Ferndale Business Lawyers

Ben Calkins is an honors graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School.After law school, Mr. Calkins clerked for a Federal Judge before joining one of the World's largest law firms, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.Mr. Calkins has also worked at and been a partner in several of the other most prominent old style law firms.

Ben Calkins started listening to the clients and to their many complaints about old style law firms.Mr. Calkins was committed to complete and total client satisfaction from the start of his legal career and recalls, with some pride, a client at his first...

I am a graduate of Wesleyan University and the Boston University School of Law. During my career as an attorney, prior to my current solo practive, I have worked as a government regulatory trial attorney for the State Public Service Commission, an in house counsel for a Fortune 100 corporation, and as a partner or counsel for a several Albany and Syracuse based medium sized law firms. I am committed to helping people and small businesses with their legal problems at a reasonable, fixed "no surprises" rate not based on the common "hourly billing" model. I am...

Lisa Renee Pomerantz has more than thirty-five years of varied legal experience. After graduating cum laude from Radcliffe College of Harvard University and from Boston University Law School where she was on the Law Review, Lisa spent a year as a law clerk to a federal court judge. Following a stint as a litigation attorney in private practice, she worked for more than fifteen years as a senior level in-house attorney for a major corporation. Since 2003, Lisa has had her own practice. She works with innovative and creative enterprises to structure and foster successful business relationships...

I am a Litigation Attorney that concentrates my practice on Insurance Coverage, Toxic Torts, Environmental, Product Liability & Commercial Litigation. In particular, I represent landlords, small businesses such as manufacturers, distributors, retailers, waste haulers and dry cleaners, and I defend insured businesses for insurance companies. For more than two decades I have defended litigation claims involving lead paint, mold, asbestos, benzene, ink, and other toxic tort and environmental claims as well as related insurance coverage disputes and disputes between insurance companies. I routinely litigate commercial and contractual claims as well as shareholder and partnership disputes for small businesses and I...

Kevin Lelonek joined Gross Shuman P.C. as a law clerk in May 2014 and then as an attorney in January 2017. He provides counsel to clients in the areas of business bankruptcy and reorganization as well as commercial and business litigation. He earned his M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management and his J.D. from the University at Buffalo Law School in 2016. He also earned his B.A. from SUNY Brockport in 2012.

John F. Leone has practiced over 25 years in the practice areas of pensions, qualified retirement plans, wills, estate planning, estate and trust administration, and residential and commercial real estate. He received both his J.D. and B.S. degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo. In connection with his wills and estates practice, John has successfully defended proponents of wills subject to will contests, contested wills on behalf of beneficiaries, and has filed claims relating to breaches of fiduciary duty by individuals using a power of attorney for their own benefit. John is a frequent author of articles...

Robert Michalak represents contractors, owners, and surety companies. His experience includes contract negotiations, bidding issues, project closeout consultation, mechanic's lien and trust fund filings and challenges, and claim prosecution and defense. Mr. Michalak also represents clients in structuring business and shareholder relationships, real estate development and commercial leases. He regularly represents clients in mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

In addition to his Doctor of Jurisprudence, Mr. Michalak has degrees in mechanical and chemical engineering and has held engineering positions in county government and a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Michalak has been a business law lecturer at the University at Buffalo and a...

Harry J. Forrest is a shareholder attorney with Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, New York. Mr. Forrest focuses his legal practice on personal injury claims involving motor vehicle collisions, construction site accidents, fall-down accidents and wrongful death. He also practices in the areas of civil litigation, business counseling and long-term disability claims and appeals. He has successfully handled cases in both federal and state courts and has tried cases to verdict involving claims for personal injury, property damage, contract disputes and constitutional civil rights violations. Mr. Forrest is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport where he...

Denis has been a lifelong resident of Western New York, a graduate of Kenmore West, High School, a U.S. Naval Aviator, and an attorney for over 40 years.

Trevor M. Torcello is a shareholder of Gross Shuman who focuses his practice in the areas of commercial real estate, business transactions, agribusiness and working with emerging businesses. He brings a unique blend of legal experience and business acumen to every matter he handles and has extensive experience representing various parties in complex business transactions. Trevor has a broad background in civil litigation, mediation, and arbitration in handling disputes between businesses. He provides counseling to businesses on a number of current technology-driven issues, including addressing the use of technology and social media in the workplace. Trevor is active in the Western New...

Michael Reiser is an Associate Attorney practicing in the firm’s Corporate and Business Department, and handles contract formation and enforcement, corporate matters, collections, and property matters.

Mr. Reiser obtained his B.A. in English, with a minor in Political Science, from John Carroll University, in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Reiser received his Juris Doctor from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 2016, graduating cum laude.

