By ALLISSA KLINE
Business First

A Williamsville-based company that provides financial support to personal-injury lawyers has received two separate loans from state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Counsel Financial Services LLC, which lends money based on the total value of the attorney's contingent-case portfolio, has received at least $50,000 from Silver since 2007, according to an Aug. 6 New York Times article. Silver, who is a trial lawyer, reported the loans as part of his most recent ethics disclosure form.

Silver spokesperson Dan Weiller declined this week to specify the amount of the loans and would not comment on Silver's relationship with Counsel Financial, which offers loans and credit lines up to $50 million. Weiller emphasized that Silver has no controlling role at the company.

"The speaker is a passive investor only," Weiller said.

Silver, a Democrat from New York City who has served as Assembly speaker since 1994, is listed as "of counsel" with the New York City-based personal-injury firm Weitz & Luxenberg. The name partners of that firm, Perry Weitz and Arthur Luxenberg, are co-chairman and vice chairman, respectively, at Counsel Financial, according to the company's Web site.

Paul Cody, president of Counsel Financial, did not return a reporter's telephone calls last week. When reached by phone earlier this month, Cody said he did not want to speak to the media about any matter concerning the company.

He said Counsel Financial is undergoing internal change.

"We're going through some stuff with the company right now," Cody said. "I'm not trying to be elusive."

Counsel Financial got its start in 2001. Clients include DiNardo & Metschl of Buffalo, which, according to Counsel Financial's Web site, received financial support from the company during a period of time when two multimillion-dollar cases were proceeding through the appellate process.

Emil DiNardo said he see no issue with Silver loaning money to the company.

"I don't blame Shelly for putting money in there," DiNardo said. "It's a good investment."

Loans from Counsel Financial can be used for any business purpose, including case costs, witnesses, advertising and case- or trial-related costs, according to the company Web site.