Class Action - June '17

Norman P. Effman ’68 was elected vice president of the 8th Judicial District executive committee. He is executive director of Wyoming County-Attica Legal Aid Bureau in Warsaw, N.Y. Effman is a Buffalo resident.

Nelson F. Zakia ’73 received the Charles H. Dougherty Civility Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Zakia is chairman of the matrimonial and family law department of HoganWillig in Buffalo. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Rolland E. Kidder ’74 of Ashville, N.Y., will receive the Good Scout Award from the Allegheny Highlands Council, Boy Scouts of America, in Falconer, N.Y., on June 23. Kidder is a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War and currently serves as vice chairman of the Friends of the National World War II Memorial. He served four terms in the New York State Assembly.

Kenneth A. Manning ’77, a partner with Phillips Lytle in the Buffalo office, received the 2017 Lawyer of the Year Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Manning is an emeritus member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, a past president of the Law Alumni Association and a past recipient of the association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Hon. Barbara Howe ’80 received the 2017 Outstanding Jurist Award from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Howe is Erie County surrogate judge in Buffalo, where she resides. She is a past recipient of the Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumna Award, a past president of the Law Alumni Association and an adjunct faculty member at the School of Law and the UB Department of Sociology.

Cathy Kaman Ryan ’80 has joined Bond Schoeneck & King as a member of the firm’s property practice in the Rochester, N.Y., office. Ryan was previously a partner with Harter Secrest & Emery in Rochester, where she resides.

Andrea Schillaci ’82 received the Daily Record Top Women in Law Award. She is a partner and head of the business litigation department with Hurwitz & Fine in Buffalo. Schillaci is a vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is a Buffalo resident.

Mary Doyle ’84, a Pittsford, N.Y., resident, received the Top Women in Law Award from the Daily Record. She is an attorney with the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, in Rochester, N.Y.

Marilyn A. Hochfield ’84 received the 2017 Award of Merit from the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. Hochfield is special counsel with Kavinoky Cook in Buffalo, where she resides.

Hon. William J. Hochul Jr. ’84 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is general counsel with Delaware North Cos. in Buffalo, where he resides. Hochul recently retired as U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York, in Buffalo. He is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Jill L. Paperno ’84 received the President’s Award from the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, in Rochester, N.Y. She is first assistant public defender in the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester and a past president of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys. Paperno lives in Pittsford, N.Y.

Brian V. McAvoy ’85 is named in the 2017 Florida Super Lawyers. McAvoy is a partner with Roetzel & Andress in the Naples, Fla. office, focusing his practice in estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate litigation, and general business and real estate law. McAvoy lives in Naples.

Roy Z. Rotenberg ’85 has become a partner with Barclay Damon in the Rochester, N.Y., office. He handles cases involving products liability, professional liability and commercial litigation. Rotenberg is a resident of Honeoye Falls, N.Y.

Michael G. Zapson ’85 has joined Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman as a partner in the East Meadow, N.Y. office. Zapson handles cases involving commercial and estate litigation, real estate and zoning. He lives in Long Beach, N.Y.

Alberto M. Benitez ’86 ran and finished the Rock ’n’ Roll Liverpool 5K and Marathon in Liverpool, England, in May. Benitez is a professor of clinical law at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. He lives in Alexandria, Va.

Craig R. Watson ’87 has joined William Mattar Law Offices in Williamsville, N.Y., practicing personal injury law. Watson lives in East Aurora, N.Y.

Douglas W. Dimitroff ’89 was named chair of the Model Code for Municipalities advisory committee of the Federal Communications Commission. He is a partner with Phillips Lytle in Buffalo, handling cases involving commercial real estate and telecommunications law. Dimitroff, chair of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council, is a resident of East Amherst, N.Y.

Kenya Mann Faulkner ’89 has been named managing director of the investigations and disputes practice with Kroll in the Philadelphia office. She previously served as vice president for legal affairs and general counsel with the University of Cincinnati. Faulkner is a past recipient of the Students of Color Distinguished Alumni Award. She lives in West Chester, Ohio.

Kimberly A. Duguay ’92 received the Daily Record Top Women in Law Award. She is an appellate attorney with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.  

