WILLIAM MATTAR - Key Persons
Attorney Adam Sampsell is from Spencerport, New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, and was a history major and pre-law minor, graduating in 2006. Adam attended Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida, and earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2013. In 2016, he was admitted to practice law in New York.
Attorney Annabelle Gao grew up in Ontario, Canada. She graduated from McMaster University with a bachelor's degree in political science and earned a Law Clerk diploma from Seneca College. She worked full-time at a divorce law firm in Toronto, and on some weekends, she worked as a Victim Services Crisis Counselor with the Toronto Police. Annabelle then earned her Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law and was admitted to practice law in New York State.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Lawyer
Attorney Anthony Tantillo was born in Niagara Falls, New York. From a very young age, he knew he wanted to be a lawyer and help the people who needed it most. One of six children, he was the first in his family to earn a college degree. In his journey to become a lawyer, Anthony spent time delivering newspapers, washing dishes, laboring, framing houses, and delivering pizzas.
was born in Niagara Falls, New York. From a very young age, he knew he wanted to be a lawyer and help the people who needed it most. One of six children, he was the first in his family to earn a college degree. In his journey to become a lawyer, Anthony spent time delivering newspapers, washing dishes, laboring, framing houses, and delivering pizzas.
Anthony attended Louisiana State University and graduated from Buffalo State College in 1998. He received dual degrees in both business administration and finance. Anthony went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2002. That same year, he was admitted to practice law in New York and the United States District Court, Western District of New York. In 2006, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Anthony immediately began practicing law, taking over 50 verdicts within his first five years as a defense attorney. Anthony also spent several years in New York City assisting in the representation of the New York Port Authority. During that time he was co-counsel in several cases brought by individuals against the Port Authority when they were catastrophically injured during the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. After successfully defending the Port Authority in over half a dozen trials, he became inspired to represent individuals who had been seriously injured.
In order to pursue this desire, Anthony sought employment with William Mattar, P.C. as a litigation attorney, where he has continued to work to ensure that victims have a voice in the courtroom. Anthony continues to enjoy great success in the courtroom, advocating for clients who would otherwise not have a voice against the deep pockets of the insurance industry. He is also skilled in conducting arbitrations and mediations and handling appeals in both New York State and Federal Court. He has earned multiple million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. These, along with other verdicts and settlements, have been recognized statewide. For his outstanding work, Anthony has been selected as a Super Lawyer since 2012.
Anthony currently handles all types of personal injury litigation, including car crash cases, slip and falls, trip and falls, dog bites, construction accidents, and all other types of personal injury.
When asked what he enjoys most about working at William Mattar, P.C., Anthony said, "I became a trial lawyer to help those that needed it most. It is rare for someone to develop a set of skills that can bring people closure so they can begin the next chapter of their lives. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a former client who is now in a better place, knowing that you had some small part in that person's success."
Anthony still resides in Niagara Falls, NY with his wife and three daughters. He enjoys exercising, fly fishing, woodworking, reading, and poetry.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Arienne Irving was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. She attended college at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in the year 2000. Arienne spent the summer following her graduation from college working as an intern at the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of New York. Following that summer, she entered law school at the University at Buffalo School of Law. During the summer between her first and second years of law school, Arienne again returned to the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of New York, but this time as a law clerk.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Ashley Mitchell grew up in East Amherst, New York. She received a bachelor's degree from New York University in 2011, where she was part of the figure skating team. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School in 2015.
Since 2000, Ashley has been teaching figure skating to figure skaters and hockey players in a "Learn to State" program. She also yearly managed a competition featuring approximately 200 skaters and devised a social media strategy to obtain new clients through Facebook, Google and Twitter. Ashley is a national level figure skater in pairs.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Brendan Denz's entire family was born and raised in the North Buffalo section of the City and he takes great pride in his community. After graduating from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, He attended St. Bonaventure University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from St. Bonaventure University. During his time at St. Bonaventure Brendan played on the school's men's hockey team and always attended their Division 1 basketball games.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney C. Daniel McGillicuddy was attracted to the law to help people in difficulties that are in need of a helping hand. At William Matter, P.C., Dan is able to realize this career ambition as all our clientele comes to us because they have been damaged due to the negligence of others and are in need or professional assistance.
