Colden Lawyers

With nearly three decades of experience practicing Bankruptcy law and Social Security law in Buffalo, Paul Pochepan is able to help consumers facing financial hardships and disabled individuals and their dependents. He has helped many Western New York consumers navigate the bankruptcy system under chapter 7 or chapter 13. He also helps Buffalo-area residents apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or appeal Social Security Administration decisions denying, reducing or revoking benefits. He has accumulated a wealth of knowledge regarding the multiple medical impairments afflicting disability claimants and dealing with the medical profession to secure the...

Amanda Weber is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law’s Corporate & Business Law, as well as Estate Planning & Elder Law Departments, with an emphasis on business formation, contracts, long-term care planning, and trusts. Ms. Weber obtained her Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island, and her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Niagara University. Amanda has been admitted to practice law in New York, Minnesota, and the District of Columbia. Before joining Tiveron Law, Ms. Weber worked for a local WNY firm focusing on Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Veteran Disability Appeals. Amanda is...

Chair of the largest residential real estate department in Western New York. Extensive third party relocation, REO, commercial and residential lending representation. Recently closed a $3 Million dollar refinance, and a $965,000 commercial purchase secured by properties in Western New York and Florida. Experienced in time share, zoning, land use, condominiums and cooperatives, real estate negotiations and litigation. Voted for inclusion in "Best Lawyers in America" for the past four years.

Jessica Peraza is Counsel working with the firm’s Trusts & Estates Department. She focuses her practice on Estate Planning and Administration, Medicaid and Long-term Care Planning, and Wealth Management. As a law student, she interned for the Hon. Barbara Howe in Erie County Surrogate’s Court and worked in the Public Benefits Unit of Neighborhood Legal Services. Her previous experience includes residential foreclosures, public and private sector labor law, contract negotiations, probate matters, third party credit collections, and representation of clients in administrative hearings and arbitrations. Ms. Peraza attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York where she graduated with a...

Jeffrey Tyrpak, an Amherst native, attended Fordham University and obtained his BA in International Political Economy in 2010. In 2013, he earned his JD at UB Law School with a concentration in Finance Transactions.

He started practicing law at a small firm in New York City before returning home and joining our team in December of 2016. While working in New York City, Mr. Tyrpak handled litigation in federal court regarding collective bargaining agreements and ERISA for employee benefit funds. He also worked on government compliance matters under the Affordable Care Act and ERISA.

Currently, Mr. Tyrpak resides in HoganWillig's Real Estate...

John P. Comerford is a Senior Partner at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC. He grew up in Lewiston, New York, a small historic town near the Canadian border. He grew up in the shadows of Love Canal and personally observed the consequences of environmental pollution. He attended Cornell University and studied Environmental Science. Mr. Comerford devotes the majority of his time to asbestos personal injury matters. He has litigated cases throughout Upstate New York in cities which include Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton. Over the course of his career, he has helped hundreds...

Michael T. Benz is an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation department; handling personal injury, medical malpractice, and criminal defense cases. His motto and practice is to prepare every case as though it will be a jury trial; and he is confident that his trial preparation is the key to getting the best result for his clients.

Mr. Benz brings vast trial experience with him to HoganWillig, having tried hundreds of cases as an Assistant Defender at the nationally recognized Defender Association of Philadelphia, before starting his own private criminal defense practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a native “Buffalonian” he...

Adela graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a triple major in Health Services, Administration of Justice and Communications. She obtained her J.D., cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, with certificates in Civil Litigation and Health Services.

Following graduation, Adela spent almost three years in Boston, Massachusetts representing clients in a variety of matters, including personal injury, summary process, contract disputes, and class action cases. In 2017, she moved to Buffalo, New York where she concentrated her practice in litigation, medical malpractice defense, nursing home defense, employment discrimination defense, and corporate health care matters....

