Wayne County Lawyers

Christopher served in the Marine Corps, graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. In Applied Economics and Business Management, attended Northeastern University's High-Tech MBA Program and received a M.S. In Computer Information Systems. He received is Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law

A graduate of the SUNY Buffalo Law School, Catherine D. Aughey, Esq. joined Faraci Lange in 2018. At the firm, Catherine focuses her legal practice on medical malpractice cases. She has experience in all phases of civil litigation including depositions, motion practice, hearings and medical malpractice trials.

Prior to joining Faraci Lange, Catherine practiced as an associate attorney in the Litigation Department at HoganWillig, where she started as a Law Clerk in 2014. She also interned at the Erie County District Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence Bureau.

Catherine was selected by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as “New...

Richard Pawelczyk handles transactions and litigation for individuals, as well as companies of all sizes. He has represented household names, both individuals and companies, in music, sports, fashion, food & beverage. He was counsel to several prominent entertainment companies and helped guide their business development. Rich is also a seasoned intellectual property attorney, with vast experience in trademarks and copyrights for celebrities and media companies. He co-authored a legal brief that advocated for extension of copyright protection in a case that was before the United States Supreme Court. Rich’s experience includes corporate transactions, commercial real estate, food & beverage, fashion,...

Matthew Winchell, an Associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office, specializes in criminal law, military law, and the protection of 2nd Amendment rights. He has successfully defended numerous clients in a wide range of criminal cases, including drug, weapon, and sex crime charges. Matthew represented multiple clients in New York State Supreme Court concerning Extreme Risk Protection Orders and has authored several articles advocating for 2nd Amendment rights. Matthew's professional journey began in the United States Navy immediately after high school. Over ten years of service, he held various roles and achieved the rank of Operations Specialist 1st Class. He served in...

Attorney Emanuel Mouganis has the accolades you and your family can trust, including being ranked by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the State of New York. He is also ranked by the American Institute of Family Attorneys as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in the State of New York and has a perfect rating by AVVO. He is also ranked by the American Institute of Criminal Attorneys as one of the Top 10 Criminal Law Attorneys in the State of New York. Prior to becoming a...

Steve Boyd spent 16 years as a reporter telling people’s stories. As an attorney, he has travelled the country studying the art of storytelling in the courtroom. His goal is to find the most open and honest way to share the true nature and full extent of the losses suffered by his clients.

Steve is the first New York attorney to graduate from the top two trial colleges in the country: The Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming and the Keenan Trial Institute in Atlanta. Recently, Steve has travelled to eight states to study, teach and stay on the cutting edge of...

Nick is a lifelong resident of Syracuse, and of the City’s “Northside.” A graduate of Henninger High School, Nick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (summa cum laude) in Political Science from Brockport State University, in Brockport, New York, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England College, School of Law, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Nick began his legal career in 1986 by serving as a Deputy County Attorney with the Onondaga County Department of Law, where he prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases. He then went on to serve for 16 years as an Assistant District Attorney with the...

Brent Xavier has been President at Anelli Xavier, since partnering with Tom Anelli in 2006. Over the year, he has helped bring in many former prosecutors and experienced criminal litigators together to form what he believes is the most powerful team of DWI defense lawyers in New York State. His goal is to make sure his team protects clients from the serious consequences of DWI charges. His firm philosophy is that as a whole, individual efforts add up to something bigger collectively for our clients in form of great representation. Brent Xavier received his B.A. degree from Cornell University...

I began my career in 1994 at the City of Syracuse Office of the Corporation Counsel representing the City in workers' compensation matters. I joined the firm of McDonough, Digby and Leiter in 1997, and ultimately formed Leiter and Brune in 2005. In 2006 I joined the firm of Wolff, Goodrich and Goldman specializing in New York Workers' Compensation matters, and was named a partner in 2008. In 2014 I formed The Brune Law Office and now dedicate the firm to representing injured workers.

When I was nine my aunt told me I should be a lawyer when I grew up because I argued about everything, really, really well. That's when I learned I could make a living doing what I loved: winning arguments. After graduating from Columbia University, New York City's only Ivy League school I went on to Fordham Law. Fordham was the only law school ranked in the top twenty-five nationwide that offered a night program in New York. Since I was working full time to pay my own way, Fordham's top tier night division was perfect for me. After two...

I practice in all areas of personal injury at The Dietrich Law Firm, fighting for the rights of those that were wrongly and seriously injured by someone else’s negligence. I welcome the opportunity to advocate for your rights when you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall, worksite construction accident, trucking collision or on someone’s property. I strive to maintain personal contact throughout your case from inception to conclusion; listen to your concerns; guide you step-by-step through the legal process; and, aggressively pursue your interests for just compensation. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not have your...