Dan has given multiple presentations for continuing legal education programs for the Erie County Bar Association. All these presentations arose from actual cases he handled with William Mattar. He has researched and presented on statutes and case law pertaining to the safe and lawful operation of bicycles in New York State in all settings. This presentation also focused on preparing and trying cases involving plaintiffs injured while operating bicycles. He also analyzed how the case law and the statutes impacted on proving a plaintiff's case for personal injuries in a law suit.
Dan has also researched and presented on statutes and case law involving car crashes with motor vehicles and municipal emergency vehicles. This presentation analyzed an injured plaintiff's burden of proof against defendant municipal vehicle drivers and municipalities. The presentation also focused on the legal requirements necessary to successfully obtain a settlement or verdict in a crash with a municipal emergency vehicle such as a snow plow, a road maintenance truck, and police or fire vehicle.
Dan has been admitted to the New York State bar for over twenty years. He is admitted in the Federal District Court, Western District of New York, and has litigated several cases at the federal level. He is a member of the legal fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta Waite Chapter.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
- Founding Member of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York
Attorney Charles H. Cobb was born in Watertown, New York, and received a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University in English and textual studies in 1997. During his undergraduate studies, Charles was active in the New York Public Interest Research Group and spent a semester studying abroad in London, England.
Outside of the office, Charles is a founding member of The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York and served as the organization's first Board Chairperson. The Clean Air Coalition was instrumental in exposing Tonawanda Coke as a major polluter in Western New York. The Clean Air Coalition was responsible for shining a light on Tonawanda Coke's illegal behavior which resulted in a federal criminal trial where Tonawanda Coke was found guilty of multiple felonies. He is involved with the Coalition for Economic Justice.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Danielle Bruno is originally from Grand Island, New York, and she graduated from Grand Island High School. In 2012, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from the University at Buffalo ("UB"). At UB, Danielle interned within the internal affairs and domestic violence units at the Niagara Falls Police Department. She also interned with the Erie County District Attorney's office during this time.
Trial lawyer David "Dave" Rusin prides himself on being approachable and relatable and makes it a priority to understand the loss injury victims are experiencing and helps them learn about their rights under the law. Dave is also the firm's attorney manager, overseeing all law office attorney operations including case assignment, hiring, supervision and professional development of the law office staff, as well as budgeting.
He grew up in the Black Rock neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, and attended St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. David stayed in Buffalo for his undergraduate studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University at Buffalo. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law.
When not working to further his own knowledge of the law, David can often be found lecturing and teaching others on contemporary legal topics including trial practice in federal and state court, trial preparation, no-fault law, dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, subrogation, lien resolution, liability insurance issues, and ethics. He also enjoys softball and spending time with his wife and daughters during any free time he can find.
Practice Areas:
Car Accidents
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Dillon Mesi was born and raised in Orchard Park, NY. He earned his undergraduate degree in 2018 from Kent State University, in Kent, Ohio. He then graduated from The University of Dayton School of Law in 2022. During his time at Dayton, he was employed with an Ohio law firm criminal defense, criminal prosecution, family law, and estate law. Dillion says, "Spending time working for clients who require public defense helped me understand how often these individuals are disadvantaged in so many social aspects of their lives. Being able to show them, that they are entitled to the same constitutional right to an attorney as anybody else, can help instill hope, and was very rewarding. The internship provided me with invaluable legal experience, coupled with an empathetic approach to working with my clients.
