Our Attorneys

Herschel Gelber

“Our goal is to obtain verdicts and settlements that will help the injured people we serve rebuild their lives to the fullest extent possible.”

Herschel Gelber is a seasoned trial lawyer who, for more than 25 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 – and as a champion of the rights of the injured – to achieve multi-million dollar recoveries for his clients.

Mr. Gelber began his legal career in New York City as a trial attorney responsible for defending major corporations, doctors, owners of commercial property and insurance companies in motor vehicle accident, product liability, professional malpractice, insurance coverage 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 medical malpractice, 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 attorney, 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 attorneys to represent injured victims and to ensure each and every client receives his personal attention. In 2010, Mr. Gelber took on a full partner, Timothy G. O'Connell, who previously was trial counsel at Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn. In recogntion, 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 has been recognized for his successful representation of clients by being selected for membership in 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, and New York State Super Lawyers. He supports numerous community groups, charitable organizations and other special interests.

Admitted to Practice:

Member:

email: hgelber@gelberoconnell.com

 

Timothy G. O’Connell

Timothy G. O'Connell is a senior trial lawyer who has spent the last 25 years in Western New York advocating tirelessly on behalf of injured victims and achieving multi-million settlements and verdicts. Prior to joining Herschel Gelber, Mr. O'Connell was trial counsel at Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn, LLP, where he successfully represented the interests of his injured clients before the State and Federal Courts of the State of New York, in addition to the United States Congress, New York State Legislature and Erie County Legislature. In 2010, Mr. O’Connell joined Herschel Gelber as a full partner, at which time the law firm was renamed Gelber & O'Connell, LLC.

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 and Member of the Board of Directors 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 his successful representation of clients by being selected for membership in the Best Lawyers in America and New York State Super Lawyers. He is active in numerous civic activities on behalf of injured persons and in the civil justice system nationally, statewide and locally.

 

Admitted to Practice:

Member:

email: toconnell@gelberoconnell.com

 

Stephanie S. Gelber

Stephanie S. Gelber is an experienced insurance coverage attorney, who began her career in New York City more than 25 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 obtained her New York State Property & Casualty Insurance Consultant license and trained as a Mediator (in accordance with the NYS Unified Court System). Ms. Gelber continues her insurance focus by representing plaintiffs with insurance-related issues against insurance companies and additionally advocating on behalf of plaintiffs in personal injury matters.

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 an elected Board Member of the Williamsville School District, as well as an appointed Member of the Minority/Women Owned Businesses Committee for the Town of Amherst. She has been recognized by the community by being invited annually to judge DECA High School Marketing and UB Law School Mediation Advocacy Competitions.

Ms. Gelber joined Gelber & O'Connell, LLC in 2010.

 

Admitted to Practice:

Member:

email: sgelber@gelberoconnell.com

 

Kristopher A. Schwarzmueller

Born and raised in Western New York, Kristopher A. Schwarzmueller began his legal career while still in law school, as a clerk at the law firm of Lipsitz, Green, Fahringer, Roll, Salisbury & Cambria, LLC. Upon graduation from the University of Buffalo School of Law in 1999, Mr. Schwarzmueller joined the law firm of Paul William Beltz, P.C., where he vigorously represented injured victims in construction site, motor vehicle and railroad accidents.


As a senior litigator, Mr. Schwarzmueller vigorously represents injured clients in the Western New York area. He has been involved in numerous multi-million dollar settlements.

Mr. Schwarzmueller earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and his Juris Doctor from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 1999.

Mr. Schwarzmueller joined the litigation team at Gelber & O'Connell, LLC in 2007.

 

Admitted to Practice:

Member:

email: kschwarzmueller@gelberoconnell.com

 

Venita A. Parker

Venita A. Parker is an experienced personal injury attorney who represents victims and their families in cases concerning medical malpractice and nursing homes.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Ms. Parker also received a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science from Drexel University in Philadelphia and her Juris Doctor from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law.

Ms. Parker began her career as a Registered Nurse within the specialty areas of trauma, neurosurgery, emergency room medicine and cardiothoracic surgery, including transplantation. She continues to be a licensed Registered Nurse in the State of New York.

Ms. Parker's legal background, combined with her medical background, uniquely qualifies her to understand a myriad of complicated medical conditions, treatments and prognoses, and acceptable medical/hospital/nursing/nursing home policies and procedures, making her a valuable asset to the clients we represent in these cases.

Ms. Parker joined the litigation team at Gelber & O'Connell, LLC in 2005.

Admitted to Practice:

Member:

email: vparker@gelberoconnell.com