Andrew B. Isenberg ’92 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Isenberg is district executive with the New York State Unified Court System, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo. He is a resident of Williamsville, N.Y.

Scott C. Becker ’93 was elected assistant secretary 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.

Timothy P. Donaher ’93 received the Outstanding Achievement for Promoting Standards for Mandated Representation Award from the New York State Bar Association. Donaher is Monroe County public defender in Rochester, N.Y. He lives in Webster, N.Y.

Hon. Henry J. Nowak Jr. ’93, a New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. He is a Buffalo resident.

Melissa L. Barrett ’95 received the Top Women in Law Award from the Daily Record.  Barrett is associate court attorney with the Rochester City Court in Rochester, N.Y. She lives in Fairport, N.Y.

Hon. Craig D. Hannah ’95, a Buffalo City Court judge, has been named supervisor of the Opiate Crisis Intervention Court in Buffalo, the nation’s first opiate intervention court. Hannah is a member of the School of Law’s Dean’s Advisory Council. He is a Buffalo resident.

Kevin D. Szczepanski ’95 has become a partner with Barclay Damon in the Buffalo and New York City offices. He practices in insurance coverage, business litigation and cyber risk. Szczepanski is a Buffalo resident.

Lorna R. Affronti ’97 received the James R. Boyle Award from the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, N.Y. She has a family law practice in Pittsford, N.Y., where she resides.

Lenora B. Foote ’97 received the Top Women in Law Award from the Daily Record. Foote is executive assistant to Hon. Gerald Whalen ’83, presiding justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, in Buffalo, where she resides. She is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association.

Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres ’98 received the Roses for Outstanding Women Award from the Erie County Legislature in Buffalo, where she resides. She is a Buffalo City Court judge.

Marc W. Brown ’99 has been elected president-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association. Brown, a partner with Goldberg Segalla in the Buffalo office, practices business and commercial litigation. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

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

Stephanie A. Saunders ’00 was elected treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is principal law clerk for Hon. E. Jeannette Ogden ’83 of the New York State Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo.  Saunders is a past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, in Buffalo, where she resides.

Rita G. Alexyn ’01 of Mansfield, Pa., was named to the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors for a three-year term. She is a solo practitioner in Mansfield, practicing family law.

Amy L. Hemenway ’01 was elected a vice president of the UB Law Alumni Association. Hemenway is a partner with Harter Secrest & Emery in the Buffalo office. She focuses her practice in federal and state court litigation as well as administrative proceedings involving labor and employment matters. Hemenway lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Sean D. Schoenborn ’01 has become associated with Smith Sovik Kendrick & Sugnet in Buffalo. Schoenboern concentrates his practice in defending motor vehicle, premises, product liability, construction/labor law and municipal claims. He is a Buffalo resident.

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

Jaime Gallagher ’02 was elected assistant treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association. She is associate counsel with the New York State Liquor Authority in Buffalo. Gallagher lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Marybeth P. Mantharam ’03 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. A member of Colucci & Gallaher in Buffalo, she lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

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

Colleen K. Mattrey ’04 has become a partner with Smith Sovik Kendrick & Sugnet in the Buffalo office. She focuses her practice in medical and professional liability. Mattrey lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Matthew R. Coseo ’05 of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., received the 2017 Saratoga County Public Service Award. He is principal court attorney with the Saratoga County Surrogate’s Court in Ballston Spa, N.Y. Coseo is president of the Saratoga County Bar Association, vice president of the 4th Judicial District executive committee of the New York State Bar Association. He is a past co-chair of the Albany Chapter of the Law Alumni Association.

Fatimat O. Reid ’05 received the Daily Record Top Women in Law Award. Reid is chief of staff and associate general counsel with the Rochester City School District in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.

Hon. Bradley T. Knope ’06 was appointed administrative law judge with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., where he resides. He previously served as counsel with the department.

Richard J. Marinaccio ’07 was elected to the board of directors 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.

Adrian T. Dayton ’08 has been named a College of Law Practice Management Fellow. He is the youngest fellow-elect and will be honored at the organization’s annual conference in October. Dayton is founder of ClearView Social in Buffalo. He is a resident of East Amherst, N.Y.

