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Executive Director/CEO

Gretchen Gonzalez, Esq.

Ms. Gonzalez has dedicated her career to civil legal services and brings experience from a wide variety of substantive legal areas. Ms. Gonzalez has worked in several positions at VLP since moving back home to Buffalo in 2012. She was a Senior Staff Attorney in VLP’s Positive Families and Individuals project providing representation to clients impacted by HIV and a staff attorney in VLP’s Community and Economic Development Program working with not for profits and small businesses in WNY. She was promoted to Deputy Director of VLP in 2018 and to CEO in 2021. She has worked in New York City as a trial attorney in the housing unit of both the Legal Aid Society’s Harlem Community Law Office and Queens Legal Services. Ms. Gonzalez has also worked as a Staff Attorney with the Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project where she represented clients with severe and persistent mental illness in cases related to public benefits. She clerked with the ACLU National LGBT Rights Project and Children’s Legal Services. Ms. Gonzalez holds a Bachelors of Arts and Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Boston University, as well as an MA in Psychology, cum laude, from City University of New York Hunter College. She is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Club of Buffalo’s Non-Profit Management Program. She is the Co-Chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Committee on Legal Aid, and a member of the NYSBA President’s Committee on Access to Justice. She is an executive board member of the NYS Legal Services Coalition and sits on the board of the Road Less Traveled Theater in Buffalo NY.

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Chief Operating Officer

Nikole Wynn, Esq.

Before joining VLP, Ms. Wynn worked in private practice as a criminal defense attorney where she represented individuals in a variety of criminal and traffic court matters. In 2014, she joined VLP as a staff attorney in VLP’s Positive Families and Individuals program, where she served individuals and families impacted by HIV in a variety of legal matters. Ms. Wynn’s cases included child custody and visitation, child support proceedings, unemployment matters, name and gender changes, debtor-creditor issues, housing matters, divorce proceedings, discrimination, HIV confidentiality violations, and end of life planning. From 2020 – 2021, Nikole worked as VLP’s Civil Supervising Attorney and then went on to become VLP’s Deputy Director. Presently, Nikole is VLP’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she utilizes the extensive institutional knowledge she has gained through her tenure with VLP and is responsible for ensuring the organization runs smoothly and supports the Executive Director/CEO in the overall management of VLP.

Nikole holds a BA in legal studies with a minor in political science, magna cum laude, from the University of Buffalo. She also holds a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Buffalo Law School where she received the Adelbert Moot scholarship for academic excellence. She has been recognized by Buffalo Business First, sat on the Board of Women Lawyers of Western New York, and is passionate about providing quality legal services to low-income people.

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Supervising Attorneys

Brenda Cisneros Vilchis, Esq.

Director of Detained Immigration Program (Batavia Office)

Brenda Cisneros Vilchis joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project in March of 2016. Ms. Cisneros Vilchis received her LL.M. Degree from SUNY Buffalo Law School and her Licenciatura en Derecho (the equivalent of a law degree) from the Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. She joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project full time in March 2016, and has focused her legal work on representing unaccompanied minors and detained individuals in removal proceedings before USCIS, EOIR and ICE. Before joining the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Ms. Cisneros Vilchis practiced in the private sector, focusing on immigration removal proceedings and representing injured workers before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board.

Ms. Cisneros Vilchis is admitted to practice in New York State and Mexico, and she is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association – Western New York Chapter, the New York State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Erie County and the University at Buffalo’s Law Alumni Association. Brenda is fluent in Spanish and conversational in French.

Hollis DeAbreu Davis, Esq.

Supervising Immigration Attorney (Buffalo Office)

Hollis received her law degree from Florida A& M College of Law and her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University at Buffalo.

Prior to joining VLP, Hollis worked in private practice focused on immigration defense in Western New York.

She has worked in many areas of the law throughout her legal career including clerking in criminal state court in Connecticut and worked as an Attorney for the Federal Small Business Administration in Washington, DC.

She has dedicated her legal career to public service and nonprofit work. Her main goal is to provide legal services to those under-served with the integrity and respect they deserve.

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Blanca Owen, Esq.

Supervising Immigration Attorney (Batavia Office)

Blanca holds a law degree from the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada (UMNG), in Bogota, Colombia as well as a Master of Laws degree from SUNY at Buffalo Law School.  Blanca is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.   She has been handling immigration cases since March 2016.

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Jamy Patterson, Esq.

Supervising Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

Patterson is an immigration staff attorney at VLP.  She received her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her undergraduate degree from Florida State University.   She worked many years as a criminal defense attorney in South Dakota before moving to New York. 

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Kristopher Sigeti, Esq.