Before joining HoganWillig, Mr. Reiser practiced in real estate, mortgage servicing, mortgage foreclosure litigation, and title resolution.

Donald Fox practices in the areas of real estate, trusts and estates and business related issues. He also has a busy practice in the area of not-for-profit organizations and serves as counsel for churches, fire departments and numerous other community organizations. Don counsels extensively with the firm’s business clients in all areas of contracts, leasing and business transactions. His extensive background in tax gives him a unique understanding of complex business issues from multiple perspectives. This skill also permits an in-depth analysis in the area of estate planning. In the face of many public policy uncertainties, Don’s in-depth knowledge...

Anthony T. Ballato maintains a litigation and general practice for over twenty six years and handles a diverse range of matters including, among others, family law, personal injury, professional malpractice, lemon law, business transactions, cell sites, municipal law, animal law, elder fraud and abuse, real estate, estates and other matters. The litigation matters range from homeowner-contractor disputes to multi-million dollar tort cases. He has been featured in Newsday, The Seattle Times, The New York Law Journal, VerdictSearch and other written publications and has lectured for the Bar Associations of Nassau and Suffolk County as well as appeared on public television...

Julia is a passionate litigator practicing in commercial litigation and general liability insurance defense. She is also a skilled advisor to individuals and businesses in the cannabis industry, advising clients on cannabis related contracts, licensing, regulations, and compliance matters. Julia’s long-time passion for aiding the cannabis industry began by seeing how life changing cannabis was for her grandmother battling terminal cancer. Her dedication to helping people achieve their goals within the cannabis community is unrivaled. Julia understands the inherent risks with entering an industry that remains federally illegal and highly stigmatized, and hopes that through community outreach, education, and positive...

Hayden R. Brainard, Jr. is a Partner in Miller Mayer’s Corporate Law and Intellectual Property practice groups. Mr. Brainard focuses his practice on corporate law. Mr. Brainard’s corporate practice includes advising entrepreneurs and small and medium size businesses in business formation and governance, employment matters, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, succession planning, and financing, including venture capital. Mr. Brainard also practices intellectual property law, including advising clients in intellectual property protection, trademark and copyright registration, licensing, negotiation and preparation of software development and service agreements. Mr. Brainard is a member of the New York...

Shaw & Murphy is a general practice law firm focused on providing high-caliber, personal and commercial legal service to clients in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier of New York.

We are a general practice on purpose: We believe clients benefit from a broad view of the law. We understand, for example, how divorce, custody, visitation and child support impact your business or that buying a house can also impact your estate planning.

Our lawyers and paralegals work together to provide clients with cost-effective solutions. We offer our wide experience in many areas of the law and our varied life experiences as...

At Ferlito Law Group P.C. I provide remote and local business services to my clients. I provide comprehensive legal and business consulting (outside General Counsel) services to founding entrepreneurs and their businesses. This includes: incorporation, corporate structuring, governance and contracts, due diligence, purchase and sales of small businesses. As of counsel to the Basile Law Firm P.C. I provide legal and business consulting services to small cap public companies to develop plans to restructure, remediate convertible debt and other corporate debt without filing bankruptcy, attract capital funding, acquisition funding, and effectuate mergers and acquisitions in order to preserve business...

Neil M. Kaufman is the managing member of Kaufman McGowan PLLC, Long Island’s Corporate & Securities Law Firm™ and Corporate & Securities Counsel to the Cannabis Industry™. He is a leading corporate cannabis lawyer in New York and the USA and a fixture of the New York and Long Island corporate and securities legal community. Mr. Kaufman represents emerging growth, middle market and public companies and investment firms in their corporate, securities, financing, borrowing, merger & acquisition and other legal matters. Mr. Kaufman advises clients with respect to SEC regulation, public offerings, private placements and mergers & acquisitions, as well as...

I joined Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP as an associate attorney in 2008 and became a partner there in 2011. In 2015, we changed the name to Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP. I obtained my Bachelor of Science Degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and graduated cum laude from law school at the State University of New York at Buffalo. I am admitted to practice law in both New York and Pennsylvania. I am a member of the American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Allegany County Bar Association...

John has practiced law in Rochester for over 15 years and is admitted to practice in the following courts: New York State Court, U.S District Court for the Western District of New York, and United States Bankruptcy Court. He also currently serves as a justice for the Town of Pittsford, where he presides over civil matters including contract, real property, and municipal law, small claims, and criminal matters including felony preliminary hearings and misdemeanors. He is actively involved in his local community and participates in the following community activities: * Pittsford Town Board, Past Councilperson *...

Nicholas S. Ratush, Esq., is licensed to practice before State and Federal Courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York. Nicholas Ratush believes that effective client representation starts with a thorough examination of every detail of a case. That process often leads him to discover the vital pieces of information that are essential to develop highly effective strategies for dealing with the issues presented. Nicholas was born in Kiev, Ukraine and grew up in New York. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Pace University majoring in Information Systems. He received his Juris...

