David E. Franasiak '78

Segment Synopsis: Introduction. Born in Buffalo, grew up in Tonawanda. First in family to go to college or be a lawyer. Attended Buffalo State, interested in history and economics. Got a law degree and MBA. After undergrad degree, he did an ethnographic study of the Polish community of Buffalo, worked on Mayor Makowski’s campaign, worked in City Hall as he got JD and MBA. Comes at clients from the business end instead of the lawyer side. Wasn’t interested in court trials. Wasn’t passionate enough for politics.
Enjoyed Business school, had a professor who encouraged him to the financial aspects. First job as lawyer was with Occidental Chemical/Hooker Chemical new business division. Defended Hooker Chemical against newer legislation coming from Washington. Favorite professors/classes? Halpern, Civil Procedure, learned analysis skills, Professor McCarty taught Quantitative methods, Labor Law, Joyce for tax law.
Differences between MBA and Law School. MBAs collaborative, Law collaborative and competitive. Supported himself in college doing 2 degrees. Took one year off between undergrad and grad, while working in mayor’s office with parking. Waitlisted first application, accepted second time. Also accepted to Cornell. First job was through business school internship. Relationship to Business School versus Law School. Talks about NYC program with Business and Law, struggles of Law School.

Keywords: Career / Early; Career / Professional Experience; Choosing UB Law School; Elections / Political History; Faculty / Professors; Family; Legal Education; Relationship with UB Law; Undergraduate Education

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; FAMILY HISTORY; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Family background. Perceptions of law school, Paper Chase, how he passed New York Bar first time. Gets let go from Hooker Chemical and applied to government agencies. Gets a call from Henry Nowak and ends up back in politics in DC. Works on a subcommittee on business tax. Gets hired by US Chamber of Commerce for Tax Act tax reform. Changes jobs regularly because of interest. Matthew Jasen advice. Worked for BP (British Petroleum) on tax issues, involved in Act 86. Works for Arthur Young (Ernst and Young), became expert in auditing and what became Sarbanes Oxley Act. Becomes more like a business consultant with legal expertise. Did some EPA work and helped get a bill through Congress that lowered SEC section 31 fees. After 2008 goes back to tax reform, Dodd Frank, regulations, FTC, CFPB, works both sides of the aisle. After 2008 goes back to tax reform, Dodd Frank, regulations, FTC, CFPB, works both sides of the aisle.

Keywords: Being a Lawyer; Career / Professional Experience; Elections / Political History; Perceptions; Tax Law

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: NYC program: deans from law and business schools want to get alumni more involved and have a NYC presence MBA/Law School for students to develop contacts and skills through lectures. Topics he’s spoken on, 2008 financial crisis and the aftermath, bankruptcy code, predictions for future. Paying for college and student debt, his children not interested in law, sees his work as boring.
Current work in DC consulting/business planning. Advice for young students thinking of alternative for JD/MBA. Changes in Law firms. Building relationships with clients. Involvement with politics, internships to open doors. Legal ethics in firms with lawyers and non-lawyers. Wishes law schools would train students in marketing and business, financial literacy, getting involved in various organizations and have an interest in it. Boards he serves on. Using social media. Twitter to find new clients. Changes in technology and how it applies to business and legal practice. Making a living off social media as a brand. If he got a law degree today, he would specialize in something like IP.
Hobby? Work with charities, kayaking, lives in Annapolis, second home in FL.

Keywords: Career / Professional Experience; Community Involvement; Family; Relationship with UB Law

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE