Meet Your Officer & Director Candidates for the 2026-2027 Bar Association of Erie County Board of Directors
We are excited to announce the candidates for our upcoming elections! Your 2026-2027 Candidates are listed below.
Mark your calendars: Voting opens Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 9am and ends Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 4pm. Voting instructions will be sent to you separately via mail.
Our Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 10am in the Ceremonial Courtroom. Elections Results will be announced, followed by the swearing-in ceremony of our new Officers and Directors.
Lunch will be served immediately after the meeting, followed by a 4.0 CLE credit presentation hosted by our Rule of Law Committee and the Robert H. Jackson Center. The program, Our System of Justice on the Precipice, explores the link between the Rule of Law and the preservation of democracy. Register today to secure your spot!
Note: you must be a member in good standing in order to vote. Renew your membership today by visiting www.eriebar.org/memberportal.
CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT
Lisa A. Coppola
Founder & Managing Partner, The Coppola Firm
Lisa A. Coppola is the founder of The Coppola Firm, where she advises businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations on employment law, litigation, compliance, and workplace issues, and represents clients in civil litigation and dispute resolution matters. She is a certified mediator for the New York State courts and the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.
A lifelong Western New Yorker, Lisa is a graduate of Kenmore East High School, Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, and Syracuse University College of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude. Lisa began her legal career at Hodgson Russ, where she became the first woman litigator to achieve equity partner status at the firm. She has built her career on practical judgment, strong advocacy, integrity, and professionalism.
Lisa is an active member of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Labor & Employment Law and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees, and she regularly speaks at Bar Association CLE programs on employment law, professionalism, and practice-related issues affecting Western New York attorneys.
Her leadership extends beyond her practice. Lisa served as Chair of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2023-2024, leading an organization representing more than 13 million women entrepreneurs nationwide. She currently serves on the board of SPCA Serving Erie County and volunteers at the Federal Court Pro Se Assistance Program.
Lisa has long been committed to strengthening the profession, mentoring others, and advancing professionalism, collegiality, and opportunity in the Western New York legal and business communities. She lives in Snyder and is the proud mother of two adult daughters.
Robert C. Brucato, Jr.
Senior Appellate Counsel, Counsel Press – a Proceed Service
Robert C. Brucato, Jr. has been a Senior Appellate Counsel at Proceed, formerly Counsel Press, since 1992. Rob started Counsel Press’s office in Buffalo and has grown the business over 34 years to be the dominant appellate service in WNY. He has expanded their business through networking and relationships that he has built with attorneys throughout the area and throughout upstate New York. Prior to his time at Proceed/Counsel Press, Rob worked for the United States Small Business Administration and with the small firm of Maghran, McCarthy and Flynn.
Rob was born in Woodmere, NY and moved to Buffalo in 1983, to attend college at the University at Buffalo School of Law, graduating in 1990. Rob was admitted to practice in New York State in 1991 and was also admitted to practice in the Western District of New York. He has been married for 31 years and lives in Williamsville.
Rob has been a member of the bar since 1991 and was a Director of the Bar Association from 2019 through 2022. He has served as Vice Chair of the Appellate Practice Committee since 2022 and is the current chair of the Membership Committee. He served as President of the University at Buffalo School of Law Alumni Association from 2024-2025 and has served on that board from 2019 through 2026. He is also presently serving on the University at Buffalo Alumni Board.
Rob is also a longtime member of WNY-WBASNY. Earlier in his career, Rob also served on the Assigned Counsel Program and handled cases for the Volunteer Lawyers Project.
CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY TREASURER, TREASURER-ELECT
Brittanylee Penberthy
Founder, Penberthy Law Group LLP
Brittanylee Penberthy is an experienced attorney whose practice focuses primarily on civil litigation, with additional experience in municipal law and criminal defense. She is a Partner at Penberthy Law Group LLP, where she has practiced since 2011, representing clients in a wide range of civil and criminal defense matters.
In addition to her private practice, Ms. Penberthy serves as Town Attorney for the Town of Evans and previously served as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Tonawanda. She has also held municipal roles with the Erie County Water Authority and Town of Amherst. Her public sector work has involved advising municipalities, handling litigation, and addressing regulatory and compliance issues.
Ms. Penberthy is actively involved in the legal community. She has served as Co-Chair of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Criminal Law Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Erie County Assigned Counsel and Women Lawyers of Western New York. She continues to serve for her local planning board.
She earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Laws from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, where she held leadership roles within the Student Bar Association and University judiciary. Ms. Penberthy is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut….but she will never not love her home state of Florida – Go USF Bulls!!!
Elise L. Cassar
Partner, Duke Holzman Photiadis & Ritter LLP
As a partner at Duke Holzman Photiadis & Ritter, LLP Elise handles a variety of civil litigation matters, including construction matters, employment disputes, business litigation and personal injury cases.
She is a Past President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter. Elise currently serves on the board of the Bar Association of Erie County, the University at Buffalo Law Alumni Association, and Neighborhood Legal Services.
Outside of the legal profession, Elise enjoys travel, running, gardening and spending as much time as possible with family. She lives in Orchard Park with her husband, John, son, William and daughter, Gwendolyn.
CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTORS
Glenaida Mercado
Associate Attorney, Hamberger & Weiss LLP
Glenaida Mercado is an associate at Hamberger & Weiss, LLP, where she practices Workers’ Compensation defense. As a Pro Bono Scholar in the Class of 2024, she didn’t expect to land in this field—but quickly found she thrives in its fast pace, constant change, and the thrill of succeeding with fraud claims.
In law school, Glenaida built a reputation for doing more than just talking about justice—she pushed for it. She served as a student attorney in the Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic, volunteered with the CLARO Clinic, and worked with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office to improve conditions for both correction officers and incarcerated individuals. What started as classroom work turned into something much bigger: a county-wide movement opposing the construction of a new jail in Erie County. That movement began with 11 organizations and grew into a large-scale, community-driven effort focused on education, advocacy, and collective action. Watching that growth solidified her belief that legal work should have real impact beyond the courtroom.
Glenaida also brought that same energy into student leadership. She organized transportation for students across New York State to attend the first Empire State Legal Diversity Career Fair. She served as Vice President of the Latin American Law Students Association for two years, helping raise over $5,000 in under a month to fund a national trip. She is also the Founder and former President of Parents and Law Students and served on the executive boards of both the Black Law Students Association and the Native and Indigenous Law Students Association.
Glenaida was born in Buffalo, NY, and adopted out of foster care. She grew up in Akron, NY, and graduated from Akron High School before making her way back home to Buffalo—where she knew she belonged. During law school, she became a homeowner on the West Side and continued building her family in the same city that shaped her.
Glenaida has experienced the best and worst that Erie County has to offer. She is not the most polished or sophisticated attorney. She is loud when it matters, direct when it counts, and unwilling to stay quiet in the face of injustice. Those who have taken the time to learn Glenaida’s narrative know that at the core of her big personality is the desire to ensure that every member of the community has what they need.
She is proud to represent the communities she comes from and even prouder to show that success does not have to look a certain way to be real.
Stephanie J. Calhoun
Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge, New York State Attorney General’s Office
Stephanie Joy Calhoun currently serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General In Charge of the Buffalo Regional Office at the New York State Attorney General’s Office and is assigned to the State Counsel Division. Her practice focuses on litigation in state and federal court, where she defends state agencies in civil matters. In her role as Deputy, Stephanie also coordinates and delivers presentations at community-based and regional events, providing information on a wide range of affirmative justice initiatives, consumer protection matters, and other topical issues. In this capacity, she works closely with her Office’s intergovernmental affairs and serves as a liaison between the Attorney General’s Office and nonprofit, grassroots, community-based, and issue-focused organizations to support collaborative partnerships and outreach efforts.
Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Stephanie worked as in-house counsel for the Buffalo Public Schools, practicing in all areas of education law, including labor and employment matters, discrimination, and harassment claims. She also previously served as a Manager of the Equal Employment Opportunity Department at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, where she investigated employee discrimination matters and assisted with compliance with state and federal minority and women owned business law requirements.
Stephanie has taught as an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law for the past thirteen years, where she teaches New York Administrative Law. She is deeply committed to public service and legal education and currently serves on her office’s Diversity Committee, including the Procurement Subcommittee.
An active leader in the legal community, Stephanie has served for over a decade as Chair of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is currently Co-Chair of the Association’s Wellness Committee. She is a past President and Secretary of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York and has chaired numerous committees within the organization. She has also served on the Minority Bar Foundation Board and co-chaired its Education Committee.
