Legal Services & Lawyers

Matthew L. Kolken, Esq., is a trial lawyer with experience in all aspects of United States Immigration Law including Immigration Courts throughout the United States, and appellate practice before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. District Courts, and U.S. Courts of Appeals. He is admitted to practice in the courts of the State of New York , the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

I have been practicing law in Rochester, New York, and nearby towns for the past 13 years. I concentrate my practice in matrimonial and family law. I counsel my clients on divorce, separation, custody, relocation, child support, adoption, premarital and postmarital agreements.

More specifically, I assist my clients with such matters as:

* Adoption
* Alimony/Maintenance
* Annulments
* Child Abuse
* Child Custody
* Child Support
* Child Support Enforcement
* Dependency Proceedings
* Divorce
* Domestic Partnerships
* Domestic Violence Orders
* Family Court Proceedings
* Family Law
* Fertility and Surrogacy
* Foreign Adoption
* Foster Care
* Grandparent Custody & Visitation Rights
* Grandparent Rights
* Guardianship
* Name Change
* Parental Rights
* Paternity
* Postnuptial Agreements
* Prenuptial Agreements
* Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
* Relocation
* Restraining Orders
* Separation and Separation Agreements

I represent clients in Collaborative Family Law cases which involve resolving family disputes without going to court.

I have substantial litigation and trial experience in the Family and Supreme Courts, and have briefed and argued appeals in the Appellate Division.

I also represent clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters.

In addition, I represent clients in civil and commercial litigation, criminal and real estate matters.

Brian Shiffrin is a partner at Easton Thompson Kasperek Shiffrin LLP, a law firm dedicated to criminal defense. Brian specializes in post-conviction representation. He has argued appeals in numerous courts, including the New York Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Additionally, he has been counsel representing clients at trials, including murder trials. Brian is Past President of the Rochester Chapter of American Inns of Court and a former Trustee of the Monroe County Bar Association. He has twice served as Chair of the Criminal Justice Section of the Monroe County Bar Association. Brian is the co-author of the chapter on Appeals in Criminal Cases in the New York Bar Association's Criminal Practice Handbook. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has been awarded both the Monroe County Bar Association's Charles F. Crimi Award and the Nathaniel Award in recognition of skill and commitment to the legal needs of the indigent.

Jennifer P Stergion, Esq. was the founding Chair of the Erie County Bar Association's Committee on Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Issues. She is the current Secretary of that Bar Association Committee and a member of the Bar's Family Law Practice and Procedure Committee. Jennifer has a Bacheolor's degree in Clinical Psychology, a Masters in Criminal Justice, and a J.D. with dual concentrations in International Law and Civil Litigation. She is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, is a Department of Veterans Affairs accredited attorney, and admitted to the Appellate Division, 4th Department of the State of New York. The recipient of the 2008 Erie County Volunteer Lawyer's Project Attorney of the Morning Pro Bono Award and the 2009 New York State Bar Association President's Award for Young Lawyer Pro Bono Service, she has made a commitment to providing free legal services for the underrepresented, particularly in the areas of veterans and housing law. Jennifer is also a recipient of a 2007 New York State Bar Association Law School Ethics award. She has taught or moderated, pro bono, CLE courses in Veterans Benefits in Monroe and Erie Counties. A solo practitioner, is on the Board of Directors for Western New York Veterans Housing Coalition, a co-mentor for the University at Buffalo School of Law Armed Forces Student Organization and is active with her parish council. Jennifer resides in Buffalo, New York with her daughter, Valerie.

George Gray is a partner in the law firm of Gray & Feldman LLP, where his practice concentrates in the areas of estate planning, and business and tax law. He has advised clients on the legal and tax aspects of choice of entity and the use of trusts and “pass-through” entities for estate planning purposes. Through his long association with the Norman Howard School Foundation and the Learning Disabilities Association in Rochester, New York, Mr. Gray has develpoed an expertise in advising families of persons with a disability on the establishment and operation of Special Needs Trusts. Mr. Gray has made presentations on a variety of business, tax and estate planning topics throughout western and central New York State. He is a member of the Monroe County and the New York State bar associations and is active in the Tax and Trust and Estate sections of those associations. Mr. Gray is a graduate of Hamilton College and Albany Law School of Union University.

