Sharon concentrates her practice in the areas of trust and estate administration, estate planning, and estate and gift taxation.
Sharon’s areas of estate planning experience include wills, a variety of trust vehicles and planning for retirement benefits. She is also experienced in assisting owners to plan for closely-held businesses and in a variety of charitable giving techniques. She is the former chair of the Trust and Estate Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. In addition, Sharon is a frequent presenter on trust and estate-related topics for a variety of audiences.
Honors & Awards
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®
Named the Best Lawyers ®
Named the Best Lawyers ®
Selected for the Upstate New York Super Lawyers ® list, 2007-2024
Buffalo Business First , Power Women List
“Power 200 Women” List, 2021-2022
“Power 150 Women” List, 2020
“Power 125 Women” List, 2018-2019
Listed in Legal Elite of WNY, Business First of Buffalo and Buffalo Law Journal , 2013-2014, 2019-2020
Listed as a 2011 Five Star Wealth Manager, Buffalo Spree and Crescendo Business Services
Education & Admissions
Education
State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., cum laude , 1984
Cornell University, B.S., 1981
Speaking Engagements
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Speaker, “Kinship Proceedings: Planning to Include or Avoid DNA Relatives,” NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section Spring 2024 Meeting, April 2024
Speaker, “Ethical Consideration,” Surrogate’s Court Guardian Ad Litem Training, Bar Associate of Erie County, May 2022
Speaker, “The Proposed New York Trust Code: History, Structure and Changes to New York Law,” New York Surrogate’s Association, October 2017
Speaker, Introductory Remarks, NYSBA’s Trusts and Estates Law Section Fall Meeting, September 2017
Speaker, “Planning for Business Owners,” Vistage Worldwide, Inc., January 2016
Speaker, “Retirement Plans and IRAs (New Rollover Rules and RMD),” Estate Analysts of Western New York, November 2015
Activities & Professional Associations
Past Activities
Catholic Health Systems Long Term Care, Board of Directors
Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc., Finance Committee Member
Kenmore Mercy Hospital Foundation, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee
Leadership Buffalo, Class of 1995
Maria Love Convalescent Fund, Board of Directors
Nardin Academy, Board of Trustees, Past Chair
State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law Alumni Association, Leadership Council
UB Law Alumni Association, Board of Directors, Vice President
Leave a Legacy® WNY
Planned Giving Consortium of Western New York, Board of Directors
Shea’s – O’Connell Preservation Guild, Ltd., Board of Directors, Secretary
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
American College of Trust & Estate Counsel, Fellow
Bar Association of Erie County
Surrogate’s Court Committee, Former Chair
Estate Analysts of Western New York
Financial Planning Counselors of Western New York
New York State Bar Association
Trust & Estates Law Section, Former Chair
NYSBA Journal , Board of Editors
The New York Bar Foundation, Fellow
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, WNY Chapter