Supervising Attorney for Family Law

.I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. I graduated from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and then earned my bachelor’s degree at Canisius College. After college, I worked in the healthcare field then in the e-commerce field for a local up-and-coming business. During that time, I went back to Canisius College and earned my Master’s in Business Administration in 2009. I went on to pursue my juris doctorate full-time at the University at Buffalo Law School. During my second year at UB Law, I was elected by my peers to serve on the Student Bar Association’s Executive Committee as Parliamentarian. Then in my third year, I was elected to serve on the executive board of the Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal as Notes Editor.

In 2013, I opened and ran a solo law practice focusing on criminal, family, and estate law. Then, in March 2022, I sold my practice and accepted a staff attorney position with the ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project in the positive individuals and family’s unit. And in January 2023, I transitioned to the supervising attorney position of the family court unit.

In my free time, I love playing with my kids and playing baseball in the summer and skiing in the winter.

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Sara Stoessel, Esq.

Supervising Attorney for General Civil Unit (Buffalo Office)

Sara Stoessel joined VLP in October of 2016. Sara completed both her BA in Social Sciences (magna cum laude) and her JD from SUNY at Buffalo, where she graduated cum laude. While completing her JD, she was active in the Domestic Violence Task Force in the University at Buffalo’s Family Law Program.

Ms. Stoessel has worked extensively at private firms, as a legal assistant, law clerk, and from 2014 to 2016, as an associate attorney at the Sperrazza Law Firm, where her focus was on Family Law.  She also has experience with not-for-profit law firms, having interned at Neighborhood Legal Services and Legal Services for the Elderly and Disabled. She is a member of New York State Bar Association, as well as the Bar Association of Erie County, and is on the latter’s Matrimonial and Family Law, and the Practice and Procedure in Family Law Court, committees. Ms. Stoessel is also on the Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence.

As a staff attorney in VLP’s Positive Families and Individuals program, she serves individuals and families impacted by HIV in a variety of civil legal matters.  Ms. Stoessel’s cases have included child custody and access proceedings, child support proceedings, debtor-creditor issues, divorce, post-judgment matrimonial issues and end of life planning.  In addition, she routinely conducts community outreach and has provided to trainings to local providers on various legal issues.

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Christopher Szczygiel, Esq.

Supervising Attorney for Housing

.Christopher Szczygiel is the Supervising Attorney for Housing at the Volunteer Lawyers Project focused on preventing evictions. Chris was born and raised in Buffalo and earned degrees at the University of Delaware and the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. His career has concentrated on providing civil legal services, including representing tenants in eviction defense and homeowners in mortgage foreclosure defense.

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Office Management & Finance

Joseph Sieracki

Chief Financial Officer

Lauren Dietterich

Grants Manager

Lauren joined Volunteer Lawyers Project in April 2016 and comes with many years of experience in administration, management and bookkeeping.

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Debbie Held

Office Manager (Buffalo Office)

.Debbie Held joined VLP in 2020. She brings extensive office experience, including customer service, accounts receivables/collections, and management.  She was also extremely involved in volunteering for local Boy Scouts, to include Cub Scout Den Leader, Treasurer, and Boy Scout Troop Committee Chair.   

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Stephanie Thurston

Office Manager (Batavia Office)

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Pro Bono Program Manager

Maria Valeri

VLP Pro Bono Program Manager

With over 25 years of paralegal experience in area law firms, Maria Valeri joined the Immigration Program at the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (“VLP”) in 2015 and received full accreditation as an immigration representative from the Department of Justice in March of 2016.  Maria has represented noncitizens in affirmative applications, including survivors of domestic violence and trafficking, and provided deportation defense as part of our Batavia immigration team.

In early 2019, Maria accepted the position of the firm’s Pro Bono Recruitment Coordinator.  As such, she provides opportunities and hosts trainings for private attorneys to encourage their involvement in pro bono through VLP.  Maria also works closely with the University at Buffalo School of Law to integrate law students with VLP programs through internships and practicums.  She also manages the firm’s Pro Se Assistance Program with the Western District of New York, United States District Court.

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Senior Staff Attorney

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.Staff Attorneys

Natalie Behm, Esq.

Staff Attorney – Civil Unit 

Natalie joined VLP as a staff attorney in February 2023.  She has worked as an attorney for many years in family law and civil litigation..

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Charles Case, Esq.

Staff Attorney – Civil Unit 

Charles Case graduated from UB Law School in 2003. He has experience in government relations, commercial litigation, education law, municipal law, estate planning, mortgage foreclosure, creditor/debtor law, and family law. He has published two books, and he sits on the East Aurora Historic Preservation Commission, as well as the Western New York DDSO Board of Visitors as a gubernatorial-appointed advocate for persons living with developmental disabilities. He currently handles end-of-life planning, civil litigation, housing and landlord/tenant matters, consumer collections, HIV confidentiality and privacy, and a range of family court matters.