ROGER J. YEHL / FORMER CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE STAFF ATTORNEY

Mr. Yehl has now opened two offices in New Jersey while maintaining two office locations in New York.

Roger Yehl has been an attorney since 2002 upon his admission to the New York State Bar. In 2004, Mr. Yehl moved to NJ upon his successful completion of the New Jersey Bar Examaination. Mr Yehl began employment in 2004 as a staff attorney to Chapter 13 Trustee, Isabel C. Balboa in New Jersey. At this position, Mr. Yehl refined his skills in Bankruptcy while working on thousands of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy cases over a four year period.

Call (877-606-1222) to speak to Mr. Yehl.

Admitted to practice law in the following jurisdictions:

State of New Jersey
United States District Court, District of New Jersey
State of New York
United States District Court, Western District of New York

Additional Licenses:

Series 7 (stockbroker's license), inactive
Series 66, inactive
California life and health license, inactive

Roger Yehl attended SUNY Fredonia in which he received a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. Following graduation, Mr. Yehl enrolled in the private law school of Thomas Jefferson in San Diego, California. Upon completion of Law School, he accepted a position with American Express Financial Advisors. Here, he obtained his Series 7 (stockbroker's license), Series 66, and California life and health licenses. These licenses permitted Mr. Yehl to act as a financial advisor for consumers. He then decided to pursue his interest of advocating for individuals in need of legal services.

Mr. Yehl successfully completed the New York Bar Exam in the summer of 2001. After which he worked for a practice in Kingston, New York. There he acquired many skills in bankruptcy, workersâ compensation, personal injury, criminal law, and social security disability.

I am a criminal defense, DWI, and traffic law attorney with offices in the historic High Falls area of Rochester, New York. My practice is primarily in Monroe County, but I also handle cases in the surrounding counties of Livingston, Genesee, Wayne, Ontario and others. My traffic law practice takes me to Stafford, NY and Tyre, NY.

I defend individuals accused of felony and misdemeanor crimes and less serious violations. These crimes include:

Assault
DWI
Aggravated DWI
DWAI (violation)
Driving under the influence of drugs
Grand Larceny
Petit Larceny
Armed robbery
Possession of controlled substances (drugs)
Narcotics sale
Criminal trespass
Criminal possession of stolen property
Criminal possession of a weapon
Driving while license suspended or revoked
Speeding tickets
CDL issues
Log book violations

My practice is limited to the defense of those charged with crimes. I practice in State Courts,throughout Western New York

My Law Firm Partner and I have been working with Buffalo and WNY residents for almost three decades. So we're not surprised when clients tell us that we've helped a member of their family or neighbor in the past.

In more recent years, we've opened additional law offices to serve the areas residents.

We have offices in:

Buffalo NY
Rochester NY
Akron NY
Williamsville NY
Batavia NY
West Seneca NY
Niagara Falls NY

And our expertise is wide - just take a look at our practice areas and how we can help you.

BUFFALO AREA PERSONAL INJURY & ACCIDENTS

* Highway Accident:
* Industrial Accident:
* Jet Ski Accident:
* Lasik Eye Surgery Injury:
* Lead Paint Exposure:
* Medical Malpractice Accident:
* Medical Negligence:
* Motor Vehicle Defects:
* Motorcycle Accident:
* Nursing Home Abuse:
* Nursing Home Negligence:
* Pedestrian Accident:
* Products Liability:
* Rail Road Injury Accident:
* Railroad Accident:
* Semi Truck Accident Injuries:
* Slip and Fall:
* Spinal Cord Injury:
* Swimming Accidents and Injuries:
* Tobacco Use:
* Toxic Mold Exposure:
* Train Accident:
* Truck Accident:
* Vioxx:
* Wrongful Death:
* Asbestos Exposure Injury
* Auto Accident and Injuries
* Automobile Accident
* Bicycle - Bike Accident
* Birth Injury
* Boat Accident
* Brain Injury
* Burn Injury
* Car Accident
* Construction Accidents
* Dangerous Drugs - Drug Recall
* Defective Products
* Dog Bite injury
* Drunk Driving Accidents
* Farming Accident