Ms. Thomas is a partner at Lacy Katzen LLP in the firm's litigation group. She is chair of the firm’s personal injury litigation department and has been a trial attorney for over 31 years. Her practice is focused in civil litigation including personal injury, medical malpractice, hospital malpractice, nursing home negligence, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability, construction site accidents, dog bites, commercial and estate litigation. Ms. Thomas is knowledgeable in the area of insurance coverage litigation and represents insurance policy holders in coverage dispute litigation against their insurance companies. She has also represented policy holders as...

Peter Rodgers represents individuals in trials involving personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death and business disputes. He is a frequent lecturer on trial practice for the New York State and local bar associations. He has authored articles on trial practice. His work in medical malpractice has involved cardiac, neurologic, obstetrical, orthopedic, vascular and infectious disease lawsuits including the failure to diagnose cancer, heart disease and infectious disease. Peter has represented patients who are victims of surgical error and emergency room neglect. He also has represented those injured or killed in auto, premises and workplace accidents.

Jerry has been practicing law for over 30 years and concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, trusts & estates and business law. Mr. Antetomaso previously worked with the firms of Culley Marks et al. and Pettig, Overbeck and Reid and most recently operated his own practice for over 22 years. As a complement to his work as an attorney, Jerry has extensive experience in dispensing business counsel. From daily operational matters to long term succession issues, his focus is on maximizing value and mitigating complexity. He endeavors to help clients identify what is important to them and...

Alison Rich counsels individuals and businesses regarding their entity formation and ongoing operational and contract issues that develop while running their businesses, including financing matters, ownership issues and real estate matters. She also assists in the purchasing and selling of ongoing businesses, including stock and asset acquisitions, mergers and succession planning. In addition, Alison represents individuals and businesses in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate matters. This includes negotiating contracts, assistance with due diligence analysis and closings. Alison also represents commercial borrowers and lenders in various aspects of their financing needs, including commercial mortgages, construction financing, sale-leaseback transactions...

Our firm focuses on providing effective, compassionate representation in family law cases. Our attorneys have years of experience in representing individuals and families in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody, adoption, and support. We provide aggressive advocacy when warranted while seeking a fair outcome which will help our clients get through a difficult period and on the road to a brighter future. If you are seeking responsive, dedicated representation, please contact our firm to see if you are a good fit for our services.

JULIE V. MERSEREAU, ESQ. focuses her practice on Collaborative Family Law and Divorce Mediation. MEDIATION provides assistance to couples as they negotiate towards the resolution of divorce, separation, reconciliation, parenting and other family issues. Mediation is a cooperative settlement process entered into voluntarily. The mediator acts as a neutral professional who helps the participants make practical, informed decisions to resolve their differences. This process encourages the participants to reach a voluntary agreement that is mutually satisfactory. The goal is to accomplish a “win – win” outcome wherein both parties have their needs and goals addressed and are “okay”...

As an Associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Zachary handles both federal labor and employment plaintiff’s cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Systems Protection Board – in which he defends the rights of federal employees against a range of abuses, including discrimination and retaliation claims, as well as wrongful personnel actions – as well as defending against criminal charges in all town and county courts surrounding the Rochester Office and federal charges within the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. Zachary has enjoyed great success in aggressively and effectively representing federal employees and...

George Gray is a partner in the law firm of Gray & Feldman LLP, where his practice concentrates in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning and administration, business and tax law. He is a member of the Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations and is active in the Tax and Trust and Estates Sections of these associations. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Monroe County Estate Planning Council and is active on its Program Committee. SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING: Through his long association with the...

I am one of the founding partners of Thomas & Solomon LLP. Ihave more than a decade's experience in employment law litigation and counsel. I litigate a range of matters from complex employment class action lawsuits to litigation involving all types of individual workplace disputes, ranging from claims of illegal termination and harassment, to actions to recover unpaid benefits.
I am also a certified Federal Court mediator with WDNY, with over 25 certified hours of training and role-play. Completed at least one observation and two meditations under the supervision of the WDNY program director. Maintains a minimum of 6...

I am a 60-year veteran of the music industry and more recently designed and built special effects for Hollywood films. My earlier academic background is in Andean anthropology, and I graduated summa cum laude from the University Of New Mexico in 1989, with a special focus on linguistic anthropology, archaeology, and population genetics. After obtaining my Master's Degree in the same field from Cornell University in 1992, I began my work in the feature film industry, later enrolling in the Syracuse University College Of Law where I earned my Juris Doctor and began practicing law. As the quintessential country lawyer,...

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...

Heather's practice focuses on family and matrimonial law. She has extensive experience litigating family court and matrimonial matters, including complex matters of custody and equitable distribution. Heather’s other professional experience includes working as a journalist, editor, and marketing manager. She is a member of the Attorney for the Child panel in Onondaga County, the Onondaga County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Northern District of New York Bar Association. Heather graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, where she served as editor of the Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal and...

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...

I have prosecuted hundreds of DWI cases at both the misdemeanor and felony level, including matters involving serious injuries, repeat offenders and vehicular homicides. I've successfully conducted numerous DWI trials and my knowledge of DWI law combined with my courtroom experience provides a level of expertise that serves to ensure that our clients receive the best representation possible when charged with DWI and related offenses. I was also responsible for the prosecution of violent felony offenses including burglary, robbery, assault, illegal weapons possession and homicides. These duties included conducting countless hearings and trials. My experience in handling the most...

At Team Green Lawyers, we understand that defending a person who has been accused of a crime takes more than just an understanding of the law and the process. It takes knowing your client, mastering the facts and understanding the vast potential consequences. We have devoted our practice to helping people accused of a crime or violation get the best result possible. We take the time to get to know our clients, the facts and their concerns. We research the relevant legal issues and test all the theories that may help or hurt a client's particular situation. We are in...

Thomas B. Mafrici started the Mafrici Law Office in 1993. At the time he was employed part time as Session Counsel to the NYS Assembly Transportation Committee. Since the beginning the emphasis has been on traffic tickets anywhere in the State of New York. It wasn’t easy to get a volume of tickets before the internet so Mafrici catered to covering appearances for other attorneys in NY and Canada. With the advent of the internet the Mafrici Law Office PC has grown to become one of the leading law firms in New York State focusing solely on traffic ticket representation....

For over 35 years Bill Kurtz has been practicing in Syracuse, Onondaga County and throughout Central, New York. We pride ourselves in fighting for our clients and always preparing our cases to go to Court and proceed through the Court until a Judge or Jury makes a decision. We have found that being ready to go to trial allows us to avoid trials and still obtain the best results for our clients. When considering a lawyer ask the lawyer if he has actually had any trial recently in that court or in that area of the law....

Spencer D. Shapiro is a litigator at Horn Wright, LLP, with extensive experience handling civil rights, personal injury, and municipal law cases in the New York State Supreme Courts and Federal District Courts. As a Deputy County Attorney for the Litigation and Appeals Bureau of the Nassau County Attorney’s office, Mr. Shapiro aggressively defended the County against claims of municipal liability through motion practice, depositions, and at trial, taking several cases to verdict. As a founding member of the Early Case Assessment and Litigation Support Section, Mr. Shapiro also oversaw the intake and triage of notices of claims received by the...

I am a general practice attorney concentrating in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Family Law including Divorce and Uncontested Divorce and Criminal Law. Based in Auburn, New York the I service all of Central New York and the Fingerlakes Region including Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, Tompkins, Cortland and Oswego counties. I am a client focused Attorney. When you choose me to represent you you can rest assured that your matter will always take top priority and never get lost in the fray. My Office is dedicated to client satisfaction and customer service. In addition most services are...

“Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others that John K. Powers has displayed throughout his life”. Resolution of the New York State Legislature recognizing John’s lifetime of professional and community service, which includes: • Tirelessly representing and advocating for catastrophically injured individuals and their families for nearly 50 years; • Selection by his peers for 30+ years as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" in three separate areas of practice: “medical malpractice law”; “product liability litigation”; and “personal injury litigation”; • Being named “Lawyer of the Year” in the field of medical malpractice...

I am a founding partner of Thomas & Solomon LLP. Where I practice solely in employment law, first at a large firm advising employers, and then, since 2000, as partner at Thomas & Solomon LLP representing employees. Currently, I concentrate my practice on national wage and hour, class and collective action litigation. I have represented hundreds of thousands of employees, and recovered back wages resulting in tens of millions of dollars for those clients. I have been selected to be a mediator for the United States District Court for the Western District of New York and regularly mediates federal...

A native of Rochester, New York, Derek S. Wild, Esq. graduated from Syracuse University College of Law. Mr. Wild has dedicated his entire career to DWI Defense and Criminal Defense. For over a decade Mr. Wild has represented clients accused of a wide variety of crimes, from minor violations to serious felonies.

Gabriella MacDonald, Esq. was born and raised in Monroe County. She is a graduate of the New York State University at Buffalo Law School, where she was presented with awards including a spot on the Public Service Honor Roll, and also the CALI award, which recognizes her outstanding achievements in trial advocacy.

While attending law school, Ms. MacDonald also spent time as a teaching assistant, she was a member of the UB Law Mock Trial Team, and she was a member of the Erie County Woman’s Bar Association. She also volunteered to coach mock trial students at a local...

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...

Matthew Piston is a dedicated advocate for his clients, whether through court room proceedings or negotiating a resolution to his clients’ matters. His practice is focused on assisting individuals and businesses in a variety of litigation needs, including divorce, commercial, employment and personal injury litigation. Additionally, Matt’s past experience with the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office affords him the ability to thoroughly represent individuals in all types of criminal proceedings and governmental investigations.