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Victoria Jolicoeur, Esq.

Staff Attorney – Family Law

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Stephen Kahn, Esq.

Staff Attorney – Civil Unit

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Ron LaPort

Law Graduate – Housing Unit

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Kaitlyn Lauber, Esq.

Staff Attorney – Family Law

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Zahra Salih, Esq.

Staff Attorney – LITC

Zahra joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project in November 2019. She holds a BA in Political Science from York University, and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law. Through her work with VLP, Ms. Salih represents low-income taxpayers with disputes with the IRS and New York State Department of Taxation. She also conducts outreach and education presentations to low-income taxpayers with the goal of equipping taxpayers with an understanding of the U.S. tax system, and their rights and responsibilities within the tax system..

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Elena Spence

Staff Attorney – Housing Unit

Elena joined VLP’s Housing unit in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, cum laude, from Boston University, and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University at Buffalo, where she received the John N. Bennett Award for highest scholastic achievement in her graduating class..

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Stephanie Verhage, Esq.

Staff Attorney – Housing Unit

Stephanie Verhage is a Staff Attorney in VLP’s Housing unit, serving tenants facing eviction as well as assisting with other legal issues surrounding their tenancy.

Stephanie graduated in 2021 with her Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo.  During law school, Stephanie served as President of UB Law’s OUTLaw chapter, Vice President of the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program, Submissions Editor for the Buffalo Human Rights Law Review, and a Senior Associate for the Buffalo Environmental Law Journal.  She also worked as a Summer Associate with VLP’s Positive Individuals and Families Program, and as a Law Clerk at Rich Products Corporation.

In addition to her JD, Stephanie holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Law, summa cum laude, from Binghamton University.

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Immigration Staff Attorneys

Michaela Andriatch, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

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Aaron Aisen, Esq.

Senior Staff Attorney Federal Litigation (Batavia Office)

Rosalie Capps, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

Rosalie Capps is an Immigration Staff Attorney in the Batavia Office where she represents clients detained at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility. Before going to law school, she worked as a paralegal at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Lowey in New York City. Prior to joining Fragomen, she worked at the Resettlement Legal Aid Project at St. Andrews Refugee Center in Cairo, Egypt. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, a master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from the American University in Cairo, and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Piano Performance from Hunter College..

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Johanna K. P. Dennis, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

.Johanna K. P. Dennis, Esq. is an Immigration Staff Attorney at VLP.  Over the last two decades, she represented clients in immigration benefits and removal proceedings before federal agencies, and taught immigration and legal skills courses at law schools nationwide. Graduating with her Juris Doctor from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, Johanna is an avid learner and passionate immigration advocate. Her Ph.D. thesis focused on the intersection of immigration and higher education by exploring the effects of federal and state policies on educational access for undocumented students. In addition to her J.D. and Ph.D., she holds a bachelor’s degree in French and two master’s degrees in education and biotechnology. She communicates with clients in both French and English, is admitted to the New York and Pennsylvania bars, and holds a Certificate of Qualification from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

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.Crystal Eom, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

Jason Gunning, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Buffalo Office)

Jason Michael Gunning is a Staff Attorney in VLP’s Immigration Unit since June 2021. He represents clients seeking asylum, removal defense, and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

He is a 2018 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law where he served as a Pro Bono Scholar in his final semester working in the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo’s Criminal Defense Unit.

Following law school, Jason served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York where he primarily handled cases involving Sex Crimes and Crimes Against Children in the Special Victims Unit.

In addition to his Juris Doctorate, Jason holds a BA in History from Ithaca College and a Masters in History (MA) and a Masters in Teaching (MAT) from Binghamton University (SUNY) and was a formerly a teacher of History, Government, and Economics at both the Secondary School and College levels before transitioning into the law..

Andrew Isenberg, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office).

Andrew B. Isenberg, Esq. serves as an Immigration Staff Attorney for the ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project, where he works with an outstanding team of immigration attorneys, paralegals and social workers representing detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia, New York.

Prior to joining the ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project, Mr. Isenberg was the former District Executive for the Eighth Judicial District where, for over 19 years, he oversaw and managed day to day operations of the courts in the eight counties of Western New York. During his tenure he supervised over 900 non-judicial employees, working closely with 93 full-time Judges. He was responsible for the management and administration of an annual budget in excess of $108 million and twenty-six courthouse facilities. In August 2023, after over 25 years of public service, he retired from the State of New York.

Mr. Isenberg is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.A., with honors in economics, 1989) and the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1992). He is admitted to the Bars of the State of New York, the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Western District of New York.