Dillon's decision to become a lawyer was rooted in his desire to help people. "There was always a certain challenge that comes with the territory of going to law school and eventually becoming a successful attorney that has always appealed to me. But most importantly, I decided to become a lawyer because of the unique situation it puts me in that allows me to help the people who truly need it. I am practicing law to help provide hope to individuals who find themselves in disadvantaged situations, usually due to no fault of their own."
Dillon has been a part of the William Mattar team since 2019, as a summer law clerk during his first year of Law School at the University of Dayton. "I applied for the clerk position, knowing it would be a great opportunity to develop my knowledge of the law and experience in the field. Once I joined the team, I became exposed to the work of incredible attorneys and knew I wanted to join their ranks."
Job Titles:
- Car Accident Attorney / Attorney Manager
Heather Baumeister, originally from Clarence, NY in the Western New York area, graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA with her undergraduate degree. She then obtained her J.D. from Albany Law School. During her time there, Heather was a member of the Albany Law Review and served on its Editorial Board as an Executive Editor for Notes and Comments.
She is admitted to practice law in New York State and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.
Before joining William Mattar, Heather gained experience as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Lackawanna and worked at law firms specializing in personal injury, commercial litigation, and estate administration.
During her law school years, Heather interned with the New York State Inspector General's Office and served as a judicial intern for Hon. John C. Egan, Jr. in the Appellate Division, Third Department. Additionally, she authored the publication titled "Old Dogs Won't Adopt New Tricks but Continue to Befuddle their Own: New York's Antiquated UCC Article 3 and the Ambiguity of Assignment Requirements in Mortgage Foreclosure Actions," which was published in the 82nd volume of the Albany Law Review in 2018.
Heather's decision to pursue a legal career was influenced by her father's extensive experience in law spanning over 40 years. Witnessing her father's dedication to helping clients from a young age empowered Heather to follow in his footsteps.
She is deeply passionate about assisting individuals navigating challenging times, which aligns perfectly with William Mattar's dedication to client advocacy and helping people. Heather was drawn to William Mattar due to the firm's reputation for vigorously advocating for clients and its strong foundational values.
"What inspires me is the ability to help people who have found themselves in a situation everyone hopes to avoid. Although the future may seem bleak after being in an accident, the prospect of putting people in a better position drives me to be the best attorney I can be. I have always believed that even one small act can make a difference in someone's life. Being able to work at a law firm whose primary purpose is to make a difference encapsulates that ideology and sets it in motion each day and on a large scale. Helping people provides a sense of purpose, that I am truly making a difference in someone's life."
In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, and playing tennis.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
- Registered Nurse in New York
Attorney Jacqueline Blackley was born in Buffalo, New York. She received two Bachelor of Science degrees from SUNY Buffalo and went on to earn her Master of Science from D'Youville College. Jacqueline attended the University at Buffalo School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor.
Jacqueline is also a registered nurse in New York. She spent 20 years in healthcare with experience in clinical and administrative practice. She worked in the Emergency Department and Cardiac Services. Prior to Nursing she also worked as a Dental Assistant in various practices in Western New York and California. Jacqueline is an active member of the community, holding memberships in organizations such as the Erie County Bar Association, Erie County Medical Society, and the New York Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Lawyer
Attorney James M. O'Keefe is the youngest of six children in a family of eight. He attended Liverpool High School where he served as the captain of the wrestling team during his senior year.
James attended Niagara University for his undergraduate education. During his time at Niagara, James learned about the Vincentian mission of dedicated service to the poor that included volunteer work at local schools, and assistance with a prison literacy program. In 2000, he earned his bachelor of arts degree in English with a minor in education. James spent a summer teaching conversational English and North American culture to Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian students in Krakow, Poland. James often displays his pride around the office in being a Purple Eagle with his wide collection of purple ties.
After graduating from Niagara University, James worked for a small family business operated by his brother for several years. James learned a great deal about hard work, a responsibility to customers, and a commitment to improvement in his work performance year over year, while working for his brother. James also served as a wrestling official for a few years with the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association before he moved to Buffalo to attend law school.