A skilled trial lawyer, Craig Small has been practicing law since 1995, and in the State of New York and Buffalo, New York since 1998. Craig Small's law firm, Small Law Firm, focuses its attention on representing injured people. Small Law Firm helps with injuries caused by car accidents, nursing home abuse, nursing home pressure or bed sores, fall-downs, biking, boating, and traumatic injuries including brain injuries, paralysis, fractures, and herniated discs. Craig Small has settled significant cases and has won verdicts throughout Western and Central New York. Small Law Firm is a small law firm...

Diane Tiveron is a Partner and the Chairperson of the Corporate & Business Law Department at Tiveron Law PLLC. With over 29 years of legal experience and a educational background in economics and business administration, Ms. Tiveron assists clients with business formations (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporations, and limited liability companies), acquisitions, sales or dissolutions, as well as the preparation of any commercial document/contract, ranging from an employment agreement to a lease. She counsels non-for-profit organizations on nonprofit law and governance, obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status and 501(c) classifications. Ms. Tiveron also advises individuals and businesses with bankruptcy issues (Chapter...

The first-generation son of immigrants, Matthew Borowski is a knowledgeable and compassionate lawyer. He has been featured on news media outlets including CNN, NBC, ABC, and The Buffalo News for his asylum and refugee work. Matthew is licensed in both the U.S. (New York) and Canada (Ontario). Borowski Witmer Immigration Lawyers has locations in Buffalo, NY and in Springfield, VA. He is well-versed in immigration matters including deportation defense, family and business immigration including NAFTA/TN visas and rehabilitation/waivers, federal criminal defense, and post-conviction relief. He appears before Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, USCIS, New York state courts and...

Daniel S. Gvertz is an attorney in Tiveron Law’s Matrimonial and Family Law department. Mr. Gvertz received his Juris Doctorate from the State University at Buffalo School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. While an undergraduate, Daniel served as the editor of the student newspaper. With more than a dozen years of legal experience, Mr. Gvertz has working knowledge in a myriad of litigation areas, including criminal law, plaintiff’s personal injury, collections, mortgage foreclosure, insurance defense, and family law. This diverse courtroom experience is a true asset to his clients.

Scott Michael Duquin focuses his practice on Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Civil Litigation. Prior to joining us, Scott spent the first 11 years of his career doing insurance defense. He holds an AVVO Super rating, Martindale Distinguished, and has been named a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury every year since 2013.

Scott has extensive trial and appellate experience representing individuals to multi-national corporations in automobile liability, medical malpractice, products liability, toxic tort and catastrophic personal injury matters. Scott has successfully represented several small business owners in various litigated commercial matters.

In 2016, in a highly publicized case Scott was able to...

As an attorney in the real estate department, Ms. Letty oversees the everyday operations of all aspects of the real estate practice including buy/sell, mortgage handling, as well as, all transactions that require litigation or attention beyond the normal closing procedure. She is also the principal title insurance attorney who examines titles, prepares preliminary title reports, resolves title problems, and issues final title insurance policies through various title insurance agencies, in an effort to ensure that our clients, whether they are purchasers or banks, are fully protected against adverse title claims that may arise as a consequence of their purchase...

Our founding member and principal, Russel Morgan has concentrated in commercial and contract litigation, trust and estate planning, business and personal asset protection, wealth preservation and dynasty succession planning. Russel has also assisted clients with all forms of commercial and personal transnational work, including the preparation, re-structuring and litigation of various types of contracts. Our estate law office also includes; Eldercare planning, nyc healthcare proxy, beneficiary in a Will, Medicaid planning trusts, mltc plan, Medicaid planning strategies, help with drafting wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts. Russel Morgan was raised in Brooklyn, New York and has remained loyal to his origins...

