Heather Jankowiak - Williamsville, NY

Heather Jankowiak, originally from Clarence, NY in the Western New York area, graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA with her undergraduate degree. She then obtained her J.D. from Albany Law School. During her time there, Heather was a member of the Albany Law Review and served on its Editorial Board as an Executive Editor for Notes and Comments.

She is admitted to practice law in New York State and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.

Before joining William Mattar, Heather gained experience as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Lackawanna and worked at law firms specializing in personal injury, commercial litigation, and estate administration.

During her law school years, Heather interned with the New York State Inspector General’s Office and served as a judicial intern for Hon. John C. Egan, Jr. in the Appellate Division, Third Department. Additionally, she authored the publication titled “Old Dogs Won’t Adopt New Tricks but Continue to Befuddle their Own: New York’s Antiquated UCC Article 3 and the Ambiguity of Assignment Requirements in Mortgage Foreclosure Actions,” which was published in the 82nd volume of the Albany Law Review in 2018.

Heather’s decision to pursue a legal career was influenced by her father’s extensive experience in law spanning over 40 years. Witnessing her father’s dedication to helping clients from a young age empowered Heather to follow in his footsteps.

She is deeply passionate about assisting individuals navigating challenging times, which aligns perfectly with William Mattar’s dedication to client advocacy and helping people. Heather was drawn to William Mattar due to the firm’s reputation for vigorously advocating for clients and its strong foundational values.

“What inspires me is the ability to help people who have found themselves in a situation everyone hopes to avoid. Although the future may seem bleak after being in an accident, the prospect of putting people in a better position drives me to be the best attorney I can be. I have always believed that even one small act can make a difference in someone’s life. Being able to work at a law firm whose primary purpose is to make a difference encapsulates that ideology and sets it in motion each day and on a large scale. Helping people provides a sense of purpose, that I am truly making a difference in someone’s life.”

In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, and playing tennis.