The American Bar Association is offering assistance to what it calls the nation's largest law practice demographic with its new, online Solo and Small Firm Resource Center.

The website is the product of the bar's Presidential Task Force on Solo and Small Firm Membership Development. ABA President William Robinson III  appointed the task force last August to focus the association's efforts on the value of ABA membership for this practice segment.

"Solo and small-firm practitioners have unique needs because they don't always have the same resources as large firms," Robinson said. "We are therefore excited to launch the ABA Solo and Small Firm Resource Center for all lawyers, free of charge, to level the playing field with online information for lawyers in small practice settings."

American lawyers in private practice represent approximately 70 percent of those working in solo offices or law firms with 20 or fewer members. It's estimated that the United States has about 435,000 solo law practitioners (comprising about 48 percent of private-practice lawyers) and 200,000 lawyers in firms of between two and 20 lawyers (about 22 percent of lawyers in private practice).

The Resource Center offers online articles, CLE programming, a discussion list for solo and small-firm lawyers and other information from groups throughout the ABA. They include the ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division and Law Practice Management Section. The website offers practice management advice, business development strategies, career guidance, advice for handling problem cases and clients, technology reviews, networking events and more.

Access the Solo and Small Firm Resource Center at ambar.org/soloandsmallfirms.

Attorney William Savino is a scheduled speaker at a bankruptcy litigation seminar hosted by the National Business Institute. It's set for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Feb. 8 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Participants can earn 7.0 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.

Savino, a partner at Damon Morey LLP and senior business litigation attorney, will present two sessions at the event. The first, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., will focus on "Adversary Proceedings - Discovery, Evidence and Settlements. It will cover the differences between adversary actions and contested matters. The second, to begin at 2:30 p.m., will cover "Fraudulent Transfers," including actual intent, constructive and affirmative defenses.

He is an instructor of business law at the University at Buffalo's School of Management and commercial litigation for the School of Law. He also is a past national president of the University at Buffalo Law Alumni Association.

For five years, he co-authored the Commercial Law Committee update for the Syracuse Law Review.

In 2011, he was named a Top 10 Upstate New York Attorney by Super Lawyers magazine.

The Western New York Chamber Alliance will hold its annual state legislative forum from 8 to 9:30 a.m., Feb. 10 at The Creekside, 2669 Union Road, Cheektowaga.

Area businesses will have an opportunity to give feedback on the direction of state government to 18 invited state senators and assembly members representing Western New York. 

A panel discussion will be moderated by David Robinson, business reporter at The Buffalo News.

Issues to be discussed include health-care reform, Medicare reform, mandate and property tax relief, the New York State Budget and other issues related to growing businesses and creating jobs.

After a question-and-answer session, there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.  

Chamber members, business/education leaders, local elected officials, and community and service club leaders are invited to participate.

The cost is $15 per person and includes a continental breakfast at 7:30 am.

For reservations, call the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce at 874-1202.  

The WNYCA consists of 25 local chambers working together to promote the interests of their members and the Western New York business community.