Firm News

Firm President Ann E. Evanko was listed among the Power 250 by Business First. The list reflects the consensus of the publication's reporters and editors following substantial research, reporting and debate among the entire staff to determine who they consider the most influential people in Western New York.

Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. is pleased to announce its 2016 U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings where multiple practice areas have been recognized. Law firms that are included in the rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes both client and peer reviews. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area and metro region, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in Best Lawyers in that practice area and metro. The firm was recognized in the following areas:

Banking and Finance Law
Civil Rights Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Elder Law
Employment Law – Management
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Municipal
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law

We are proud to have five firm Members recognized as outstanding in the Business First and Buffalo Law Journal 2015 Legal Elite of Western New York. The list, generated from nominations by other lawyers, highlighted a limited number of Western New York lawyers total and significantly limited the number of lawyers per firm which could be included and is considered a particular honor in the Buffalo legal community. Honored are:

Ann E. Evanko
Robert P. Fine
Lawrence C. Franco
Dan D. Kohane
Harry F. Mooney

Congratulations to the honorees!

We are pleased to announce that firm Members Andrea Schillaci and Kevin J. Zanner have joined the firm's Board of Directors. The Board now consists of firm President Ann E. Evanko, Lawrence C. Franco, Michael F. Perley, Ms. Schillaci and Mr. Zanner.

Ms. Schillaci heads the firm's Business Litigation Department and focuses her practice in professional liability, regulatory and compliance matters, insurance coverage, health care and environmental areas. Mr. Zanner is a member of the firm’s Business, Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development Practice Groups. He assists business, public sector and non-profit clients on a broad range of matters including commercial real estate, brownfield redevelopment projects, general corporate and contract matters, entity structuring, acquisitions and divestitures, employment and regulatory compliance.

Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. attorneys were highly recognized with 14 firm attorneys listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2016 list. Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their peers in the legal community. Listed attorneys include:

Robert P. Fine (Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax Law, Trusts & Estates)
Lawrence C. Franco (Corporate Law, Tax Law, Trusts & Estates)
Dan D. Kohane (Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation- Insurance)
Harry F. Mooney (Civil Rights Law, Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation –Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants)
Ann E. Evanko (Corporate Law, Employment Law – Management, Litigation Labor & Employment)
Paul J. Suozzi (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
Roger L. Ross (Real Estate Law)
Lawrence M. Ross (Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Tax Law)
Michael F. Perley (Litigation – Municipal, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
Diane K. Church (Banking & Finance Law)
Andrea Schillaci (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
Christopher J. Hurley (Banking & Finance Law)
Edward C. Robinson (Elder Law)
Audrey A. Seeley (Insurance Law)

Ann E. Evanko was identified with special distinction as a “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law and Edward C. Robinson was identified as a “Lawyer of the Year” in Elder Law. Lawyers listed as such have received particularly high ratings in these surveys by earning the highest level of recognition from their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity in their specific area of law. Recognition in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor

The firm is honored to once again have two-thirds of the firm’s attorneys named to the New York Super Lawyers list (Upstate Edition), with several attorneys being prominently featured in the Top 25 Women and Top 50 lists. Only 5% of eligible attorneys statewide make the list. The 2015 New York Super Lawyers list includes:

Robert P. Fine, Business/Corporate
Lawrence C. Franco, Business/Corporate
Dan D. Kohane, Insurance Coverage (Top 50)
Harry F. Mooney, Personal Injury Defense: Products (Top 50)
Ann E. Evanko, Employment & Labor (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
Paul J. Suozzi, Personal Injury Defense: General (Top 50)
Roger L. Ross, Real Estate 
Lawrence M. Ross, Health Care
Michael F. Perley, Personal Injury Defense: General (Top 50)
Andrea Schillaci, Business Litigation (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
Edward C. Robinson, Estate Planning & Probate
Earl K. Cantwell, Business Litigation
Jody E. Briandi, Personal Injury Defense: General (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
Audrey A. Seeley, Insurance Coverage (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
David R. Adams, Construction Litigation
Todd C. Bushway, Personal Injury Defense: General
V. Christopher Potenza, Personal Injury Defense: General
Steven E. Peiper, Insurance Coverage
Diane F. Bosse, Insurance Coverage (Top 25 Women)

Rising Stars:
Jennifer A. Ehman, Insurance Coverage
Marc A. Schulz, Personal Injury Defense: General
Patricia A. Fay, Estate Planning & Probate

This multi-phase selection process asks attorneys to review their peers across the state to determine which have attained the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Congratulations to those acknowledged and our gratitude to our clients for their trust and to our firm employees who support our ongoing efforts to provide top quality legal services. 

Firm President/Managing Member Ann E. Evanko was recently identified as one of the most powerful women in Western New York by Buffalo Business First. The newspaper showcased who they consider the 100 most powerful women in the Buffalo region in this inaugural Power 100 Women list.

Michael F. Perley, Co-Chair of the Ligation Department at Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. and a member of the firm's Board of Directors, was elected a Director of the Erie County Bar Association. Mr. Perley focuses his practice in municipal law, product liability, professional liability, transportation negligence, complex and catastrophic injury litigation.