Kevin Burke is a Buffalo business attorney focused on the litigation of contract disputes, labor and employment issues, intellectual property protection, and trade secret cases. Kevin has represented both individuals and businesses since he moved home from Washington, D.C. in 1999, where he graduated with honors from Georgetown University and George Washington University Law School. Kevin has tried dozens of major commercial and employment cases to verdict. He regularly handles appeals before the Appellate Division, State of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He frequently writes and lectures on employee mobility issues, including the evolving area of...

Joshua F. Scrivani is a litigation attorney in Tiveron Law’s Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice departments. His focus areas within the Personal Injury Department include automobile accidents, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, dog bite incidents, and construction accidents. Before joining the firm, Mr. Scrivani worked at several local personal injury law firms. Early in his legal career, he developed his unwavering passion for helping his seriously injured clients achieve the best possible results. Joshua understands the unique hardships endured by each client and prides himself on his personal approach to every case. Mr. Scrivani grew up in the City of Buffalo...

Jonathan's practice helps businesses of all sizes grow whether it is from inception to a DPO (Direct Public Offering). We are here to provide you and your company with exceptional legal service in one of the most trying times of your business; growth. Additionally, Dunsmoor Law also helps clients with contract disputes, employer/employee agreements, and various other business matters.

Jonathan's prior experience includes being of counsel for a small, international securities firm and various areas of public interest law including a legal fellowship with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. Dunsmoor Law represents clients throughout the world regardless of size.

Experienced...

Joseph de Perio is an associate attorney with Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, New York. He focuses his practice in the areas of Business and Corporate Law and Real Estate and Development. He has worked closely with our teams in both practice areas to serve our clients. His experience in those areas includes: Business & Corporate Law Drafting Corporate Governance documents, including bylaws and board resolutions Assisting in the formation and dissolution of corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs) and partnerships Drafting operating agreements for LLCs Real Estate and Development Drafting real estate closing documents Assisting in title examination Assisting in the submittal of a minor subdivision...

From New York City originally and now residing and practicing law in Buffalo, New York, Mr. Cohen has been successfully trying civil and criminal cases, including high profile civil rights and constitutional law cases, for over 30 years. In addition to corporate and individual litigation clients, he regularly represents local, state and federal law enforcement officers from various agencies, defending them in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings. Admitted to practice in the States of New York and Pennsylvania, he has been admitted pro hac vice to handle matters in many other states. Mr. Cohen is frequently brought in as...

Nicholas A. Taylor is an Associate Attorney in HoganWillig’s Corporate and Business Department, handling contract formation and enforcement, corporate matters regarding formation, restructuring, and dissolution, and issues regarding commercial leasing of property.

Prior to joining HoganWillig, Mr. Taylor practiced insurance defense litigation, representing insurance carriers, employers, and third party administrators in workers’ compensation proceedings throughout Western New York.

Mr. Taylor graduated from Penn State Law at Pennsylvania State University and is an inducted member of the Woolsack Honor Society, which recognizes academic excellence. He is admitted to practice law in New York and is a member of the New York State and...

Hard work, communication, and honesty are the keys to success in any field – especially law. I learned about hard work while putting myself through college and law school while working in my father’s business – a “mom and pop” corner grocery store in Hamburg, NY. At this job, I met and spoke with thousands of people from all walks of life. I realized that while every person is different, all should be treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect. Upon completing law school, I joined a firm with experience in civil litigation which handled cases for the insurance companies. I eventually...

Jillian Stenzel is an associate attorney with the Real Estate Law Department, focusing her practice on Residential Purchases & Sales, Mortgage Lending, and Title Insurance. Jillian’s past legal experience has been varied, but she became skilled at transactional law while clerking for a solo real estate practitioner. Ms. Stenzel provides legal guidance for real estate closings for private home sales and adeptly represents lending partners when closing real estate contracts. Ms. Stenzel obtained her undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Sociology from SUNY Buffalo State College and her Juris Doctorate from the University at Buffalo School of Law. While at...