Jessica A. Kulpit ’08 has been named 2017 Top Criminal Defense Attorney by the Assigned Counsel Program of the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. She is a Buffalo solo practitioner handling cases involving DUI/DWI defense, criminal defense, traffic/DMV law and family law. Kulpit lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Jeffrey D. Casey ’09 of Pittsford, N.Y., was named a 2017 Up and Coming Attorney by The Daily Record. He is an associate with Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy in Rochester, N.Y.

Kevin J. Espinosa ’09 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. Espinosa is in-house counsel with M&T Bank in Buffalo. He lives in Lancaster, N.Y.

Joshua M. Agins ’10 was named a 2017 Up and Coming Attorney by The Daily Record. Agins is an associate with Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy in Rochester, N.Y. He lives in Penfield, N.Y.

Ryan K. Parisi ’10 was elected president of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. Parisi is an associate with Seaman Norris in Lockport, N.Y., and also serves as a part-time assistant district attorney in Niagara County where he resides. 

Lisa M. Diaz-Ordaz ’11 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. She is field counsel with the Law Offices of Destin C. Santacrose, Liberty Mutual Group in Buffalo, where she resides.

Lindsay M. McKenna ’11 has become associated with Hodgson Russ in the Buffalo office, counseling clients regarding estates and trusts. She lives in Clarence, N.Y.

Helen A. Syme ’11 was named a 2017 Up and Coming Attorney by The Daily Record. Syme is an assistant public defender with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, N.Y. She lives in Webster, N.Y.

Cristin L. Murray ’12 of Hamburg, N.Y., was elected treasurer of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an associate with Hodgson Russ, practicing in the firm’s corporate and business law practice.

Lydia H. Beebe Safulko ’12 was elected secretary of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. She is an associate practicing in the trusts and estates practice area with Barclay Damon in Buffalo, where she resides.

Michael Scott-Kristansen ’12 was named a 2017 Up and Coming Attorney by The Daily Record. He is an associate with the Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow in Rochester, N.Y., where he resides.

Nate T. Yohannes ’12 has accepted a position as director of business development with Microsoft in San Francisco. He previously served as a senior adviser with the Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration, for the Obama administration in Washington, D.C.

Meghan A. Corcoran ’13 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. She is an attorney with National Fuel Gas Co. in Williamsville, N.Y. Corcoran lives in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Alissa M. Fortuna-Valentine ’13 received the William E. McKnight Award from the Volunteer Legal Services Project of Rochester, N.Y. She is an associate with Phillips Lytle in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.

Kinsey A. O'Brien ’13 has joined Hodgson Russ as an associate in Buffalo, where she resides. She handles cases involving labor and employment law.

Christopher S. Safulko ’13, an assistant district attorney with the Erie County District Attorney’s office in Buffalo, was elected treasurer-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group. He is a Buffalo resident.

Aaron M. Saykin ’13 was elected president-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. He is an associate with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo, practicing business litigation. Saykin lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Robert P. Yawman ’13, an associate with Leclair Korona Vahey Cole in Rochester, N.Y., was named a 2017 Up and Coming Attorney by The Daily Record. He is a Rochester resident.

Anthony R. Faraco ’14 was named a 2017 Up and Coming Attorney by The Daily Record. Faraco is an assistant public defender with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, N.Y.

Kerisha Hawthorne-Greer ’14 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. She is a pro bono department staff attorney with the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project in Buffalo.

Luisa D. Johnson ’14 has become an associate with Hodgson Russ in the Buffalo office. Johnson practices in the firm’s labor and employment practice group. She is a Buffalo resident.

Henry A. Zomerfeld ’14 of Kenmore, N.Y., was elected secretary-elect of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. He is an associate with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak in Buffalo, practicing in the insurance defense and commercial litigation practice groups.

Ari M. Goldberg ’17 was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. He will be an associate at the Buffalo law firm of Colucci & Gallagher, after taking the New York State bar exam. He lives in East Amherst, N.Y.   

Calvin D. Weaver ’17 of Amherst, N.Y., was elected to the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association's GOLD Group. He will be an associate at the Buffalo law firm of Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham, after taking the New York State bar exam.