Erika is an Associate Attorney in the Trusts and Estates and Agriculture Practice Groups. A native of the Central New York region and having grown up and worked in the agriculture community, Erika has specific knowledge of succession planning for family farms. She is particularly sensitive to the complicated nature of transitioning or expanding family farms and the detail involved in such transactions. Agriculture business clients can count on Erika’s unique understanding of their industry to inform her legal knowledge and assist them in coming up with the best plan possible.
Erika cares deeply about understanding her client’s individual background and needs. She appreciates how this affects each individual’s estate planning and works to find a plan tailored to every client’s requirements. Erika’s natural curiosity and love of problem solving give her an advantage in understanding and working through complex legal issues. She believes in a practical approach to law with an emphasis on being diligent and responsive for her clients.
Erika is a 2019 magna cum laude graduate of Syracuse University College of Law. As a law student she represented clients in the Elder and Health Law Clinic for elder financial abuse cases. She also served as a research assistant to Professor David Driesen, working mainly in the area of Constitutional Law.
Erika gained experience interning with the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, Inc., where she represented tenants in Landlord Tenant Court, assisted with trust and estate questions in the Surrogate’s Court legal clinic, and worked on asylum cases. She also interned with a law firm in Syracuse working in the areas of corporate law and estate planning with family farms across New York State. Prior to law school, Erika served as an Agriculture Extension Agent with the Peace Corps in Senegal for two years.
Erika continues to volunteer with the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County representing tenants in eviction defense. Outside of the office she enjoys gardening and exploring the Adirondacks.
