BUFFALO, NY – As a result of the continued growth and expansion of its legal services, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP announces new leaders of the firm’s litigation, corporate and labor practice groups.

Amy Habib Rittling and Jennifer C. Persico will lead the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. This group includes the areas of commercial, employment, government investigations, environmental, medical malpractice and consumer financial services litigation.

Ms. Habib Rittling concentrates her practice on labor and general business law and litigation, counseling and advising employers on all aspects of employment relationships and employment practices and policies.

Ms. Persico concentrates her practice in municipal law, corporate law, premises liability claims and commercial and business litigation, as well as foreclosures and real estate.

Paul A. Mitchell and Brendan J. Rich will lead the firm’s Corporate Practice Group, which includes the areas of corporate, healthcare, family business, immigration, intellectual property, securities and technologies law.

Mr. Mitchell concentrates his practice on corporate and securities, venture capital and private equity, handling mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, fund formations, complex corporate transactions and technology licensing.

Mr. Rich concentrates his practice in the areas of business and financial transactions, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, entity selection and formation and succession planning and drafting business relationship documents.

Keith R. Jacques, managing partner of the firm’s Albany office, will lead the Labor Practice Group, including government relations.

Mr. Jacques concentrates his practice in lobbying and government relations, representing public sector labor unions and other clients before the New York State Legislature, the Governor’s Office and State administrative agencies.

“These appointments are part of the continuing restructuring of the firm to accommodate our unprecedented growth,” said Kevin J. Cross, managing partner at Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP. “I am confident our practice group leaders will do an excellent job in representing our firm’s litigation, corporate and labor areas as we expand our scope of legal services for a growing and dynamic clientele.”