John grew up in the Southern Tier and currently lives in the Buffalo area. He has dedicated his professional life to making sure that hardworking families are treated fairly by the legal system, including years of service with the New York State Attorney Grievance Committees, which oversee the discipline of lawyers accused of misconduct or neglect, and appointments by Governor Cuomo to serve on multiple judicial screening committees evaluating potential candidates for judgeships. As a former Golden Club Boxer and current certified amateur boxing coach, referee, and judge…..I know how to fight in the ring and in the courtroom for you!
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Appointed by New York Governor to serve on New York Judicial Screening Committee
- Appointed by New York Governor as Chairperson of the 4th Department Judicial Screening Committee
- Bar Association of Erie County
- Minority Bar Association of Western New York, Inc., Past President
- Western New York Trial Lawyers Association
- New York State Defenders Association
- Former Chairperson, Eighth Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee
- Former member, U.S. Magistrate Selection Committee for U.S. District Court, Western District of N.Y.
- Syracuse University Law Alumni
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Erie County Lawyer of the Year 2020
- Buffalo News Citizen of the Year
- Super Lawyers — 2006 to present
- Erie County Bar Association Criminal Justice Award
- Minority Bar Association Community Service Award
- Ebony magazine Phenomenal Father Award
- Parents magazine Good Neighbor Award
- N.A.A.C.P. Medgar Evers Civil Rights Award
- Business First Forty Under Forty recognition
- Mansfield University Society of Honors
- Olean High School Athletic Wall of Fame
- Olean High School Academic Wall of Fame
PAST EMPLOYMENT
- Senior Trial Counsel and Managing Attorney, Brown Chiari LLP — 2009 to 2014
- Partner, Harter Secrest and Emery LLP — 2006 to 2009
- Owner, Law Offices of John V. Elmore — 1989 to 2006
- Assistant Attorney General, N.Y.S. Attorney General’s Office — 1987 to 1989
- Assistant District Attorney, N.Y. County District Attorney’s Office — 1984 to 1987
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- Appointed by New York Governor as a Trustee of Erie Community College
- U.S.A. Boxing — certified boxing coach, referee and judge
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- N.A.A.C.P. — life member
- Former member, New York State Commission on Indigent Defense
Kelsanah is an Associate at Fragomen’s New York office. She advises multinational corporate clients on a range of nonimmigrant and immigrant matters, including PERM Labor Certification Applications, permanent residency and consular processing issues. Kelsanah has experience working with clients across a range of industries, including advertising/communications, financial services, higher education, hospitality, healthcare, and religion.
Education & Admissions Tulane University School of Law, J.D., 2018 Middlebury College, B.A., cum laude , 2013 Admitted to State Bar of New York Memberships American Immigration Lawyers Association New York City Bar Association Caribbean Attorneys Network Professional Accomplishments CLE Presenter, " Employment-Based Pathways to Adjustment of Status,” Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) Monthly Training (2022)
Kunbi Sijuwade-Odubogun is an industry leading business attorney and speaker with over 15 years of experience in the legal and creative industries. Through her practice in New York, Kunbi has carved a niche in the legal industry, specializing in an array of practice areas that cater to the evolving needs of businesses and entrepreneurs. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to her clients’ success, Kunbi has built a reputation as a trusted legal advisor to startups, small businesses, and creative professionals. Kunbi’s practice areas encompass a comprehensive range of services designed to support business growth and legal compliance. She offers support in business formation, helping clients establish and structure their entities; intellectual property, focusing on trademark registration and protection; contract drafting and negotiation to safeguard business interests; and business immigration services, assisting companies in navigating the complexities of work visas and green card processes for their talent. Her approach integrates her extensive legal knowledge with a practical understanding of business dynamics to deliver solutions that align with her clients' strategic objectives. In addition to her legal work Kunbi is also the creator of two online businesses – Legally Set, a contract template shop offering ready-made contract templates for creative entrepreneurs, and the recently acquired Perfete, a luxury events and lifestyle resource. A graduate of Fordham University School of Law and holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Kansas, Kunbi is an active member of the American Bar Association and the National Black Lawyers Association.
Kingdar serves as an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Before joining the United States Attorney's Office, Kingdar was a member of Milbank LLP's Litigation & Arbitration Group, where his practice focused on complex commercial litigation and regulatory investigations. He represented public and private companies, financial institutions, and individuals in matters involving issues ranging from alleged violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, securities fraud, accounting fraud, and obstruction of justice.
EDUCATION Stanford Law School, J.D. University of Pennsylvania, B.A.
ADMISSIONS New York US District Court for the Southern District of New York US District Court for the Eastern District of New York United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Keith Ferguson is the Principal Attorney for the Law Office of Keith Ferguson, Jr. In this capacity, Keith handles an array of matters that affect individuals. Of particular note is Keith's work negotiating contracts, advocating in family and criminal court, drafting estate plans, litigating consumer protection matters, and defending foreclosures. Prior to opening his own law office, Keith was an associate in the Financial Services Litigation group at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC. At Eckert Seamans, Keith focused his practice on representing financial institutions and mortgage servicers in real property actions. Additionally, Keith worked on a number of commercial litigation matters for insurance carriers, airlines, and more business entities. Before joining Eckert Seamans, Keith was an associate at a private firm with a focus on the mortgage banking industry in the mid-Atlantic region. He was the supervising attorney of the firm’s mediation practice and led a department of legal professionals responsible for the firm’s active residential foreclosure cases in the settlement and status conference stage. Keith previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Wanda Keyes Heard in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and as a law clerk for the United States Agency for International Development in the Employee and Labor Relations Division in Washington, D.C. REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS • Prepared and executed argument for the following motions and hearings: Restoration, Order to Show Cause, Summary Judgment, Order of Reference, Judgment of Foreclosure and Final Sale, Traverse hearings, and Defendant applications for Bad Faith pursuant to CPLR 3408. • Negotiated mortgage modifications and home liquidation agreements under federal HAMP, FHA, Fannie Mae, and in-house guidelines. • Counseled and advised financial institutions regarding the implementation of foreclosure compliance programs, including FDCPA, RESPA, and TILA. • Reviewed borrower submitted tax returns, profit and loss statements, paystubs, and financial worksheets in order to determine the financial risk associated with a potential loan modification. • Managed and developed relationships with client financial institutions. • Drafted modification denial letters, forbearance and stipulation of repayment agreements, and modification agreements. • Corresponded with senior bank executives and underwriters to develop strategies for settlement negotiation and litigation. STATE ADMISSIONS: New York EDUCATION: J.D., University of Maryland School of Law B.S., Cornell University