Donell L. Gibson, senior associate and member of the firm’s corporate; securities; and sports, entertainment & hospitality practice teams, participated in a panel discussion hosted by the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on February 19, 2025. The event was part of the law school’s Black History Month programming and brought together legal professionals to discuss career development, diversity in the legal profession, and the experiences of underrepresented attorneys. 

Gibson, a graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law and former president of the school’s chapter of the National Black Law Students Association, joined other panelists in sharing insights on entering and advancing in the legal field. 

About Donell L. Gibson 

Donell L. Gibson, Jr. is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Corporate; Securities; and Sports, Entertainment & Hospitality Practice Teams, where he assists clients in the areas of business formation and structuring, contract review and negotiation, mergers and acquisitions, fund formations and investments, corporate governance and compliance, and other general corporate matters. Gibson also assists sports and entertainment companies and other professional sports organizations in corporate matters including reviewing, negotiating, and preparing agreements and other documents in connection with various corporate and financial transactions. Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Gibson participated in the firm’s 2017 summer associate program. 

Before obtaining his J.D., Gibson gained valuable legal experience through a judicial internship in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York under Honorable William M. Skretny, as well as representing patients of Roswell Park Cancer Institute through the University at Buffalo School of Law's Health Justice Law & Policy Clinic. 

Gibson also held several leadership positions during law school, including President of the University at Buffalo School of Law's chapter of the National Black Law Students Association ("NBLSA"), Treasurer of NBLSA's Northeast Region, and Managing Editor of the Buffalo Public Interest Law Journal. 

Gibson currently serves as a member of the firm's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York Foundation, Inc. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with more than 220 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, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.