Buffalo, NY – Gross Shuman, P.C. is pleased to announce that 14 of our attorneys have been included in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers has published their list for over four decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.

We would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to the 2026 The Best Lawyers in America list:

David H. Alexander 

• Corporate Law
• Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Trusts and Estates

B. Kevin Burke, Jr.

• Employment Law - Individuals
• Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Howard B. Cohen

• Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

David H. Elibol 

• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Harry J. Forrest 

• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
• Jeffrey A. Human (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008)
  • Corporate Law

John F. Leone 

• Real Estate Law
• Trusts and Estates

Katherine M. Liebner 

• Trusts and Estates

Chanel T. McCarthy 

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Michael P. McClaren 

• Commercial Litigation

Scott M. Philbin 

• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs\

Sarah P. Rera

• Litigation - Insurance
• Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

John K. Rottaris

• Commercial Litigation

Jonathan D. Schechter

• Corporate Law
• Real Estate Law
• Tax Law
• Trusts and Estates

Additionally, John F. Leone was selected as “Lawyer of the Year: Trusts & Estates. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this accolade particularly significant. Mr. Leone was selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

Finally, we are pleased to celebrate five of our attorneys who earned placement on Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. This list recognizes lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

 

Joseph De Perio (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)

Carolyn L. DeVaughn (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2024)

• Corporate Law
• Education Law
• Real Estate Law
• Trusts and Estates

Kevin R. Lelonek (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2022)

• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law

Nicholas A. Pusateri (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2021)

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
• Corporate Law

Bridget A. Williams (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)

• Trusts and Estates