Rebecca Kujawa concentrates her practice in Litigation and Appellate Practice. Rebecca has experience in various types of civil litigation in state court as well as with administrative agencies. Rebecca assists in many aspects of the litigation process, including pleadings, discovery and motion practice. Rebecca received her JD from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, where she served as a Publications Editor for the Buffalo Law Review and was awarded the Order of the Coif (highest academic achievement). As a law student, Rebecca also gained extensive insight into civil litigation as a student law clerk to...

40 years experience, the last 25 of which have been devoted exclusively to matrimonial and family law, including appeals, division of retirement plans, and high net worth matrimonial matters. I have been a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs for local and NYS Bar Association programs as well as for judges.

Alexandria Awad is a litigation attorney in Tiveron Law’s Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice departments. Ms. Awad has dedicated her legal career to representing clients and their families in personal injury matters, including motor vehicle crashes, premises liability, construction site and workplace injury, mesothelioma, and medical malpractice actions. Alexandria earned her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. During law school, she served as a law clerk with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Coast Guard, and to the Honorable Paula Feroleto, Administrative Judge of the Eighth District of New York. Ms....

Ariel A. Bauerle is a litigation attorney practicing in HoganWillig’s Business, Estate Planning and Matrimonial & Family Law departments. She brings with her a wealth of legal knowledge as a student attorney working for the Family and Women’s Rights Clinic in Buffalo, representing clients in family law issues, including custody, visitation, and support cases. As well as court room experience while serving as a Judicial Intern in Erie County Court.

While receiving her J.D. at the University at Buffalo School of Law, Ms. Bauerle was the Vice President of the Domestic Violence Task Force, a contributing editor for the Buffalo Public...

Tyler J. Eckert is an attorney, in Tiveron Law’s litigation department, focusing his practice with the Criminal Defense Practice Group. Mr. Eckert obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of California Berkeley and his Juris Doctorate from Penn State Dickinson Law. While in law school, Mr. Eckert was a Regional Champion of the 72nd National Moot Court Competition and a recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Negotiation/Mediation. Tyler was also a judicial intern to the Honorable William Tully in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas and had experience clerking for the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.

Jeffrey Reina is a senior partner at Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria and is the head of the Matrimonial Law Practice Area. He has experience handling a variety of matrimonial issues, including divorce, separation, spousal support, same sex marriage, prenuptial agreements, post-judgment, and complex high net worth divorce. Mr. Reina also oversees the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Area. He resolves disputes for clients involving contracts, employment agreements, trademarks, copyrights, and partnership and shareholder matters. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Reina spent nearly a decade working in the restaurant industry. For several years, he served as...

A tough, aggressive trial lawyer, Michael Anthony Rossi began practicing in New York in 1981 and went on to form The Rossi Law Firm. The Rossi Law firm is a “results oriented” criminal and civil litigation firm with offices in Downtown Buffalo, representing clients throughout NY State. In his 42 years of practice, Michael has focused his expertise in the areas of serious personal injury claims, complex divorce and custody matters, and criminal and DWI defense. As senior trial counsel of the firm, Michael is a fierce advocate for his clients because he knows how important results are. He has demonstrated...

Michael Stachowski Is a skilled trial Lawyer ,having tried criminal matters from simple DWI and various misdemeanors , to serious felonies, Burglary Robbery ,Rape Murder, Assault and white collar crime ib state court . In federal court he has tried many from Immigration fraud , Drug and Gun conspiracies, RICO,Sex Trafficking and white Collar crime. He has been successful as a Defense Attorney. He has a A very successful track record as an Appellate Lawyer In both State and federal courts. He got a person out of jail after 18 years for Lack "Of Effective assistance of his...

Jordan C. DiBernardo is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law's Real Estate, Estate Planning, and Matrimonial and Family Law departments. Mr. DiBernardo received his Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo and received his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo in Political Science and International Studies. Prior to joining HoganWillig, Mr. DiBernardo worked for The Law Offices of Randy H. Gugino focusing on helping clients through the estate planning process and closing real estate transactions. In addition, he gained experience working as a law clerk for the Erie County Attorney’s Office. Mr. DiBernardo...

