Seven Phillips Lytle Attorneys Named Senior Associates in 2025
Buffalo, N.Y. – Phillips Lytle LLP attorneys Lauren Adornetto, Connor P. Entenmann, Matthew McClellan, Paula P. Plaza, Nicholas C. Roberts, Joshua S. Wallace and Sam Williams have been promoted to senior associate as of January 1, 2025.
“Lauren, Connor, Matt, Paula, Nick, Josh and Sam consistently uphold our firm values and have proven to be instrumental to our firm,” said Phillips Lytle Managing Partner Douglas W. Dimitroff. “We are confident that, as they continue to grow professionally, they will also continue to deliver excellent results and maintain exceptional client service.”
Lauren Adornetto, J.D., a member of the firm’s Land, Environment and Energy Practice Group, is an environmental lawyer who offers legal counsel on all aspects of land use and zoning to move complex projects from initial applications to final approvals. Lauren plans for, prepares and files applications for special use permits, site plan approvals, use and area variance requests, subdivision filings, rezonings and all related aspects of compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
Connor P. Entenmann, J.D., is a member of the Banking and Financial Services Industry Group, where he focuses on commercial lending and secured
transactions. Connor serves as lender’s counsel on a variety of loan transactions with national and regional lending clients. This includes lending through the Small
Business Administration program, construction lending and larger lending transactions that include additional lending participants, intercreditors and subordinate parties. Through all of these different types of lending, Connor has seen a wide variety of collateral used as security specific to each transaction.
Matthew McClellan, J.D., is a member of the firm’s Banking and Financial Services
Industry Group, where he focuses on commercial lending and secured transactions. From real estate lending, including construction and permanent lending, to asset-based lending, Matt has experience on the commercial lending documentation necessary for new loans. He has been named to The Best Lawyers Ones to Watch® in America list.
Paula P. Plaza, J.D., LL.M., CIPP/E, is a member of the Litigation Practice Group, specializing in antitrust and data security. She has experience in international
arbitration, having served as an advocate at the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration and as a tribunal assistant at JAMS. Paula holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She was an American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Technology Fellow, attended the NY State Bar Association Trial Academy, and serves as the Northeast Governor of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association.
Nicholas C. Roberts, J.D., is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group who has represented individuals, small businesses and major corporations in a wide range of matters, including breaches of contract, business torts, restrictive covenants, employment discrimination, civil rights litigation, real estate litigation, class actions, personal injuries, regulatory proceedings and many others. Nick has been named an Upstate New York Super Lawyers® Rising Star and listed in The Best Lawyers in America®.
Joshua S. Wallace, J.D., Ph.D., is an environmental litigator in the Litigation Practice Group and a Ph.D. chemist with a deep understanding of chemical processes, testing and environmental impacts. He also has substantial expertise in data-intensive discovery and expert management in large, multiparty federal matters. Josh has been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list.
Sam Williams, J.D., is a member of Phillips Lytle’s Litigation Practice Group and has experience with contractual disputes, restrictive covenants, class actions, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and environmental torts. He also has litigated a variety of regulatory and constitution claims, including due process violations, infringements on the right to bear arms, federal preemption and administrative rulemaking. Sam serves as a captain in the United States Army Reserve.
Phillips Lytle LLP is a preeminent law firm that is recognized nationally for its legal excellence. With offices across New York State and in Chicago, IL; Washington, D.C.; and Canada, our attorneys serve a multinational client base, including Fortune 1000 companies, global and regional financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, middle-market companies, startups, entrepreneurs and individuals on important matters affecting their businesses and personal wealth. For more information, visit www.phillipslytle.com.