BUFFALO, N.Y. – Lippes Mathias today announced that Andrew D. Drilling, Michael L. Nisengard, and Sean M. O’Brien – three attorneys who bring uncommon insight and practical experience to their respective practices – have been promoted to partner.

“Each of these new partners have demonstrated their capabilities at the highest level possible, to not just their clients, but their peers, teammates and respective communities as well,” Kevin J. Cross, Lippes Mathias’ managing partner and chairman, said. “Partnership at Lippes Mathias is about more than billable hours and new matter brought on– it is about buying in to the collegial and inclusive culture that we work hard to maintain. I am proud to say that every one of these lawyers – Andrew, Michael and Sean – fit that bill and then some.”

Andrew Drilling, a member of the firm’s employment practice team, counsels private and public institutions on all matters involving local, state and federal employment laws. His experience includes advising clients on compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the New York Paid Family Leave Law; the New York Paid Sick Leave Law; the New York Human Rights Law and the New York Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act (Taylor Law). Andrew also regularly advises employers on legal issues involving discrimination and retaliation, leave and accommodation requests, employment contract disputes, agency investigations, and collective class actions and arbitration matters.

Michael Nisengard concentrates his practice on commercial real estate and renewable energy matters, routinely handling issues involving the structuring and negotiating of all phases of real estate development projects located in New York State and throughout the country, with experience that also includes purchases, sales, leases, financing (including loan, IDA and tax credit financing), title, survey and due diligence review. Nisengard advises individuals, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and national/international companies on a wide range of property uses, including shopping centers, retail, office, medical, residential, manufacturing, warehouse and industrial projects on both vacant and improved property, including brownfields. In addition, he provides counsel on real estate aspects of renewable energy transactions, including solar and wind, and addresses site control, power purchase, real property agreements, diligence review and related matters in the project development, investment, financing, purchase and sale transaction phases.

Sean O’Brien focuses his practice broadly on commercial matters, municipal matters, and general litigation. He devotes a substantial amount of time defending creditors against individual and class claims that the creditors have violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Additionally, O’Brien’s practice extends to white-collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement matters, internal investigations, and complex civil and securities litigation. Prior to joining the firm, O'Brien worked as an assistant corporation counsel for the New York City Law Department.