Firm President Ann Evanko was honored by the Girl Scouts of Western New York at the annual Women of Distinction dinner and awards ceremony. The award, presented by Girl Scout Katherine Kerekes who personally interviewed Ms. Evanko, "celebrates women in our community who have demonstrated success and given back, but it also offers girls a wonderful chance to develop their own leadership skills." Ms. Evanko had been a Girl Scout in her youth. Ms. Evanko was a Girl Scout in her youth, often crediting scouting with helping her develop a competitive nature and leadership skills.

Firm President & Managing Member Ann E. Evanko was honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award for Community Service by the SUNY Buffalo Law School Alumni Association at the 53rd Annual Alumni Dinner. The recognition was given “for her many contributions to the betterment of our community”.

Firm Managing Partner Ann E. Evanko was named to the list of the most influential people in Western New York as compiled by Business First. The Power 250 recognizes "a list of the 250 men and women who, in our opinion, wield the most clout in the eight-county region," according to the publication.

Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. is once again listed as the Top Midsize Law Firm in New York State in both Business & Transactions and in Litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine for all of New York State. Only five law firms statewide make this distinction per firm size per area of law, and there are only five areas of law possible for which to make the list: Business & Transactions; Construction, Real Estate and Environmental; Employment; Intellectual Property and Litigation. The firm has been listed as the Top Midsize Law Firm in these two areas of law since 2010.

Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. was again named among the most highly regarded law firms in America as U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers announced the 2015 “Best Law Firms” rankings. Firms included in the list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. The publisher states that achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. was listed as a Tier One Law Firm in the following areas of law:

Civil Rights Law
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law

Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. attorneys were highly recognized with 13 firm attorneys listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2015 list. Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their peers in the legal community. Listed attorneys include:

Diane K. Church (Banking & Finance Law)
Ann E. Evanko (Corporate Law, Employment Law – Management)
Robert P. Fine (Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax Law, Trusts & Estates)
Lawrence C. Franco (Corporate Law, Tax Law, Trusts & Estates)
Dan D. Kohane (Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law)
Harry F. Mooney (Civil Rights Law, Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation –Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants)
Michael F. Perley (Litigation – Municipal, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
Edward C. Robinson (Elder Law)
Lawrence M. Ross (Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Tax Law)
Roger L. Ross (Real Estate Law)
Andrea Schillaci (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
Audrey A. Seeley (Insurance Law)
Paul J. Suozzi (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)

Lawrence C. Franco was identified as a “Lawyer of the Year” for 2015 in Trusts & Estates for the Buffalo area. Lawyers listed as such have received particularly high ratings in these surveys by earning the highest level of recognition from their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity in their specific area of law.

We are pleased to announce that the firm has a record 24 lawyers named to the 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list with 10 in the Top Lists. Please join us in congratulating these New York Super Lawyers:

Robert P. Fine, Business/Corporate
Lawrence C. Franco, Business/Corporate (Top 50)
Dan D. Kohane, Insurance Coverage (Top 50)
Harry F. Mooney, Personal Injury Defense: Products (Top 10, Top 50)
Ann E. Evanko, Employment & Labor (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
Paul J. Suozzi, Personal Injury Defense: General (Top 50)
Roger L. Ross, Real Estate 
Lawrence M. Ross, Health Care (Top 50)
Michael F. Perley, Personal Injury Defense: General (Top 50)
Andrea Schillaci, Business Litigation (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
Edward C. Robinson, Estate Planning & Probate
Earl K. Cantwell, Business Litigation
Jody E. Briandi, Personal Injury Defense: General (Top 50 and Top 25 Women)
Audrey A. Seeley, Insurance Coverage
David R. Adams, Construction Litigation
Todd C. Bushway, Personal Injury Defense: General
V. Christopher Potenza, Personal Injury Defense: General
Steven E. Peiper, Insurance Coverage
Margo M. Lagueras, Insurance Coverage
Diane F. Bosse, Insurance Coverage (Top 25 Women)

Rising Stars:
Cassandra A. Kazukenus, Insurance Coverage
Daniel T. Hunter, Business Litigation
Marc A. Schulz, Personal Injury Defense: General
Patricia A. Fay, Estate Planning & Probate

While only 5% of eligible attorneys statewide make the final list, nearly two-thirds of Hurwitz & Fine, P.C.’s attorneys made the list and comprised a significant percentage of the Top 10, Top 25 Women and Top 50 lists. This multi-phase selection process asks attorneys to review their peers across the state to determine which have attained the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. While we clearly think all of our lawyers are super and deserving of this recognition (as is our staff – we wish there were a publication to sing their praises as well!) we celebrate those recognized in this publication.

Hurwitz & Fine is proud to have five of its Members recognized as outstanding in the Business First and Buffalo Law Journal 2014 Legal Elite of Western New York. The list, generated from nominations by other lawyers, highlighted a limited number of Western New York lawyers total and significantly limited the number of lawyers per firm which could be included and is considered a singular honor in the legal community. Please join us in congratulating:

Ann E. Evanko
Robert P. Fine
Lawrence C. Franco
Dan D. Kohane
Harry F. Mooney