A founding and managing partner of Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP, Tom has been a personal injury defense lawyer for 40+ years, handling all facets of insured and self-insured defense cases from suit commencement through trial. His experience and legal skills have led to successful results for KSLN clients in civil litigation involving automobile, premises and construction liability, professional malpractice claims, complex products liability and mass tort actions, including lead paint, toxic tort, and “sick building” syndrome claims, as well as sports/recreational/leisure liability claims. He is the co-Chair of KSLN’s Insurance Defense Practice Group.
In addition to managing KSLN, Tom is involved in many business groups and community projects. He is the NY State Representative to DRI (f/k/a the Defense Research Institute) and previously served as Chair of DRI’s National Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. Tom is the immediate past President and current Chair of the Board of Directors for D.A.N.Y. (Defense Association of New York).
Tom believes, as does KSLN, that being involved with local community organizations is important to address local issues and to actively help shape solutions. He is Vice President and founding member of the Board of Directors of the Chippewa Alliance, an organization of business executives, owners and residents promoting the re-development of downtown Buffalo. KSLN has heavily invested in the revitalization of Buffalo, with KSLN’s involvement in the purchase and restoration of the historic Calumet Building, which is now KSLN’s headquarters. Tom also chairs the Chippewa Alliance’s Economic Development Committee. Tom was recently named a board member of the Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, a consumer cooperative business in Buffalo, NY, whose mission is to provide quality products for gardening.
Tom is also a past member of the Board of Trustees of Shea’s O’Connell Preservation Guild, Ltd., whose mission is to restore and maintain the nationally renowned Shea’s Theatre. He is also the past President and Board Member of the Buffalo Ski Center, where he is a professional ski instructor, certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America in alpine and telemark skiing.
ADMISSIONS
New York State
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
United States District Court, Northern District of New York
United States District Court, Southern District of New York
United States District Court, Western District of New York
Pennsylvania State
United States Bankruptcy Court
ACHIEVEMENTS
Recipient, Leadership Award, Defense Research Institute of New York, October 2016
Vice President of the Board of Directors, Chippewa Alliance
Member, Board of Directors, Defense Association of New York (DANY)
Member, Board of Trustees, Shea’s O’Connell Preservation Guild, Ltd.
Member, Board of Directors, St. Thomas More Guild, Inc.
Former Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the Defense Research Institute
Former Chair of the Erie County Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Committee
Former Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Committee
Former Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Law Office Economics and Management Committee
New York State Judicial Candidate Screening Committee
Program Chair, New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting of the Committee on Law Practice Management
Recognized by New York State Super Lawyers
Western New York “Legal Elite”
Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rating AV® Distinguished
AFFILIATIONS
Western New York Insurance Association
Council on Litigation Management
Erie County Bar Association
International Amusement and Leisure Defense Association
Monroe County Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
EDUCATION
J.D., magna cum laude, Syracuse University College of Law
B.A., Journalism, St. Michael’s (Vt.) College
