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
CLARO
716-828-8449
AVullo@WNYLC.net
Arianna Gabriel
CLARO
716-828-8419
AGabriel@WNYLC.Net
Arthur Musarra
Small Business Legal Clinic
716-828-8427
AMusarra@WNYLC.Net
Brittany Wilson
Housing Unit
716-828-8455
BPaul@WNYLC.Net
Carrie Rutland
Grant Manager
716-828-8442
CRutland@WNYLC.Net
Colleen Morth
Bankruptcy & CLARO
716-828-8451
CMorth@WNYLC.Net
Allie Knapp
Zombie Community Engagement
716-828-8400
Aknapp@wnylc.net
Allie Knapp
Zombie Community Engagement
716-828-8400
Aknapp@wnylc.net
Nico Soria
Housing Unit
716-828-8450
nsoria@WNYLC.net
Nico Soria
Housing Unit
716-828-8450
nsoria@WNYLC.net
Danielle Conie
School Discipline Project
716-828-8452
DConie@WNYLC.net
Danielle Conie
School Discipline Project
716-828-8452
DConie@WNYLC.net
Elizabeth Cattarin
Buffalo Eastside Homeowners Assistance Fund (BEHAF)
716-828-8424
ECattarin@WNYLC.net
Gabe Phillips
Small Business Legal Clinic
716-855-0203
GPhillips@WNYLC.net
Gabe Phillips
Small Business Legal Clinic
716-855-0203
GPhillips@WNYLC.net
Jean Blizzard
Housing Unit
716-828-8447
JBlizzard@WNYLC.net
Samantha Axberg
Housing Unit
716-828-8401
SAxberg@WNYLC.net
Ian Grogan
Housing Unit
716-828-8417
iGrogan@WNYLC.net
Kedra Small
Housing Unit
716-828-8440
KSmall@WNYLC.net
Jordan Modrzynski
Housing Unit
716-828-8438
JModrzynski@WNYLC.net
Joseph Kelemen
Vacant & Abandoned Properties & Litigation
716-828-8411
jak@WNYLC.net
Lauren Davis
Housing Unit
716-828-8459
LDavis@WNYLC.net
Karen Welch
716-828-8459
KWelch@WNYLC.Net
Karen Welch
716-828-8459
KWelch@WNYLC.Net
Kiersten Thomas
School Discipline Project
716-828-8457
KThomas@WNYLC.Net
Kiersten Thomas
School Discipline Project
716-828-8457
KThomas@WNYLC.Net
Lyndsay Michael
Small Business Legal Clinic
716-828-8457
LMichael@WNYLC.Net
Lauren Haas
716-828-8434
LHaas@WNYLC.net
Lauren Haas
716-828-8434
LHaas@WNYLC.net
James Remmes
Housing Unit
716-828-8448
JRemmes@WNYLC.Net
James Remmes
Housing Unit
716-828-8448
JRemmes@WNYLC.Net
Neha Karambelkar
Small Business Legal Clinic
716-828-8445
NKarambelkar@WNYLC.Net
Matthew Clabeaux
Housing Unit
716-828-8413
MClabeaux@WNYLC.Net
Matthew Clabeaux
Housing Unit
716-828-8413
MClabeaux@WNYLC.Net
Matthew Parham
716-828-8422
MParham@WNYLC.net
Patricia Cipriani
Bankruptcy
716-828-8412
PCipriani@WNYLC.Net
Nicholas Ramirez
CLARO
716-828-8415
NRamirez@WNYLC.Net
Emerson Stoery
Housing Unit
716-828-8437
EStoery@WNYLC.Net
Emerson Stoery
Housing Unit
716-828-8437
EStoery@WNYLC.Net
Christopher Ruhland
716-919-2648
chrisRuhland@WNYLC.Net
Christopher Ruhland
716-919-2648
chrisRuhland@WNYLC.Net
Paulette Campbell
716-828-8423
PCampbell@WNYLC.net
Samantha White
School Discipline Project
716-828-8441
SWhite@WNYLC.net
Yanis Martinez
Housing Unit
716-828-8426
YMartinez@WNYLC.Net
Shabhia Aktar
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
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.