Stephanie currently sits on the Board of Directors of the University at Buffalo Law Alumni Association, where she served as chair of the Social Justice and Racial Equity Committee and is currently Co-Chair of the Annual Dinner Committee. She is a strong advocate for mentorship and pipeline development and has participated in the UB Law Mentoring Program and the Medaille College’s TRIO Alumni Mentoring Program, mentored law students, and provided guidance to attorneys she supervises. Her additional leadership roles include service as Co-Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s General Practice Executive Committee (Fourth Department) and as a former Director of the SUNY Buffalo Law Alumni Association’s GOLD Group.
Aalok Karambelkar
Partner, Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP
Aalok is a Partner at Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak, LLP (KSLN) and a member of the firm’s Insurance Defense and Labor Law Groups. Since joining the firm as an associate in 2014, he has built a practice focused on defending motor vehicle accident, premises liability, construction accident claims and first party insurance claims. Aalok handles all phases of litigation, from initial case evaluation through trial, and is a valued member of the firm’s trial defense team. In addition to New York State, Aalok is admitted to practice in the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York. He was elected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2018 to 2024.
Prior to returning to Western New York, Aalok began his legal career in Brooklyn, where he represented plaintiffs in personal injury and civil rights cases at a boutique law firm. In that role, he gained extensive experience litigating in both state and federal courts, providing him with a well-rounded perspective that informs his defense practice today.
Aalok is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and his family moved to Westchester County as he was entering high school. After high school, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Rochester. After college, he lived, worked and studied for the LSAT in New York City for a year before attending UB Law School, where he served in leadership roles on the Student Bar Association, Frederick Douglass Moot Court Board and Buffalo Environmental Law Journal.
Aalok currently also serves as General Counsel to the Insurance Club of Buffalo and as a Board Member for the ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project. Other professional associations include the Defense Trial Lawyers Association of WNY, WNY Trial Lawyers Association, and Buffalo Claims Association.
Outside of his legal practice, Aalok enjoys cooking and discovering new restaurants with his wife Neha, hiking and spending time outdoors with their two children. On those rare occasions when he gets a brief respite from his life as a dad and a lawyer, he also enjoys attending concerts and live music events.
Scott L. Sroka
Special Counsel, Phillips Lytle LLP
Scott L. Sroka is special counsel at Phillips Lytle LLP. His current practice includes both civil and criminal litigation, white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, crisis management, higher education, immigration, and issues involving cross-border commerce. He served for 17 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the District of Columbia and the Western District of New York, where he was also the First Assistant United States Attorney. Scott’s work as a federal prosecutor included handling domestic violence, violent crime, narcotics, and national security cases, as well as a diverse array of civil matters. Scott also served as a senior investigative attorney at the Inspector General’s Office of the National Science Foundation. He was counsel to United States Senator Charles E. Schumer on the Senate Judiciary Committee and also worked as the senator’s Western New York Regional Director for five years.
Scott was born and educated in Western New York. He is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and Canisius University. He earned his law degree at Notre Dame Law School. He lives in West Seneca with his wife, who is an attorney and the vice president of the West Seneca School Board, and their son who enjoys hockey and music.
Scott also serves part-time as the co-director of the Raichle Pre-Law Center at Canisius University. In that role, he works to connect undergraduate pre-law students with members of the legal community, to host speakers at Canisius, and coordinates an annual trip to Washington, D.C. for the students.
Scott serves on the board of directors of Shakespeare in Delaware Park, where he was previously the board chair. He also has worked for over 20 years with students in the Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC) Program at Canisius University. The ULLC is a program for a diverse corps of students that uses collaborative learning concepts to shape the leaders of tomorrow.
Christopher J. Phillips
Associate Attorney, Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC
Christopher J. Phillips is an Associate at Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC. Chris focuses his practice on trust and estate matters. He counsels clients on complex estate and tax planning, advises fiduciaries on their duties during the administration of all types of trusts and estates, resolves estate controversies, and helps individuals and families navigate a host of legal issues as they age.
Chris started his career at the Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) where he founded and grew the organization’s Aging with Pride project, providing civil legal services to LGBTQ+ older adults. Chris also supported CELJ’s guardianship unit, serving as the court-appointed guardian for approximately 100 individuals at any given time, and the organization’s MedLaw Partnership at the Erie County Medical Center.
Chris was born and raised in Buffalo, having graduated summa cum laude from Canisius College, and magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Chris is an active member of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Elder Law and LGBTQ+ sections.
Outside of work, Chris volunteers his time as a board member on the board of directors for several not-for-profit organizations, including Niagara Pride, Inc., CELJ, and the Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York, where he serves as the board’s Vice Chair. Chris also serves as an advisor to the Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging, awarding fellowships to newly admitted attorneys working in aging and law fields across the country.
