I believe that being an attorney is more than just advising clients on the law and appearing in Court. As a Matrimonial and Family Law attorney, I believe in establishing a close rapport with my clients, knowing their genuine needs and concerns, and counseling them in times when they are most vulnerable. I want my clients to know that I truly care about the outcome of their case, and doing my best to obtain results that are in their best interests and that of their children. I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where the majority of my family continues to reside. My parents are hard-working people who took on many jobs throughout my childhood to send my sister and I to private schools and give us many advantages that we wouldn't otherwise have if it weren't for their hard work and dedication. I am the first person in my family to attend and complete college. My parents, as middle-class folks, always stressed the importance of treating people as I would want to be treated, regardless of gender, religion, race, age, disability, social status, sexual orientation, and the like. All of my grandparents immigrated to the United States from Sicily and Poland, respectively, and worked hard to establish a life in the US. I was raised with patriotism and respect for our servicemembers, and currently have family in active deployment. The importance of education was always a focus in my home, but my parents also encouraged our involvement in sports and extracurriculars. I have played competitive sports my whole life, particularly basketball and softball. My father played AAA baseball and my my younger sister obtained her advanced degree in neuroscience by attending college on a basketball scholarship. I have always enjoyed reading and writing poetry, and I was first published in a national magazine at age five. I am highly supportive of the United States Military and actively participate in projects to benefit War Veterans. I consistently donate to organizations that support world literacy, veterans, and animal shelters. I worked full-time as a Project Coordinator for The Home Depot for ten years while I attended undergrad and law school. I have worked with architects, contractors, and homeowners on any project you can think of, but particularly entire kitchen/bath ronnovation, flooring installation, plumbing, and electrical projects. I love physical labor and I like to get dirty. It's therapeutic. My upbringing and experience has taught me the importance of hard work, healthy competition, but also working as a team. Equally important, I have also learned the importance of family, friendship, and respect. I pride myself in my work as an attorney, and take care to provide each client with quality representation. Many clients have stated their appreciation that I am "real". where I give straightforward, understandable advice. Being an attorney is one of the MANY things that define me, as result of hard work and persistence. It's my goal to continue that hard work and persistence throughout my career.