Previously, Mr. Isenberg was First Assistant Erie County Attorney. He has private practice experience with the former law firm of Offermann, Mahoney, Cassano, Pigott, Greco & Whelan and the former law firm of Gresens & Gillen. Mr. Isenberg began his legal career as a law clerk for the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, for Presiding Justice M. Dolores Denman.

Mr. Isenberg is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County. He is a past president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, former vice-president of the American Jewish Committee, Western New York Chapter, former chair of the Appellate Practice Committee of the Bar Association of Erie County, past president of the Mid Day Club of Buffalo, past chair of UJF Campaign Super Sunday 2014, and former member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo Board of Governors.

Mr. Isenberg has lectured for the Office of Court Administration and Bar Association of Erie County on appellate practice, e-filing, technology in the Courts, court interpreting, access to justice and careers in the courts. He also lectured for the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts on access to justice initiatives in the courts. He served as a member of the Eighth Judicial District Diversity Steering Committee and the Eighth Judicial District Gender and Racial Fairness Committee. He has previously served on the New York State Court Officer Evaluation Board, Unified Court System Workforce Planning Committee, and various Office of Court Administration Statewide Committees.

Mr. Isenberg is a recipient of the 2021 Award of Merit from the Bar Association of Erie County. In 2020, he received the Champion for Justice Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. In 2017, he received the Diversity and Inclusion Award WNY Coalition of Blacks in the Courts as well as the Pro Bono State Award from the NYS Unified Court System Office of Policy and Planning. In 2012, he received the Ann and Meyer Riwchun Young Leadership Award from the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies..

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Natalie Lesniak, Esq.

Immigration Law Graduate/DOJ Accredited Representative (Buffalo Office)

Ms. Lesniak is an DOJ Fully Accredited Immigration Representative at ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project.  She often represents immigrant survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.  She earned a Juris Doctorate and Master of Social Work at SUNY University at Buffalo with a focus on trauma-informed care and restorative practices.  During law school, she was on the Human Rights Law Review and an intern for VLP’s Family Court Help Desk.  She previously clerked at New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and volunteered with the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition to implement restorative practices in schools and juvenile detention facilities throughout WNY.

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Bryan Gilbert-Overland

Immigration Law Graduate (Batavia Office)

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Hillary Panek, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

Hillary E. Panek, Esq. is as an Immigration Staff Attorney at VLP, where she represents detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility.

Before joining VLP, Hillary worked in private practice as a criminal defense attorney and has experience in civil litigation involving constitutional law claims, including Title IX, Second Amendment, and Fourth Amendment issues. Prior to that, Hillary began her legal career as an Appellate Court Attorney for the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, where she clerked for three years.

Hillary holds a J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and Legal Studies from St. John Fisher University. She is admitted to practice in New York State and the Western District of New York.

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Ray Peters, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

Raymond Peters joined VLP in 2022. Raymond has been practicing law since 2008. He started his legal career representing criminal defendants. For years he fought to protect the rights of individuals accused of crimes. He eventually transitioned into the civil spectrum representing plaintiffs with their bodily injury claims. He has years of experience in personal injury law.

Raymond has dedicated his legal career to help individuals in need.

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Danielle Piccone

Immigration Law Graduate (Batavia Office)

Danielle joined VLP as a Law Graduate in August 2024.

She received her J.D. from Albany Law School and B.A. in Political Science from the College of Saint Rose. During law school, Danielle completed two semesters of the Immigration Law Clinic, served as an editorial board member for the Albany Government Law Review, and interned at local and federal public defender offices in Albany, N.Y. She wrote her note about the intersection of immigration and criminal law titled, “Conceptualizing Mandatory Detention of Noncitizens as Punitive: Looking Back at IIRIRA.” At graduation, Danielle received Platinum Pro Bono Honors for her completion of 750+ pro bono hours during law school. All of Danielle’s experience and research in immigration law and criminal law led her to work at VLP.

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Benjamin Ritter, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Batavia Office)

Benjamin Ritter is a 2012 graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School who joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project in 2023.  At the VLP, he represents clients at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia.   

Prior to joining the VLP, Mr. Ritter practiced law with several law firms, including most recently, with Tronolone & Surgalla, PC, where his immigration law experience included family sponsorship, spousal sponsorship, naturalization application, criminal immigration, and complex passport application matters.   He additionally practiced in the areas of matrimonial law, family law, Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal law, criminal defense, Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, debtor/foreclosure defense, landlord-tenant, personal injury, Social Security Disability, Mental Hygiene Law guardianship, and commercial litigation matters.  Mr. Ritter is admitted to practice law in the state of New York, the United States District Court of the Western District of New York, and the Seneca Nation of Indians Peacemakers’ Court.  .

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Brittany Triggs, Esq.

Immigration Staff Attorney (Buffalo Office)

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Support Staff

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