James moved to Buffalo in 2004 to begin his legal studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He was one of eight first-year students selected to represent UB Law at the Fasken Martineau international law moot court competition in Toronto, Canada. James engaged in numerous appellate advocacy competitions and a trial team competition while in law school. He was a finalist in the Desmond Moot Court Competition during the fall semester of his second year of law school, while also competing in the Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition and working as a law clerk during that same semester. James competed with fellow classmates at the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in New York City where he placed in the top 15% of the individual competitors for their performance in appellate advocacy.
James and his wife became parents between his second and third year of law school. While attending law school and working as a law clerk kept James satisfied with the trajectory of his education and career, it was when he learned that was to be a father and when he actually became a father that James's determination, work ethic, and focus were unleashed. James set himself into steadfast motion to work harder, to reach higher, and to achieve more now that he had an obligation to someone other than himself.
James graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 2007. He was named to the Order of Barristers, which is the national honorary organization for United States law schools for excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing skills. James passed the New York State bar examination in the summer of 2007, and was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in February, 2008. James also is admitted to practice law in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.
James is passionate about UB Law School. He served on the board of directors for the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) group, and is a past-president of the GOLD Group. James is a lifetime member of the UB Law Alumni Association. He currently serves on the UB Law Alumni association as an officer.
James joined William Mattar law offices in 2011, dedicating his practice to serving individuals who suffered personal injuries. The vast majority of the cases handled by James are related to motor vehicle accidents. However, James also has experience handling injury claims related to premises liability, dog bites, unsafe food, and other general negligence. Every day that James comes to the office, he tries to be the lawyer he would want for himself if he was injured and did not know what to do.
Before joining the Law Offices of William Mattar in 2011, James worked as a law clerk for two summers during law school with the plaintiff's personal injury firm Andrews, Bernstein & Maranto, LLP. After graduation, James was an associate for approximately three years with Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham & Coppola, LLC where he focused his practice on first party insurance law and subrogation claims. He then worked for a year with Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP practicing in various areas of defense litigation.
Lou Mattar is an Amherst, New York native who received an Undergraduate Degree in Communications from SUNY Fredonia, then attended law school at Stetson University College of Law in Florida to receive their Juris Doctor. Lou was admitted to practice law in Florida in 2022. In law school, Lou was a member of student government, the Lambda Legal Group, and a volunteer to help people in crisis from war-torn countries.
"Growing up I saw both of my parents being very involved in our community, it was a value imbued in me at a young age. I love being from the city of good neighbors and finding ways to be supportive of people when they are going through good times and bad. I read the book "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson and thought about how my favorite part of working is helping people. I thought if I became a lawyer, I would have a career where I could help people navigate difficult situations each day."
Lou wanted to work in a place where they could make a difference in the lives of those who have been injured, and at William Mattar law offices, getting the best possible result in the least amount of time is important to them. And what do they find the most rewarding about helping people? "In the past when I have needed help and someone helped me, I felt a real sense of relief. The idea that I can do the same for others is very rewarding."
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
- Member of the Bar Association of Erie County
Attorney Lucas Cranwell was born and raised in Hampshire, England. Lucas began riding motorcycles and racing go-karts at a very young age. The day before his family moved to America, he crashed his go-kart through his neighbor's freshly painted fence. His family relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 1998, and later acquired U.S. Citizenship in Buffalo. He has recently purchased a new home in the village of East Aurora, which he shares with his fiancée Kasey and their chow-chow Bowser. You can occasionally catch him showing off his current motors down at the East Aurora Moose Lodge. He leaves his old go-kart hanging on the garage wall.
was born and raised in Hampshire, England. Lucas began riding motorcycles and racing go-karts at a very young age. The day before his family moved to America, he crashed his go-kart through his neighbor's freshly painted fence. His family relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 1998, and later acquired U.S. Citizenship in Buffalo. He has recently purchased a new home in the village of East Aurora, which he shares with his fiancée Kasey and their chow-chow Bowser. You can occasionally catch him showing off his current motors down at the East Aurora Moose Lodge. He leaves his old go-kart hanging on the garage wall.
