The University at Buffalo Law Alumni Association's GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Group is presenting a continuing-legal-education program Monday, March 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in the Avant Building, 200 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

The program, "Conflicts & Client Communications in the Wake of the New Rules of Professional Conduct in New York State," will feature presentations by Michael Willett and Steven Zweig, partners in the law firm DamonMorey LLP. The cost of the seminar is $50 for UB Law Alumni Association members and $75 for others.

Registrations, due by March 8, can be processed by phone at 716-645-2107 or online at law.buffalo.edu/alumnievent.asp.

The GOLD Group is holding a wine tasting that evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Wine Thief, 431 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. The cost of that event is $15 per person, or $10 for law students. Attendees should register with the Alumni Office by March 8.

Court reporter wins NYSUCS 8JD award

Gerrard Linnecke, a court reporter for Chautauqua County Supreme Court, received the 2009 New York State Unified Court System Quality Award for the 8th Judicial District.

Linnecke has worked in the court system since 1993, assigned to Chautauqua County since 1997. He was recognized for his "compassion, kindness and professionalism."

In a press release, 8th District Administrative Judge Hon. Paula Feroleto called Linnecke "the epitome of a professional" and said he represents the positive image the courts should project. Linnecke, a resident of Ashville, will be honored at a 12:00 p.m. reception on Monday, March 8 at the Chautauqua County Courthouse.

Law firm promotes Lancer to partner

Michael Lancer was named a partner in Cascone & Kluepfel LLP, a Garden City-based insurance-defense law firm.

Lancer has served as managing attorney of the firm's Buffalo office since 2008. He is a former staff attorney at Travelers Insurance, and prior to that served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army for five years. He is a 1992 graduate of the Fordham University School of Law.

Appeals arguments available online

The State of New York Court of Appeals has established a video archive of oral arguments on its Web site.

The archive, available at nycourts.gov/courts/appeals, includes all cases heard before the court since the beginning of the year. New arguments will be added to the archive the Monday after they are heard in court.

The court has been recording oral arguments and making them available to the public since 1987, and has been providing live Web casts of all oral arguments since May.

QDRO attorney moving to new office

Effective March 1, attorney Holly Baum will be practicing from offices in the Rand Building. Her mailing address will be 2500 Rand Building, 14 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203.

Her contact numbers are unchanged: telephone 716-854-0040 and fax 716-856-6499.

Baum focuses her practice on the division of retirement benefits in divorce and legal separation. She is a past president of the Western New York chapter of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York and chairs the "QDRO" subcommittee of the Matrimonial Committee of the Bar Association of Erie County.

- Compiled by Matt Chandler