By KELSEY SWANEKAMP
Buffalo Law Journal

A change of leadership is under way as Hiscock & Barclay hands over the reins to James Domagalski as the firm's new managing partner for the Buffalo office.

Previously the firm's marketing partner, Domagalski will succeed Darryl Colosi, who stepped down from the position to pursue a confidential clerkship with a state Supreme Court judge, said Domagalski. The position of managing partner rotates fairly regularly, he added.

"It's an honor to work with my fellow partners," said Domagalski. "We have a deeply experienced team of lawyers."

Domagalski, 44, said that seniority was not a factor in the selection process.

"It's about lining up the right people with the right skill sets," he said.

Mark McNamara, a former managing partner of Hiscock & Barclay, said that Domagalski's great personal skills and common sense made him a good fit for the position.
"He has terrific credibility within the firm as a productive lawyer. Invariably, that's essential to being successful in the managing-director position," he said.

Domagalski plans to maintain his current case load and continue his community activities - including his chairmanship of the Erie County Republican Committee.

As the former marketing partner, he said he is accustomed to combining administrative work with his law practice.

"I'm picking up one set of administrative responsibilities and leaving behind other ones," he said.

Domagalski described the approach to leadership at Hiscock & Barclay as a "team effort."

"Hiscock & Barclay looks to all the partners to contribute to managing the firm," he said.

McNamara said that Domagalski's election did not signal a change of direction. "It's consistent with the strategy and vision we've had in terms of managing the firm," he said.

The Buffalo office of Hiscock & Barclay counts 40 attorneys. Overall, the law firm has 210 attorneys working from offices throughout New York and in Boston, Mass.

Domagalski doesn't anticipate any conflict between his work with the firm and his political involvement with the Republican Committee.

"They're separate hats," he said. "Political viewpoints are separate from my professional career."

"I'm not an old-style cigar-chomping party chairman," he added.

Regardless of political party, said Domagalski, it's the responsibility of all lawyers to work to improve New York state.

Domagalski is a board member of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Alliance and a trustee of the Mercy Hospital Foundation Board.

He said that his dedication to community involvement was influenced by Don Day, an attorney at the Saperston & Day firm, which merged with Hiscock & Barclay in 2002.

"Lawyers have an obligation to give something back to the community," he said.

He added that a "strong work ethic" keeps him busy among his many commitments. When he's not spending time with his family and children, Domagalski said he can be found "doing some kind of work."

"I'm just the kind of person who really enjoys to work," he said.