Determination, discipline, the ability to go the distance—Tom Knab demonstrated these attributes when he ran the Chicago Marathon a few years ago. He also brings them to the practice of law as an advocate for his clients.
As a 2009 and 2008 Upstate New York Super Lawyer for Business Litigation and Employment & Labor, Tom has been recognized as one of the top attorneys in the region. His work entails negotiating and litigating contracts; restrictive covenants and employment agreements; partnership and corporate disputes; distributorship and franchise agreements; real estate and construction disputes; constitutional challenges to governmental actions; and defense of legal malpractice claims. He has practiced in the New York State and Federal Courts for over 20 years, handling jury and non-jury trials, appeals, arbitrations and mediations.
In one of his landmark cases, Tom defended a small town being sued by a large billboard company. The company challenged the town's zoning ordinance, which they said violated its First Amendment right to free speech. The town was determined not to let billboards mar their small-town environment. After over seven years of litigation, Tom helped them win a judgment dismissing the action. Along the way, he argued an appeal before the Second Circuit where the presiding justice was Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Prior to joining Underberg & Kessler, Tom was a partner at both Hiscock & Barclay and Saperston & Day in Buffalo. Always a champion for the under-represented, Tom is the treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., which provides pro bono services to people of low income and with disabilities.
Tom was selected a 2010 Upstate New York Super Lawyer by Law & Politics. The Super Lawyer group represents the top 5% of attorneys in Upstate New York who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. He also was included in Business First/Buffalo Law Journal's 7th annual "Who's Who in Law", a peer-nominated and reviewed listing of Buffalo area attorneys. Tom received his undergraduate degree in Environmental Design from the School of Architecture and Planning at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He then went on to get his law degree from the University of Buffalo School of Law, where he made Law Review and was elected Business Editor.
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