Partner

Kathleen M. Sweet

Biography

Ms. Sweet’s practice includes the defense of complex medical malpractice actions, legal malpractice actions and claims against long-term care facilities. She also represents physicians and other health care professionals subject to discipline at the institutional level and with respect to state and federal investigations and actions. A former confidential law clerk to New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, Ms. Sweet also handles appeals. Ms. Sweet is also a certified mediator for the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

She is a member of the American Bar Association where she serves as an elected delegate in the House of Delegates. Ms. Sweet is the President Elect Designee of the New York State Bar Association where she has served on numerous committees, and she is currently the elected Vice President for the 8th Judicial District. Ms. Sweet was President of the Bar Association of Erie County from 2012 to 2013, and she is a member of both the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association and the Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York.  

Ms. Sweet is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers , and she is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. She served on the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission for the New York State Eighth Judicial District from 2014 to 2016 and has been a member of the New York State Committee on Character and Fitness for the Eighth Judicial District for over ten years. She was the founding chair of the Upstate Tri-County Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Appointments. She served on the board of directors of Volunteer Lawyers Project Inc. from 2011 to 2012 and she has been a volunteer ambassador for AIDS Community Services for several years.

Admissions

  • State of New York
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • United States District Court for the Western District of New York
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York

Ratings & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Defense (Buffalo)”: 2012, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024
  • “Lawyer of the Year”: 2023
  • “Upstate New York Super Lawyer Top 10” by Super Lawyers, a division of Thomson Reuters: 2020-2023
  • “Women Upstate New York Super Lawyer Top 25” by Super Lawyers, a division of Thomson Reuters: 2009-2023
  • “Upstate New York Super Lawyers Top 50” by Super Lawyers, a division of Thomson Reuters: 2010-2011, 2013-2014, 2018-2023
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York – Lawyer of the Year: 2015
  • Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York – M. Dolores Denman Lady Justice Award for Lifetime Achievement.: 2004

Education

  • Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
  • Boston College