Estate Planning
Estate Planning – including Medicaid planning, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxies.
We will guide you through the complex dynamics of Estate and Medicaid planning, explain how to protect everything you have worked for and provide the best strategies to ensure that your family, and not the government, receives what you have saved up over your lifetime through an appropriate Will, Trust or other arrangements.
We will help you prepare your Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy for use should you become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself.
Real Estate
Real Estate – including representation of buyers, sellers, and banks for the transfer of real estate and mortgage financing. We also prepare leases for long term rentals, and handle family transfers for legacy planning.
We work with almost every real estate agency in the Western New York area, and have handled closings in every county of Western New York. We are approved loan closing attorneys for Farm Credit East, Five Star Bank, Community Bank, Allegany First Federal Credit Union, Farm Service Agency (Rural Development) and others.
We are approved title agents and examiners for Stewart Title Insurance Company and Chicago Title Insurance Company.
Municipal & School Law
Municipal and School Law – including local finance, fire districts, water and sewer districts, and wind and solar energy projects.
Utilizing more than thirty years spent representing municipalities, we currently represent over 25 towns, villages and school districts in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Steuben, Wyoming and Yates Counties.
We assist municipalities to comply with the numerous complex state and federal laws and regulations.
We have encountered and assisted with a wide variety of matters, ranging from routine introduction, adoption and filing of local laws and real estate transactions, to labor negotiations, employee discipline, establishment of sewer, water and fire districts, and municipal finance.
Over the last several years we have also developed an emphasis in the issues surrounding wind and energy, representing both municipalities and land owners across Western New York as they deal with the issues that arise when a wind or solar energy company becomes interested in locating a project within their boundaries.
Energy Law
Oil & Gas Law – including representation of production companies, service providers and landowners;
We have experience in all aspects of oil and gas law, including negotiation and review of leases, pipeline rights of way, well transfers and drilling title opinions. We also routinely advise landowners considering wind and solar leases with developers.
Our attorneys have also represented companies in multimillion dollar acquisitions of oil and gas assets, and in defense of enforcement actions by the New York DEC and PSC, and the Pennsylvania DEP.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury and Toxic Tort Claims – If you or a family member have suffered a severe injury due to negligence or misconduct, we can evaluate your case to determine if you have a potential claim. We will work with you to determine the best way to pursue those claims and if appropriate, we will coordinate with outside counsel to maximize your potential recovery.
Business Representation, Formation & Dissolution
Business Representation, Formation and Dissolution – including the establishment and representation of business corporations, LLCs, and not-for-profit corporations;
We can handle everything from forming a corporation or LLC to negotiating an employment contract, to selling your company. Our attorneys and paralegals also have extensive experience in serving non-profit corporations and associations.
We can assist you or your business if you need assistance with forming a business corporation, LLC, or partnership, and setting up appropriate operating, shareholder and partnership agreements. We can also give valuable advice in succession planning or the purchase or sale of a business or farm.
Litigation
Litigation – including representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of civil cases.
Guardianships
Guardianship Proceedings – including appointments as Court Evaluator, guardian ad litem and representative for an AIP and in both Supreme Court and Surrogate Court.
Referrals
Please contact our office for any legal need or issue you may have. We will be happy to do an initial consultation by phone or in person. Even if we do not provide the type of legal service that you require, or cannot represent you due to a conflict of interest or our busy schedule, we can usually identify exactly what type of lawyer you need and will be happy to provide a referral to another attorney who could professionally represent your interests.