Niagara Falls, NY

Herschel Gelber

Herschel Gelber joined the Firm in 2023, and is a seasoned trial lawyer who, for more than 40 years, has been dedicated to excellence in the practice of law. He draws on his experience as both a plaintiff’s attorney and former defense attorney to achieve million and multi-million dollar recoveries for his clients. Mr. Gelber began his legal career in New York City as a trial lawyer responsible for defending major corporations, doctors, owners of commercial property and insurance companies in motor vehicle accidents, product liability, professional malpractice and construction site accident litigation. In 1987, he moved to Buffalo and joined the law firm of Gross, Shuman, Brizdle and Gilfillian, P.C. As both an associate and later as a partner, he successfully prosecuted major lawsuits involving construction site accidents, product liability, motor vehicle accidents and wrongful death on behalf of injured victims and their families. In 1994, Mr. Gelber teamed up with former New York State Supreme Court Justice Frank R. Bayger and founded the law firm of Frank R. Bayger, P.C. As managing shareholder and senior trial lawyer, Mr. Gelber handled the largest cases in the firm, while continuing his successful representation of injured victims and their families. In the latter part of 1998, Frank R. Bayger, P.C. merged with Lipsitz, Green, Fahringer, Roll, Salisbury and Cambria, LLP and Mr. Gelber became a partner in that firm’s personal injury litigation department. In 2000, he formed his own law firm to address the need for skilled trial lawyers to represent injured victims and their families in cases involving motor vehicle, truck and motorcycle accidents, construction site accidents, product liability and wrongful death to ensure each and every client received his personal attention. In 2010, Mr. Gelber took on a full partner, Timothy G. O’Connell, who previously was senior trial counsel at Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn. In recognition, the law firm was renamed Gelber & O’Connell, LLC. Mr. Gelber graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Following his graduation, he attended the University of Windsor’s Special Graduate Business Program, majoring in Corporate Finance. He earned his Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law in New York. Mr. Gelber is a former member of the Town of Amherst Traffic Safety Board. Mr. Gelber has been recognized for his successful representation of clients by being selected for membership in Best Lawyers in America, New York State Super Lawyers, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a select group of attorneys nationwide who have litigated numerous cases resulting in verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more.

John E. Richmond

John E. Richmond is the Co-Founder and CEO of Richmond Vona, LLC, a leading personal injury firm in Buffalo, NY serving clients throughout New York State. In 2024, Richmond Vona was honored by Inc. Magazine, earning spots on both the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies and the Best Workplaces list. Richmond Vona was also the 2023 Crisp Game Changer award winner for Excellence in Firm Culture. In 2019, John and Keith Vona started their own law firm to change the way people think about personal injury lawyers. With a strong commitment to justice and a passion for helping those who have been wronged, John has built a reputation for excellence in legal representation. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in guiding Richmond Vona to success, securing over $200 million in settlements and verdicts for their clients, and helping the firm earn recognition as a trusted advocate in the community. John’s commitment to relentlessly pursuing justice for his clients and cultivating a team culture grounded in strong core values defines both his career and the ethos of Richmond Vona. As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John understands that clients come first. With over fifteen years of experience advocating for injured New Yorkers, he has a strong record of holding negligent corporations and major insurance companies accountable. Born and raised in Western New York, John works tirelessly to advocate for the legal rights and financial interests of injury victims. Before co-founding Richmond Vona, John amassed extensive experience working with law firms in New York City and Buffalo, representing individuals with catastrophic injuries and those diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer due to asbestos exposure. Over the years, John has earned considerable recognition for his commitment to his clients, his dedication to the highest legal standards and ethics, and his proven record of accomplishments. Outside the office, John enjoys quality time with friends, family, his wife Nicole, and their two dogs. An outdoor enthusiast, he loves staying active and giving back to the community.

Keith R. Vona

If you or your loved one was seriously injured, Keith R. Vona is prepared to help. Keith is one of Western New York’s most distinguished, formidable advocates for injury victims and their family members. With over 15 years of experience, he has litigated a range of personal injury and wrongful death claims, recovering more than $200 million in compensation-including more than $17 million in trial verdicts-on behalf of his clients. In his more than 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys. Every year since, he has been selected to the Super Lawyers® list (2017 to 2021). Keith has also been named one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in New York by The National Trial Lawyers.

Stephanie S. Gelber

Stephanie S. Gelber joined the Firm in 2023, and is an experienced plaintiff’s personal injury and insurance coverage lawyer, who began her career in New York City more than 39 years ago. After relocating to Western New York, she became a partner in the law firm of Lustig & Brown, LLP, which concentrated its practice in several insurance specialties. She later became one of the Managing Partners at the firm. Prior to joining Gelber & O’Connell, LLC as its Managing Attorney, she additionally trained as a Mediator (in accordance with the NYS Unified Court System) and obtained her New York State Property & Casualty Insurance Consultant license. After joining Gelber & O’Connell, Ms. Gelber managed the law firm in addition to representing injured victims and their families in cases involving motor vehicle, truck and motorcycle accidents and analyzing insurance coverage issues in personal injury cases to maximize insured recoveries. Ms. Gelber graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. She earned her Juris Doctor from New York Law School. Ms. Gelber is a current member of the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), a former member of the Board of Directors of NAWBO, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York, a former member of the Town of Amherst Planning Board and a former elected member of the Williamsville Central School District School Board. Ms. Gelber has been recognized for her successful representation of clients by being selected for membership in Best Lawyers in America.

Michael Ranzenhofer

As a partner in the Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC law firm, Buffalo Attorney Michael Ranzenhofer takes his responsibilities to the citizens of the Buffalo and WNY area very seriously. He grew up in Long Island, NY and received a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in 1976 from S.U.N.Y. Albany and a Juris Doctor in 1979 from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo. Michael Ranzenhofer was admitted to all New York State Courts (1980), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (1980) and the U.S. Supreme Court (1985). He was a member of the New York Senate serving the 61st District for twelve years, and an Erie County Legislator for twenty years. He focuses on accidents and personal injury litigation.

Peter F. Brady

Peter F. Brady is a highly accomplished trial attorney with over 40 years’ experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases, having tried numerous cases to verdict in state and federal court. Pete has represented plaintiffs and defendants involving claims arising from motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, slip/trip and falls, and product liability claims. In addition, Pete has represented both injured construction workers and defendants in construction site accidents, including matters arising under the New York State Labor Law. For many years, Pete has been chosen by attorneys in the Western New York area to serve both as an arbitrator and a mediator in all types of accident cases, which gives him a unique perspective when representing seriously injured clients and their families.

Timothy G. O’Connell

Timothy G. O’Connell joined the Firm in 2023. He is a senior trial lawyer who has spent 40 years in Western New York advocating tirelessly on behalf of victims of injury claims and medical malpractice and achieving many million and multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Mr. O’Connell has been senior trial counsel at Gelber & O’Connell, LLC and previously at Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn, LLP, where he successfully represented the interests of his injured clients before New York State and Federal Courts, the United States Congress, New York State Legislature and Erie County Legislature. Mr. O’Connell received his Bachelor of Arts from Canisius College and his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is past President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association for the Western Region, an organization devoted exclusively to preserving the rights of and representing injured persons. Mr. O’Connell has been recognized for decades for his successful representation of injured persons by being selected for membership in the Best Lawyers in America and New York State Super Lawyers. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys, New York State Bar Association, and Erie County Bar Association. He is proud to have helped many people throughout his long career and remains committed to righting the wrongs of injured persons in the civil justice system nationally, statewide and locally.