Partners

Born in Ithaca, New York; admitted to bar, 1950, New York. Education: Dartmouth College (A.B., 1947); Cornell University (LL.B., 1950). Phi Delta Phi. Member: Monroe County, New York State and American Bar Associations; Village Attorney, Pittsford, New York, 1956-present. Past President Dartmouth Club of Rochester; past member Dartmouth Alumni Council; Chairman Enrollment Committee; past member Rochester Rotary Club; past Trustee, Pittsford Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Osborn has had extensive experience as a general practitioner and trial attorney. He currently concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, corporate, municipal and family law. josborn@osbornreed.com

THOMAS C. BURKE:

Born in Buffalo, New York; admitted to bar, 1965, New York; 1966, District of Columbia, United States District Court-Western District of New York; United States Court of Appeals-Second Circuit. Education: Canisius College (B.S., cum laude, 1961); Georgetown University (LL.B., 1964). Co-author with Antieau and Carroll: "Religion Under the State Constitutions," New York, Central Book Company. Captain, U.S. Army, 1964-1966. Member: Monroe County, New York State (Faculty, "Trial of a Personal Injury Case") and American Bar Associations; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Listed in The Best Lawyers in America & SuperLawyers.

Mr. Burke's practice involves the representation of individuals and institutions in civil litigation with particular emphasis in the health services (medical malpractice, staff credentialing). tburke@osbornreed.com

JEFFREY M. WILKENS:

Born in Rochester, New York; admitted to bar, 1975, New York. Education: Yale University (B.A., 1968); Cornell University (J.D., 1974). Capt., U.S. Army, 1968-1971. Member: Monroe County (Judiciary, Court and Federal Court Committees), New York State and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute; American Society of Law and Medicine; 7th Judicial District Grievance Committee of the Fourth Judicial Department, 1982-1988; Listed in The Best Lawyers in America & SuperLawyers.

Mr. Wilkens concentrates his practice in the representation of defendants in tort litigation particularly malpractice, products liability, construction, and other technically oriented actions. jwilkens@osbornreed.com

JANE B. HOPFINGER:

Born in Akron, Ohio; admitted to bar, 1979, New York, United States District Court for Western District of New York. Education: University of Rochester (B.A., cum laude, 1975); Duke University (J.D., with honors, 1978). Member: Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations; Trustee, Monroe County Bar Association, 1984-85; Present and Past Memberships: Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys; Participant Volunteer Legal Services Project. Civic Activities: Director and past Secretary, Rochester Children's Nursery; Chairperson, Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee.

Ms. Hopfinger concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate, estate planning matters, and residential mortgage lending. jhopfinger@osbornreed.com

JEFFREY L. TURNER:

Born in Rochester, New York; admitted to bar, 1981, New York; 1982 U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. Education: University of Rochester (B.A., 1977); Rutgers School of Law (J.D., 1980). Member: New York State Bar Association (Family and Municipal Law Sections) and Monroe County Bar Association (Family Law Section).

Mr. Turner is engaged in the general practice of law with a particular emphasis in the family law area. jturner@osbornreed.com

KATHLEEN B. BENESH:

Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1989, New York. Education: Peter Bent Brigham School of Nursing (Diploma, 1975); Alfred University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1977); Boston College (M.S., magna cum laude, 1980); University of Buffalo (J.D., 1988). Member: NYS Nurses Association, Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations, Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys; Private Pilot's License.

Ms. Benesh practices civil litigation, with particular emphasis in medical malpractice defense. kbenesh@osbornreed.com

CHRISTIAN C. CASINI:

Born in Rochester, New York; admitted to bar, 1996, New York; 1996, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York and Northern District of New York. Education: Monroe Community College (A.S., 1990); New York State Sheriff�s Association Award, 1990; State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A. summa cum laude 1992); S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo School of Law (J.D. 1995). Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award, 1995; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 1995. Member: Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations. Guest Speaker, Rochester Legal Nurses Network Annual Meeting, Topic: When Workers' Compensation and Medical Malpractice Collide (July 11, 2007).

Mr. Casini practices in general civil litigation which includes the following concentrations: medical malpractice defense, personal injury, insurance litigation, asbestos litigation, labor law, products liability, civil rights and the defense of municipalities and school districts. ccasini@osbornreed.com

BERNADETTE WEAVER-CATALANA:

Born in Willingboro, New Jersey; admitted to bar, 1996 New York; 1996, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; 1997 United States Tax Court. Education: State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A. 1987); S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., cum laude 1995). Buffalo Law Review, published Battle for Baby Jessica: A Conflict of Best Interests. Western New York Trial Lawyers Association Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 1995. Named one of local "Up and Coming Attorneys" by The Daily Record, 2004. Member: Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations. Chair of Board of Directors, BOA Editions Limited, a non-profit publisher of poetry.

Ms. Weaver-Catalana practices in general civil litigation which includes the following concentrations: personal injury, asbestos and silica litigation, products liability, civil rights and structured settlements. bcatalana@osbornreed.com

AIMEE L. LAFEVER KOCH:

Born in Olean, New York; admitted to bar 1996. Education: St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, New York (BA History, Psychology Minor, magna cum laude 1992); SUNY at Buffalo, School of Law (JD, 1995). Member: Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys; GRAWA Judicial Committee Member; President of Federal Employees Parents Association; Monroe County Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; American Bar Association.

Ms. La Fever Koch's practice is medical malpractice defense, personal injury, insurance litigation, labor law, products liability, defense of municipalities and school districts and trusts and estates. alafeverkoch@osbornreed.com

Associate Attorneys

L. DAMIEN COSTANZA:

Born Rochester, New York; admitted to bar 1987, New York; Education: St. Bonaventure University, (BA, 1983, magna cum laude), New York Law School, 1986, (J.D. 1986) Kapelman Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy, 1986; Froessel Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, 1986; SUNY at Brockport (M.S. Ed, 1998). Member: Monroe County Bar Association.

Mr. Costanza's practice is in general civil litigation, with an emphasis on insurance defense litigation, personal injury, labor law, products liability and technology law. dcostanza@osbornreed.com

JEFFREY P. DiPALMA:

Born: Boston, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1995, Massachusetts; 1996, New York. Education: State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A., cum laude, 1991); Albany Law School of Union University (J.D., cum laude, 1995); Member: New York State and Monroe County Bar Associations. Prior to joining Osborn, Reed & Burke, LLP, Mr. DiPalma spent eleven years as a prosecutor for Seneca, Monroe and Erie Counties as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting all types of crimes, including violent felonies and homicides, having tried more than 90 jury trials in his tenure.

Mr. DiPalma's practice is in general civil litigation. jdipalma@osbornreed.com