CANTOR - Key Persons
Alissa grew up in Tonawanda, New York, and is a graduate of Kenmore West High School. Alissa obtained a degree from SUNY Buffalo State College. Following college, Alissa became a top injury paralegal at one of the largest injury law firms in America. Alissa also lived in Colorado for five years, where she worked as a senior paralegal at an injury law firm. Alissa is well-versed in both New York and Colorado law.
After returning home to Western New York with her family, Alissa joined our law firm as an injury paralegal. Having worked as a paralegal in personal injury for over ten years, Alissa's legal skills and positive attitude are second to none. During her spare time, Alissa enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, three dogs, three cats, and her tortoise named Sheldon. Alissa enjoys gardening, reading, swimming, and enjoying the many great restaurants in Buffalo.
Alyssa grew up in the South Towns and is a graduate of Lancaster Central High School. She obtained her bachelor's degree from SUNY Oswego Cum Laude with a degree in Public Relations. After graduation she attended Daemen University for a post-baccalaureate program and obtained a certificate in Paralegal Studies.
During college she worked as a student assistant for CIT and worked as a retail manager when home on break. This allowed her to develop excellent customer service and communication skills which she uses everyday to help our clients.
During her free time, Alyssa enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, doing genealogical research, going on road-trips with her friends and spending time with her two cats.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Regional Traffic Alliance
Andrew Gill is a seasoned personal injury attorney, renowned for his unwavering dedication to winning. Andrew's relentless commitment to securing the best possible outcomes for injury victims is exemplified by the favorable results he has consistently achieved across a diverse range of injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, and workplace accidents. Andrew's true passion lies in championing the rights of injury victims, and his primary goal is to win your case.
Andrew's legal journey began as a criminal defense attorney, affording him invaluable courtroom experience that forms the bedrock of his legal expertise. Andrew now dedicates his entire practice to personal injury, emerging as a strong advocate for Western New Yorkers in their times of need, ultimately obtaining millions of dollars in compensation for his clients.
Beyond his legal endeavors, Andrew is an active member of the Regional Traffic Alliance, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce-Emerging Business Leaders, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Andrew dedicates much of his time to several community organizations, including the Depew-Lancaster Boys and Girls Club and St. Mary's of the Assumption Church, embodying his commitment to making a positive impact on the community beyond the courtroom.
As the firm's Marketing Director, Autumn oversees the execution of the firm's strategic marketing and community activities including public relations and social media, local sponsorships, and planning community events. "For our firm, marketing is really about community, it's about building relationships and showing the community that we are a firm that people and families can rely on and trust." Autumn has watched her husband, one of the firm's partners, Personal Injury Attorney Rich Hall, work tirelessly to help injured people get the justice they deserve. "When the firm needed a marketing director, I jumped on the opportunity, because people in our community need to know about these guys, they truly take the time to understand the challenges, fears, and concerns people have after being injured, it's no wonder that so many past clients send their loved ones to the firm."
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor
- Attorney
Attorney Cortney Peterkin is devoted to serving the people of Western New York who need help with personal injury lawsuits involving Motor Vehicle Collisions, Slip and Falls, Medical Malpractice, Dog Bites, Construction, and other injury-related incidents.
For years, Cortney represented big insurance companies and has come to learn the strategies they use to trick injured parties into accepting settlements amounting to much less than what their cases are actually worth. Now, as an associate attorney at Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC, Cortney focuses on using her knowledge of insurance company tactics against insurance companies to pursue the maximum compensation available for her clients.
In addition to personal injury claims, Cortney handles a wide variety of criminal matters, including DWIs. Cortney's hard work, tenacity and dedication to fighting hard for her clients in the courtroom has gotten her recognition in Courts throughout New York State and earned her the nickname, "Courtroom Cortney".
Cortney graduated cum laude with a dual degree from Syracuse University and the College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Cortney obtained her law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law.
During law school, Cortney was an active member of the law school's Trial Advocacy Institute. Cortney was hand-selected by local attorneys to compete in two national trial team competitions. Additionally, Cortney participated in the Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition and was a member of the law school's Moot Court Board.
Outside of the office, Cortney is a volunteer adjunct professor at the law school's Advocacy Institute where she teaches law students how to try and prepare cases for trial. Cortney's students then go on to compete among other top-rated law schools in the nation. Cortney is also an animal lover and enjoys spending time with her two Pitbulls, Parker and Zena.
