Lewis & Lewis, P.C.

Bios

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  Allan M. Lewis

  Founder

  Allan Lewis, Senior Partner and son of Norman Lewis, founder of our firm, has lived in the Buffalo area for over 70 years; 45 of those devoted to the practice of personal injury law. Allan’s success as a trial lawyer is unquestioned in the Western New York legal community. He has championed his client’s rights in all phases of legal proceedings, including a well-noted victory in New York’s Court of Appeals. Allan has obtained multimillion-dollar verdicts in cases involving medical malpractice, product liability, and motor vehicle accidents. He has had great success in the area of construction site accidents. By consistently putting in the time and effort necessary to obtain the best possible outcomes, Allan sets the standard for all of Lewis & Lewis’ attorneys. Allan has served as a career long member of the New York State and Erie County Bar Associations. He has been an active member and held positions with the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” in the area of General Litigation, by New York’s Super Lawyers Magazine, Upstate Edition. Allan’s breaks from the litigation world focus on time with family and his love of golf.

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  Link: Allan M. Lewis

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  Jack G. Stiefel

  Attorney

  Jack Stiefel, a life-long resident of Western New York, has been practicing Workers’ Compensation Law for over 35 years. Prior to pursuing his legal career, Jack was a truck driver and member of Teamsters Local 375 for 9 years. He has hands-on experience with the challenges hard working men and women face in the work place; and the all to frequent opportunities employers and insurance companies take to infringe on workers’ rights. Jack is a founding member and has held leadership positions with New York State’s Injured Workers’ Bar Association. He is a long time member and former officer of New York State’s Workers’ Compensation Alliance. He has represented thousands of injured workers and obtained millions of dollars to compensate our clients. Jack enjoys free time with his family. He is active in local high school athletics, serving as a referee for high school football and lacrosse.

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  Link: Jack G. Stiefel

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  Emily L. Downing

  Attorney

  Emily Downing earned her undergraduate and law degree from the University at Buffalo. Both her BA and JD were awarded cum laude. Her undergraduate degree in Communications prepared her well for both law school and lawyering. While in Law School, she was a member of the Buffalo Law Review and served as the publication’s book review editor. She interviewed with Lewis & Lewis during the Spring of her final year of law school, accepted our offer of employment and has been with us ever since. Although her studies earned her certificates in both taxation and environmental law, Emily chose Lewis & Lewis based on her desire to work directly with clients. She values the opportunity to help real people, with serious problems. During her two decades with Lewis & Lewis, Emily has worked in all aspects of our practice, including trials of serious personal injury cases. Her focus, and favorite job, is counseling injured workers and prosecuting their Workers’ Compensation claims. Emily is passionate about helping the “little guy” battle the big insurance company. As a working mother, she understands the difficulties of work-life balance, and the devasting effects a work injury or job loss can have on a family. Beyond her legal career and family, one of Emily’s proudest accomplishments is the founding of a club aimed at bonding friendship through charitable work. More than 15 years ago, Emily invited a group of her closest friends to gather for monthly dinners, and each month one of them would pick a charity or group in need of help. Over the years, “The Giving Chix” have donated thousands of dollars, pounds of food, bundles of clothing, books for children and a variety of other items to those in need. Emily is life-long resident of the Buffalo area and finds it essential to give back to the community however she can.

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  Link: Emily L. Downing

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  Sheri N. DeFazio

  Attorney

  Sheri DeFazio started her career with Lewis & Lewis’s workers’ compensation department in 2004, representing injured claimants. Sheri graduated from The University of Toronto in 1993, and she attended Law School in Buffalo. Before being admitted to the Bar, Sheri worked as a law clerk for a private firm doing insurance defense work for approximately 4 years. She has practiced workers’ compensation law since 2000.

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  Link: Sheri N. DeFazio

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  Emily F. Janicz

  Attorney

  Emily F. Janicz joined Lewis & Lewis, P.C. as a law clerk in 2010 while attending law school. Emily is currently the President of Lewis & Lewis, P.C. A lifelong resident of Western New York, Emily earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration – Registered Accounting Program with honors from the University at Buffalo in 2009. In 2012, Emily graduated with honors from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Emily practices in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, and Personal Injury. Currently, Emily serves on the Board of Directors of the Injured Workers’ Bar Association and the Board of Directors for the Workers’ Compensation Alliance; she previously served on the Advisory Council of the Workers’ Compensation Board. In addition, Emily serves proudly as the Town Attorney of her hometown – Newstead, New York.

