Profile

  • Listed in:
    • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Litigation - Municipal, 2013-2024 (listed for more than 10 years)
      • Lawyer of the Year (Rochester), Litigation – Municipal, 2018; 2022
    • New York Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation, 2023 (listed for more than 10 years)
    • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Rated
      • Top-Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment Law
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Monroe County Bar Association
  • Fellow, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society

Trust and Estate Litigation

  • On behalf of a trust beneficiary, secured judgment dismissing claims of mistake and fraud by a trust grantor seeking to rescind an inter vivos trust valued in excess of $8 million.
  • Prosecuted claims of breach of fiduciary obligations and self-dealing against a trustee resulting in his removal and a $2.9 million surcharge in favor of the client-beneficiaries.   
  • Represented beneficiaries of an estate where the Executor failed to account for a multimillion-dollar business interest claiming that the interest was transferred to him prior to the decedent’s death.  The Executor made a significant settlement offer prior to trial.
  • Successfully established claims against a trustee related to his mismanagement of the trust resulting in his removal and recovery of the trust losses for the client-beneficiaries.
  • Represented an educational institution in a will contest achieving a significant settlement at trial.
  • Regularly represents fiduciaries, including corporate fiduciaries, in matters ranging from more routine trust and estate administration issues to complex contested accountings.
  • Represents clients in a variety of proceedings in Surrogate’s Court, including trust and estate discovery proceedings and will contests.

Commercial Litigation

  • Represented a shareholder in a business dissolution proceeding based on fraud and oppression by other shareholders resulting in the client achieving his goal of remaining the sole shareholder of the highly successful business.
  • Represented a precision tool manufacturer in a technically complex breach of contract action related to a machine tool purchase. Obtained a successful verdict following trial and judgment in excess of $1 million.
  • Successfully represented a U.S. biodiesel manufacturer against a German biodiesel production plant manufacturer with respect to claims related to the failure of a biodiesel production plant to produce at the quantity and quality specified in the parties' contract.
  • Represented a national shopping center developer in a commercial action alleging the breach of commercial lease and personal guaranty. Resulted in a significant settlement of over $900,000.

  • Trustee of Free Deliverance Church
  • Ministry Leader, City of Refuge Ministry - served in several missionary trips to Guatemala and Venezuela