About the WNY Law Center

Combining direct legal services, policy advocacy, local coalitions, and community involvement to effect real, unique change.

Mission

To ensure all members of our community receive the full range of civil legal services including “non-traditional” legal assistance like policy advocacy and legal education. 

Our Programs

Foreclosure Defense

Our office represents homeowners facing mortgage and tax foreclosure to attempt to keep them in their homes whenever possible or to explore other options available if retaining the house is not feasible.  We also assist with surplus monies proceedings, where we help homeowners claim the money left over from the foreclosure sale of their properties after the mortgage or tax debts have been paid.

Consumer Debt Defense

The WNYLC’s Consumer Debt Defense Department provides various legal services through full and limited scope representation to clients with consumer debt in collections and clients sued for outstanding debt.  Our Attorneys also bring affirmative claims against debt collectors, debt buyers, and creditors; provide post-judgment defense against wage or bank account garnishment, repossession, levies, and other collection methods; and are instrumental in legislative, regulatory, and court reform efforts, appellate work, and class action lawsuits.

Bankruptcy

The WNYLC provides free Chapter 7 bankruptcy services to low-income individuals who are unable to meet their financial obligations to get a fresh financial start. We assist consumers who would otherwise not be able to afford legal counsel by providing a confidential consultation to assess their financial situation and discuss available options, preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions, and step-by-step guidance to help debtors through the often complicated process.

Coalitions

The WNYLC has co-founded and joined several groups advocating for social and economic justice, quality, and improving the conditions of our communities.

Significant Litigation & Projects

The WNYLC engages in political advocacy and impact litigation to effectuate systemic changes. We fight for social and economic justice for low-income clients, communities of color, and marginalized groups. 

School Discipline Project

Do you need help with a short-term suspension or other matter? Call the Buffalo Suspension Intake Hotline for other assistance.

Eviction Prevention

The Law Center represents low-income Western New York tenants facing eviction in nonpayment and holdover proceedings. We ensure tenants receive adequate pre-commencement notices and protect their rights throughout the legal proceedings. We aim to keep tenants in their homes wherever possible by raising valid defenses to delay, pause, or even prevent an eviction or negotiate a settlement with the landlord. When a settlement is impossible, we advocate giving tenants adequate time to move out while preventing an eviction on their record. 

Small Business Legal Clinic

We offer free business law services, including business formation and taxation, contracts, employees, and intellectual property to low-income entrepreneurs in Buffalo, NY.​ We work with small business owners and entrepreneurs at any stage of their business lifespan.

Vacant & Abandoned Homes

The Vacant and Abandoned Properties Department comprises multiple projects addressing vacant, abandoned, and zombie properties across Erie County and WNY. The department’s overarching goal is to address vacancy and blight comprehensively and collaboratively. Using a proactive approach, we prioritize community needs and input and seek to preserve home ownership and generational wealth wherever possible.

Our Impact

As of 2019

14,900

Clients Represented

809

Households Saved from

HOMELESSNESS

40%

Reduction in vacant
properties in less than
2 years

Awarded and Settlements Avoided

$20 MILLION

$1.5

BILLION

Invested in the

community

$5

MILLION

Saved Fighting Improper

Collections

The First Bank and Financial Wellness
Center Opened on Buffalo's East Side

2012

Foreclosures
Prevented

Staff

Meet the people who make our work possible

Alexis Vullo

Staff Paralegal,
CLARO

716-828-8449
AVullo@WNYLC.net

Arianna Gabriel

Staff Attorney,
CLARO

716-828-8419
AGabriel@WNYLC.Net

Arthur Musarra

Staff Attorney,
Small Business Legal Clinic

716-828-8427
AMusarra@WNYLC.Net

Brittany Wilson

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit

716-828-8455
BPaul@WNYLC.Net

Carrie Rutland

Bookkeeper,
Grant Manager


716-828-8442
CRutland@WNYLC.Net

Colleen Morth

Staff Paralegal,
Bankruptcy & CLARO

716-828-8451
CMorth@WNYLC.Net

Allie Knapp

Staff Paralegal,
Zombie Community Engagement


716-828-8400
Aknapp@wnylc.net

Allie Knapp

Staff Paralegal,
Zombie Community Engagement


716-828-8400
Aknapp@wnylc.net

Nico Soria

Supervising Attorney,
Housing Unit


716-828-8450
nsoria@WNYLC.net

Nico Soria

Supervising Attorney,
Housing Unit


716-828-8450
nsoria@WNYLC.net

Danielle Conie

Outreach Paralegal,
School Discipline Project

716-828-8452
DConie@WNYLC.net

Danielle Conie

Staff Paralegal,
School Discipline Project

716-828-8452
DConie@WNYLC.net

Elizabeth Cattarin

Housing Counselor,
Buffalo Eastside Homeowners Assistance Fund (BEHAF)

