Smith Sovik Kendrick & Sugnet, P.C., is pleased to announce that Brendan Lyon, Patrick Farrell, Joe Schuler, Andrew Umanzor and Ron Oddo have all joined the firm as new attorneys. Brendan, Patrick, Joe, and Ron participated in Smith Sovik’s Summer Associate program and re-joined the firm after graduating from their respective law schools in 2024.
Brendan will be based in the Syracuse office. He was a member of the Business Law Society and the Sports and Entertainment Society at Albany Law School. Prior to attending law school, he worked for one of the nation’s largest payroll companies as well as one of the largest regional banks where he provided financial services to his clients.
At Syracuse University School of Law, Patrick was a member of the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations and an active member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society. Patrick competed twice as a member of the National Moot Court Competition team and was selected as the Best Advocate at the National Disability Law Appellate Competition. Patrick and his partner were the winners of the 51st Annual Mackenzie Hughes LLP Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy Competition, where they also received the award for Best Appellate Brief, and Patrick was individually selected as Best Advocate. At the College of Law, Patrick was also selected to receive the Models of Excellence in Advocacy Award and was inducted into the National Order of the Barristers. Patrick will be based in the Syracuse office.
Joe will be based in the Syracuse office. In law school at Syracuse, he was a member of the Syracuse Law Review, a Teaching Assistant to the Vice-Dean, won several CALI awards, and was inducted into the Justinian Honor Society. Prior to law school, Joe worked in a civil engineering design firm as a designer and inspector on various public and private projects. Before that, he worked at a construction management firm focused on residential and commercial development.
Also at Syracuse, Andrew was the elected Director of the Trial Division of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society. In addition to leading the Trial Division, Andrew also competed on the Syracuse College of Law National Trial Team, in prestigious competitions such as the National Civil Trial Competition and American Association for Justice Competition. During law school, Andrew interned with the Syracuse College of Law Criminal Defense Clinic and Madison County Assigned Counsel Program. He will be based in the Syracuse office.
Ron will be based in the Long Island office. In law school at Delaware, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Widener Law Review and an Academic Success Fellow. He was also inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. Ron clerked in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in its Economic Crimes Bureau where he assisted in complex financial fraud cases.
Brendan, Patrick, Joe, Andrew and Ron will be handling civil litigation cases all over New York State in both the state and federal courts. SSKS is pleased and privileged to have them on board!
Founded in 1946, Smith Sovik Kendrick & Sugnet, P.C., is an aggressive, innovative litigation boutique. We boast over 30 attorneys who defend individuals, professionals, corporations, and other entities against personal injury, malpractice and commercial claims in state and federal courts throughout New York State. We pride ourselves in aggressively and cost-effectively obtaining the very best results for our clients. Smith Sovik has offices in Syracuse, Buffalo, Fishkill, and Long Island. For more information, please visit www.smithsovik.com.
