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...

Were you injured in an accident? Did your loved one die due to the negligent or wrongful actions of another person or party? Turn to the personal injury team at Richmond Vona, LLC for reliable legal representation and compassionate, one-on-one counsel. Based in Buffalo, the firm serves clients throughout Western New York. Over the course of more than two decades of combined experience, the firm’s partners have secured more than $150 million for their clients, including over $17 million in jury verdicts. They have the skills, tenacity, and resources to advocate for you.

Because Richmond Vona, LLC takes on fewer...

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...

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...

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...

Keli Iles-Hernandez is an attorney with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham’s Matrimonial & Family Law Department. She handles divorces, separations, adoptions and Assisted Reproductive Technology matters, custody, child support, and other related proceedings; with experience representing families with diverse family dynamics and LGBTQ legal matters. Ms. Iles-Hernandez also currently serves on the Attorneys for Children Panel (4th Judicial Department) representing children in child abuse, neglect and custody matters.

Keli Iles-Hernandez brings a vast variety of life experience with her to Rupp Baase, having served in the U.S. Army for 4 years as an active-duty Medic and then as a Special Education...

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...

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...

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...

Alex M. Neurohr is an Associate Attorney currently focusing his practice in our Corporate and Business Department, handling contract formation and enforcement, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate matters regarding formation, restructuring, and dissolution.

Mr. Neurohr also assists our Real Estate Department with property-related matters, including partition actions and boundary disputes, post-closing issues, and mortgage foreclosures.

Mr. Neurohr received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing from Nova Southeastern University in 2011. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, cum laude, in 2014.

Prior to joining HoganWillig,...

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...

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.

J. Michael Kelleher graduated cum laude from St. Bonaventure University with a B.A. in 1967, and received his legal education at the University Of Notre Dame, graduating in 1970. Mr. Kelleher was Town Justice for the Town of Lancaster from 1975 to 2014 and is Senior Counsel at Tiveron Law since joining the firm in 2011. Mr. Kelleher has focused his practice in commercial and residential real estate as well probate, estate planning, and corporate law since 1970. He is a member of the Real Estate and Estate Practice and Procedure Committees of the Erie County Bar Association. Mr. Kelleher has lectured...

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...

As a father of six children and eight grandchildren I understand and appreciate what it means to serve our family and communities. As a trial attorney, I also enjoy the task of righting the wrongs that happen to innocent people. I also pride myself on winning cases and leveling the playing field so that the rich and powerful corporations and insurance companies do not win the battle due to their wealth and power over the average citizen. Having over 35 years of experience and the track record of supervising over 2 billion dollars in settlements for our...

JEREMY RICHARDS is a licensed lawyer in the United States, and a Foreign Legal Consultant with the Law Society of Ontario, who devotes his legal practice to US Immigration Law and related matters. He has successfully handled immigration matters for businesses of all sizes and citizens from countries all over the world. He has a broad understanding of US immigration and nationality laws, and can assist with most US immigration law matters, having successfully handled immigration matters for medical professionals, students, professors, individuals, families, employees, small to large businesses, international corporations, colleges and universities, and others. Prior to attending law school...

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...

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...

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....

Gregory Salmon is an attorney in Tiveron Law’s Real Estate Law and Business Law Departments. Mr. Salmon handles a wide range of Residential and Commercial real estate transactions, assisting purchasers with the acquisition of property, due diligence, deal structuring, and negotiations. Mr. Salmon received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Business Management and Corporate Finance from Saint John Fisher University. Gregory also holds numerous professional certifications, namely as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Certified Investment Analyst, a Certified Financial Analyst, a Certified Business Tax Advisor, a Certified...

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...

In law school, Mr. London specialized in taxation and after graduation joined a large firm in Buffalo where his practice emphasized tax planning for businesses, individuals and estates. Mr. London established his own practice which over the years grew through referrals from clients, accountants and lawyers. His business clients are both small and large U.S. and Canadian companies and credit unions. "When clients have had unusual challenges I have often been able to fashion unique solutions which enabled a transaction to occur. I believe it is not sufficient for a lawyer to tell a client why something can't be done...

Denis Scinta is a member of the Matrimonial & Family Law group at Tiveron Law. Mr. Scinta has focused his practice exclusively in the area of Family Law, with particular expertise in Family Court matters, including: divorce, modification and enforcement proceedings, custody, child support, and more. Over an illustrious career, Denis also has specialized in other more atypical matters, such as adoptions, delinquencies, PINS affairs, and issues regarding the termination of parental rights. Given his diverse work, Mr. Scinta provides Tiveron Law an abundance of experience in all sectors of Family Law. From 1971-1997, Mr. Scinta worked as a partner for...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Jathniel Shao is a lawyer in New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and Manila. Originally from Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, Jath grew up bouncing between Asia and America and speaks Hokkien, Mandarin, and Tagalog fluently. Jath received his BA from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a founding board member of the Asian Law Student Association (ALSA) and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Ohio (FALA Ohio). At the same time, he was a law clerk here at Herman Legal Group. Prior to rejoining Herman Legal Group as Of...

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....

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.

Patrick C. O'Reilly focuses his practice on matrimonial litigation, handling all aspects of divorce and separation and representing clients in matters related to the modification or enforcement of existing matrimonial judgments and orders. He is a member of the firm's Management Committee and is chair of the Matrimonial and Family Law Practice Area. For more than 25 years, Mr. O'Reilly has served as a panelist and speaker on matrimonial and family law topic for numerous seminars, workshops, and symposiums sponsored by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New York State Office of Court Administration, New York State Bar Association...

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...

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)....

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 is an experienced patent attorney and counselor who leads Stake to provide top-of-class client service. With an applied physics background, Joshua has experience working with clients innovating in electronics, optics, software, physics, and more.

Lisa M. Yaeger is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law’s Criminal Defense and Litigation departments. With over 30 years of legal experience in the Western New York Court System, she is very familiar with effectively and efficiently representing her clients’ needs. In addition, Ms. Yaeger’s long tenure as an Assistant District Attorney in the Erie County DA’s Office will be an excellent resource for the complex trial litigation work she will continue to handle. Ms. Yaeger received her Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo after receiving her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature at the...

Rachel Wright is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law’s Corporate & Business Law Department with a heightened focus on the needs of the hospitality industry, nonprofits, small businesses, and compliance. Prior extensive experience in the hospitality industry gives Rachel a unique understanding of the legal needs of that industry. Rachel is equipped to handle Joint ventures, issues in corporate governance and structuring, commercial contracts, entity formation, business compliance, mergers and acquisitions, liquor licensing for bars and restaurants, and issues in employment law. Ms. Wright obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Buffalo School of Law. She also holds a Master...

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.

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...