BUFFALO AREA CORPORATE & BUSINESS MATTERS

* 144 Opinion Letters
* Acquisitions
* Americans with Disabilities Act
* Anti-Trust
* Asset Protection
* Business Financing
* Business Operations
* Business Regulations
* Buy/Sell Agreements
* Bylaws
* Closing a Business
* Confidentiality Agreements
* Contracts
* Copyright
* Corporations
* Deferred Compensation Plans
* Employment Agreements
* Estate Planning
* Family Partnersips
* Forms & Contracts
* Franchises
* Incorporation & Legal Structures
* Independent Contractor Agreements
* Intellectual Property
* Koint Ventures
* Labor and Employment Law
* Licensing Agreements
* Limited Liability Companies
* Limited Liability Partnerships
* Litigation
* Mergers
* Non-Profit Corporations
* Noncompete Agreements
* OSHA
* Patents
* SEC Filings
* Securities
* Severance Agreements
* Shareholder Agreeements
* Sole Proprietorships
* Starting a Business
* Stock Option Plans
* Succession Planning
* Trademarks
* Trusts
* Wage & Hour Laws

Buffalo New York Business and Corporate Real Estate Matters

* Adverse Possession
* Architect Agreements
* Assessments
* Construction Contracts
* Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCR's)
* Easements
* Environmental Compliance
* Foreign Nationals with US Real Estate Holdings
* Leases
* Ownership Considerations
* Taxes
* Zoning

Buffalo New York Business and Corporate Tax Matters

* Appeals
* Business Audit
* Business Entity Planning
* Business Succession Planning
* Business Tax Planning
* Employment Tax
* Failure to Withhold Employment Tax
* Individual Tax Planning
* Property Tax
* Sales Tax
* Tax Audits
* Tax Collection Counseling
* Tax-Deferred Exchanges
* Tax Issues Related to Business Formation
* Tax Levies
* Tax liens

BUFFALO AREA DWI AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE

* Boating Under the Influence (BUI)
* Boating While Intoxicated (DWI)
* Driving Under The Influence (DUI)
* Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
* Driving with a Suspended License (DWLS)
* Fleeing and Eluding
* Reckless Driving
* Juvenile/Minor Charges and Arrests - Please call due to the sensitive nature of this matter.
* Assault and Battery
* Criminal Mischief
* Disorderly Conduct
* Disorderly Intoxication
* Domestic Violence
* False Report of a Crime
* Indecent Exposure
* Loitering and Prowling
* Obstructing Justice
* Petty Theft
* Prostitution Offenses - Soliciting
* Resisting Without Violence
* Shoplifting
* Stalking
* Trespass
* Buffalo Area Felony Crimes
* Buffalo Area Federal Crimes
* White Collar Crimes - Please call due to the sensitive nature of this matter.
* Erasing Criminal History
* Expunging Your Record

BUFFALO AREA DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW

* Alimony
* Annulments
* Child Abuse
* Child Custody
* Child Support
* Child Support Enforcement
* Dependency Proceedings
* Divorce
* Domestic Adoption
* Domestic Partnerships
* Domestic Violence Orders
* Family Court Proceedings
* Family Law
* Fertility and Surrogacy
* Foreign Adoption
* Foster Care
* Grandparent Custody & Visitation Rights
* Grandparent Rights
* Guardianship
* Name Change
* Parental Rights
* Paternity
* Postnuptial Agreements
* Prenuptial Agreements
* Relocation
* Restraining Orders
* Separation

BUFFALO AREA ESTATE PLANNING, TRUSTS, PROBATE & WILLS

* Administering estates and trusts
* Advanced Directives
* Annuities
* Article 81 Guardianships
* Assisted Living
* Contested Accountings
* Contesting a Will
* Court Representation for Executors, Trustees, Creditors or Beneficiaries
* Elder Abuse
* Estate & Trust accountings
* Estate Administration & Settlement
* Estate Litigation - Contested Estates & Trusts
* Estate Tax Issues
* Estate Sales of Real Estate
* Estate Tax Returns and Audits
* Family Partnerships, LLCs and Business Succession Planning
* Government Benefits
* Guardianships for Disabled Children
* Health Care Proxies
* Intestacy (dying without a will)
* Invalidating trusts
* Kinship proceedings (Establishing Heirs)
* Life Estates
* Life Insurance Trusts
* Living Trusts
* Living Wills
* Long Term Care Insurance
* Medicaid Planning
* Medicare
* Nursing Home Care
* Power of Attorney
* Probating wills - simple to complex
* Representation of executors & trustees
* Representation of Out-of-State Beneficiaries
* Retirement Planning
* Reverse Mortgages
* Revocable Living Trusts
* Social Security Disability
* Special Needs Trusts
* Supplemental Needs Trusts
* Spousal inheritance disputes
* SSI
* Surrogate's Court Litigation
* VA Aid and Attendance
* Wills
* Wrongful Death Proceedings
* Legal Guidance for Administrators
* Legal Guidance for Executors
* Legal Guidance for Guardians
* Legal Guidance for Trustees
* Serve as Executor for your Estate
* Serve as Trustee for your Estate