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  Link: Emily F. Janicz

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  Michael T. Coutu

  Attorney

  Mike Coutu has over 20 years of experience as an injury lawyer. He has successfully resolved hundreds of cases for his clients and has substantial court room experience at both the trial court and appellate level. He also has training and experience as a mediator and arbitrator. He has been honored to be selected by other attorneys to help resolve cases for their clients. As a former defense attorney, Mike particularly enjoys counseling clients injured through the negligence or fault of others. Our clients often have Workers’ Compensation and/or Social Security Disability claims in addition to personal injury cases from their construction site injury, injury on property, motor vehicle crash or injury due to a defective or dangerous product. It is only by helping our clients understand the relationship between all aspects of injury law that our clients can receive maximum compensation for their injuries. Mike has earned an AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. This is the preeminent rating for legal ability and ethics. It is the highest rating that a lawyer can receive from his peers – other lawyers and judges. Mike is active as an educator and speaker regarding various personal injury topics and is a member of various bar associations including the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, New York State Bar Association, Western New York Trial Lawyers Association, and the Erie County Bar Association. Mike enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with his family and coaching youth baseball. He is active in youth sports, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and throughout the Grand Island community

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  Link: Michael T. Coutu

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  Daniel P. Kuhn

  Attorney

  Before joining Lewis & Lewis, Daniel Kuhn spent years representing many large employers and insurance companies. He now combines that knowledge and experience with his passion for the communities and families of Western New York. If you have been injured, Daniel will take the time to get to know you so he can find an approach that works for your life, not just your case. Daniel manages the Batavia office of Lewis & Lewis, P.C., and assists with complex matters in both Niagara Falls and Buffalo offices. After growing up in a Pennsylvania farming community, Daniel moved to Brockport. He lives there with his wife and three children. His family heritage is rooted in union blue-collar workers and skilled trades, including plumbers, miners, mechanics, and nurses. Daniel is heavily involved in Scouting. He is a former Cubmaster, current Lion Den Leader, and New Member Coordinator, of Cub Scout Pack 316. Daniel is the Chaplain, a Committee Member, and Merit Badge Counselor, for BSA Troop 375. He is a volunteer for Girl Scouts of WNY. From 2017 to 2019, Daniel completed the Wood Badge program, the premier adult leadership training in Scouting. Daniel’s passion for justice and individual liberties guides his work. Daniel performs pro bono work supporting the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, handling matters throughout NY. Daniel sits on the Board of Assessment Review for the Town of Sweden, and is a Small Claims Assessment Review Hearing Officer for the 7th and 8th Judicial Districts. He is also an adjunct professor at SUNY Brockport where he teaches courses in Constitutional law and procedure. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys sailing, camping, classic cars, and PC gaming.

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  Link: Daniel P. Kuhn

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  Michael C. Panebianco

  Attorney

  Michael has returned to the Southern Tier, a place he has called home his entire life, to represent injured workers. Michael is passionate about counseling injured workers because his father suffered a career ending work injury many years ago. As a result, he has a keen understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a serious physical injury may have on a family. Michael will also focus his practice on criminal defense. He understands the negative effect that a criminal conviction can have on a person’s life. In law school, he interned at The Center for Community Alternatives, where he counseled individuals in an effort to help them overcome the barriers to employment and education that they faced due to their prior criminal convictions. Michael worked as a law clerk with Lewis and Lewis, P.C. during the Summer of 2015, and he is excited to return as an associate attorney. In his free time, Michael enjoys golfing, fishing, and spending time with his friends and family.

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  Link: Michael C. Panebianco

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  Adam DelleBovi

  Attorney

  Adam DelleBovi, a Buffalo native, graduated in 2010 from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. After attending college, Adam served on active duty for five years in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. Following his service, he attended the University at Buffalo School of Law. During law school, Adam was involved in the trial advocacy program and participated in several trial competitions. In May of 2020, he received the Robert J. Connelly Trial Technique Award. Adam practices in the area of Personal Injury where he looks forward to using his prior medical training to help those in need. In his free time, he enjoys staying active and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.

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  Link: Adam DelleBovi