Hodgson Russ Announces Five Newly Elected Partners, Four Attorneys Promoted to Senior Associate

Hodgson Russ LLP, one of the country’s leading law firms providing business-focused legal counsel to market-leading and emerging enterprises, governmental entities, nonprofit institutions, and individuals across the United States, Canada, and the world, has elected five attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2017. They are:

Reetuparna Dutta, a member of the Business Litigation Practice, concentrates her practice in the areas of white-collar criminal defense and the False Claims Act.  She has experience in defending fraud, tax, and drug offenses and has acted as the primary liaison with the U.S. Attorney's Office on behalf of relators in False Claims Act matters. She resides in the firm’s Buffalo office.

Joshua K. Lawrence is a member of the firm’s State & Local Tax Practice, focusing on New York State and New York City tax matters, as well as multistate tax planning. He represents clients in audits and disputes with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and New York City Department of Finance and is experienced in handling both personal income tax and corporate tax matters. He has significant experience in tax litigation at both at the administrative and appellate levels as well as multistate tax matters. He resides in Hodgson Russ’s Buffalo office.

Elizabeth Pascal is a member of the State & Local Tax Practice, with a focus on New York State, New York City, and multistate tax issues. She assists individual and business clients with audits, including residency, sales tax, unincorporated business tax, commercial rent tax, and corporate tax audits. She resides in Hodgson Russ’s Buffalo and New York City offices.

Jillian M. Searles is a member of the Business Litigation Practice, representing clients in both federal and state courts. Her experience includes general commercial, bankruptcy, insurance, white-collar crime, employment, and securities litigation, along with matters involving contract disputes, false advertising, and unfair competition.  She resides in the firm’s New York office.

Valerie E. Stevens, a member of the firm’s Corporate & Business Law Practice, has extensive experience advising businesses in manufacturing, financial services and other sectors on corporate matters, including subsidiary formation, corporate governance, and reorganizations. She counsels clients on various nonprofit law matters, including the formation of nonprofit organizations, obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, IRS Form 990, cross border charitable matters and "friends" organizations, joint ventures, and subsidiaries. She resides in the firm’s New York office.

In addition, four attorneys have been promoted to senior associate and all reside in the Buffalo office. They are:

William A. Ciszewski, III, Insurance Coverage Practice

Patrick E. Fitzsimmons, Business Crimes & Business Litigation

Patrick J. Hines, Business Litigation

Nicholas J. Hoffman, Corporate & Business Law

Hodgson Russ attorneys facilitate the U.S. legal aspects of transactions around the world. We practice in every major area of law and use multidisciplinary work teams to serve the specific, often complex, needs of our clients, which include public and privately held businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit institutions, and individuals. Hodgson Russ has offices in Buffalo, New York, Albany, and Saratoga Springs, New York; Toronto, Ontario; and Palm Beach, Florida.