Judith A. Biltekoff focuses her practice on representing individuals and businesses in a full range of employment and labor law issues, including employment discrimination based on gender, race, age, religion, hostile work environment and retaliation. She has also represented, advised and assisted clients with matters relating to the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, wage and overtime disputes, employment policies and procedures and separation agreements. Her practice encompasses all civil, complex and class action litigation.

Ms. Biltekoff is a graduate of Boston University, School of Communications, where she received a B.S. in Public Communications and the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School (J.D. 1993). She was admitted to the State Bar of New York in 1994.

She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Western, Eastern and Southern districts of New York. She has successfully represented clients in both state and federal courts as well as in administrative forums such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights and the Department of Labor.

Ms. Biltekoff is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County, the New York State Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyer’s Association.

Jessica Burgasser is a graduate of Nichols School, Canisius College and the University of Buffalo School of Law. She has been an associate at the law firm of Brown & Kelly for six years, practicing primarily in the areas of civil litigation and toxic torts. She also does personal injury, insurance defense, products liability, and family law. Jessica has spoke at several seminars on the issues of no-fault insurance procedural and coverage issues and threshold liability issues. She is admitted in the State of New York, the Western District of New York, and the Western District of New York Bankruptcy Court.

Jessica is a member of a number of organizations. Locally, Jessica is a member of both Erie and Niagara County Bar Associations and Vice-President of the Bar Association of the Tonawandas. Regionally, Jessica enjoys membership in the New York State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, and the Defense Research Institute.

Patricia S. Ciccarelli focuses on the areas of insurance defense and appellate practice. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A., 1990) and the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., 1993). Ms. Ciccarelli was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1994 and was also admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the United States District Court, Western District of New York. She is fluent in Italian. Ms. Ciccarelli joined Brown & Kelly in 1998.

Ms. Ciccarelli is a member of the Erie County and New York State Bar Associations, and served on the Board of the Women Lawyers of Western New York. She is a native of Buffalo, New York.

Donald B. Eppers concentrates his practice in insurance and negligence litigation. He is a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of Gettysburg college (B.A., 1966) and the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., 1969), he was admitted to the State Bar of New York in 1970 at which time he joined the firm.

Mr. Eppers is a past President of the Bar Association of Erie County and past president of the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member and delegate to the New York State Bar Association, a member and past director of the Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York, and a member of the Defense Research Institute and the International Association of Defense Counsel.

Mr. Eppers was a member of the court appointed "Committee of Lawyers to Enhance the Jury Process" which made recommendations to improve the jury process with particular reference to procedural and ethical issues occasioned by the repeal of the automatic exemption from jury service of lawyers. He has served on various Erie Bar Association committees and is a past Chairman of the Admission to the Bar Committee.

Mr. Eppers regularly serves as both arbitrator and mediator in dispute resolution matters. He has also served as a member of the National Association of Bar Presidents.

The Western New York Defense Trial Lawyers Association awarded Donald B. Eppers its Lawyer of the Year Award in 2005. He was recognized by his peers and the defense bar for his excellence in the field of trial advocacy and for his exemplary conduct as an attorney.