BUFFALO RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MATTERS

* Adjustable Rate Mortgage Guidance
* Adverse Possession
* Appraisals and title insurance
* Architect Agreements
* Assessments
* Boundary disputes
* Breach of warranty under title insurance
* Brokerage commission disputes
* Buffalo & WNY Building inspections
* Closing Cost Advice
* Condemnation Help - has your property been condemned by Buffalo Area Authorities?
* Condominiums
* Construction Contracts
* Contract Reviews
* Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCRs)
* Dual Agency Issues
* Easement Reviews in the Buffalo and WNY area
* Easements
* Eminent Domain in New York
* Fannie Mae Lending
* FHA Lending
* Forclosure Short Sales in New York
* Foreclosure Assistance for Buffalo and WNY residents
* Foreign Nationals with US Real Estate Holdings
* Home Inspection Problems
* Home Title Insurance Requirements
* Homeowner's Insurance Advice
* Homeowners Association Legal Issues
* Land developments and closings
* Land use planning and rezoning
* Lease - Option to Buy Advice
* Legal advice for Buffalo and Western New York residents that engage in flipping Real Estate
* Liens on your Home or Property
* Like Kind Exchange
* Life Estate Deed
* Mortgage Broker Assistance
* Mortgage Fraud
* Mortgage Law
* New York 1031 Exchange
* New York RELP's - Real Estate Limited Partnership
* New York Tax Lien Help
* Buffalo NY Real Estate Leases
* Buffalo NY Real Estate Litigation
* Buffalo NY Reverse Mortgage Advice
* Oil and Gas Leases>/li>
* Options to Purchase
* Ownership Considerations
* Predatory Lending
* Probate
* Promissory Notes
* Property Law
* Property Surveying
* Quiet title and real estate matters
* Quit Claim Deeds
* Buffalo Real Estate Agent Malpractice
* Buffalo & WNY Real Estate Developments
* Buffalo Real Estate Land Trust
* Buffalo & WNY Real Estate Syndication
* Buffalo Area Real Estate Transactions
* Buffalo & WNY Real Property Investments
* Refinancing Issues
* Residential and commercial closings
* RESPA Violations
* Review of Settlement Statements
* Right of First Refusal
* Rights of Way
* Stop Foreclosure
* Subdivisions
* Taxes
* Taxpayer Relief Act Guidance
* Violations of the Fair Housing Act
* Working with lenders to ensure the timeliness and quality of their obligations
* Working with mortgage broker to ensure the timeliness and quality of their obligations
* NY Zoning and Permits

ROBERTA K. FELDMAN is a partner in the firm of Gray & Feldman with offices in Penfield, New York. Her practice includes real estate and family law and she is principally responsible to assist purchasers and sellers in all aspects of their residential real estate transaction. Gray & Feldman LLP has represented both individual and corporate mortgage lenders. Ms. Feldman applies her extensive knowledge and experience to assist clients during the difficult period of marriage dissolutions, including divorce and legal separation. Her practice also involves the negotiation of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements as well as post-divorce enforcement and modification, adoption, child custody and support matters. Ms. Feldman is a trained attorney with the Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area. and she is certified to serve by appointment from the Surrogateâs Court as guardian ad litem to infants, unknowns and adults who suffer a disability.

Ms. Feldman is a member of the New York State Bar and Monroe County Bar Associations including their respective Family Law Committees, as well as the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys, where she served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee. She is also an active member of Temple Beth-El and serves on several committees of the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester as well as having served as President of the Board of Directors of Hillel of Rochester Area Colleges. Ms. Feldman received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Rochester and her Juris Doctor from Albany Law School of Union University.