Kanona Business Lawyers

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...

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,...

Donald O. Chesworth, a Partner in the Rochester office of Tully Rinckey PLLC, focuses his practice on governmental compliance, business law, municipal liability, commercial law, employment law and management issues.

Donald was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1966 and in New York in 1972. He is no longer active in the Connecticut bar. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donald graduated from Graceland College, magnum cum laude in 1963 and from Yale Law School with a Juris...

Marreana LaMorticella is an attorney who focuses her practice in HoganWillig’s Corporate and Business Law, Estates, Estates Planning & Elder Law and Real Estate Law departments. Ms. LaMorticella graduated from Niagara University and Syracuse University College of Law. While receiving her J.D. at Syracuse University College of Law, Ms. LaMorticella was part of the Intellectual Property Law Society, Entertainment & Sports Law Society, and Corporate Law Society. Prior to joining HoganWillig as an attorney, Ms. LaMorticella worked as a Law Clerk for Rich Products Corporation. Amongst many accomplishments, Ms. LaMorticella was a Student Attorney for Wohl Family Veterans Legal Clinic and a...

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...

Nicholas J. Ingrassia is an attorney and shareholder of Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, New York. He concentrates his law practice in the areas of Real Estate & Development, Banking & Finance, and Business & Corporate Law. Mr. Ingrassia also has extensive experience assisting clients with Estate Planning & Administration, and Canada-U. S. Cross Border legal issues. He is admitted to practice in New York State and as a Foreign Legal Consultant in Ontario, Canada. Mr. Ingrassia is active in the Western New York community. His volunteer work includes assisting the Kenmore Special Olympics, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters...

Sarah P. Rera is an experienced litigation attorney with Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, New York. Ms. Rera focuses her practice in the areas of personal injury and business litigation. She has served as trial counsel in multiple complex business disputes and personal injury claims in New York State Supreme Court, receiving numerous successful verdicts for her clients. She is also an experienced appellate practitioner and has appeared before the Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals, the highest Court in New York.

John K. Rottaris is a shareholder attorney with Gross Shuan P.C. in Buffalo, New York. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and business litigation, creditors’ rights, commercial collections, landlord-tenant law, bankruptcy law and tax certiorari. He also represents manufacturers and manufacturers’ sales representatives in commission and contract disputes. Mr. Rottaris has represented clients in all phases of trial and appellate practice before local, state and federal courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution forums. He has extensive experience in the area of commercial and business litigation and tax certiorari proceedings. His clients include individuals, small and large business...

Jonathan D. Schechter is a shareholder attorney with Gross Shuman P.C. in Buffalo, New York. His practice and experience includes business counseling and corporate law, commercial real estate and financing, estates, trusts, taxation and cross-border and business tax planning. Using his in-depth knowledge of tax law, he assists owners of both publicly traded and closely held businesses with their legal needs as well as their personal estate planning. Jonathan provides day-to-day counsel and representation to publicly traded companies, small business enterprises, charter schools and not-for-profits on a wide variety of legal matters. He prides himself in providing services to clients...

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.

Bryce Moyer is a litigation attorney in Tiveron Law’s Civil Litigation and Real Estate Law departments. In Real Estate, Mr. Moyer will focus on landlord-tenant issues, leases, and evictions. In Civil Matters, Mr. Moyer will work on commercial litigation where his background in employment laws, contracts, and operations will assist his business clients. Mr. Moyer obtained his Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo after he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the same institution’s School of Management.

My name is Nicholas Andrews. I decided to become a lawyer when I was a junior in high school. Before that, I never really knew what I wanted to be. In elementary school I thought I would be a fireman because they drove cool trucks, or maybe an “army guy” like my big brother. In junior high, I thought about being a chemist. But I quickly discovered I was not cut out for that. Nothing else really appealed to me, until I heard someone mention how someone else would make a good lawyer. That got me thinking that maybe I...

Frank M Bogulski was born and raised in Hamburg, NY along the lakeshore where he enjoyed water sports and played ice hockey. He graduated from Frontier High School and received a United States Army ROTC scholarship to attend Cornell University. While at Cornell, Frank studied economics and business and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. He was active in the Army ROTC program and completed the United States Army Advance Camp at Fort Brag, NC. Following his educational career at Cornell, he was commissioned as a United States Army officer and served in the military...

We chose to remain a small law office to provide personal, dedicated and aggressive service to our clients. My office costs a few dollars more but excellent service takes time and strategy. Offsetting our higher fees we have payment plans. We have seven lawyers working together to get the best solutions. As a small firm we call upon all areas of the law to form a comprehensive strategy and plan. As in a game making the right move determines the outcome of the case. A divorce case is often helped by a bankruptcy or our tax law knowledge. We create...

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...

A native Rochesterian, Mark grew up in Penfield, New York. After attending Bishop Kearney High School, Mark pursued a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Rochester. While attending the U of R, Mark competed nationally within the University Athletic Association conference for the school's indoor and outdoor Track and Field teams, where he was named the team's field captain for his leadership. In his junior year, Mark was accepted into an accelerated 3-2 program for the school's top ranked Public Policy Analysis Program. Mark's master's thesis was a well-received study on the effects of political action committee...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

Palmer J. Pelella is dedicated to providing outstanding service and legal advocacy for clients throughout Central New York. His practice areas include Estate Planning, Probate, and Traffic Tickets, Real Estate, and Business Law needs. A former Assistant District Attorney, Palmer brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to a multitude of legal matters.

Palmer J. Pelella Esq. is a full service, boutique law firm committed to delivering exceptional representation with reliability, efficiency and integrity. If you would like to talk, please reach out to schedule a Free Consultation.

A good lawyer can make the difference!

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.

Holly Avery has 13 years of experience representing clients in matters involving business and corporate law, residential and commercial real estate, leasing and oil and gas law. Her practice includes assisting clients in areas such as Binghamton, Owego, Ithaca, Cortland, Syracuse and Broome County, Onondaga County and Erie County.

Scott R. Kurkoski is the Assistant Managing Partner in the Binghamton, New York law firm of Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP. Mr. Kurkoski concentrates his practice in the areas of business and real estate transactions, wind and solar energy projects and commercial litigation. He is Chair of the firm’s Energy and Cannabis Practice Groups.

With nearly three decades of professional experience, I have a broad background in commercial real estate transactions. My skills range from drafting and negotiating operating agreements to advising on syndications, which includes financial analyses and preparing presentations, as well as vetting deals. I am also adept at negotiating purchase agreements, mortgage agreements, and more. My career has seen me work at one of the largest law firms globally in their New York City offices, serve as General Counsel for a prominent real estate company, and manage my own real estate assets in the Tri-Cities area. Although I am trained 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...

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...