Lippes Mathias today announced that Jessica Buffamonti, Elyse Ponterio, and Ashley Drzymala have been admitted to practice law in New York State and have transitioned to the role of associate at the firm. 

Jessica Buffamonti is a member of the firm’s employment practice team in Buffalo, where she focuses on employment law and education-related matters. Her practice includes drafting employment-related contracts, advising employers on employee relations, and defending employers against claims involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. Buffamonti earned her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 2024, where she served as the executive editor of the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce. She was actively involved in the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team. She received her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2021 

Ashley Drzymala is an associate on the firm’s real estate team, assisting clients with a wide range of commercial real estate matters, including lease negotiations, purchase and sale agreements, title reviews, and other real estate contracts. While attending the University at Buffalo School of Law, where she earned her J.D. cum laude in 2024, Drzymala served as an editor of the Buffalo Law Review. She also held in-house legal positions with a prominent real estate development company and interned with the Buffalo Law Department. Drzymala graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Management in 2020. 

Elyse Ponterio concentrates her practice on corporate law, including debt and equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and private placements. Based in the firm’s Buffalo office, she brings significant experience in general corporate and contract matters. Ponterio is a 2024 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law, where she earned her J.D. magna cum laude and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Coif. She received her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Canisius University in 2020. 

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, 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.