Class Action - June '16

Hon. John T. Curtin ’49 received the Presidential Medal from Canisius College in Buffalo. Curtin is a retired senior U.S. District Court judge, Western District of New York, in Buffalo. He is a past recipient of the University at Buffalo School of Law and UB Law Alumni Association's Jaeckle Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Curtin lives in Buffalo.

Hon. Paul L. Friedman ’68 was honored at the Buffalo Law Review annual dinner on April 28, 2016. Friedman is a U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., where he resides.

Hon. Mark G. Farrell ’72 received the Thomas N. Cummings Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. Farrell is a retired Amherst, N.Y., town justice. He is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award and a past president of the Law Alumni Association. Farrell lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Hon. Eugene F. Pigott Jr. ’73 received the newly created Appellate Practice Award from the Bar Association of Erie County in Buffalo. Pigott is senior associate justice of the New York State Court of Appeals in Buffalo. He is a past recipient of the UB 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.

Louis P. DiLorenzo ’76 is listed in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. DiLorenzo is managing partner in the labor, employment, employee benefits and immigration practice group of Bond Schoeneck & King in the New York City office.

Ronald C. Berger ’77 of Cazenovia, N.Y., is named in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is a member of Bond Schoeneck & King in the Syracuse, N.Y., office, practicing in the business and transactions department.

Daniel M. O’Donnell ’77 wrote the article “The Obligation to Establish Sentences for Torture That Are Commensurate with the Gravity of the Offense,” published in the Buffalo Human Rights Law Review, Vol. 22. O’Donnell is an independent consultant working with the United Nations. He lives in Costa Rica, France and Washington, D.C.

William W. Berry ’78 received the Special Service Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Berry is a staff attorney with Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York, in Buffalo, where he resides.

Donnalynn Darling ’78 received the first Judith Bloch Award from Variety Child Learning Center in Syosset, N.Y., for her legal work in requiring school districts to provide learning disabled children with educational support and for founding the education law practice of Meyer Suozzi English & Klein in Garden City, N.Y. Darling is chair of the firm’s personal injury and education law practice groups. She lives in Glen Head, N.Y.

William J. Kita ’78 received the Charles H. Dougherty Civility Award from the Bar Association of Erie County in Buffalo. He is a partner with Burgio Kita Curvin & Banker in Buffalo. Kita lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Mark J. Moretti ’78 was elected president of the Monroe County Bar Association in Rochester, N.Y. He is a partner in the Rochester office of Phillips Lytle, practicing in business and tort litigation. Moretti lives in Pittsford, N.Y.

Oliver C. Young ’80 received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Students of Color at their dinner on April 14. Young is principal court attorney with the New York State Supreme Court, Eighth Judicial District, in Buffalo. He is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Young lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Michael A. Battle ’81 has become a partner in the litigation department of Barnes & Thornburg in Washington, D.C. Battle was previously a partner with Schlam Stone & Dolan in New York City. He is a member of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

Andrew W. Conway ’81 wrote the limited-edition handmade photography book Gold: A Celebration of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. Sportscaster Al Michaels wrote the introduction and former President Jimmy Carter wrote the afterword. Conway is a sports attorney in Rochester, N.Y., where he resides.

Andrea Schillaci ’82 was elected vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a partner with Hurwitz & Fine in Buffalo and head of the firm’s business litigation department. Schillaci is a Buffalo resident.

Raymond N. McCabe ’83 received the New York State Bar Association’s President’s Pro Bono Award. McCabe is a partner in the tax and labor and employment groups of Barclay Damon in the Buffalo office. He lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Barbara L. Schifeling ’84 was honored at the Buffalo Law Review annual dinner on April 28. Schifeling is an emeritus member of the Law School’s Dean’s Advisory Council. She is a retired partner with Damon Morey in Buffalo, where she resides.

Samuel J. Capizzi ’88 has joined Collins & Collins as a partner in Buffalo. He handles cases involving general negligence claims, auto accidents, premises liability, product liability and construction accidents under the New York State Labor Law and commercial claims. Capizzi lives in Kenmore, N.Y

Elizabeth Bergen ’91 has been named chair of the board of directors of Journey’s End Refugee Services in Buffalo. She is special counsel with Gibson McAskill & Crosby in Buffalo, where she resides.

Beverly Britton Fraser ’91 was appointed director of legislative affairs/legislative counsel with the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board in Washington, D.C. She previously served as senior counsel with the U.S. Congress House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, in Washington, D.C.

