MEMBERS OF FIRM
James P. Burgio (Member) born Buffalo, New York, April 10, 1949; admitted to bar, 1975, New York; 1980, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. Education: Canisius College (B.A., 1971); State University of New York at Buffalo (J.D., 1974). Member: Erie County, New York State (Member, Class Action Committee, Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law Section) and American (Member, Trial Evidence Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice Section) Bar Associations; New York State Trial Lawyers Association; American Board of Trial Advocates (President, 2003-2004; Member, 1996); Western New York Trial Lawyers Association (Director, 1997-1999); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Defense Bar, 1982); The Defense Trial Lawyers Association of Western New York; The Defense Research Institute, Inc.; Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense Law.Email: James P. Burgio
William J. Kita (Member) born Buffalo, New York, January 1, 1951; admitted to bar, 1979, New York; 1980, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. Education: Boston College (A.B., 1972); University of New York at Buffalo (J.D., 1978). Member: Erie County (Member: Negligence Committee; Judiciary Committee) and New York State (Member, Sections on: Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law) Bar Associations; American Board of Trial Advocates (Treasurer, Buffalo Chapter); Western New York Trial Lawyers Association; Charles S. Desmond American Inns of Court. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense Law.Email: William J. Kita
Steven P. Curvin (Member) born Buffalo, New York, November 8, 1954; admitted to bar, 1980, New York; U.S. District Court, Western, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A., cum laude, 1975; J.D., 1980). Recipient, Erie County Trial Lawyers Award for Outstanding Performance in Trial Technique, 1979. Adjunct Professor of Law, Trial Technique, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1996-1999. Member: Erie County (Member: Negligence Committee, 1988; Judiciary Committee, 1988-2002 (Chair 2001-2002); Practice and Procedure Committee, 1982-1990 (Chair, 1987-1990); Professional Ethics Committee, 2007; Board of Directors, 1996-1998), New York State (Member, Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law Committee, 1988; Committee on Civil Practice, 1997-2000) and American (Member, Sections on: Criminal Justice, 1981-1988; General Practice, 1981-1988; Insurance Negligence and Compensation Law, 1984; Vice-Chair, Products Liability Committee, 1986-1989; Vice Chair, Tort and Insurance Committee, 1989-1990) Bar Associations; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; American Board of Trial Advocates (Member and Vice-President, 1997; President, Buffalo Chapter, 1998); Charles S. Desmond American Inns of Court (Counselor/Vice President, 1999-2001, President 2001-2003); New York State Defenders Association; New York State Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Committees on: Judicial Administration, 1981-1984; Products Liability, 1984; Board of Directors, 1988-1991; Vice-President, Western District Affiliate, 1987-1991); Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Construction Accident Law; Products Liability Law; Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense Law; Insurance Coverage; Contract Litigation.Email: Steven P. Curvin
Hilary C. Banker (Member) born Dansville, Kentucky, November 14, 1971; admitted to bar, 1997, New York and U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. Education: State University of New York at Geneseo (B.A., 1993); State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1996). Senior Member, Buffalo Moot Court Board. Participant, Tulane University Sports Law Competition. Associate, Buffalo Environmental Law Journal. Member: Erie County and New York State Bar Associations; Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter (President, 2006-2007, Secretary, 2004-2005 and Director, 2002-2004); Western New York Trial Lawyers Association (Director, 2004-2006); University at Buffalo Law School Alumni Association (Director, 2005, GOLD Group President, 2004-2005 and Director, 1998-2006); Defense Trial Lawyers Association (Director, 2005). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense Law; Personal Injury.Email: Hilary C. Banker