was promoted to partner with Barclay Damon LLP in Syracuse, N.Y., where he resides. He is a member of the firm’s telecommunications, land use and zoning, project development, energy practice and renewable energy team.  

Phillip L. Dabney Jr. ’02 has become legal counsel with the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority in Buffalo. He previously maintained a private practice in Buffalo, where he resides.  

Lucille A. Dadd ’04 has accepted a position as director of legal recruiting and professional development with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in the Rochester, N.Y., office. Dadd was previously a major gift officer with Roswell Park Comprehensive Care Center in Buffalo. She lives in Clarence Center, N.Y.

Jean E. Harris ’04 has become a partner with Pfalzgraf Beinhauer & Menzies LLP in Buffalo. She practices in the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning and disability law. Harris lives in Amherst, N.Y.

William P. Clark ’06 was appointed chairman of the planning board of the Hamburg Town Board in Hamburg, N.Y., where he resides. He is a senior attorney with the New York State Unified Court System in Buffalo.

Danielle M. Rizzo ’06 has become a partner with Harris Beach PLLC in the Buffalo office, practicing immigration law. She lives in East Aurora, N.Y.

David T. Meglino ’07 was promoted to member with Cole Schotz P.C. in the New York City office. He is a member of the firm’s construction services and litigation departments. Meglino lives in Elmhurst, N.Y.

Patricia C. Sandison ’07 was promoted to partner with Hodgson Russ LLP in Albany, N.Y. She is a member of the firm’s corporate and business law and tax-exempt organizations practice groups. Sandison, co-chair of the Albany chapter of the UB Law Alumni Association, lives in Delmar, N.Y.

Christopher N. Ollinick ’08 was promoted to partner with Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP in Buffalo, where he resides. Ollinick practices affordable housing and community development law, low-income housing tax credit, new markets tax credit, historic tax credit and not-for-profit/tax exempt organization law.

Amanda J. Scott ’08 has become a senior associate with Pfalzgraf Beinhauer & Menzies in Buffalo. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estates, guardianships and trusts. Scott lives in Cheektowaga, N.Y.   

Roopa R. Chakkappan ’09 of East Amherst, N.Y., has become a senior associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo. She counsels clients regarding health law, administrative law, regulatory compliance and administrative enforcement defense.

Michael E. Hickey ’09 was promoted to partner with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in the Buffalo office, practicing labor and employment law. Hickey lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Nathan W.G. Berti ’10 of Orchard Park, N.Y., was promoted to partner with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo, handling cases involving estates and trusts law.

Vincent M. Miranda ’10 has been promoted to partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in Buffalo. Miranda practices business litigation and employment law. He is a past member of the board of directors of the Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Miranda lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Erin B. Delaney ’12 has joined the immigration practice of Hodgson Russ LLP as an associate in the Buffalo office. She focuses her practice on multinational corporations in preparing temporary work permit petitions and employment-based permanent resident petitions. Delaney is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association. She is a Buffalo resident.

Aidan C. Mitchell-Eaton ’12 has become a member of Bousquet Holstein PLLC in Syracuse, N.Y., where he resides. He focuses his practice in trust and estate administration and litigation, estate planning and tax matters involving estate, gift, GST and fiduciary income tax.

Kinsey A. O'Brien ’13 was promoted to senior associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo, where she resides. She is a member of the firm’s labor and employment practice group.

Karalyn M. Rossi ’13 was promoted to senior associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo. Rossi is a member of the firm’s business litigation practice. She lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Aaron M. Saykin ’13 was promoted to senior associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo office. He counsels clients regarding business litigation, including complex commercial disputes, media law, construction law, False Claims Act actions and municipal law. Saykin is president of the Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. He lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Elizabeth A. Bove ’14 was awarded the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States designation by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. This credential is presented to those who have achieved a strong understanding of U.S. privacy laws and regulations. Bove is an associate with Phillips Lytle LLP in Buffalo, handling cases regarding workplace privacy issues. She is a resident of Orchard Park, N.Y.

Anthony R. Faraco Jr. ’14 has been named to the board of trustees of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Buffalo. Faraco is an associate in the litigation department with Bouvier Law LLP in the Buffalo office. He lives on Grand Island, N.Y.   

Nicole M. Komin ’15 was selected as the 2019 recipient of the Doris S. Hoffman Outstanding New Lawyer Award from the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York. Komin is a staff attorney and pro bono program coordinator with the Center for Elder Law & Justice in Buffalo. She resides in Tonawanda, N.Y.  

Jennifer M. Puglisi ’15 was appointed planning board attorney of the Hamburg Town Board in Hamburg, N.Y., where she resides. She is an associate with Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP in Buffalo, practicing general liability and health care.

De'Jon Hall ’16 will be honored at the School of Law's OUTLaw Dinner on March 8, 2019 for his outstanding activism in the LGBTQ+ community. Hall is manager with the MOCHA Center (Men of Color Health Awareness Project) of Buffalo, where he resides.

Sarah M. Washington ’16 has been elected a director of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, in Buffalo. Washington is an associate with Goldberg Segalla in the Buffalo office. She is treasurer-elect of the Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. Washington lives in Lake View, N.Y.

Philip C. Barth IV ’18 has become associated with Barclay Damon LLP in Buffalo, where he resides. He is a member of the firm’s corporate practice area.

Benjamin F. Macaluso ’18 has joined Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP as an associate, concentrating on government investigations, white-collar criminal defense, regulatory compliance and commercial litigation. Macaluso lives in Amherst, N.Y.  

John T. Murray ’18 is practicing as an associate with Phillips Lytle LLP in the Buffalo office. He focuses on class action, commercial litigation, and white-collar criminal defense and government investigations. Murray lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Joseph W. Schafer ’18 has become associated with Phillips Lytle LLP, practicing commercial litigation in Buffalo, where he resides.

Emily A. Scioli ’18 has joined Gross Shuman P.C. as an associate in the Buffalo office. Scioli focuses on labor and employment, business litigation, and accidents and personal injury litigation. She lives in Clarence, N.Y.