716-828-8424
ECattarin@WNYLC.net

Gabe Phillips

Staff Attorney,
Small Business Legal Clinic

716-855-0203
GPhillips@WNYLC.net

Gabe Phillips

Staff Attorney,
Small Business Legal Clinic

716-855-0203
GPhillips@WNYLC.net

Jean Blizzard

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit


716-828-8447
JBlizzard@WNYLC.net

Samantha Axberg

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit


716-828-8401
SAxberg@WNYLC.net

Ian Grogan

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit

716-828-8417
iGrogan@WNYLC.net

Kedra Small

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit

716-828-8440
KSmall@WNYLC.net

Jordan Modrzynski

Managing Attorney,
Housing Unit

716-828-8438
JModrzynski@WNYLC.net

Joseph Kelemen

Staff Attorney,
Vacant & Abandoned Properties & Litigation

716-828-8411
jak@WNYLC.net

Lauren Davis

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit

716-828-8459
LDavis@WNYLC.net

Karen Welch

Executive Director


716-828-8459
KWelch@WNYLC.Net

Karen Welch

Executive Director


716-828-8459
KWelch@WNYLC.Net

Kiersten Thomas

Law Clerk,
School Discipline Project

716-828-8457
KThomas@WNYLC.Net

Kiersten Thomas

Law Clerk,
School Discipline Project

716-828-8457
KThomas@WNYLC.Net

Lyndsay Michael

Staff Paralegal,
Small Business Legal Clinic

716-828-8457
LMichael@WNYLC.Net

Lauren Haas

Operations Manager


716-828-8434
LHaas@WNYLC.net

Lauren Haas

Operations Manager


716-828-8434
LHaas@WNYLC.net

James Remmes

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit


716-828-8448
JRemmes@WNYLC.Net

James Remmes

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit


716-828-8448
JRemmes@WNYLC.Net

Neha Karambelkar

Supervising Attorney,
Small Business Legal Clinic

716-828-8445
NKarambelkar@WNYLC.Net

Matthew Clabeaux

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit

716-828-8413
MClabeaux@WNYLC.Net

Matthew Clabeaux

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit

716-828-8413
MClabeaux@WNYLC.Net

Matthew Parham

Director of Litigation & Advocacy


716-828-8422
MParham@WNYLC.net

Patricia Cipriani

Staff Attorney,
Bankruptcy

716-828-8412
PCipriani@WNYLC.Net

Nicholas Ramirez

Staff Attorney,
CLARO

716-828-8415
NRamirez@WNYLC.Net

Emerson Stoery

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit


716-828-8437
EStoery@WNYLC.Net

Emerson Stoery

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit


716-828-8437
EStoery@WNYLC.Net

Christopher Ruhland

Controller


716-919-2648
chrisRuhland@WNYLC.Net

Christopher Ruhland

Controller


716-919-2648
chrisRuhland@WNYLC.Net

Paulette Campbell

Deputy Director

716-828-8423
PCampbell@WNYLC.net

Samantha White

Supervising Attorney,
School Discipline Project

716-828-8441
SWhite@WNYLC.net

Yanis Martinez

Staff Paralegal,
Housing Unit

716-828-8426
YMartinez@WNYLC.Net

Shabhia Aktar

Staff Attorney,
Housing Unit

716-828-8430
SAktar@WNYLC.Net

Board of Directors

President

Melinda
Saran

Vice-President

Secretary

Catherine
Creighton

Treasurer

Sharon
Nosenchuck

Sharon
Nosenchuck

Melinda
Saran

Melinda
Saran

Melissa
Woods

Melissa
Woods

John
LaFalce

John
LaFalce

Catherine
Creighton

Catherine
Creighton

Marshall
Bertram

Marshall
Bertram

Valerie
Malia-Martin

Valerie
Malia-Martin

Mark
Talley

Mark
Talley

Testimonials

Help the WNYLC Put a Stop to Injustice in Our Community

Contact Us!

Email Us!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Call Us!

716.855.0203

OFFICE HOURS
9:00am - 5:00pm
OR BY APPOINTMENT

Our Address

By Appointment Only

37 Franklin Street
2nd Floor, Suite 210
Buffalo, NY 14202

(Look for us behind Pearl Street Grill)

This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Nothing on this or associated pages should be taken as legal advice by any entity for any individual case or situation. Using this website or communicating with Western New York Law Center does not form an attorney-client relationship. There is no attorney-client relationship unless and until you sign an agreement confirming the nature and scope of representation.

Please do not act or refrain from acting based on information or materials on this site. The website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed, professional attorney in your state. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

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