Hon. Jonathan G. Hager ’91 was appointed judge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C. Hager is a resident of Ellicott City, Md.

Steven J. Weiss ’91, a founding partner with Cannon Heyman & Weiss in Buffalo, celebrated the firm’s 15-year anniversary. Weiss handles cases involving affordable housing and community development law. He is a member of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

Pamela Gresham ’92 has become director of human resources with Delaware State University in Dover. She previously served as associate director of human resources for Kean University in Union, N.J., where she resides.

Marc E. Hirschfield ’92 has joined Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld as a partner in the New York City office. He concentrates his practice in business restructuring and bankruptcy and corporate and business litigation. Hirschfield was previously a partner with Baker & Hostetler in New York City. He is a resident of Chappaqua, N.Y.

Trini E. Ross ’92 received the Openness to Change Award from Leadership Buffalo. She is senior litigation counsel with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York. Ross recently received the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna Award for public service. She is a Buffalo resident.

Scott C. Becker ’93 was elected treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a partner with Kavinoky Cook in Buffalo, practicing property tax assessment litigation as well as wills, trusts and estate planning. Becker lives in Buffalo.

Joseph W. Belluck ’94 was elected chair of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Belluck is founding partner with Belluck & Fox in New York City. He lives in Woodstock, N.Y.

Kevin E. Raphael ’94 has been named to the 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. Raphael is a partner with Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti in Philadelphia and co-chair of the firm’s health care litigation practice group. He is a Philadelphia resident.

Bruce D. Reinoso ’94 has joined Woods Oviatt Gilman as senior counsel in the Buffalo office. Reinoso practices estate planning and elder law. He is a Buffalo resident.

Suzanne A. Cruse ’95 has become general counsel of Associated Supermarket Group, the largest group of independently operated supermarkets, based in New York City. Cruse is a resident of Long Beach, N.Y.

Cindy Lapoff ’95 has joined Trevett Cristo Salzer & Andolina as a partner in the Rochester, N.Y., office, handling labor and employment law cases. She lives in Honeoye Falls, N.Y.

Amy Habib Rittling ’95 received the 2016 Athena Leadership Award from the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. She is a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo and a past member of the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Rittling lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Ranjana Kadle ’96 of Williamsville, N.Y., received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Students of Color at their dinner on April 14. She is a partner with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, practicing intellectual property law.

David H. Fitch ’97 has become a partner with Underberg & Kessler in Rochester, N.Y. He practices in the firm’s litigation, health care and municipal practice groups. He lives in Pittsford, N.Y.

Kristina A. Karle ’97 received the Top Women in Law Award from The Daily Record. She is a solo practitioner counseling clients on divorce, family and criminal law in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.

Lisa J. Maslow ’97 received the 2016 James R. Boyle Award from the Monroe County Bar Association in Rochester, N.Y. She is a Rochester solo practitioner and resident.

Gregory T. Miller ’97 was elected president of the Bar Association of Erie County in Buffalo. He is a partner with Roach Brown McCarthy & Gruber in Buffalo, practicing medical malpractice defense. Miller lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Brian D. Gwitt ’98 was elected president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Gwitt is a partner in the litigation department of Woods Oviatt Gilman in Buffalo. He lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Gregory A. Mattacola ’98 of Rome, N.Y., has joined Hancock Estabrook as counsel in the Rome office. Mattacola counsels clients regarding health law, labor and employment law, litigation, real estate, estate planning and municipal law.

Bridget E. Niland ’98 received the 2016 Athena Young Professional Leadership Award from the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. She is athletic director of Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y., where she resides.      

Marc W. Brown ’99 was elected assistant secretary of the UB Law Alumni Association. Brown is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in the Buffalo office. He practices business and commercial litigation. Brown lives in Williamsville, N.Y.  

Jeffrey F. Reina ’99 has been named chairman of the matrimonial department with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria in Buffalo. He is a senior partner in the business and commercial litigation department in Buffalo. Reina is a past vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. He lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Dennis K. Schaeffer ’99 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a partner with Bond Schoeneck & King in Buffalo, where he resides.

Robert G. Murray ’00 was elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Upstate New York Chapter. Murray is a partner with Harris Beach in Buffalo. He lives in Getzville, N.Y.

Stephanie A. Saunders ’00 received the Top Women in Law Award from The Daily Record. She is assistant legal counsel with the Buffalo Board of Education. Saunders is a past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, in Buffalo, and a past vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a Buffalo resident.

