GROSS SHUMAN - Key Persons
Additionally Dave is a member of our personal injury practice group where he represents victims of serious motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, and families who have lost a loved one in a wrongful death.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Business Attorney
Kevin Burke is a business attorney focused on the litigation of contract disputes, labor and employment issues, intellectual property protection, and trade secret cases. Kevin has represented both individuals and businesses since he moved home from Washington, D.C. in 1999, where he graduated with honors from Georgetown University and George Washington University Law School.
He has tried dozens of major commercial and employment cases to verdict. He regularly handles appeals before the Appellate Division, State of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He frequently writes and lectures on employee mobility issues, including the evolving area of noncompete agreements.
Kevin also counsels clients on pre-litigation matters ranging from business formation and the hiring of employees to shareholder disputes, business dissolution, and employment termination. Kevin's practice has expanded in recent years to include data breach incident response counseling and cyber-security legal analysis for New York companies with employees in multiple jurisdictions.
Kevin is a Foreign Legal Consultant in Ontario Canada where he and our cross-border team work with clients on a broad-range of U.S. based transactions including: employment matters; litigation, including both the prosecution and defense of actions; intellectual property matters including registration and licensing rights, as well as enforcing and defending infringements; estate planning; acquisition of assets; and commercial real estate transactions.
Kevin actively serves his community. He frequently coaches high school students in the Bar Association of Erie County's high school mock trial tournament, is a founding member of the Rotary Club of BNMC, conducts student applicant interviews for Georgetown University, and recently completed a term on the Nichols School Alumni Board. He is an active member of the Checkers A.C. running club, the Buffalo Ski Center, Delaware Soccer Club, Buffalo Turners Gymnastics, and the Buffalo Canoe Club.
Kevin, his wife, and their children are proud residents of the resurging West Side of Buffalo, New York.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Associate
- Attorney
Carolyn Lavin DeVaughn concentrates her practice in corporate law, banking and finance, estate planning, and representing school districts, private schools, and charter schools in education law matters.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Associate
- Attorney
Carolynn E. Grennell focuses her practice in the areas of Estate Planning and Business and Corporate Law.
Chanel T. McCarthy has more than ten years of experience assisting clients with their business needs - from lease agreements and contract negotiations to operations and employment matters. Chanel has a wide range of experience in corporate law including with issues related to the hospitality industry. Chanel brings a wealth of experience in the areas of trusts and estates, and other matters before the Surrogate's Court.
Job Titles:
- American Inn of Court ( Board Member, Education Director )
- American Inn of Court, Member
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Managing Attorney
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Counsel
- of Counsel
Dr. Joel H. Paull has been of counsel to the firm for more than 20 years. Following a B.A. from SUNY at Buffalo, he obtained his D.D.S. degree from that institution's dental school in 1968 and practiced general dentistry in Buffalo, New York.
He earned an M.D. in 1971 from the UB School of Medicine, and was in private practice providing general, plastic and reconstructive surgery. After an injury that ended his surgical career, he continued to consult on medical cases.
He then attended UB School of Law, earning a J.D. An L.L.M. in health law from Loyola University was followed by an M.B.A. at UB.
From his unique perspective of private practice in both dentistry and medicine, Joel brings in-depth understanding to issues of professional clients. He has also been a member of the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct and is an inspector for the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).
Harry J. Forrest focuses his legal practice on personal injury claims involving motor vehicle collisions, construction site accidents, fall-down accidents and wrongful death. He also practices in the areas of civil litigation, business counseling and long-term disability claims and appeals. He has successfully handled cases in both federal and state courts and has tried cases to verdict involving claims for personal injury, property damage, contract disputes and constitutional civil rights violations.
Harry is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport where he obtained a dual degree, magna cum laude, in criminal justice and psychology. He then obtained his law degree, cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School.
Howard B. Cohen is focused on the prosecution and trial of substantial personal injury accident claims, which include automobile accidents, workplace accidents, wrongful death claims, construction accident and fall-down defect claims. He has also prosecuted substantial Insurance, Securities and Fraud claims.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- of Counsel
- Member of the Planned Giving Consortium of Western New York
Jeff is a member of the Planned Giving Consortium of Western New York, the Estate Analysts of Western New York, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Attorney Association, and the WNY Venture Association.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Attorney
- Shareholder
John F. Leone has practiced almost 30 years in the areas of wills, estate planning, estate and trust administration, qualified retirement plans and residential and commercial real estate. He received both his J.D. and B.S. degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
In connection with his wills and estates practice, John has successfully defended proponents of wills subject to will contests, contested wills on behalf of beneficiaries, and has filed claims relating to breaches of fiduciary duty by individuals using a power of attorney for their own benefit. John also counsels clients on effective methods to reduce estate taxes and income taxes.
