Committee participation is one of the most important benefits of membership in the Bar Association of Erie County. More than forty Bar committees provide the clearest, fastest way to keep current with changes in your practice area. It costs members nothing additional to join BAEC committees. Committee members are listed by name in the supplement to the Bulletin each year. Please contact Committee Coordinator Sherry Palermo at 716-852-8687 for additional information.
Accounting and Taxation Committee
Formerly two separate committees, the Accounting and Taxation Committee has a twofold purpose. The first is to maintain a continuing dialogue with members of the accounting profession, promoting matters of joint concern, exchanging information and cultivating a better understanding between the two professions. The second purpose is to keep pace with new developments and practical applications of federal, state and local laws relating to taxation of every kind. This committee co-sponsors an annual Tax Institute and presents seminars and discussions related to accounting and taxation matters. Committee members also review pending legislation and provide relevant information for dissemination to the bar at large. Chair: Gary M. Kanaley and Raymond P. Reichert
The Admission To The Bar Committee
The Admission To The Bar Committee reviews the prevailing methods, scope, and adequacy of legal education as relates to admission to the bar and the practice of law. A welcoming reception is traditionally sponsored for new admittees where they meet the Association's leadership and distinguished members of the judiciary. Chair: Stephen R. Lamantia
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee educates attorneys and the public about alternative processes that exist for the resolution of disputes without resort to litigation, and the resulting benefits and/or risks of usingany such ADR procedures. This goal is accomplished by CLE programs sponsored annually by the committee, by public education programs, and by various special projects. Chair: Patricia H. Potts
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The Appellate Practice Committee
The Appellate Practice Committee focuses on the advancement and identification of issues of concern to members of the bar who are engaged in appellate practice in state and federal courts. Chair: Marilyn A. Hochfield
The Banking Law Committee
The Banking Law Committee monitors developments and changes in both federal and state law governing the activities of financial institutions and serves as an educational forum for its members and the bar at large. Its emphasis is primarily on issues relating to commercial credit transactions, including the perfection of security interests in Uniform Commercial Code and non-Uniform Commercial Code collateral, the structuring of credit transactions, and the rights and obligations of lenders and borrowers. It also addresses issues related to consumer retail banking. The committee periodically sponsors seminars. Chair: Sharon Prise Azurin
The By-Laws Committee
The By-Laws Committee provides interpretations of the By-Laws of the Association and drafts proposed amendments to the By-Laws at the request of the Board of Directors. Chair: Paul C. Weaver
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The CLE Advisory Committee
The CLE Advisory Committee oversees continuing legal education programs for the Erie Institute of Law. The Committee monitors and evaluates programs to ensure that high quality, effective and timely programs are offered to meet the professional education needs of lawyers in Western New York, and works to maintain the institute's position as the primary provider of CLE in the surrounding legal community. Chair: Brian R. Welsh
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The Commercial & Bankruptcy Law Committee
The Commercial & Bankruptcy Law Committee deals with current substantive and procedural issues concerning bankruptcy law and the bankruptcy courts and commercial and business litigation in both state and federal courts. The committee provides ongoing legal education to its members in these areas, and each year also presents both a Noonday lecture and a CLE seminar on current topics. The committee also serves as a liaison for the local bar to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. Chair: Beth Ann Bivona
The Committee For The Disabled
The Committee For The Disabled serves the interests of mentally and physically disabled persons by: 1.) educating the legal community about the special needs of the disabled; 2.) encouraging the legal representation of the disabled; 3) advocating for accessibility of services; and 4) advocating for the rights of disabled persons by monitoring legislative and judicial trends. Chair: Janet L. Bensman
The Committee On Eminent Domain And Tax Certiorari
The Committee On Eminent Domain And Tax Certiorari updates members on changes in the law and procedures in the fields. The committee invites guest speakers to meetings and produces periodic CLE seminars for Bar members. Chair: Peter Allen Weinmann
The Corporation Law Committee
The Corporation Law Committee members are business law practitioners with expertise in various business entities including partnerships and corporations. The committee observes and considers developments, changes and practical applications of state business laws. Chair: Ronald J. Battaglia, Jr.