Pietra G. Zaffram ’01 was elected president-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association. Zaffram is a partner with Harris Beach in Buffalo in the public finance and economic development and tax law practice groups. She is a past president of the Law School’s GOLD Group. Zaffram lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Thomas C. Burnham ’03 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a senior partner with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria in Buffalo. Burnham practices disability law, including Social Security disability, Supplemental Security Income, workers’ compensation and veterans’ disability. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Melissa A. Foti ’03 was elected vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a partner with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak in Buffalo, where she resides.

Anthony G. Marecki ’03 was promoted to partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham in Buffalo. He handles cases involving commercial litigation and first-party insurance matters. He lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Sean J. MacKenzie ’04 was promoted to partner with Magavern Magavern Grimm in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y., offices. He practices administrative law, business law, civil litigation, corporate and commercial litigation, labor and employment law, litigation, negligence and personal injury. MacKenzie lives in Lewiston, N.Y.

Erika M. Marabella ’04, an Amherst, N.Y., resident, was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Marabella is corporate counsel with Rich Products Corp. in Buffalo.

Megan A. Gomez ’05 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is senior legal counsel with Univera Healthcare in Buffalo, where she resides.

Anne E. Joynt ’05 was elected vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Joynt is a junior partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio in Buffalo, practicing childhood lead paint litigation and personal injury. She is a past president of the Law School's GOLD Group. Joynt lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Joseph A. Gawlowicz ’06 has joined Trevett Cristo Salzer & Andolina in Rochester, N.Y., where he resides. Gawlowicz handles cases involving labor, employment and benefits law.

Thomas M. Gordon ’05 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Gordon is a member of Gross Shuman Brizdle & Gilfillan in Buffalo, practicing business and corporate law. He lives in West Seneca, N.Y.

Elizabeth M. Fox-Solomon ’06 of Buffalo is listed as a “2016 Up & Coming Attorney” by the Daily Record. She is a trial attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Buffalo. Fox-Solomon is a past member of the board of directors of the Law School’s GOLD Group.

Danielle M. Rizzo ’06 has become senior counsel with Harris Beach in the Buffalo office. Rizzo concentrates her practice on immigration and nationality law and employment-based immigration. She is a resident of East Aurora, N.Y.

Jennifer A. Beckage ’07 was named to the national advisory board of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Advocacy Institute. She is a partner with Phillips Lytle in the Buffalo office, concentrating her practice in complex business disputes and commercial litigation. Beckage lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Jillian E. Deck ’07 was named to the board of directors of Mikey’s Way Foundation in Williamsville, N.Y. She is a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo. Deck practices in the banking and financial transactions practice group. She resides in Akron, N.Y.

Ryan A. Lown ’07 was promoted to partner with Phillips Lytle in the Rochester, N.Y, office. Lown counsels clients regarding real estate, including commercial real estate lending and development, secured financing and workouts, condominium and planned unit development matters and project development. He is a Rochester resident.

Richard J. Marinaccio ’07 was promoted to partner with Phillips Lytle in Buffalo. He is a member of the firm’s Canadian Cross Border team and counsels clients regarding international and domestic business transactions, corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, franchise law, licensing and technology transactions, and privacy matters.

Rachel Hezel Rzayev ’07 of Williamsville, N.Y., was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She practices with Cannon Heyman & Weiss in Buffalo.

Ellen Grimm Spencer ’07 was promoted to partner with Magavern Magavern Grimm in Buffalo. She focuses her practice in administrative law, elder law, estates and trusts law, health law and tax law. Spencer lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Joshua E. Dubs ’08 was named a “2016 Up & Coming Attorney” by the Daily Record. Dubs is a Buffalo solo practitioner. He is a past member of the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. Dubs resides in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Andres D. Ortiz ’08 was elected to the board of directors of the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York, in Buffalo. Ortiz is an associate with Cohen & Lombardo in Buffalo. He handles cases involving real estate, corporate law, estates and trusts, civil litigation and debtor/creditor law. Ortiz is a Buffalo resident.

Joseph J. Polniak ’08 has been promoted to senior director, senior corporate counsel with Greatbatch Inc. in Clarence, N.Y. He lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Randolph V. Clower ’09 was named a “2016 Up & Coming Attorney” by the Daily Record. He is an associate with Phillips Lytle in the Buffalo office, practicing intellectual property. Clower lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Christopher M. Zera ’09 has been promoted to office manager with R.A. Mercer & Co. in West Seneca, N.Y., where he resides. He joined the company as a staff accountant in 2009.

