Class Action - January '22

Leslie M. Greenbaum ’73 of Buffalo, was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Greenbaum was honored as part of the Rick James Stone City Family. He represented the iconic singer Rick James for many years during the height of his career. Greenbaum practices with Gross Shuman P.C., in Buffalo, concentrating his practice in the areas of copyright, trademark, entertainment, art and sports law, unfair competition, internet law and related litigation.  He is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Steven H. Polowitz ’78 has joined The Coppola Firm as senior counsel in Amherst, N.Y. He counsels clients regarding commercial real estate, charter school, not-for-profit and community/affordable housing development matters. Polowitz is a Buffalo resident.

Oliver C. Young ’80 received the 2022 Buffalo Business First IDEA (Inclusion Diversity Equity Awareness) Award. He is of counsel with Barclay Damon LLP in Buffalo. Young is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for public service. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Benjamin M. Zuffranieri Jr. ’83, a partner with Hodgson Russ LLP in the Buffalo, New York City and Toronto, Canada, offices, has been named managing partner. He is leader of the firm’s business litigation and construction practices. Zuffranieri is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y

Robert P. Heary ’91, a partner and chair of the labor and employment practice area with Barclay Damon LLP, will serve as the diversity partner in the Buffalo office. Heary is a resident of Lancaster, N.Y. He is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Kevin E. Raphael ’94 revised Chapter 6, “Investigations,” in Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse, 2021 edition, part of Thomson Reuters’ Health Law Series. Raphael has reviewed and updated this chapter annually for the past 15 years. A partner with Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti LLP in Philadelphia, Raphael lives in Flourtown, Pa.  

Hilary C. Banker ’96 of Buffalo received the 2021 Robert M. Kiebala Memorial Award from the Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York. Banker is a partner with Burgio Curvin & Banker in Buffalo.   

Tracy A. Kachur ’96 earned a PhD in education research and policy analysis—adult workforce and continuing professional education from North Carolina State University. Her dissertation, “A Qualitative Case Study of Adult Learner Experiences at a Community College with an Ongoing Student Success Environment,” focused on the lived experiences of postsecondary adult learners and how they perceive the student success initiatives that dominate higher education. Kachur is dean of graduate and professional studies at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Scott M. Philbin ’97 was promoted to a shareholder with Gross Shuman P.C., in the Buffalo office. He handles cases involving business and commercial matters. Philbin lives in Clarence Center, N.Y.

Brigid M. Maloney ’98 of East Aurora, N.Y., was appointed as the Town of Aurora’s first woman town attorney. Maloney is a partner with Lippes Mathias LLP in the Buffalo office.

Kirsten J. Barclay ’01 has become a partner with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in the Rochester, N.Y., office, practicing in the area of school law, counseling charter and private school leaders and boards of trustees, as well as district superintendents and boards of education. She is a resident of Pittsford, N.Y.

Amy L. Hemenway ’01 received the Immigration Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. Hemenway is a partner with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in the Buffalo office. She lives in Lancaster, N.Y.   

R.J. Friedman Jr. ’07 received the Divorce Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. He owns RJ Friedman Attorneys in Hamburg, N.Y., focusing on matrimonial and family law, real estate, estate planning, and criminal law and civil litigation. Friedman lives in West Seneca, N.Y.

Meghan Dwyer ’08, a partner with Barclay Damon LLP in the Buffalo office, will serve as a co-summer associate partner. Dwyer handles cases involving mass and toxic torts and torts and products liability defense. She lives in Williamsville, N.Y.   

Burton W. Phillips ’08 has been appointed counsel to the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services in Albany, N.Y. He previously served as chief of staff and counsel to the chair of the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee in Albany, where he resides.  

Daniel J. Altieri ’09 has been promoted to partner with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in the Buffalo office. He handles cases involving business restructuring and creditors’ rights, insurance coverage, litigation, and privacy and data security. Altieri lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.  

Timothy W. Menasco ’09 has been promoted to partner with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in the Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y., offices. Menasco is a member of the firm’s intellectual property practice group. He resides in Amherst, N.Y.

Chenoa A. Maye ’10 has become president of the Rochester Black Bar Association in Rochester, N.Y. Maye is a solo practitioner, practicing matrimonial and family law in Rochester, where she resides.  

Neil A. Pawlowski ’10 has become managing partner with Duggan & Pawlowski LLP in Buffalo, handling real estate matters. He is a Buffalo resident.

Jennifer M. Schauerman ’10 has been promoted to partner with Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides. Schauerman practices in the firm’s litigation department.

Rachelle H. Nuhfer ’11 has been promoted to partner with Barclay Damon LLP in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides. She is a member of the firm’s trusts & estates and corporate practice groups.

Lindsay M. McKenna ’11 of Clarence, N.Y., has become a partner with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in Buffalo, handling cases involving estate planning, estate and trust administration and estate controversies.

Zachary J. Woods ’11 has become a senior partner with Lipsitz Ponterio & Comerford LLC in Buffalo, practicing personal injury litigation. He is a Buffalo resident. 

Amanda C. Rosenfield Lippes ’12 has been promoted to a partner with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC in the Buffalo office, practicing intellectual property law. Lippes lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Alissa M. Brennan ’13 received the Emerging Bar Leader Award from the Monroe County Bar Association in Rochester, N.Y. Brennan is deputy attorney with the Monroe County Law Department in Rochester, where she resides.

Nicholas A. Romano ’13 has been promoted to partner with Connors LLP in Buffalo. He is a director of both the UB Law Alumni Association and the UB Alumni Association. Romano is a resident of Cheektowaga, N.Y. 

Christopher P. Maugans ’14 has been promoted to partner with Goldberg Segalla LLP in Buffalo. He focuses his practice in complex commercial litigation and employment and labor law. He lives in Buffalo.

Henry A. Zomerfeld ’14 was elected board president of the Bar Association of Erie County Volunteer Lawyers Project Rising Champions for Justice, in Buffalo. Zomerfeld is a senior associate with Hodgson Russ LLP in Buffalo and a member of the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Chloe J. Macdonald ’16 received the Immigration Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. She is an associate with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in Buffalo. Macdonald lives in Alden, N.Y.

Taylor L. Baker ’17 has become associated with Goldberg Segalla LLP in the Rochester, N.Y., office. She counsels clients regarding civil litigation and trial matters. She is a resident of Webster, N.Y.

Senovia M. Moncada ’18 has accepted a position as a Title IX and Equal Opportunity Investigator at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. She was previously an associate with Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP in Rochester. She is a resident of North Chili, N.Y. 

Patricia A. Rauh ’18 received the Rising Champion for Justice Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. Rauh is an associate with Hurwitz & Fine P.C. in Buffalo. She lives in Tonawanda, N.Y.

William J. Gerken ’19 has joined The Coppola Firm in Buffalo. He counsels clients on matters involving civil litigation, including motor vehicle accident cases, dog bite cases, premises liability cases, labor law and insurance matters. Gerken resides in Williamsville, N.Y.

William H. Hython ’19 has become associated with Goldberg Segalla LLP in the Syracuse, N.Y., office, practicing in the firm’s commercial litigation and arbitration group. He lives in Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Kristen R. Spulecki ’19 received the Divorce Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. Spulecki is an associate with RJ Friedman Attorneys in Hamburg, N.Y., practicing matrimonial and family law. She lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.