Alma Lawyers

Summary: For the last twenty-two years I have been a country lawyer dealing mostly with the lives, rights, and problems of rural people. For the preceding thirty years, I had a career as a software engineer, communications engineer and high technology consultant at all levels of government in areas of energy, environment, national security, and foreign affairs.

Employment History: 1997 - Present: Attorney & Counselor at Law, The Ross Scott Law Firm, Andover, NY.

Focus on complex and first impression environmental issues, energy, technology, and Constitutional law, but also serving a broad local clientele as both counselor and litigator.

Experience at...

Mr. Pulos enjoys a very successful, diverse professional career. A trial lawyer by training, Mr. Pulos returned to his hometown of Alfred, New York following his graduation from Albany Law School and opened a general law practice by hanging out his shingle on Main Street. He is the only person born and raised in Alfred to have graduated from law school and returned to open a law practice in Alfred. From there, Mr. Pulos has developed a reputation as a lawyer for people that have been wronged by others in the workplace or by vehicular accidents or...

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...

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.

In representing clients, I always take the approach to represent a client the way I would want to be represented in his or her situation. I always evaluate, research, investigate and zealously defend a case as the client requests as long as it complies with my ethical duties. Frequently, I compare the attorney-client relationship to that of a taxi cab driver-passenger relationship. The taxi can driver knows the fast roads, best routes and has the skills to get where the passenger needs to go. Like the passenger, the client decides what direction the case goes. I try to do everything...

John I. LaMancuso is a Partner and serves as the Chairman of Lewis & Lewis, P.C. John represents individual, business, and municipal clients in litigation and transactional matters in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Erie Counties. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, Super Lawyers named John a Rising Star. To be eligible for designation as a Rising Star, the attorney must be 40 years old or younger and in practice for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in New York State are designated Rising Stars. John has substantial personal injury experience representing individuals seriously injured in car accidents, work...

Attended the Hornell School District my entire life, nearby Alfred State and Alfred University and returned to Hornell after attending Thomas Cooley in Lansing, Michigan to practice law in my hometown. Reside here in Hornell with my wife and two children.

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...

Rachel Treichler has been providing legal services to clients in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier region since 2002. She previously practiced in New York City for 20 years. She represents clients in water law, riparian rights and mineral rights matters.

Ms. Colavita completed her undergraduate studies at St. Bonaventure University, where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science. She attended law school at the Charlotte School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. To date, Ms. Colavita has represented hundreds of clients with a strong commitment to client satisfaction and excellence in the practice of law. During the course of her legal career, she has published several legal articles in peer-reviewed journals and has instructed her peers in a Continuing Legal Education course on Social Security Disability. Ms. Colavita is admitted...

ROGER J. YEHL / FORMER CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE STAFF ATTORNEY Mr. Yehl has now opened two offices in New Jersey while maintaining two office locations in New York. Roger Yehl has been an attorney since 2002 upon his admission to the New York State Bar. In 2004, Mr. Yehl moved to NJ upon his successful completion of the New Jersey Bar Examaination. Mr Yehl began employment in 2004 as a staff attorney to Chapter 13 Trustee, Isabel C. Balboa in New Jersey. At this position, Mr. Yehl refined his skills in Bankruptcy while working on thousands of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy cases over...

Since 1963, Sciarrino & Sciarrino, P.C., has provided New York residents with trusted legal counsel. We care about our clients’ well-being and will do everything we can to quickly and effectively resolve your greatest legal concerns. With law offices in Livingston, Wyoming, and Steuben counties, we serve clients throughout the region, including in Monroe, Allegany, Genesee and Ontario counties.

While attorney Raymond P. Sciarrino primarily focuses on criminal defense and DWI cases, we also have extensive experience in personal injury, estate planning and real estate law. We can serve as your ongoing counsel for life’s legal issues.

While practicing with Sciarrino &...

Matthew R. Swenson, Esq. is a partner in Brady & Swenson, P.C. with 25 years of legal experience. He began his career with one of the nation's largest law firms, where he received elite legal training. He has recovered millions of dollars for personal injury clients and gained acquittals in jury trials for clients facing criminal charges. He builds strong relationships with his clients as they pursue justice together.

I am a partner at Brady & Swenson, P.C. with over twenty years of experience practicing law. I concentrate on personal injury law and municipal law. I have lived in rural Western New York for most of my life and proudly call this area my home. My mission as an attorney is to obtain justice for injured individuals and rural communities in Western New York.

For over 30 years my law practice has been concentrated in Social Security and SSI disability claims, and disability claims for other public benefits (teachers, police, state troopers, firefighters, corrections, other state and municipal employees).
Before practicing law I was a Social Security Disability Analyst for medical adjudications, and also a Social Security Claims Representative for nonmedical claim adjudications.
I was admitted to practice law in 1986, in New York. When I first started practicing law my focus was on civil trial practice, primarily in domestic relations. I took my first Social Security Disability client in 1988 and have never...

Nina Juncewicz, Esq. has 25 years experience in representing those internationally seeking to obtain physical access to the United States market for commercial work and/or family reunification. Her experience was developed early as an outstanding scholar for the agency formerly known as INS at the U.S/Canadian border, and later in its Buffalo District Office’s litigation Department. This experience brought her first-hand knowledge of the technical nuances of complex U.S. immigration law and the government adjudication process which experience she uses for her client’s benefit. She later practiced business and family Immigration in a statewide corporate law firm before opening her...

Mike Bersani is an experienced and highly respected New York State trial lawyer concentrating his practice almost entirely on personal injury claims. He is a widely published author on personal injury law. He has published numerous articles on the subject, and wrote and published the book "Understanding Your New York Personal Injury Claim", which can be ordered on his website.

Mike Bersani graduated Magna Cum Laude (top 5% of his class) from Syracuse University College of Law in 1993. He went on to a two-year clerkship with an appellate court in Rochester, NY. Since then he has devoted...

Dzifa Gan is an Associate Attorney in the firm’s Real Estate Law Department; handling all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. Ms. Gan has varied legal experience having previously worked as a family and matrimonial attorney in London. Her priority across practice areas has always been her clients and ensuring that their needs are met.

Ms. Gan obtained her B.A. in Psychology and concurrently her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Western Australia in 2008. Ms. Gan is admitted to practice law in New South Wales, Australia; England & Wales, UK and New York State, USA.

Before joining HoganWillig,...

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...

My practice pattern at the Cimasi Law Office is focused on DWI, criminal defense, and traffic matters (e.g. speeding, mechanical violations, unlicensed operation, etc.) in courts across Western New York. I also represent clients on parole violations and landlord-tenant matters. I am a highly meticulous and diligent practitioner who seeks to provide dedicated service to each client, regardless how big or small the matter. I am always available by phone, and there is no fee for initial consultations.

I also teach courses in sociology and legal studies to undergraduates at the University at Buffalo ("UB") and Buffalo State College....

Kenneth Olena has worked for the last 35 years as a family law practitioner. He specializes in divorce proceedings, ranging from small to multi-million dollar settlements. Since 1981, Kenneth has practiced across upstate New York and predominantly in the Western New York region, helping clients with over a thousand divorce cases; prior to his work at Tiveron Law, Mr. Olena also provided excellent support to clients with Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn for more than 21 years. With expertise, he has handled actions of varying financial complexity involving difficult custodial battles, hardships regarding property ownership, and management of clients' personal businesses...

Experience matters! My entire law practice is focused on representing the rights of individuals who have been seriously injured or killed as a result of the negligent acts of others. I have assisted hundreds of clients in cases resulting in recoveries ranging from $50,000 to $5.5 Million. My office serves New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. My practice is contingency fee based and consultation is free.

Michael A. Ponterio is a founding partner of Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC. Since 1985, Mr. Ponterio has represented families who have suffered injuries as a result of exposure to asbestos. He also practices in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, defective products and motor vehicle accidents. Mr. Ponterio has dedicated his practice to securing justice for clients who have suffered catastrophic and life-changing injuries. Since 1985, Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford has obtained over one billion in settlements or verdicts on behalf of the firm’s clients. Mr. Ponterio has been representing people suffering from mesothelioma caused by asbestos for...

Jeffrey B. Novak is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law’s Litigation Department with a focus on Business & Corporate Law. Mr. Novak graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Buffalo with a major in Political Science and History. He received his legal education from the George Washington University Law School while interning for the Army Environmental Law Division. Mr. Novak also served as a summer Law Clerk for the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York and as a Judicial Intern for the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. Mr. Novak has...

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...

William A. Lorenz, Jr., joined HoganWillig as an Associate Attorney in the fall of 2013. He currently focuses his practice in the areas of Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, and Real Estate Law.

Mr. Lorenz brings a variety of legal experience with him to HoganWillig, having worked in the areas of civil litigation, criminal practice, family law, intellectual property law, landlord-tenant law, and real estate law. Since admission to the New York State Bar, Mr. Lorenz has appeared in courts in both Erie and Niagara County on various matters, including evictions and civil litigation. Recently, he lobbied in Albany for the Child...

Mr. Johnsen is an attorney at Tiveron Law primarily focusing in the firm’s Litigation Department. While attending SUNY Buffalo Law School, Mr. Johnsen was part of the University’s Consumer Financial Advocacy Clinic and was the recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for his work with the program. While in law school, he was a clerk at New Era Cap Co., Inc. Following law school, Mr. Johnsen has gained exposure to several areas of his litigation practice, including special education claims against school districts, employment discrimination claims, general business disputes and work in Erie County Surrogate's Court on...

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...

I was born and raised on the east side of Buffalo, NY. After graduating high school, I served in the United States Marine Corps, and then became a City of Buffalo Police Officer. I completed my B.S. and J.D. while working full-time as a police officer. I left the department in 2005 to start practicing law. After a long stent with a local law firm, I partnered up with another attorney from the same firm to form Richmond Vona, LLC. Our firm extensive experience handling asbestos cases (Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer), as well as other...

I am a native of the Rocky Mountains, having grown up in Evergreen, Colorado. Since settling in New York, I have developed a broad and sophisticated client base. I concentrate my practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and estate and gift taxation. It is important to me to consider each of my client’s values and background as I help them decide which type of estate plan will best fit their needs. I use a practical approach to my practice. Offering the assurance of complete confidentiality and responsive service, I try...