BUFFALO, N.Y. – Lippes Mathias is pleased to announce the promotion of Mary Balkin Cannata, J. Tyler Finn, Jessica M. Peraza and Mitchell J. Ream to senior associate. Collectively, the group possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in practice areas that include corporate, securities, trusts and estates and banking & financial transactions.

“Elevation to senior associate is earned, not given,” Kevin J. Cross, Lippes Mathias’ managing partner and chairman, said. “These are individuals who have quickly set themselves apart through their willingness to work and grow with their teammates. This is the start of a new chapter for these attorneys, but I’m certain it won’t be the last.”

Mary Balkin Cannata is a member of the firm’s corporate and securities practice teams, focusing her practice in the areas of business formation and structuring, contract review, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and other general business planning.

J. Tyler Finn focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and general corporate matters. His experience includes advising private equity firms, public and private companies, and investors on all aspects of acquisitions and dispositions, corporate structuring, and corporate governance. Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Finn was an attorney in the M&A / private equity group at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.

Jessica M. Peraza focuses her practice on estate planning and administration, Medicaid, and long-term care planning. As a law student, she interned for the Hon. Barbara Howe in Erie County Surrogate’s Court and worked in the Public Benefits Unit of Neighborhood Legal Services. Her previous experience includes residential foreclosures, public and private sector labor law, contract negotiations, probate matters, third-party credit collections, and representation of clients in administrative hearings and arbitrations.

Mitchell J. Ream focuses his practice in the banking and financial transactions practice at Lippes Mathias where he represents regional, national and international senior lenders, equity sponsors and borrowers in senior debt and mezzanine financing arrangements. He assists clients with secured transactions, asset-based financing, acquisition financing, syndicated loan transactions and participations. He also provides support to the firm’s corporate practice team on various general corporate transactional matters. Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Ream participated in the firm’s summer associate program.

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