The Edwin F. Jaeckle Award, the highest honor awarded by the University at Buffalo Law School and the UB Law Alumni Association, will be presented to Kenneth Forrest at a luncheon in New York City on Friday, Jan. 29.

A partner at Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz since 1982, Forrest is being honored "for his distinguished contributions to four deans in setting the strategic direction of the law school." It is the first time since its inception in 1976 that the award is being bestowed outside of Buffalo.

Currently assigning partner in Wachtell Lipton's litigation department, Forrest played a leading role in the nationwide effort to obtain judicial approvals for the November 1998 settlement between the states and the tobacco industry.

He is a longtime member and past chair of UB Law's Dean's Advisory Council. Born in 1952 in Brooklyn, he graduated from Brooklyn College magna cum laude in 1973 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics.

UB Law Dean Makau Mutua will present the award at the Union League Club in conjunction with the New York State Bar Association meeting.

The luncheon begins at noon. To make a reservation, call the UB Law alumni office at 716-645-2107.

New Minority Bar leaders take office

The Minority Bar Association of Western New York Inc. announced its 2010 executive board.

Officers are: Sheldon Smith of Nixon Peabody LLP, president; Christopher Hayes of Phillips Lytle LLP, vice president; Tasha Dandridge-Richburg of Hurwitz & Fine PC, treasurer; Joseph Brown of Hodgson Russ LLP, deputy treasurer; Pamela Schaller, also of Hodgson Russ LLP, recording secretary; and Jennifer Metzger of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, corresponding secretary

Minryu Sarah Kim of Phillips Lytle LLP and Roxanne Mendez-Johnson of the Federal Public Defender's Office were named to the association's board as directors.

The group will hold its first meeting on Jan. 20 at 12:15 p.m. at Nixon Peabody LLP, 40 Fountain Plaza, Suite 500.

WNY Trial Lawyers' annual party Friday

The Western New York Trial Lawyers Association will hold its annual party this Friday at the Buffalo Club, 388 Delaware Ave., beginning at 4:30 p.m. The election of officers will also take place.

The cost is $125 for membership and admission. Prepayment can be sent to Kathleen Reilly, Damon Morey LLP, 200 Delaware Ave., Suite 1200, Buffalo, NY 14202.

Mattar chairing Boy Scouts gala

The Boy Scouts of America is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Attorney William Mattar is chairman of a gala the organization's Greater Niagara Frontier Council is hosting at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Saturday, March 13.

An Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, Mattar is principal of William K. Mattar PC.

For more information, see wnyscouting.org.

Schiavone heads Fredonia board

Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP Partner Michael Schiavone has been named chair of the Fredonia College Foundation Board of Directors.

The foundation is a nonprofit founded in 1964 to benefit the state college, working to secure resources to support scholarships, teaching, research and capital projects and to enhance academics and student life at Fredonia State.

A 1978 alumnus of SUNY Fredonia, Schiavone is chairman of Lipsitz Green's business department and a member of its management committee. He concentrates his practice in business law, estate planning, commercial real estate and sports/entertainment law.

HoganWillig moving Feb. 1

The law firm HoganWillig PLLC is relocating to 2410 North Forest Road in Getzville, effective Feb. 1.

The location is directly across the street from the firm's current building. The phone numbers will remain the same, 716-636-7600 or 800-636-5255.

HoganWillig is the largest suburban general-practice law firm in Western New York.

Family Justice Center has new director

Former Orchard Park Town Supervisor Mary Travers Murphy is the new executive director of the Family Justice Center of Erie County.

Travers Murphy served as Orchard Park Town Supervisor for four years until December, 2009. Prior to that, she spent 19 years as a television news reporter at WKBW-TV.

Avalon opens NYC location

Avalon Document Services opened its fifth office, in New York City.

The Manhattan site will operate as Avalon Legal Technology, and is located at 641 Lexington Ave., 15th floor, New York, NY 10022, phone number 212-328-9497.

Founded in 2000, the Syracuse-based document-management company also has locations in Buffalo, Rochester and Utica. The firm specializes in litigation copying and scanning, appellate publishing, electronic discovery and computer forensics.

"New York was a logical move for Avalon as we have been investing heavily in our legal technology capabilities," said J.P. Midgley, president, in a press release.

- Compiled by Matt Chandler