Lippes Mathias LLP is pleased to announce that Dennis C. Vacco, former New York State attorney general, partner, and co-leader of the firm’s government & corporate investigations practice, has been named to City & State New York’s 2024 Upstate Power 100 list, ranking 80th. This annual list highlights leaders in government, law, business, and industry who are shaping the future of upstate New York. 

Dennis C. Vacco, a partner at Lippes Mathias, serves on the firm’s executive committee and co-leads its government & corporate investigations practice team. Vacco was elected New York State attorney general in 1994 and served until 1999. In 1988, he was appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York by President Ronald Reagan after serving ten years as an assistant district attorney in Erie County. 

Vacco focuses much of his legal practice on government investigations and regulatory compliance matters. He works with clients to ensure their business practices comply with complex and evolving state and federal laws and regulations. Much of his practice involves investigations by state attorneys general, the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security. 

Vacco also leads Lippes Mathias’ Israel-U.S. Cross Border Practice, working in partnership with a leading Israeli law firm to represent Israeli businesses operating in the United States. He frequently travels to Israel and advises Israeli clients on the regulatory environment for U.S. business. As New York attorney general, Vacco expanded the office’s powers by forming the nation’s first Internet Child Pornography unit, targeting online predators. His tenure also included his role as lead negotiator in the multi-state litigation against the tobacco industry, resulting in the historic Master Settlement Agreement. Additionally, he argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court in Vacco v. Quill, a landmark case affirming that physician-assisted suicide is not a constitutionally protected right. 

Before joining Lippes Mathias, Vacco served as president of Waste Management of New York, LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based Waste Management Inc., further broadening his experience in regulatory and compliance matters. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with more than 200 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Year after year, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.