The Criminal Law Committee
The Criminal Law Committee are attorneys primarily engaged in criminal practice, both defense and prosecution, who consider matters which impact on the criminal justice system and the practice of criminal law. The committee considers matters referred to it by the Board of Directors. In the past, the committee has paid special attention to the issue of providing defense services to the indigent and continues to monitor this area closely. The committee also presents CLE programs through the Erie Institute of Law. Chair: Robert M. Goldstein
The Elder Law Committee
The Elder Law Committee shares information among members and the public regarding issues of major concern to the elderly and practitioners representing them. Such issues include access to health care, Medicaid asset planning, housing, community resources and institutional placement, pension benefits, health care decision making, private and Medicare health insurance, administrative proceedings, attorneys' fees, veterans' benefits, and exploitation of the elderly. Chair: Charles Beinhauer
The Environmental Law Committee
The Environmental Law Committee provides environmental practitioners and other attorneys with a forum for discussion of current environmental legal trends, DEC/EPA regulatory, statutory, and enforcement initiatives, and current or emerging case law. It also provides education and community/academic outreach programs. The committee has frequent speakers on a wide variety of environmental topics. Chair: R. Hugh Stephens
The Federal Practice Committee
The Federal Practice Committee fosters an ongoing dialogue with the members of the federal judiciary who sit in this District. Each fall, the committee holds a dinner attended by all district, magistrate and bankruptcy judges from both Buffalo and Rochester. Meetings often consist of an informal discussion with one of the members of the federal bench. The committee provides regular input with respect to proposed changes to the Local Rules of Practice for the district, and conducts one major seminar each year. Chair: Anna Marie Richmond
The Health Care Law Committee
The Health Care Law Committee educates members and others about developments and trends in the field through CLE seminars and speakers at monthly meetings. Consideration is given to all legal and ethical issues affecting physicians, hospitals and other providers of health care services. A Liaison Committee between the Health Law Committee and the Medical Society of the County of Erie has developed guidelines for interprofessional relations between physicians and attorneys. Chair: Lisa McDougall
The Human Rights Committee
The Human Rights Committee is concerned with human rights issues. In the past, the committee has examined the conditions of local jails, followed local cases that have human rights implications and heard from experts on the problems of refugees. Chair: Alan J. Bozer
The Immigration Law Committee
The Immigration Law Committee provides programs for the immigration bar and mentoring for newer practitioners in the field. The committee, working with the local chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers' Association, has a liaison project with the Immigration Service. Chair: F. Alejandro Gutierrez
The Insurance Plans Committee
The Insurance Plans Committee evaluates proposals for group insurance plans for the Association's membership and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for appropriate action. Chair: Andrew D. Merrick
The Intellectual Property, Computer And Entertainment Law Committee
The IPCEL Committee deals with the areas of Copyright, Trademark, and Patent Law, Computer or "Cyber" law, and the more contract-driven focus of Entertainment Law. This wide array of practice areas give the IPCEL committee an interesting make-up, from corporate attorneys focusing primarily on contracts and licensing, to defense attorneys dealing with computer crime. The Committee meets monthly to discuss developments in the law, hear presentations from people on the front lines of IPCEL issues, and plan CLEs. The first ten minutes of each meeting are devoted to discussion of new case law and technology. Chair: Stephanie A. Cole
The Judges' Committee
The Judges' Committee promotes discussion and interchange of ideas in connection with issues of interest and concern to the judiciary. Chair: Hon. John P. Lane
The Judiciary Committee
The Judiciary Committee investigates and evaluates the qualifications of candidates for judicial office in Erie County. The ratings are made public to assist voters in selecting their choices in the general election each November. Chair: Scott M. Schwartz
The Labor Law Committee
The Labor Law Committee consists of attorneys involved in all aspects of labor and employment law. This includes employment discrimination law and private and public sector labor and management relations. The monthly meetings tend to be educational, usually featuring a presentation by a committee member or an outside guest speaker. Chair: Kevin P. Wicka
The Law Practice Management Committee
The Law Practice Management Committee addresses issues such as automation, marketing, compensation, long-range planning, hiring, training and staff as well as financial management. The committee also organizes and participates in seminars. Chair: Donald A. Alessi
The Lawyer Referral & Information Service Committee
The Lawyer Referral Service Committee monitors and reviews the operation of the Lawyer Referral Service and recommends improvements in service or modifications in policies and procedures to staff and the Board of Directors. Chair: Robert A. Fiordaliso
The Legal Nurse Consultants Committee
