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 Impact
As of 2019

14,900
Clients Represented
809
Households Saved from
HOMELSSNESS

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

Our Legal Work
Housing
Finances
The Buffalo Civil Legal Advice and Resources Office (CLARO) is the first upstate program providing free legal advice and representation to low-income New Yorkers being sued by debt collectors in four counties across the state. At ur consumer walk-in clinics, we draft papers that consumers can file in court. In connection with this clinic, we appear twice weekly in Buffalo City Court to represent any consumer who needs our assistance.
We also have a bankruptcy clinic providing free bankruptcy assistance to low-income Western New York residents. Our online Bankruptcy Assistance provides a step-by-step overview of how we can help you through the bankruptcy process.
We also supervise a consumer walk-in clinic where consumers can come in and receive legal advice and often drafted papers which they can file in court. In connection with this clinic, we appear twice weekly in Buffalo City Court to represent any consumer who needs our assistance.
Small Business
-Marshal D., Former Client
Community Involvement
-Joe C., Jr., Code Enforcer Officer, Town of Elma
Team
Meet the people who make our work possible.
Amy Gathings
828-8427
Agathings@wnylc.net
Constance Joyce
828-8414
cjoyce@wnylc.net
Elizabeth Cattarin
828-8428
ecattarin@wnylc.net
George Burkett
828-8451
gburkett@wnylc.net
Hannah Mercer
828-8441
hmercer@wnylc.net
Kevin McDonnell
828-8434
kmcdonnell@wnylc.net
Heather Murcin
828-8446
hmurcin@wnylc.net
Ian Grogan
828-8417
igrogan@wnylc.net
Jean Blizzard
Vacant & Abandoned Properties
828-8447
Jblizzard@wnylc.net
Kevin McDonnell
828-8434
kmcdonnell@wnylc.net
Joseph Kelemen
Vacant & Abandoned Property & Litigation
828-8411
jak@wnylc.net
Jordan Modrzynski
Evictions
828-8438
jmodrzynski@wnylc.net
Kate Lockhart
828-8420
klockhart@wnylc.net
Kathryn Franco
BNCRC Chair
828-8440
kfranco@wnylc.net
Kathryn Franco
BNCRC Chair
828-8440
kfranco@wnylc.net
Keisha Williams
828-8415
kwilliams@wnylc.net
Kevin McDonnell
828-8434
kmcdonnell@wnylc.net
Kevin McDonnell
828-8434
kmcdonnell@wnylc.net
Matthew Parham
CLARO
828-8422
mparham@wnylc.net
Matthew Parham
CLARO
828-8422
mparham@wnylc.net
Mia Forney
CLARO
828-8454
miaforne@wnylc.net
Matthew Parham
CLARO
828-8422
mparham@wnylc.net
Neha Karambelkar
Small Business Legal Clinic
828-8445
nkarambelkar@wnylc.net
Pamela Lanich
828-8418
planich@wnylc.net
Paulette Campbell
828-8423
pcampbell@wnylc.net
Sherry Soules
828-8410
ssoules@wnylc.net
Sherry Soules
828-8423
pcampbell@wnylc.net
Roxanna Herreid
CLARA & BCRC
828-8455
rherreid@wnylc.net
Sherry Soules
828-8423
pcampbell@wnylc.net
Stephen Halpern
BNCRC Counsel,
Water Board Litigation Program
828-8416
shalpern@wnylc.net
Yanis Martinez
Evictions
828-8426
ymartinez@wnylc.net
Samantha Axberg
828-8419
saxberg@wnylc.net
Vincent Bai
Small Business Legal Clinic
828-8449
vbai@wnylc.net
Vincent Bai
Foreclosure
828-8453
shossain@wnylc.net
In Memoriam

Tom Karkau
Computer Programmer
Board
President
Melinda
Saran
Vice-President
Joseph
McCarthy
Secretary
Catherine Creighton
Treasurer
Karen
Welch
John
LaFalce
John
LaFalce
Catherine
Creighton
Catherine
Creighton
Alexander
Wright
Alexander
Wright
Melinda
Saran
Melinda
Seran
Marshall
Bertram
Marshall
Bertram
John
Lipsitz
John
Lipsitz
Joseph
McCarthy
Joseph
McCarthy
Karen
Welch
Joseph
McCarthy
What People Say About Us
Testimonials



Contact Us!
Email Us!
wnylc@wnylc.net
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)
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.