Daniel J. Bauman ’10 has become an associate with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria in Buffalo. He practices personal injury law, concentrating his practice in premises liability, construction accidents and motor vehicle accidents. He lives in Buffalo.

Heather L. Dechert ’10 has been elected to the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. She is an associate with Webster Szanyi in Buffalo.  She focuses her practice in civil litigation, employment law and employment discrimination. Dechert resides in East Aurora, N.Y.

Wende J. Knapp ’10 of Rochester, N.Y., was listed in the Daily Record as a “2016 Up & Coming Attorney.” Knapp is an attorney in the office of general counsel with Xerox Corp. in Rochester. She is a past co-chair of the Rochester chapter of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Vincent M. Miranda ’10 has been elected to the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. Miranda is a senior associate with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman in Buffalo, practicing business litigation and employment law. He lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Emily G. Catalano ’11 joined Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman as an associate in the Albany, N.Y., office, practicing labor and employment law. She is an Albany resident.

Jessie Gregorio ’11 has become associated with Underberg & Kessler in Rochester, N.Y. Gregorio counsels clients regarding civil litigation, medical malpractice defense and health care law. She lives in Victor, N.Y.

Jesslyn A. Holbrook ’11 is practicing as an associate with Magavern Magavern Grimm in the Buffalo office. She concentrates her practice in health law, health law litigation, elder law and estate planning. Holbrook lives in Clarence, N.Y.

TheArthur A. Duncan ’12 was the guest speaker and honoree at the True Community Development Corp.’s third annual True Triumph Celebration in Buffalo. Duncan is the author of Felon-Attorney, which details his life journey of selling crack cocaine, becoming incarcerated and then practicing law. He is corporation counsel for the City of Buffalo. Duncan is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Joel P. Feroleto ’12 received the Sarah G. Metzger Human Rights Award from Housing Opportunities Made Equal, in Buffalo. He is the Delaware District member of the Buffalo Common Council. Feroleto practices with Feroleto Law in Buffalo, where he resides.

Latoya Joyner ’12 received the Trailblazer Award from the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Students of Color at their dinner on April 14. Joyner is a New York State Assemblywoman, 77th District, in Bronx, N.Y., where she resides.

Aidan Mitchell-Eaton ’12 has been elected to the board of directors of the Jowonio School in Syracuse, N.Y. He is an associate with Bousquet Holstein in Syracuse, where he resides.

Alissa M. Fortuna-Valentine ’13 was named a “2016 Up & Coming Attorney” by the Daily Record. She is an associate with Leclair Korona Giordano Cole, practicing litigation including commercial disputes and personal injury in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.

Robert P. Yawman ’13 has become associated with Leclair Korona Giordano Cole in Rochester, N.Y., practicing litigation. He is a Rochester resident.

Jennifer R. Nunnery ’14 received the 2016 YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the military/veteran category. She is a Buffalo solo practitioner, practicing family law in Batavia, N.Y., where she resides. Nunnery was in the U.S. Military Police Corps and was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Michael N. Vranjes ’14 has become associated with Simpson & Simpson in Williamsville, N.Y. He concentrates his practice in patent prosecution and protection of technology. Vranjes lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Carrie A. Zimbardi ’14 is practicing as an associate with Feroleto Law in Buffalo, where she resides. Zimbardi counsels clients regarding plaintiff’s personal injury litigation.

Henry A. Zomerfeld ’14 has been elected to the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. He practices as an associate in the insurance defense group of Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak in Buffalo. Zomerfeld lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Andrea K. DiLuglio ’15 was elected to the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. She is an associate with Woods Oviatt Gilman in Buffalo. DiLuglio practices business litigation, corporate governance, real estate litigation, creditors’ rights, business divorce, and construction and surety law litigation. She lives on Grand Island, N.Y.

Edward T. Mazzu Jr. ’15 of Orchard Park, N.Y., is practicing as an associate with Dolce Panepinto in Buffalo. He concentrates his practice in personal injury and workers’ compensation.

Sarah M. Draper ’16 of Buffalo was elected to the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. Draper practices with Connors LLP in Buffalo.

Patrick D. Leavy ’16 was elected to the board of directors of the University at Buffalo School of Law’s GOLD Group. Leavy practices with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham in Buffalo. He resides in Buffalo, N.Y.