Three Attorneys Elected to Phillips Lytle’s Partnership in 2026

Partnership in effect as of January 1, 2026.

Buffalo, N.Y. – Phillips Lytle LLP announced that three of its attorneys, Benjamin S. Cranston, Matthew J. Fitzgerald and John T. (Jack) Murray, have been elected to partnership at the firm as of January 1, 2026.

“Becoming a partner is a significant milestone, and we congratulate Ben, Matt and Jack on their individual accomplishments that led to their elevation,” said Phillips Lytle Managing Partner Douglas W. Dimitroff. “They have consistently demonstrated strong judgment, client service excellence and leadership that will help shape our firm’s continued success in the years ahead.”

Benjamin S. Cranston, a member of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group, assists clients with issues related to estate and gift taxation, elder law and Medicaid, as well as trust and estate administration. His experience includes preparation of customized estate planning documents for clients and representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries in estate and trust administration matters. Ben has been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers^® Rising Stars list, the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America list and has received recognition by the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project and the New York State Bar Association for his pro bono work.

Matthew J. Fitzgerald, a member of the Land, Environment and Energy Practice Group, has experience handling both large- and small-scale development projects through the permitting and environmental review processes. He has represented private developers, local and state agencies, and individuals seeking to work through local land use approvals, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), permitting with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and obtaining financial incentives for projects. Matt has been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America list and is an honoree of the New York State Bar Association Empire State Counsel^® Program for his pro bono work.

John T. (Jack) Murray, a member of the Litigation Practice Group, represents clients across the country in a wide range of disputes venued in a number of forums, and has a particular focus on large environmental cleanup cases, toxic tort liability, commercial disputes between large business entities, trade secrets and restrictive covenants litigation, and software implementation disputes. Jack has been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America list and was named to Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under 30 class of 2022.

Phillips Lytle LLP is a preeminent law firm that is recognized nationally for its legal excellence. With offices across New York State and in Chicago, IL; Washington, D.C.; and Canada, our attorneys serve a multinational client base, including Fortune 1000 companies, global and regional financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, middle-market companies, startups, entrepreneurs and individuals on important matters affecting their businesses and personal wealth. For more information, visit phillipslytle.com.

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