In 2012, Lucas earned his undergraduate's degree from Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Communications with honors in Public Relations. Outside of his undergraduate studies, he spent years playing as a hooker for the Buffalo State Men's Rugby Club. Lucas went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University Of Dayton School Of Law in 2017. He received the Dean's Scholarship based on his academic performance and received certificates of merit in tort law and criminal law. During his law school summer, he was appointed as a law clerk to the Chief Federal Judge of the Western District of New York.
Throughout his life, Lucas has been involved in many activities and organizations that would prepare him for a career in law. In high school and in college, he was active within student government. In law school, he was elected as the Class President and became Executive Vice President of the Student Bar Association. Lucas was also a member of the Volunteer Student Law Project and served in the civil law clinic, providing pro bono services within the Dayton community.
Admitted to practice law in New York State, Lucas is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County and the New York State Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Matt Kaiser was born in Brooklyn, New York and spent his formative years in the Catskill Mountains of the mid-Hudson Valley region before attending the University at Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in History. Upon graduation, Matt enrolled at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he was chosen to serve as a legal research and writing fellow, and research assistant for two law professors. Matt earned his Juris Doctor in 2013, graduating magna cum laude. He then passed the bar and was admitted to practice law in New York. He is admitted to appear in the Western District of New York and Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Peter Mattar graduated Magna Cum Laude from Binghamton University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance. He then attended Syracuse University College of Law in Syracuse, New York, where he earned his Juris Doctor and graduated Cum Laude.
A third-generation attorney, Peter grew up surrounded by many family members who are attorneys. From an early age, he listened to stories about the difference attorneys can make in their client's lives. Those stories resonated with Peter and inspired him to continue his family's tradition of service by becoming an attorney himself. He has become passionate about the law and likens it to solving a puzzle, saying, "In a lawsuit, the facts and laws are like puzzle pieces. An attorney's job is making those puzzle pieces fit together in the way most advantageous to the client. I love finding a winning combination."
Peter chose to focus on personal injury law because of the injustice that clients suffer. He has deep compassion for the innocent victims whose lives have been ripped apart by their injuries. "Many of our clients can't work, can't sleep, and sometimes can't even stand. Those limitations put a strain on every aspect of their lives, from finances to relationships. To add insult to injury, this harm was caused by the careless actions of another. My job is to hold that wrongdoer responsible and give my clients the resources they need to rebuild their lives."
Through witnessing his family members help injured clients, Peter has also learned the vital importance of community. "I believe that every individual has to do what they can to help their neighbors. At William Mattar, we make a difference in our community by helping people receive compensation for their injuries while deterring irresponsible driving."
When Peter is not pushing the wheels of justice forward, he enjoys several activities that keep him on the move, such as hiking, swimming, weightlifting, and playing various sports. He also enjoys continually learning about a variety of subjects, including politics, history, and philosophy.
Education
Binghamton University (B.S.), magna cum laude
Syracuse University College of Law (J.D.), cum laude
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Randy Mallaber, originally from Gowanda, NY is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a bachelor of science degree in Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law. He is a member of the Erie County Bar Association and has been admitted to practice law in New York State since 2003. He handles matters all across New York State in both State and Federal Court. While he specializes in motor vehicle accidents, he has represented clients in a wide variety of matters including civil rights, medical malpractice, products liability and toxic torts. Randy has extensive experience with accidents involving large trucks and tractor trailers.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Car Accident Attorney
Attorney Sara Wallitt has always enjoyed trying to understand and debate complicated issues. This interest is partly what led her to pursue a double major in economics and political science as an undergraduate at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. Sara graduated cum laude in 2003, and also received a Certificate of Managerial Studies with a concentration in public policy analysis from the Simon Business School.