Jake Cercone
Founder & Managing Member, Cercone Law PLLC
Jake Cercone is the managing member of Cercone Law PLLC, a sole-practitioner general practice firm in Buffalo, NY. His practice aids clients in whatever stage of life they are in: whether they are starting a business, have a criminal or family court case, buying real estate, or need help with estate planning. Since graduating from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2021, Jake has served clients in matters ranging from the small-town justice courts in Erie County to the Federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
Jake began his legal career at Hodgson Russ LLP in the Real Estate, Finance and Bond practice area. He was also an instructor at Niagara University teaching sports law, hospitality law, and sports finance.
Jake was born, raised, and educated in Buffalo. He graduated from UB School of Law, UB School of Management, and Canisius High School. He now resides in Williamsville with his wife Emily and dog Scout.
Octavio Villegas
Executive Director, Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency
Octavio Villegas is the Executive Director for the Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency, an executive department within the city of Buffalo that was established through legislation to assist the Eight Judicial District with the administration and adjudication of non-criminal moving violations. Octavio started out as the Agency’s Traffic Prosecutor in 2019, and in this role was assigned with prosecuting traffic matters under the New York Vehicle & Traffic Law and New York State Transportation Law. During the Summer of 2022, the Honorable Mayor Byron W. Brown appointed Octavio to serve as the Agency’s Executive Director. In his role as Director, Octavio has focused on: expanding access to justice; educating motorists; reducing recidivism; encouraging licensing and compliance; and upholding the rule of law.
Octavio is a first-generation American that was born in Queens, New York. His parents, migrants who fled their homeland of Colombia in the late 1980’s, aspired to give their son a chance of a better life that was free from the violence and terrorism that they, and many Colombians, had to endure as a result of the war on drugs against the cartels. Octavio attended public school in New York City and graduated from City-As-School High School. It was during his time in high school that he developed his passion for the legal profession as a participant in a YMCA afterschool program known as “Youth & Government.” After high school, Octavio went on to attend his undergraduate studies at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, where he focused on a career in public service and graduated with a major in Sociology, a minor in Political Science, as well as a certificate in Law & Society issued by the William S. Richardson School of Law. Octavio became the first member of his family to graduate from college.
After completing his undergraduate studies in Hawai’i, Octavio went on to apply for law school and was accepted to the University of Buffalo’s School of Law. Octavio went on to become a member of the graduating Class of 2015, and during his tenure in law school was an active member of the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) and the Black Law Students Association (BALSA). Octavio was also a past scholarship recipient from the Minority Bar Association. Octavio is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
As a community leader, Octavio has been involved with various organizations in Western New York. He currently serves as the Parade Chair for the Puerto Rican & Hispanic Day Parade of WNY; and sits on the Board of Directors for the Belle Center, a non-profit organization that provide community services for families in the west side of Buffalo. Octavio has also served as a Volunteer Staff Attorney for UB Law’s Puerto Rico Recovery Assistance Legal Clinic, which provided disaster relief efforts with practical legal research and thoughtful pro bono service to the people of Puerto Rico following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and earthquakes that impacted the island in 2019. In the past, Octavio served on the Board of Directors for the Minority Bar Association of WNY. He is a proud father of two, who aspires to inspire the next generation of attorneys.
Steven Arias
Associate Attorney, Gross Shuman P.C.
Steven Arias is an attorney at Gross Shuman P.C., where his practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, leasing, and business law. He represents developers, landlords, and business clients in a wide range of matters, including the negotiation and drafting of commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, entity formation and structuring, and general transactional matters.
Steven regularly advises clients on complex leasing arrangements, with an emphasis on protecting long-term asset value and aligning legal strategy with business objectives. His practice also includes counseling clients through acquisitions, dispositions, and financing transactions, as well as assisting with the formation and governance of business entities.
Prior to joining Gross Shuman, Steven gained experience working on a variety of transactional and legal matters that shaped his practical, business-oriented approach to the practice of law.
Steven is a member of the New York State Bar and is actively engaged in the Western New York legal community. He is committed to professional development and fostering strong relationships within the bar.
CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Sharon L. Nosenchuck
Senior Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services
Michael F. Perley
Member/Treasurer, Hurwitz Fine, PC
Kathleen M. Sellers
President, Charles J. Sellers & Co., Inc.
Sarah M. Washington
Assistant General Counsel, National Fuel Gas Company