John assists developers and clients with commercial loan transactions, the dedication of roads and the negotiation and drafting of leases.
John is a frequent author of articles pertaining to estate planning and administration. He is a Past President of the Estate Analysts of Western New York and is a member of the Surrogate's Court Practice & Procedure and Elder Law Practice & Procedure committees of the Bar Association of Erie County.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Associate
- Attorney
Attorney Katherine Liebner focuses her legal practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and labor and employment law. She also handles appellate matters across a wide spectrum of practices.
Kevin Lelonek focuses his law practice in the areas of business litigation and business bankruptcy and reorganization. He works closely with clients ranging from large private-sector companies, to family-owned businesses and non-profit organizations. In every matter, Kevin works closely with the client to identify the nuances of their individual situation, and craft a plan that best meets their unique needs.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Member of the Board
- of Counsel
Leslie Mark Greenbaum has been an attorney with the firm since 1978. He concentrates his practice in the areas of copyright, trademark, entertainment, art and sports law, unfair competition, internet law and related litigation. He is admitted to practice in all State and Federal courts in the State of New York and to the United States Supreme Court.
For several Western New York arts and community organizations, Les is a member of the board and/or an advisor. He frequently lectures to professional and general audiences in his areas of concentration.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Shareholder
- Shareholder in Gross Shuman 's Business
Nick Pusateri is a Shareholder in Gross Shuman's Business and Corporate Law practice area. Nick focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, corporate governance, and commercial contracts.
He is a graduate of Niagara University where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. Mr. Pusateri earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he served as a publications editor of the Buffalo Law Review and an associate of the Buffalo Public Interest Law Journal.
He is admitted to practice in both New York and Florida.
Job Titles:
- Alliance Foundation Community Board, Member
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Administrative Attorney
Scott Philbin is a Buffalo-based litigation attorney handling a broad array of business and commercial matters at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court.
He routinely represents corporations, insurers and financial institutions in issues relating to breach of contract, the leasing of heavy construction equipment, enforcement of non-compete agreements, banking litigation, investor claims and commercial paper disputes. Scott also has experience in toxic tort cases involving silica and benzene, insurance coverage disputes, trust and estate litigation, commercial foreclosures, defense of attorneys and accountants in malpractice claims, zoning/land use actions, and insurance defense claims.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Associate
- Attorney
- Member of the Estate Planning Team
Shannon Spyres joined Gross Shuman as a law clerk in 2022. Her outstanding work led the firm to extend an offer in 2023 to remain with the firm as an associate attorney.
Today she works closely with her colleagues as a member of our Estate Planning and Personal Injury practice groups.
As a member of the estate planning team, Shannon works with clients to draft various estate planning documents including wills, power of attorney documents and healthcare proxies. She takes the approach that each client has unique needs and concerns when it comes to planning their estate. No two clients are the same, and she works with them to ensure their needs are met and their assets are protected in a way that aligns with their wishes.
In the personal injury arena, Shannon works alongside Sarah Rera and Howard Cohen, two of our veteran PI attorneys, assisting on cases ranging from automobile accidents to medical malpractice cases. Her attention to detail coupled with her compassion for our clients, many of whom she meets following what is often a traumatic event in their life, makes her an invaluable member of our team.
Shannon also assists attorneys in the labor and employment group, workiong on a wide range of matters on the employer side of the law.
Prior to joining Gross Shuman, Shannon gained valuable legal experience as an intern with the Center for Elder Law and Justice. She also served as a member of the Buffalo Law Review as well as on the Board of the Buffalo Moot Court.
Steven Arias joined Gross Shuman as a law clerk in 2023. He has accepted an offer to join the firm as an associate attorney upon his admission into the New York State Bar.
Job Titles:
- Upstate New York Affiliate, past Board President
Job Titles:
- Inaugural Site Foundation, Trustee
Trevor M. Torcello is an of counsel attorney, supporting the firm in the areas of commercial real estate, business transactions, agribusiness and working with emerging businesses. He brings a unique blend of legal experience and business acumen to every matter he handles and has extensive experience representing various parties in complex business transactions.