BUFFALO, N.Y. – Lippes Mathias is pleased to share that Amanda T. DeGance, Andrew D. Drilling, Brandon M. Lê, and Sarah B. Purpura – four attorneys based in the firm's Buffalo and Jacksonville offices – have joined the firm. The addition of the four attorneys to Lippes Mathias' ranks is the latest example of the firm's lasting commitment to providing its clients with the highest quality legal services and support.

Background on each new attorney can be found below:

Amanda T. DeGance is an associate member of the firm’s real estate practice team in its Jacksonville office. She specializes in complex commercial real estate and private equity transactions, representing buyers, sellers, and other third parties in all phases of these deals. DeGance also works closely with lenders and institutional investors on a variety of matters. DeGance received her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law in 2022, and in 2019, graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida. She is a member of both the Florida Bar Association and the Jacksonville Bar Association. 

Andrew D. Drilling, a senior associate based in the Lippes’ Buffalo office, is a member of the firm’s employment practice team. He provides counsel on all matters involving local, state, and federal employment laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Drilling regularly advises employers on issues related to discrimination and retaliation, leave and accommodation requests, and employment contract disputes. When necessary, he represents clients in litigated matters before administrative agencies and courts. Drilling’s employment litigation experience includes representing employers in proceedings involving harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He also has experience representing employers in connection with National Labor Relations Act proceedings and negotiating union contracts. In addition to his legal practice, Drilling conducts investigations into allegations of employee wrongdoing and offers management training seminars and presentations. Drilling graduated magna cum laude from both Canisius College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Ohio Northern University College of Law, where he received his J.D. He is a member of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Business Leaders, the New York State Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Erie County Bar Association, on which he serves upon the executive council of its Young Lawyer Committee.

Brandon M. Lê, also based in Buffalo, is an associate and member of the firm’s corporate practice team. He brings a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and compliance and prior to joining Lippes Mathias, he advised a variety of for-profit and not-for-profit entities on matters regarding compliance, M&A, and corporate governance. Lê received his bachelor's degree from Cleveland State University, where he studied Economics and Philosophy. Before enrolling at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he earned his J.D. in 2020, he worked in the equities operations of a global investment bank. As a law student, Mr. Lê interned for Judge Julio Fuentes at the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and worked at the Entrepreneurship Law Center to provide legal guidance to student-led start-up businesses.

Sarah B. Purpura, who has also joined Lippes’ Jacksonville office as a member of the firm’s employment team, represents clients in all aspects of employment law, including litigation and crisis management. As a former prosecutor in Jacksonville and policy analyst in Washington D.C., Purpura brings valuable analytical and investigative skills to her work. She has significant courtroom and jury trial experience, providing her clients with an extra edge and a unique perspective on employment law issues. Purpura graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts in 2013, and in 2017, earned her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with more than 140 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Long Island, and New York, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; San Antonio, T.X.; 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.