East Aurora Lawyers

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...

Brooke Barron is an Associate Attorney in the firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law and Estate Planning & Administration Practice Groups.

Ms. Barron obtained her B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo, and received her Juris Doctor in 2018 from American University- Washington College of Law.

While in law school, Ms. Barron was an Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition winner. Additionally, Ms. Barron was a law clerk for Commissioner Feldblum at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Washington, D.C. and a student attorney for American University- Washington College of Law’s Civil Advocacy Clinic. Ms. Barron had also previously been employed at HoganWillig as...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Nicholas A. Taylor is an Associate Attorney in HoganWillig’s Corporate and Business Department, handling contract formation and enforcement, corporate matters regarding formation, restructuring, and dissolution, and issues regarding commercial leasing of property.

Prior to joining HoganWillig, Mr. Taylor practiced insurance defense litigation, representing insurance carriers, employers, and third party administrators in workers’ compensation proceedings throughout Western New York.

Mr. Taylor graduated from Penn State Law at Pennsylvania State University and is an inducted member of the Woolsack Honor Society, which recognizes academic excellence. He is admitted to practice law in New York and is a member of the New York State and...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Sandra K. Cassidy practices in HoganWillig’s Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Criminal Defense departments, she brings with her extensive experience as a former criminal prosecutor for the Erie County and Genesee County District Attorney’s office. Ms. Cassidy also served as legal counsel for the famous environmental advocate Erin Brockovich, investigating complaints of chronic cancers in two separate towns in New York, one of which involved the cross-border dumping of illegal toxins. Prior to joining HoganWillig, Ms. Cassidy also practiced law in the Western New York area for several years under her established law practice. Ms. Cassidy has a passion for guiding young...

Kevin Mahoney received his B.A., Ed.M and J.D. all from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As a member of Tiveron Law's Family and Criminal Law Departments, Mr. Mahoney regularly assists individuals who are in a very difficult time of their lives. He believes it is his task to calmly offer skilled advice and perspective during what is often a difficult or emotionally charged situation. In the area of family law, Mr. Mahoney and his colleagues assist individuals with family court proceedings which most commonly involve custody/visitation and/or paternity and support proceedings. They also assist individuals in all aspects...

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...

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.

Ms. Cronauer is an attorney working with the firm’s Litigation department. She has experience in the full range of client representation including Supreme Court and Appellate oral arguments, complex motion and appellate brief production and representation of clients in mediations, arbitrations and trials.

Ms. Cronauer attended Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in political science and a minor in economics. At Saint Vincent College, she played varsity tennis and was a George Washington Fellow. Following her undergraduate education, she attended Ohio Northern University College of Law from which she graduated...

Brett Tokarczyk currently practices in multiple areas at HoganWillig, including personal injury, medical malpractice and litigation. Mr. Tokarczyk assists a wide range of clients across these matters and works extensively on appellate proceedings, one of his particular specialties. Mr Tokarczyk's, admitted to practice in the State of Georgia in 2011 and State of New York in 2013, received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia Law School. He was an associate at Brick, Brick and Elmer, P.C. where he dealt primarily with family law and estate planning matters; upon joining HoganWillig, he brought his experience in family law to clients...

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...

Thomas Trbovich has a history of recognition for outstanding legal service dating back to when he served as an assistant district attorney. His office receives many referrals from satisfied clients and other attorneys. Criminal defense attorneys have asked Mr. Trbovich’s firm to take over complicated criminal cases that they were uncomfortable handling. In fact, Mr. Trbovich has been the “must have attorney” other attorneys have trusted to handle their own personal matters.

Mr. Trbovich has tried as well as negotiated thousands of criminal cases. He is an experienced attorney dealing with traffic tickets and criminal defense, as well as arguing DWI...

We help nuclear weapons and uranium workers with their Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims. These are two federal programs that pay compensation to nuclear weapons workers and uranium miners, millers, transporters as well as on-site participants (who were on-site for a test of a nuclear weapon either at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) or in the South Pacific and Downwinders (who lived downwind of the Nevada Test Site during the nuclear weapons testing that took place in the 1940s- 1960s. We also assist parents and their children with certain birth injury...

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.

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...

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...

Stephen R. Silverstein concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and disability planning, estate administration, guardianships and elder law.

He is a graduate of the University of Rochester and the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He is a former bank trust officer, where he worked on administration of estates, trusts and employee benefit plans.

Mr. Silverstein is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County Surrogate’s Court Committee and serves as the Committee’s Recording Secretary. He is also a member of the Bar Association of Erie County Elder Law Committee and...

Rachel Wright is an attorney practicing in Tiveron Law’s Corporate & Business Law Department with an emphasis on business formation, contractual and employment issues, SLA filing, and other various needs of hospitality and small businesses. Prior extensive experience in the hospitality industry gives Rachel a unique understanding of the legal needs of that industry. Ms. Wright obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Buffalo School of Law after acquiring a Bachelor’s and Master of Arts degree, which she utilized in arts management for a performing arts nonprofit community program.

Daniel J. Henry, Jr. a partner in the firm Villarini & Henry, L.L.P., is a former Erie County Assistant District Attorney who concentrates his practice in Criminal Defense and Personal Injury/Negligence claims. He has extensive experience defending the rights of people arrested and accused of criminal offenses both in State and Federal Court. He is one of a select group of attorneys who is eligible to handle Death Penalty cases. In addition, Mr. Henry represents clients facing Grand Jury investigations; witnesses called before State and Federal Grand Juries; clients charged under the Federal RICO Statute; clients charged with white-collar offenses;...

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...

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...

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...

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)....

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...

Paul J. Cambria, Jr. is recognized as one of the nation's preeminent attorneys. He focuses his practice in the areas of criminal trials, criminal appeals, constitutional law, First Amendment law, zoning and land use, antitrust, and professional licensing defense. Mr. Cambria has built a strong reputation for successfully representing individuals and businesses in complex, high-profile cases at all levels of the courts, including state, federal, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Cambria's practice is nationwide, and he divides his time between the firm's offices in Buffalo and Los Angeles. He has represented many prominent individuals, including the...

Pia Perfetto is an associate attorney at HoganWillig, primarily focusing her practice in the Corporate and Business Practice Group. Ms. Perfetto is also a member of the litigation team who initiated numerous constitutional challenges pertaining to the State of New York’s COVID-19 governmental restrictions. Ms. Perfetto graduated from Canisius College and the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Prior to joining HoganWillig as an attorney, Ms. Perfetto clerked with the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, was a legal intern for the Kinship Care Legal Services Program with the Center for Elder Law and Justice, and worked for...

Lois is a graduate of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University School of Law and graduated from McMaster University, summa cum laude. While at Hofstra, Lois participated in the Criminal Prosecution Practicum Clinic. Here, Lois gained hands-on experience with numerous types of offenses, including misdemeanor violations, and traffic infractions. Lois is particularly focused on assuring all clients receive continuous and comprehensive communication throughout their legal proceedings. She is licensed to practice law in New York.

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...

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...

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...