Michael Schiavone

Michael Schiavone has provided legal guidance to businesses for 30 years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, commercial real estate, and estate planning.

Mr. Schiavone is experienced in regularly counseling clients in a wide array of legal matters, including:

• Commercial lending and financial transactions
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Corporate, partnership, and limited liability matters
• Business formation
• Business succession planning
• Contract negotiation and dispute resolution
• Tax planning for businesses and their owners
• Commercial real estate financing and development
• Estate planning
• Sports law

Mr. Schiavone's clients come form a wide range of industries, including banks and financial institutions, hotel and hospitality chains, franchises, health care, manufacturing and distribution companies, and professional sports teams.

Mr. Schiavone is chairman of the firm's Business and Corporate Practice Area and a member of the firm's Management Committee. He is fluent in Italian.

Practice Areas

• Business and Corporate
• Banking and Finance
• Business Formation
• Business Succession Planning
• Closely Held and Family Owned Businesses
• Contract Negotiations
• Franchise Law
• Intellectual Property
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Tax
• Estates, Wills, and Trusts
• Real Estate
• Sports and Entertainment Law
• Elder Law

In the News

Click on any of the headlines below to read the articles featuring Mr. Schiavone.

• Fast-Food Franchise Owners May Sue Over Recommended Wage Hike, legal analysis for WGRZ
• Mr. Schiavone co-authors article for Buffalo Law Journal on the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)governing commercial electronic messages
• Super Lawyers Magazine featured Mr. Schiavone as their cover story, profiling his career and experience, in their 2013 New York, Upstate Edition
• Mr. Schiavone Provides Legal Insight For The Buffalo Law Journal on General Mills Legal Terms Controversy
• The Jamestown Post-Journal reports on Mr. Schiavone receiving the Fredonia College Foundation’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award
• Business First features Mr. Schiavone in a profile detailing his leadership at Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria andhis brother’s leadership at a local accounting firm
• Business First reports on Nemo Development construction initiative, including comment from Mr. Schiavone

Representative Clients & Matters

• Counsel to Buffalo Bills in connection with game day stadium operations, lease negotiations, sponsorship matters, intellectual property issues and employment matters
• Represent clients in the hospitality industry in a multitude of legal matters including all aspects of construction and development, financing, franchise matters, purchases and sales
• Advise automobile dealers in franchise and financing matters, including purchases and sales of dealerships
• Counsel to several manufacturing and distribution companies; advising on matters including supply/distribution agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
• Counsel to several closely held family businesses; advising on numerous matters including facilitation of business succession planning and intergenerational transfers
• Represent businesses in all facets of mergers and acquisitions
• Assist corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies in connection with the preparation of shareholder’s agreements, partnership agreements and operating agreements
• Advise clients in connection with all aspects of business formation, operations and disposition: including related tax matters
• Represent clients in connection with zoning and site plan approval as well as financing for construction projects, which include new home subdivision approval, office buildings, hotels, retail operations and medical facilities