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Five to receive law alumni awards
Graduates to be honored for contributions to legal profession, community
By ILENE FLEISCHMANN
Reporter Contributor
Five graduates of the UB Law School will receive Distinguished Alumni Awards for their valuable contributions to the legal profession and community at the 44th annual UB Law Alumni Association meeting and dinner on May 10.
"We are fortunate at UB to have such remarkable alumni. This is an exceptionally worthy group of recipients. Their leadership and accomplishments have contributed enormously to our Law School, community and legal profession," said UB Law School Dean Nils Olsen.
Awards will be presented to:
Hon. John P. Lane '53, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, "for his conscientious and diligent performance in the judiciary." Justice Lane served as Amherst town attorney for 25 years prior to assuming the bench in 1996 as a judge on the Court of Claims. He moved to the Supreme Court, Eighth Judicial District, in 2000, where he is supervising judge of civil cases.
Garry M. Graber '78, partner in Hodgson Russ LLP, "for his leadership by example as a private practitioner." Graber has more than 25 years of experience in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, commercial and corporate litigation, and general business law. President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, he is a past president of the Bar Association of Erie County, past chair of the Bankruptcy Committee of the New York State Bar Association Section on Business Law, past president of the Volunteer Lawyers Project Inc. and past president of the UB Law Alumni Association. He teaches a course on Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in the Law School.
Hon. Elena Cacavas-Schietinger '85, administrative law judge, New York State Public Employment Relations Board, "for her commitment to public service." Cacavas began her career with the law firm Hodgson Russ, where she became a partner and earned the reputation for being a knowledgeable and accomplished labor and employment lawyer. After relocating to New York City, she was appointed by Gov. Mario Cuomo to her present position. She has served with distinction in that position for 12 years. She now serves on the Law School's Dean's Advisory Council.
Christopher T. Greene '74, managing partner, Damon & Morey LLP, "for his many contributions to the betterment of our community." Greene is a member of the firm's business and corporate, health care and international practice groups. Active in a number of charitable and civic organizations, he formerly was the chair of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute and currently serves as the chairman of the Hauptman-Woodward Foundation. He is a board member for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the Buffalo State College Foundation and the National Conference for Community and Justice—WNY Region. He also serves on the Law School's Dean's Advisory Council, among others.
Robert P. Fine '68, Managing Partner, Hurwitz & Fine P.C., "for his exemplary performance in business." Fine has extensive experience in the purchase and sale of business entities, including stock and asset transactions; business valuation; and in transactions involving major financial institutions, including industrial bond matters. Former vice chair of the board of directors of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, he is secretary of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, the Buffalo and Erie County Regional Development Corporation and the Buffalo and Erie County Industrial Land Development Corporation. Fine is a former president of the Law Alumni Association and of The Buffalo Club. He also serves on the Law School's Dean's Advisory Council, among others.