The Legal Nurse Consultants Committee consists of licensed nurses who practice in a consulting capacity in the legal field. The focus of monthly meetings is to provide a resource of information and ongoing education for members relating to legal aspects of medicine and health care law through guest and committee member speakers. [Note: From time to time the Bar Association of Erie County establishes committees at the request of members of professions whose work routinely interfaces with the legal profession. Participants in these committees are not necessarily admitted to the bar of the State of New York and are affiliate members of our Bar Association. To be eligible for affiliate membership, one must work for a lawyer or a law firm. ] Chair: Christine A. Trojan and Diane L. Reboy
The Matrimonial & Family Law Committee
The Matrimonial & Family Law Committee meetings feature discussions of new substantive law, court rules and guest speakers on topics relevant to the practice. Seminars featuring presentations by experts on issues important to matrimonial practitioners are held in the winter and spring. Chair: Bridget M. O' Connell
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The Minority Outreach Committee
A new standing committee charged with devising ways to enrich professional opportunities for lawyers of color. The committee will work to enhance career objectives and make the practice of law more meaningful to minority attorneys. It will also develop programs and activities to assist law students of color with intership and employment opportunities. Chair: Brandon Portis and Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres
The Municipal & School Law Committee
The Municipal & School Law Committee brings together attorneys who work in municipal government and the schools to share common concerns and interests and to develop materials and programs useful to those who work in this area. Chair: Herbert J. Glose
The Negligence Committee
The Negligence Committee fosters cooperation between the plaintiff and defense bar in order to encourage the efficient administration of justice; updates and educates the general bar about recent developments in the field of negligence law through CLE seminars; and considers, and makes recommendations about, proposed legislation affecting the practice of negligence law. Chair: William A. Gersten
The Practice And Procedure In Family Court Committee
The Practice And Procedure In Family Court Committee serves as a communication link between the Bar Association and the bench, striving to better the quality of the practice of lawyers before the Family Court bench. The committee features guest speakers at its meetings and holds Noonday lectures and CLE seminars on such topics as child support, paternity, common evidence problems in Family Court, relocation, CD-ROM research, practice in Family Court, child custody evaluations, discovery, and new domestic violence legislation. The Forum, the monthly newsletter of the committee, is now available online. Chair: Kristin Langdon Arcuri
The Practice And Procedure In Justice Courts Committee
The Practice And Procedure In Justice Courts Committee offers members the opportunity to discuss current Justice Court issues with attorneys practicing in the towns and villages, as well as with many of the judges who are members of this committee. Chair: Jeffrey F. Voelkl
The Practice And Procedure In Surrogate's Court Committee
The Practice And Procedure In Surrogate's Court Committee meets monthly and has over 200 members. After a short business meeting, topics of interest in the estate, trust and tax fields are addressed by guest speakers. The committee provides educational seminars on trust and estate issues as well as an annual Noonday Lecture. In addition, the Liaison subcommittee meets with Erie County Surrogate Barbara Howe and her court staff throughout the year to address issues of importance in Surrogate's practice. Chair: Catherine T. Wettlaufer
The Professional Continuity Committee
The Professional Continuity Committee assists clients in obtaining other counsel when that attorney's practice is interrupted without an appropriate successor. Chair: Francis X. Carroll
The Professional Ethics Committee
The Professional Ethics Committee investigates and answers inquiries concerning the Lawyers Code of Professional Responsibility. The results of the investigations and a proposed opinion are reported to the Board of Directors, who make the final decision. Opinions are published in The Bulletin to provide guidance to the legal community. Chair: Thomas S. Wiswall
The Real Property Law Committee
The Real Property Law Committee considers the development and practical workings of the law relating to real property, conveyancing, mortgages, foreclosures, receiverships and other related subjects. Chair: W. Clark Trow
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The Senior Lawyers Committee
Serves the interest and needs of the legal profession and the public by sharing the accumulated knowledge and experience of it's members. Chair: Harold J. Brand, Jr.
The Unlawful Practice Committee
The Unlawful Practice Committee seeks to protect the public against the unlawful practice of law by investigating allegations of unlawful practice. It may receive complaints, take evidence, and upon Board approval, and present complaints to the State Attorney General. It also may propose legislation to prohibit the practice of the law by corporations or individuals not admitted to the bar. Chair: Nancy M. Langer
The Workers' Compensation Committee
The Workers' Compensation Committee meets periodically to discuss issues affecting practice before the Workers' Compensation Board. The committee takes an active role in working with the Board's administration by presenting ideas and concerns of the bar as well as responding to proposed legislation and Board rules. Chair: Mary Kay LaForce
The Young Lawyers Committee
The Young Lawyers Committee, comprised of attorneys who have been practicing for ten years or less, is responsible for two major community programs: the High School Mock Trial Tournament and the Stop-DWI Assembly Program. The attorneys involved act as mentors in schools, attorney advisors for the mock trial program as well as lecturers at the Stop-DWI assemblies. Chair: Natalie A. Grigg and Melissa Ann Foti