David Wolff is a partner for Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC. David has extensive experience in personal injury lawsuits involving Motor Vehicle Collisions, Medical Malpractice, Slip & Falls and more. David is a member of the Erie County Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyer's Association and is licensed in New York State as well as the United State District Court for the Western District of New York (Federal Court). He has received referrals from other attorneys across the state due to his knowledge and expertise in the personal injury field.
David is committed to representing those who have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence. David brings in unique experience from working at other prominent firms in the Western New York area and will continue to stand up for what his client's deserve.
Born and raised in Elma, New York, David attended Iroquois High School. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University in 2011 with a major in Advertising/Public Relations and a dual minor in Law and Liberal Arts and English. After earning his bachelor's degree, David returned home and received his Juris Doctor from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 2014.
David has attended legal seminars in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Western New York region focusing on personal injury cases. He has extensive experience dealing with client's who have Medicare or Medicaid. David has also helped the New York State Trial Lawyers advocate for better laws for those injured by other's negligence by attending Lobby Day in Albany.
In his free time, David has a passion for sports and enjoys the outdoors. He also coaches his local high school's mock trial program in the spring.
Francesca, a Buffalo native, brings a wealth of experience and skills to our legal team. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Fredonia with a BFA in Visual Arts and New Media: Ceramics and a BA in Psychology.
During her time at SUNY Fredonia, Francesca not only excelled academically but also demonstrated a deep commitment to community service. She organized student art sale fundraisers and donated the proceeds to Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County, underscoring her dedication to helping others.
Before joining our firm, Francesca served as an Investigative Analyst at CSI Group, specializing in risk and threat assessments of public facilities. This role enhanced her investigative and analytical skills, which have proven to be incredibly beneficial to our clients. Her ability to meticulously gather and evaluate evidence, honed during her investigative work, sets her apart as a valuable asset to our legal team.
Gregory J. Perla handles real estate closings, mortgage refinancing, wills, and estates. In addition, he handles general civil and criminal matters.
After his undergraduate degree from the University of Buffalo, Greg enrolled at The New England School of Law in Boston. After finishing his first year, he was drafted into the U.S Army where he served a two-year tour of duty in Germany. After his honorable discharge, he returned to complete his law degree in Boston.
Upon passing the New York bar exam, he entered private practice with his uncle Russ Perla, father, Sam, and brother Jeff.
Greg has now been in private practice with the Perla family for over 35 years and focuses on Real Estate and Probate work.
Jeffrey A. Perla has concentrated his practice in personal injury law since graduating from U.B. Law School with the trial practice award. Over the past 30 years, Jeff has tried dozens of injury cases and achieved many multi-million dollar recoveries.During his over 30 years of practice, Jeff has handled hundreds of personal injury cases on behalf of the injured and has had numerous multi-million dollar recoveries. He has taken dozens of cases to trial and is the recipient of the Erie County Trial Lawyers Award for outstanding performance in trial technique.
Jennifer was born in Germany and she grew up in North Tonawanda, New York. Jennifer has vast experience in personal injury and has served as an injury paralegal for more than 10 years. Jennifer also has a unique understanding of personal injury law, as she was a senior paralegal at a workers' compensation law firm prior to joining our firm. Due to her unique skill set and strong work ethic, Jennifer has earned the reputation of being a top-notch injury paralegal in our legal community.
Jennifer puts the needs of our clients' first and excels at communicating with them. Jennifer also helps navigate the complex issues of No-Fault insurance as it relates to our car-crash victims.
Jennifer loves animals and has three dogs - Frank (Golden Retriever), Homer (French Bulldog), and Otis (Puggle). During her spare time, Jennifer likes to enjoy the summer with her furry friends.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Both the Erie County Bar Association
- Special Counsel
Jill is a seasoned trial attorney with a wealth of experience handling personal injury cases. Before making the switch to representing injury victims, Jill honed her skills working for an insurance company. This unique background provides Jill with a significant advantage over other personal injury lawyers, as she knows exactly what insurance companies are on the lookout for and how to stay one step ahead.
Jill brings extensive expertise to the table, particularly in motor vehicle collisions, ride-share incidents, and slip-and-fall/property liability cases. She's also well-versed in handling No-Fault and personal injury cases related to workers' compensation claims. Moreover, Jill has taken several cases to verdict and obtained millions of dollars in compensation for her clients throughout her career.
Jill's roots trace back to Orchard Park, New York, and she earned her bachelor's degree with honors in Childhood Education, with a history concentration, from Canisius College. Jill furthered her education by obtaining her Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University, School of Law.
Jill is an active member of both the Erie County Bar Association and the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. Jill is licensed to practice law in New York State as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.
