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January 20, 2022

Barclay Damon Announces New Committee Members and Practice Group and Practice Area Leadership

January 20, 2022—Barclay Damon announces, effective January 1, the following new committee members and practice group and practice area leadership: 

“These individuals play an integral role in Barclay Damon’s overall success,” Connie Cahill, the firm’s managing partner, said. “Their dedication has proven they are more than capable of taking on additional responsibility to continue to guide firm operations, attract diverse talent to the firm, and achieve successful outcomes for our current and future clients. These appointments contribute to Barclay Damon’s commitment to infusing diversity, equity, and inclusion principles at every level.”

Burch, former hiring partner, has been elected to the firm’s Management Committee as managing director of the firm’s Syracuse office. He takes over the role from Gabe Nugent. The hiring partner role has been divided into two new roles: hiring partner – laterals and co–summer associate partners. 

Auerbach, the former pro bono partner in Buffalo and current Land Use & Zoning Practice Area co-chair, will serve as hiring partner – laterals. 

Dwyer, former recruitment liaison for the Buffalo office’s Diversity 1L Summer Associate Program, and Brown, current Public Finance Practice Area co-chair, will serve as co–summer associate partners. 

Leonardi, a member of the firm’s Diversity Partner Committee, will serve as pro bono partner. She takes over the role from Auerbach. 

Heary, current Labor & Employment Practice Area chair and former at-large partner on the firm’s Diversity Partner Committee, will serve as the diversity partner in Barclay Damon’s Buffalo office. 

Whiteley is a member of the Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Areas as well as the Insurance & Reinsurance Team. He will serve as Commercial Litigation Practice Group leader, taking over the role from Mitch Katz.  

Kannan is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation and Patents & Prosecution Practice Areas as well as the Technology, Medical Devices, Communications & Networking Technology, and Emerging Technologies Teams. He will serve as Patents & Prosecution Practice Area co-chair alongside Pete Bilinski.

Surowka is a member of the Health & Human Services Providers, Health Care, and Health Care Controversies Practice Areas as well as the Labor & Employment and Lobbying & Election Law Compliance Practice Areas. She will serve as co-chair of Barclay Damon’s Health Care and Health & Human Services Providers Practice Areas alongside Melissa Zambri. She is taking over these roles from Susan Benz. 

Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses. With nearly 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices located in the Northeastern United States and Toronto. For more information, visit our award-winning website at barclaydamon.com.

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