CATHARINE M. VENZON
cvenzon@venzonlawfirm.com

Ms. Venzon graduated summa cum laude in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Niagara University, where she was a member of the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma National Scholastic Honor Society (1978), and Junior Fellows Honor Society of Niagara University (1978).  She then graduated from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1982 and was admitted to the New York State Bar on February 15, 1983 and established the law firm in 1984.   Ms. Venzon was also admitted to the Federal District Court for the Western District of New York in 1985 and the District of Columbia in 1986.  She is a long-standing member of the New York State Bar Association,  the Erie County Bar Association, and serves as President of the Western New York Matrimonial Trial Lawyers Association since 2004.  Ms. Venzon has authored numerous professional articles, including "U.S. Sponsors of Foreign Nationals Beware!", "Mediation - The Big Lie", “Matrimonial Jurisdiction for Aliens”, “Aliens and Divorce – Overcoming Marriage Fraud”, and “Bringing Domestic Violence Out Into the Open”, all of which were published in the Family Law Review of the New York State Bar Association.   Ms. Venzon has been invited by the New York State and Erie County Bar Associations on several different occasions to lecture to professional colleagues on a variety of legal subjects.  She also participated as a guest speaker at an Appellate Division Law Guardian Training Seminar.  In addition, Ms. Venzon has appeared on public radio to discuss child support collection and other related issues. 

Ms. Venzon is active in Girl Scouts and is Troop Leader for Senior Troop 1097 in Williamsville, New York. She received national recognition from Girl Scouts U.S.A. in 2004 when she was one of twelve women nationally to receive "Outstanding Leader" and was featured in the National Girl Scouts calendar. She has traveled with her troop to London England, Paris France, New York City and Canada.

Ms. Venzon received the 2007 Girl Scouts U.S.A. "Women of Distinction" award for her accomplishments in the community. The "Women of Distinction" award is a National Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. program that recognizes the achievements of women, provides mentoring opportunities for older Girl Scouts and funds local Girl Scouts educational opportunities for girls 5 to 17 years in age. She is the 2008 Annual Fund Chairperson for the Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.

Her other interests include martial arts, where she holds a 3rd degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate and a 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon-Do. She is also a founding member of the Titles & Authors Book Club.

BRYAN G. BROCKWAY
bbrockway@venzonlawfirm.com

Of Council, Venzon Law Firm PC

Mr. Brockway graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Potsdam.  Mr. Brockway then graduated from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1979 and was admitted to the New York State Bar on February 20, 1979.  Mr. Brockway has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of matrimonial, family law and criminal law, and he is particularly knowledgeable about the rights of DWI defendants.  Mr. Brockway has handled hundreds of cases in these areas of practice during his legal career.  Mr. Brockway is a long standing member of several professional associations, including the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association Family Law Section, Western New York Matrimonial Trial Lawyers Association and Erie County Bar Association.  He is active in these organizations and serves as a member of the Family Law Committee for the Erie County Bar Association.

He has vast experience in all criminal law matters both State and Federal--including but not limited to all town court matters.

CHAD T. PIDANICK
cpidanick@venzonlawfirm.com

Chad Pidanick, a native of Johnson City, New York, spent his formable years in the Johnson City School District. While in high school, he advanced the field of Computer Science with several breakthroughs and published algorithms, including rapid dynamic data searching through a chaotic medium at the age of 15, which earned him an invitation to the illustrious Who’s Who. Mr. Pidanick graduated in the top 5 percent of his class and at the age of 16.

At the age of 16, Mr. Pidanick entered the State University of New York at Binghamton on a scholarship, where he majored in the fields of philosophy of law, political science and computer science. He was a reporter for the school newspaper, the Pipe Dream, as well as a volunteer with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), taking part in several investigations such as the ATM Double-Charge scandal, and unsafe children's’ toys. While in NYPIRG, Mr. Pidanick helped lay the foundation to bring the Empire Games to the Broome County Region in 2000 prior to local political intervention.

During his senior year at Binghamton University, Mr. Pidanick taught the laboratory element for Computer Architecture & Assembly Language Programming under Professor Richard R. Eckert. He was also one of the protégé students of the late Professor Paul A.L. Smith, a world recognized leader in environmental and public administrative politics, and a revolutionary in classroom teaching techniques.

After graduating from Binghamton University with honors and high honors in political science, Mr. Pidanick was accepted to, among others, the prestigious Washington & Lee University of Lexington, Virginia, ranked the number one law school by students and faculty nationwide in 1998. However, his intrigue with business law and business taxation – and a desire to stay within New York State – lead him to the University of Buffalo, School of Law, under a scholarship.

He was accepted as one of the youngest students in the history of the law school, at age 20, and completed a dual-concentration in Commercial Transactions and Taxation, receiving certificates in both fields from the law school while graduating in the top 20 percent of the class. He also studied extensively under Professor John Henry Schlegel and Professor Janet Lindgren in matters of legal writing and legal teaching. Mr. Pidanick also took part in various school activities, including the administrative work for the Herbert Weschler Moot Court Competition.

Ashley Rae Small graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Politics and a minor in Women’s Studies, where she was a member of the University at Buffalo Scholars Program.  Ms. Small was a member of several honor societies, including Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, and National Residence Hall Honorary.  During her undergraduate career, Ms. Small earned three Departmental Outstanding Student Awards, the National Residence Hall Honorary Student Scholar Award and appeared on the University at Buffalo Dean’s List.  Upon graduation, Ms. Small received the Department of Political Science Stern Prize Award for a professor-nominated paper regarding lustration and political officials in the former Soviet republics.  Ms. Small was heavily involved with campus life as a University at Buffalo Learning Center Writing Tutor, University at Buffalo Peer Tutor, and both a Resident Advisor and Community Advisor in the university housing.  Also, Ms. Small enjoyed playing the cello in the University at Buffalo Symphony Orchestra.          

Today Ms. Small sits in the top 25% of her class as a second year law student at the University at Buffalo Law School, where she is studying a concentration in Criminal Law.  Ms. Small is involved in various law school groups and has participated in several law school events, including the 2007 Mediation Advocacy Competition and the 2008 National Trial Competition.  Ms. Small is a native of western New York and plans to practice law in this region after graduation in June 2009.