Beyond her legal career, Jill's passion lies in sports. Jill has been an athlete her entire life and is particularly fond of golf. When she's not in the courtroom or on the golf course, you'll find her enthusiastically following and attending Buffalo Sports Teams' games. In her cherished downtime, she enjoys spending quality moments with her family.
From the time Joe was old enough to hold a paint brush all the way through college, he worked as a professional house painter alongside his father and two brothers. Now an injury lawyer, this is why Joe still loves hard work. This also gave Joe a unique understanding of how a construction site operates, and the workers who sacrifice their bodies and risk their lives working in tough conditions to improve our community.
At his 2014 graduation from SUNY Buffalo Law School, Joe was awarded the prestigious James M. Kieffer Trial Excellence Award. This is given to the graduate with the most outstanding proficiency in trial advocacy. Joe was also awarded the Gerald J. O'Brien '52 Trial Excellence Award and Scholarship during law school. Joe was on the law school's nationally recognized trial team and led his team to the finals in the James Johnson '49 National Civil Rights Trial Competition. Joe received the Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award. Moreover, Joe is the only student in the law school's history to receive a perfect score on his trial technique evaluation.
Prior to law school, Joe was a professional musician, performing lead guitar for national recording artist More Than Me. In 2010, Joe led his group to new heights, winning an international battle of the bands competition, where the grand prize was performing with Paul McCartney in Hyde Park, England in front of 50,000 people. And because Joe continues to perform music locally, this provides an avenue to raise money for numerous charities, including a foundation Joe helped cofound-Against the Storm Foundation, Inc. Joe's foundation helps fight blood cancers and supports other causes that improve the health and quality of life for people in need.
Currently, Joe focuses his practice on representing persons who are injured as the result of someone else's negligence. As an injury lawyer, Joe devotes his entire career to helping injured persons and their families, as he battles the big insurance companies to get the maximum results his clients deserve. Since establishing his practice, Joe has recovered millions for his injured clients. Now, it's your turn to get the compensation you deserve. Joe is ready to take on your fight.
Kelly grew up in the Village of Kenmore, New York. Kelly obtained a degree in History Education from Niagara University. Following college, Kelly became a top injury paralegal at one of the largest injury law firms in America.Kelly has expert-level experience in personal injury and has served as an injury paralegal for more than 13 years.
During her spare time, Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband, their three boys and three dogs at their summer place on Chautauqua Lake, where they like to swim, boat and fish. Kelly is passionate about working in personal injury, as she helps change the lives of injury victims and their families.
Lauren grew up in Albany, New York, and is a graduate of Bethlehem Central High School. Lauren obtained a bachelor's degree from SUNY University at Buffalo in Political Science and graduated cum laude.
During college, Lauren worked as a manager for a local pet store, as she has a passion for helping animals and people alike. This led Lauren to pursue a career in personal injury law, where she can help change the lives of injury victims and their families.
During her spare time, Lauren enjoys skiing, reading and spending time with her friends, pet cat and two pet ferrets. In the past, Lauren has volunteered with the Ten Lives Club ("TLC"), a non-kill, non-profit cat adoption group devoted to reducing the number of cats euthanized each year due to overpopulation and lack of space in shelters. Lauren adopted her cat from TLC!
Mark Cantor is a partner at Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC. Mark has been an attorney since 1977 and has tried dozens of cases dealing with automobile negligence, medical malpractice, construction accidents, and premises liability, along with other types of cases throughout New York State.
Mark was one of the founding partners of Morris, Cantor & Barnes along with Cantor, Lukasik, Dolce & Panepinto and as such was instrumental in recovering in excess of thirty million dollars for injured victims. An innovator in the field of Personal Injury Law, Mark was responsible for gaining settlements and verdicts in some of the earliest cases in Western New York involving Section 240 (1) of the Labor Law (commonly known as the "Scaffold Law") and one of the earliest cases involving the New York Dram Shop statute, which holds bars and restaurants liable for serving an intoxicated person.
A passionate advocate for his clients, Mark has been representing injured people of our community for over 40 years. Mark is known amongst the legal community for his ability to uncover facts that many attorneys may overlook. Mark focuses his tireless efforts on serving the interests of the victims of serious injuries as a result of other's negligence.
Mark is happy to help those injured across New York State.
Megan was born and raised in the Buffalo area. Megan lived in Orchard Park throughout her childhood, and now resides on the west side of Buffalo. Megan graduated from SUNY Fredonia Summa Cum Laude with degrees in English and Political Science, and a minor in Creative Writing. Megan's experiences in college led her to pursue a career in law.