James P. Giambrone, Jr. is an attorney in Tiveron Law’s Corporate & Business Law, Real Estate, and Civil Litigation departments. With over 30 years of legal experience, Mr. Giambrone’s repertoire includes handling thousands of residential real estate and mortgage refinance closings, critically reviewing and interpreting commercial contracts, aggressively litigating civil and criminal trials, and successfully arguing appeals in N.Y, Supreme Court, Appellate Division.

John Ned Lipsitz is a founding partner of the Buffalo, New York law firm of Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC. He has represented workers suffering from industrial diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, since 1985. From 1981 through 1985, Mr. Lipsitz served on the clinical faculty of the Buffalo Law School of the State University of New York, where he instructed students in professional legal representation of consumer debtors, occupational safety and health law, constitutional rights and habeas corpus, and where he taught Research and Writing and Legal Ethics. Between 1979 and 1981, he was a staff attorney at the...

Mr. Saraceno has offices in Buffalo, NY as well as Nashville, TN. He has handled many of the most high profile cases in Western New York over the last two decades, winning homicide trials, rape trials, kidnapping trials, assault trials, larceny trials and DWI/DUI trials. Mr. Saraceno has often appeared on national news networks like CNN, Fox News and the NBC Nightly News. Additionally, Mr. Saraceno has been featured on local television networks, the Buffalo News, and the Niagara Gazette defending his clients in high profile criminal defense cases.

Whether you are charged with a DWI/DUI or a...

Barry Covert focuses his practice New York State and federal criminal trials and appeals; constitutional law, including First Amendment, Second Amendment, and civil rights actions; Qui Tam Act, also known as the False Claims Act; defending against allegations of scientific misconduct, scientific fraud, research misconduct, research fraud, plagiarism, and fabrication of evidence; defense of professional licensing, including for attorneys, doctors, and nurses. Mr. Covert has represented numerous professional clients relating to licensing issues and defended a prominent research scientist against allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct involving several federally funded research projects involving the Office of Research Integrity (ORI)....

Michael Kuzma is a solo practitioner in Buffalo. He has long viewed the law as being a tool to bring about social, political and economic change. For over three decades, Mike has fought to make government more open and accountable through use of the federal and state Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. He has litigated a number of FOI cases against agencies such as the CIA, FBI and New York State Department of Correctional and Community Supervision (DOCCS). Mike has represented Native American activist and political prisoner, Leonard Peltier, Jalil Muntaqim, Occupy Buffalo and Leslie James...

Laraine Kelley is recognized as one of the Western New York region's preeminent medical malpractice attorneys. She has significant experience representing victims of medical malpractice, fighting for clients' rights, finding answers to what happened, and obtaining successful results so justice is served for clients. Her legal skill, track record of results, and professional ethics have been acknowledged by peers, earning her several industry recognitions, including "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America; inclusion in Super Lawyers; and an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

I have seen firsthand the suffering and hardship people endure when they are injured due to the negligence of others. The impact an injury has on a person and their family goes beyond the physical pain. It has devastating consequences in almost every aspect of their life, the lives of their family, and in the community. I joined Cellino Law because the attorneys and staff are committed to helping injured people in their time of need. It is a philosophy and way of thinking I adhere to.

Danielle DeJoseph is an Associate Attorney at Pfalzgraf Beinhauer Grear Harris Schuller LLP. Her practice is focused in the areas of Probate, Estate Administration, and Estate Planning. Danielle was admitted to the Bar in the state of New York in 2018 and is a member of the Erie County Bar Association. She has been practicing as an estate attorney in Western New York for four years. Danielle graduated summa cum laude from Buffalo State College in 2013 with a major in English Literature. She received her legal education at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where she graduated with a J.D....