Class Action - October/November '21

Paul A. Vick ’75 has authored the memoir Where the Cotton Grows: A Missionary Calling Leads a Baptist Family on a Fateful Journey to China Leaving a Lasting Legacy. In the memoir, Vick tells his story of being the sole survivor of a plane crash in China in 1947 when he was 16 months old while traveling with his parents and his 3-year-old brother. Vick is a resident of Rochester, N.Y.

Charles C. Swanekamp ’79 has joined the firm Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, focusing his practice on business law, commercial litigation and the defense of accountants and attorneys in disciplinary and malpractice matters. He is a resident of Getzville, N.Y.

Hon. Debra Givens ’87 received the Hon. Justice Rose B. Sconiers Trailblazer Award from the Minority Bar Foundation in Buffalo. Givens is a judge with the New York State Court of Claims, 8^th Judicial District, in Buffalo, where she resides.

Naomi L. Adler ’91 has become CEO of Hadassah in New York City. Hadassah is the country’s largest Jewish women’s organization. Adler previously served as president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. She lives in Penn Valley, Pa.  

Trini E. Ross ’92 has been named U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, in Buffalo. She is the first woman of color named to serve in this position. Ross most recently served as director of investigations, legal division, with the National Science Foundation's Office of Inspector General in Alexandria, Va., and was formerly an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. She is a past recipient of the UB Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumna Award for public service. Ross lives in Falls Church, Va.

Christopher H. Gresham ’94 has joined the Law Offices of William Mattar in Williamsville, N.Y. Gresham is a resident of East Amherst, N.Y.

Kristin G. Koehler ’94 has been named managing partner with Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, D.C., where she resides. She is a lifetime member of the Law Alumni Association and an emeritus member of the law school’s Dean’s Advisory Council.  

Gina M. Vitiello ’95, a shareholder with Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta, has become national chair of the firm’s construction law section. She focuses her practice on construction contract law and litigation. Vitiello is an Atlanta resident.

Teresa Bair ’96, of Amherst. N.Y., has been appointed chief legal officer with Kura Oncology, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, in the Boston office. Bair previously served as executive officer, general counsel and senior vice president, administration, with Athenex in Buffalo, where she resides. She serves on the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association.    

Holly Tucker ’96 has become confidential law clerk to Hon. Debra Givens ’87, New York State Court of Claims, 8^th Judicial District, in Buffalo. Tucker is a member of the board of directors of the UB Law Alumni Association. She lives in Clarence, N.Y.  

Scott M. Philbin ’97 has joined Gross Shuman P.C. in the Buffalo office, counseling clients regarding business and commercial matters. He lives in Clarence Center, N.Y.

Hon. Phillip L. Dabney Jr. ’02 has been appointed to the board of trustees of the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, where he resides. Dabney is a Buffalo City Court judge.

Elizabeth de León Bhargava ’03 of New York City has been nominated by President Biden to serve as assistant secretary of Housing and Urban Development. She is agency review engagement liaison with the Biden-Harris transition team and served as New York State deputy secretary for labor and workforce.

Lisa Sharp ’04 has become assistant general counsel with WorldStrides. WorldStrides is a leading experiential learning company headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., where she resides.

David B. Teigman ’04 has become a partner with Proskauer Rose LLP in the New York City office, practicing in the tax department. He lives in New York City.  

Samantha White ’08 received the Legal Service Award from the Minority Bar Foundation in Buffalo, where she resides. White is a staff attorney, criminal defense unit, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo.  

J. Miles Gresham ’11 received the Legal Service Award from the Minority Bar Foundation in Buffalo. Gresham is a partner with Maye & Gresham, with offices in Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y. He is a resident of Amherst, N.Y.

Courtney Donahue Tasner ’11 has been promoted to partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in the trusts and estates department in Buffalo. She lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Lauren A. Suttell ’12 has been promoted to partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP in the Buffalo office. She handles cases involving not-for-profit, health care, tax and corporate matters. Suttell lives in East Amherst, N.Y.

Nate T. Yohannes ’12 has become artificial intelligence product lead with Facebook in New York City. Yohannes previously served as product and corporate strategy leader to the chief technology officer with Microsoft in Seattle. He is a past recipient of the School of Law’s Students of Color Trailblazer Award.

Ann C. Dillon Flynn ’15 has been named clerk of the court for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, in Rochester, N.Y. She previously served as chief of staff to Presiding Justice Gerald J. Whalen. Flynn is a resident of Orchard Park, N.Y.    

Aaron M. VanNostrand ’16 has joined Goldberg Segalla LLP as an associate in the firm’s retail and hospitality group in Garden City, N.Y.  He is a resident of Forest Hills, N.Y.

Senovia Moncada ’18 of North Chili, N.Y., received the President’s Award from the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys in Rochester, N.Y. Moncada is an associate with Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP in Rochester.

Robert J. McDonald ’20 has become associated with the Mura Law Group PLLC in Buffalo, counseling clients regarding insurance coverage and defense litigation. He lives in Getzville, N.Y.

Khalil H. Williams ’21 has joined Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP as an associate in the Rochester, N.Y. office, practicing business litigation.

Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40

• Shannon E. Filbert ’07
  Erie County Family Court, Buffalo
• John M. Godwin ’07
  Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo
• Jason G. Ulatowski ’07
  PCB Piezotronics, Depew, N.Y.  
• Darice L. Hickey ’09
  HSBC Bank USA, Buffalo

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Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal 2021 Legal Excellence Award

• Michael R. Wolford ’68
  Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Susan Sturman Jennings ’90
  Conifer Realty LLC, Rochester, N.Y.
• Hon. Fatimat O. Reid ’05
  Monroe County Family Court, Rochester, N.Y.
  
• Leigh Ann Chute ’12
  Legal Aid Society of Rochester, N.Y.
• Kinsey A. O'Brien ’13
  Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo
  
• Patrick D. Leavy ’16
  Vahey Law Offices PLLC, Rochester, N.Y.

2021 Women in the Law Lamplighter Award by the New York State Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts, 8th Judicial District, Gender and Racial Fairness Committee

• Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee ’86
  Buffalo City Court
• Hon. Sharon M. LoVallo ’94
  Erie County Family Court, Buffalo
• Bridget M. O'Connell ’98
  New York State Unified Court System, Buffalo