Thirty years of experience throughout the United States representing families and professionals when they most need a strong advocate in their corner. A member of the Supreme Court of the United States, Florida and New York, Julia represents men and women in high net worth divorce, child custody, international custody disputes, parental alienation cases, divorcing the narcissist, complex high conflict divorce, family business dissolution, child support, domestic violence. Business matters include human resource advice to small businesses, assisting the small business in start-up, representing small business before the local planning and zoning boards, drafting articles of incorporation and governing...

Stephen Bennett represents clients in a wide variety of matters. Steve represents business owners throughout the lifecycle of their business from start up, to hiring their first employee, to acquisitions of equipment and other businesses, all the way to sale or transition to inside or outside ownership. Steve’s experience in representing many local lenders in secured transactions also allows him to provide a different perspective to his business clients. In addition, Steve counsels clients in both basic estate planning (Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies) and in more complex estate and estate tax planning. Long-term care is a...

Jared Hirt is a Business Law, Divorce & Family Law, DWI & Criminal Defense, Litigation and Real Estate attorney in Rochester, NY.

I've lived in New York all my life, earning my B.A. from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo in 1975. In 1977, I also earned my Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law. I believe being an active participant in the community is essential for a successful law practice. My law firm partner and I have been working with Buffalo and WNY residents for almost four decades, so we're not surprised when clients tell us we've helped a member of their family or neighbor in the past. We have 13 locations across New York and practice law in many areas. Our website has numerous free...

A holistic approach to your legal matters. I am a trained divorce mediator and experienced attorney who works primarily with clients who choose to seek resolution of their divorce, family law, and other legal matters outside of the court room through mediation and collaborative law. In addition to his mediation practice, Tom has fifteen years of experience practicing matrimonial and family law, real estate law and elder law in the Finger Lakes and is the owner of Law Office of Thomas W. Seeley, PC and Finger Lakes Holistic Divorce Mediation, Inc.
Tom encourages clients to integrate...

Melody Westfall is an esteemed attorney and the driving force behind Westfall Law, where she serves as the CEO and Managing Partner. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a wealth of experience in real estate, environmental law, and business development, Melody has solidified her reputation as a pre-eminent authority in the legal field, in both New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a U.S. Navy Veteran, Melody embodies the tenacity and discipline that sets her apart in the legal field; her dedication to her clients, combined with her unparalleled knowledge and resolute advocacy, has propelled Westfall Law to new...

Representation of individuals and closely held businesses in the following practice areas: Family Law/ Divorce Child Support Business Formation Civil Litigation Wills and Trusts Vehicle and Traffic

Robert J. Zysk has a highly technical background, including Engineering School studies; former employment as an Internal Revenue Officer and investigator; and facility with the Laws of Taxation and the Internal Revenue Code. During 41 years of private practice, I have developed a broad spectrum of experience and facility in numerous areas of the law, as further indicated in my profile. I represent businesses and entreprenuers in all types of Civil Litigation. Elder Law has emerged as one of my practice areas and I am knowlegeable and draft Faimly Trusts. My practice is thus manifold and flexibile....

Undergraduate degrees from Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, in which I competed as a starter in intercollegiate Athletics in Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, and Squash Racquets; Graduate School with doctorate degree, Doctor of Laws, from Brooklyn Law School; Devoted to my Private practice of law from 1963 to the present, predominantly in Suffolk County: including: Real Estate, Commercial and residential; Elder Law Matters Such as Trusts, Qualifying for Medicaid, and Preserving Assets for family spouse and children; , and its issues; Surrogate Court matters such as Wills Trusts and Estates; Matrimonial Law, Divorce, Separation,...

Jennifer P Stergion, Esq. was the founding Chair of the Erie County Bar Association's Committee on Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Issues. She is the current Secretary of that Bar Association Committee and a member of the Bar's Family Law Practice and Procedure Committee. Jennifer has a Bacheolor's degree in Clinical Psychology, a Masters in Criminal Justice, and a J.D. with dual concentrations in International Law and Civil Litigation. She is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, is a Department of Veterans Affairs accredited attorney, and admitted to the Appellate Division, 4th Department of...

Born and raised in the Buffalo area, Mr. MacKay is a graduate of Canisius High School. Following high school, he attended S.U.N.Y. Buffalo, graduating cum laude and “With High Distinction” in the psychology department. Attending law school after taking several years off, Mr. MacKay graduated magna cum laude early on an accelerated track from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo Law School. While there, he participated in several moot court competitions, including representing the school in a national criminal law moot court competition. In addition, Mr. MacKay interned with the Hon. Timothy J. Drury of the New York State Supreme Court and...