January 2012 — Mr. Thomas Speyer has been selected to speak at the 2012 Annual Conference of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).
Mr. Speyer is slated to speak on the topic of The Tripartite Relationship: Ethics, Good Faith and Conflicts of Interest.

Thomas Speyer is a 1985 graduate of the Detroit College of Law in Detroit, Michigan. He received his undergraduate degree in 1982 from the State University of New York at Buffalo. A member of Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C., he started with the firm as an associate shortly after graduating from law school. The firm itself is one of the oldest firms in the City of Buffalo and traces its origins back to 1896.

Mr. Speyer's practice concentrates in matters involving complex commercial litigation as well as disputes in the areas of construction, products liability, premises liability and legal malpractice at both the trial and Appellate levels. Thomas has been admitted to practice in the State of New York since 1986, the United States Bankruptcy Court since 1987 and the United States District Court for the Western District of New York since 1991. He is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Buffalo School of Law and Jurisprudence where he has been teaching in the Trial Technique Program for a number of years. He is a member of the Erie County and New York Bar Associations as well as the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association.

The CLM conference will be one of the largest, fully inclusive defense industry conferences in 2012. It will be held March 28-30 in San Diego, California where more than 80 collaborative educational sessions featuring more than 300 speakers are scheduled and is expected to draw attendees from around the world.

About the CLM

The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) is an inclusive, collaborative organization that promotes and furthers the highest standars of claims and litigation management and brings together the thought leaders in both industries. CLM's Members and Fellow include risk and litigation managers, insurance and claims professionals, corporate counsel, outside counsel and third party vendors. The CLM sponsors educational programs, provide resources and fosters communication amoung all in the industry. To learn more about the CLM, please visit www.the CLM.org.

September 2011 — Thompson Reuters, publisher of the New York Super Lawyers magazine, has announced that upon completion of a peer review process all five members of Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C. have been designated as "Super Lawyers."  The five members: Michael F. Chelus, Arthur A. Herdzik, Thomas J. Speyer, Rebecca E. Monte, and Thomas P. Kawalec will be included in the 2011 editions of "New York Super Lawyers – Upstate Edition" and  "Super Lawyers – Corporate Counsel Edition."

The primary practice areas in which the members will be listed are as follows:

Michael F. Chelus – "General Litigation,"
Arthur A. Herdzik – "Personal Injury Defense - General,"
Thomas J. Speyer – "Civil Litigation Defense,"
Rebecca E. Monte – "Estate Planning and Probate," and
Thomas P. Kawalec – "Civil Litigation Defense."

More on the peer selection process can be learned at www.superlawyers.com/about/selction_process.html

The law firm of Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C. is a full service law firm with 13 attorneys with offices in Buffalo and Cheektowaga.

July 2011 — Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C. is pleased to announce that Thomas Speyer has been invited to join the pretigious Council on Litigation Management. The Council is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, Corporate Counsel, Litigation and Risk Managers, claims professionals and attorneys. Through education and collaboration the organization's goals are to create a common interest in the representation by firms of companies, and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows.

Mr. Speyer has been with the firm for over 20 years and concentrates his practice in civil litigation including personal injury and business disputes. He is an Adjunct Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School in its Trial Technique Program and frequently serves as an arbitrator/ mediator of civil disputes.

July 2011— Rebecca E. Monte, a member of the firm, Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte P.C. has been appointed as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce.

Founded in 1939, the mission of the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce is to assist, support and promote business in the Cheektowaga community through economic, educational and legislative programs and in doing so strengthen the Cheektowaga community.

May 2011 -- Arthur A. Herdzik, an officer of the law firm of Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C., was selected to present a continuing legal education program for the benefit of practicing attorneys.  The hour long program, "New York State Surveillance:  Statutes, Case Law and Practical Pointers", will be presented by the Erie Institute of Law  1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 2011, at the headquarters of the Bar Association of Erie County, 6th Floor, 438 Main Street, Buffalo, New York. 

The program will include a discussion on the development of case law and statutory law relating to the discoverability of surveillance, the potential benefits and pitfalls of surveillance and practice pointers.  The presentation will include hypothetical surveillance scenarios and the impact of New York statutory law and case law on the effectiveness, benefits and risks of surveillance as presented by the scenarios.  Those interested in attending the program may call the Bar Association of Erie County 852-8687 or register at the door.

Mr. Herdzik is an invited member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of trial attorneys dedicated to foster improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of litigation.  He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and Bar Association of Erie County where he serves as chairperson of the Negligence Committee. 

Mr. Herdzik has, in the past, participated as an organizer, speaker and course book contributor in several state and county bar association continuing professional education programs. 

Mr. Herdzik resides in the Village of Lancaster where he is the Village Attorney and treasurer of the Lancaster Lions Club. 

Mr. Herdzik received his B.A. from the University of Buffalo in 1972 and his J.D. from the University of Buffalo School of Law in 1975.

Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C. is a full service law firm practicing in the areas of civil litigation, real estate, corporate and business law, estate and estate planning, criminal defense, and matrimonial law.  The firm is headquartered in the Main Court Building, 438 Main Street, Tenth Floor, at Lafayette Square in Buffalo, with a branch office at 2448 Union Road in Cheektowaga, New York.