Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, a full-service business law firm with offices throughout New York, announced that five of the firm’s attorneys in Rochester and Buffalo have been named “Lawyer of the Year” in their practice area by The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- Thomas J. Hurley was honored as the Buffalo “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. A member of Harter Secrest & Emery’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice group, Hurley advises clients with respect to a broad range of employee benefits matters, including plan administration, benefit aspects of corporate transactions, and benefits litigation, as well as the design, implementation and administration of welfare benefit plans, including flexible benefit plans, self-insured health plans, and health savings accounts. He was previously honored as Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® for 2015, and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Anthony D. Mancinelli was honored as the Buffalo “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Corporate Law. He has practiced for more than 30 years, concentrating in all areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and private and public finance. Best Lawyers® previously honored Mancinelli as “Lawyer of the Year” in the areas of Banking and Finance Law (2016) and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2013). He has been recognized in Chambers USA 2016 America’s Leading Lawyers in Business, and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Christopher M. Potash was honored as the Rochester “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Tax Law. A member of Harter Secrest & Emery’s tax law and employee benefits and executive compensation practice groups, Potash represents both public and private companies, from closely held businesses to Fortune 100 companies. He has broad-based experience advising clients in tax, corporate, securities, and employee benefits and executive compensation matters, as well as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ rules, and Sarbanes-Oxley. Potash was previously honored by Best Lawyers® as “Lawyer of the Year” in the areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law for 2016. He is BV Distinguished® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and is a past recipient of the “Forty Under 40” Award from the Rochester Business Journal.
- Edward F. Premo, II was honored as the Rochester “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Litigation – Municipal. He has extensive experience in litigation at all levels of state and federal courts, and in challenging federal, state and local statutes and regulations. Premo, who focuses his practice on environmental and business litigation, was previously honored by Best Lawyers® as “Lawyer of the Year” in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate (2016), Land Use and Zoning (2013), and Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (2012). He is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Robert C. Weissflach was honored as the Buffalo “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Litigation – Labor and Employment. A member of Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment practice group, Weissflach has extensive experience in federal and state court litigation, as well as administrative proceedings, involving labor and employment matters on behalf of public and private employers. He also provides day-to-day advice to employers concerning their employment policies, procedures, and practices. Weissflach was previously honored by Best Lawyers® as “Lawyer of the Year” in the areas of Litigation – Labor and Employment (2015) and Labor Law – Management (2013). He is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Best Lawyers® is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 50,000 leading attorneys provided more than 6.7 million detailed evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Inclusion in Best Lawyers® is considered a singular honor. The lawyers being honored as “Lawyers of the Year” have received particularly high ratings in surveys by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.