Prior to joining the firm, Megan worked in the restaurant industry and performed administration work while a student at SUNY Fredonia. Megan excels at working and communicating with people from all walks of life, and these skills have proven to be valuable in her legal career.
During her free time, Megan enjoys singing in a band, playing guitar, reading, writing poetry and prose, crocheting and embroidering, and playing with her pet cat, Franklin.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Erie County Bar Association
Pamela Hackworth was with Perla & Perla, LLP for the first 30 years of her legal career after graduation from SUNY at Buffalo Law School. For over 30 years, Pamela has practiced exclusively in the areas of plaintiff's personal injury handling all aspects of motor vehicle, fall-down and Labor Law accident cases. Pamela has successfully tried cases to verdict as well as mediated and arbitrated many cases. Pamela has achieved millions of dollars in recoveries for her clients.
Pamela handles all aspects of personal injury cases and prides herself on giving her clients the personal attention and compassion they deserve following an injury.
Pamela is a member of the Erie County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association.
Renee grew up in the Town of Wheatfield, New York. Renee lived in Phoenix, Arizona for several years where she obtained a degree in Paralegal Studies from the American Institute. After returning back to the Western New York area, Renee quickly earned the reputation of being a top paralegal, and she has been working as a paralegal for over twenty-five years.
Renee is passionate about working in personal injury, having been a victim of a serious car crash herself. Renee is masterful at preparing for trial and assisting our legal team with every aspect of case management. During her spare time, Renee enjoys being by the water, taking day trips, hiking and spending time with her friends and family.
Rich started his career working for insurance companies and big corporations, this experience was eye-opening. Rich immediately learned one thing: insurance companies and big corporations have one goal: putting profits over people.
Insurance companies collect our monthly insurance premium payments and when one of their insureds violates a safety rule and hurts someone, they make it miserable and turn the injured victim into a criminal. It became clear that insurance companies and big corporations hurt far more people and families than they ever help. Deep down, Rich knew that helping people should be his top priority. Rich switched sides and became a lawyer who helps instead of harms. As a plaintiff's lawyer, Rich has the opportunity to protect injury victims and use his experience with the insurance companies and big corporations to fight their misdeeds and force them to do the right thing.
Rich is passionate about helping people and families who suffer when others break important safety rules. As a community, we must hold rule-breakers accountable for breaking the safety rules that keep us all safe. Together, we must discourage and deter these rule-breakers because when we don't, this dangerous behavior is rewarded and behavior rewarded is behavior repeated. Holding safety rule violators accountable helps keep all of us and our families safe.
As a plaintiff's lawyer, Rich has obtained many verdicts in excess of a million dollars, some of the largest verdicts of their type in New York State. Rich spoke to the jury after each one of those verdicts. The jurors told him that they unquestionably understood that they were representatives for our community and they simply could not allow a safety rule violator to hurt a member of our community and get away with it. Those jurors knew that their verdict would help stop the safety rule violation from ever happening again.
Rich was raised in North Buffalo and currently lives in Amherst with his wife and three children. Rich's mom was a teacher in the City of Buffalo, and his dad was a salesman with Proctor & Gamble. Rich graduated from Canisius High School where he was a standout on the football team. Rich obtained my undergraduate degree and law degree from SUNY Buffalo.
Rich focuses his practice on helping injury victims. If you or anybody you know, is injured and needs help, contact Rich at 716-848-8000.
Richard is Special Counsel to Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC. Richard's focus is car accidents. Richard has been an active police officer for the past 18 years.
Richard has dedicated his entire career to serving our community and helping personal injury victims. He is an active member of the East Amherst Fire Department ("Fire Department") and has been an active volunteer firefighter and paramedic since 2007. As a firefighter, Richard has responded to a wide variety of fire and rescue incidents. As a paramedic, he has attended to individuals during their most vulnerable times, including but not limited to, delivering babies, assisting trauma victims, and providing necessary medical aid during the pandemic. Richard has responded to and/or investigated thousands of car crashes and other injury-related incidents as a police officer, firefighter, and paramedic. This gives Richard a unique and unmatched understanding of a crash site, and the pain and suffering endured by injury victims.
Richard graduated from Canisius High School. He obtained his law degree from SUNY Buffalo Law School. He is a member of the Board of the Fire Department where he serves as in-house counsel. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious Mitchell Spoth Chief's Award for Firefighter of the Year. Richard is an active board member of the Amherst Police Club. In 2019, Richard received a Merit Award from the Police Department and was awarded a scholarship from the Amherst Police Foundation. Richard has been recognized by Buffalo Business First as part of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2020, which recognizes 40 of Western New York's up and coming leaders under the age of forty.