Daniel C. Oliverio '82

Segment Synopsis: Background, born in Niagara Falls, NY, father bricklayer and mother worked. Emphasis in education. No lawyers in family. Brother was first lawyer. Had some doctors in family. Diverse neighborhood, well-kept, blue collar middle class and safe. Taught him to compete, work at a young age, instilled good work ethic. Studied engineering at UB. Worked at Carborundum who sent him through MBA program at UB. Encountered lawyers at Carborundum. Decided to try law school. Applied to UB. Path to law school was not traditional. UB's excellent reputation and affordable. He thought about leaning and Bill Greiner liked him and kept him there. Wonders where he would be with a different direction. Law school was easy compared to engineering. 200 in class, attrition. Tom Headrick was dean, a students' dean.

Keywords: Choice of Law; Choosing UB Law School; Deans; Family; Reputation; UB Academic Advisors; Undergraduate Education; Value of Education

Subjects: EDUCATION; FAMILY HISTORY; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Made good friends in law school. Greiner, Headrick, Bob Schwenkel, Freed Frank, Bob Lane. Intern at Jaeckle, Fleischmann, Mugel and being in awe of Jaeckle. Social life, Rooties Pump Room on Millersport, law students hung out there. Non-traditional law students, Gerry Meehan, former Captain Buffalo Sabre, Lee Coppola former newspaperman. Bill Greiner and Marjorie Girth favorite professors. least favorite? Civil Procedures, Real Property. No courtroom exposure as a student. Took Trial Technique. Old way, more Socratic, legal concepts, not teaching to Bar and less practical experience. Sees improvements with newer grads getting practical experience. No Law Review. Success indicators are life events, areas of expertise not education. "The practice of law is primarily other than what you learn in law school," judgement, confidence, sense opportunities, identifying the problems, negotiate. Not a direct correlation between academic success and career success. Mentors: Bill Greiner. Did not have a support system around him.

Keywords: Academic vs. Career Success; Classes; Practice; Practitioners and Faculty; Social Life; UB Academic Advisors; UB Law School general; UB Preparation

Subjects: UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Knew he wanted to be in private practice in a firm. Story of how he came to Hodgson Russ. Sal Martoche contacted him and offered a job with US Attorney. Took the job and worked with: Frank Clark, Denise O'Donnell, Matt Murphy, Frank Geraci, Jonathan Feldmann, Michael Battle, Marty Littlefield, Joe Guerra, JP Kennedy, Rod Personius, good experienced lawyers. Career changer for him, realized his direction was litigation in federal court. Met every litigator in WNY: Boreanez, Condon, Daniels, Cambria, Harrington, Greenman. Kevin Dillon never on time. Honored to practice in front of Ed Maxwell, excellent judge. Judge Martoche provided a tremendous opportunity, part of formal legal education, very grateful. Lists names names he worked with. Martoche was a master at hiring great talent and delegating the work to them, brilliant manager, trusted his people, always backed them up. Career prosecutors: Kathy Mehltretter, Joe Guerra, JP Kennedy, Marty Littlefield.

Keywords: Career / Professional Experience; Law Firms; Litigation; Practice

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Went out on his own for a few years, took patent bar and passed it. Needed a base like Hodgson Russ, returned to there. Professional accomplishment? Leaving Hodgson Russ for US Attorney. Coming back to Hodgson Russ and starting white collar criminal practice. Joe Sedita joins practice, Bob Conklin and Diane Bennett gave him carte blanche to develop the area of practice. Nationally known for their whistle blowing practice. Johnson and Johnson case, 2.3 billion case. Great pride in founding this practice and national recognition it garners. Professional opportunities have changed dramatically. Now more public service opportunities for them, working for start ups. Legal advertising changed dynamic of profession, not positively. Now, seen as less of a profession and more a business, has hurt newer lawyers. Pressure to bring in business and business development. Do over? Yes. Regrets people don't understand what he and other lawyers do day to day, cases, deals, strengthen rule of law and commerce. Sit in City Court and see how many cases are processed. Public has skewed legal view. Law keeps democracy going. Would he recommend the law? Depends on why you want to go into it. Advice? "Learn your craft" and be excellent at what you do, be able to win your cases. Think about connections in community, networking with colleagues, take increasingly difficult assignments to gain experience. Never expected this recognition from Law School. Very appreciative of recognition from peers and Law School.

Keywords: Choice of Law; Criminal Law; Law Firms; Service; Significant Cases; US Attorney

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; LAW; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE