About Michael
Michael Schiavone has provided legal guidance to businesses for 30 years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, commercial real estate, and estate planning.Mr. Schiavone is experienced in regularly counseling clients in a wide array of legal matters, including: Commercial lending and financial transactions Mergers and acquisitions Corporate, partnership, and limited liability matters Business formationBusiness succession planning Contract negotiation and dispute resolutionTax planning for businesses and their ownersCommercial real estate financing and developmentEstate planning Sports lawMr. Schiavone's clients come form a wide range of industries, including banks and financial institutions, hotel and hospitality chains, franchises, health care, manufacturing and distribution companies, and professional sports teams.Mr. Schiavone is chairman of the firm's Business and Corporate Practice Area and a member of the firm's Management Committee. He is fluent in Italian.Practice AreasBusiness and CorporateBanking and FinanceBusiness FormationBusiness Succession PlanningClosely Held and Family Owned BusinessesContract NegotiationsFranchise LawIntellectual PropertyMergers and AcquisitionsTaxEstates, Wills, and TrustsReal EstateSports and Entertainment LawElder LawIn the NewsClick on any of the headlines below to read the articles featuring Mr. Schiavone.Fast-Food Franchise Owners May Sue Over Recommended Wage Hike, legal analysis for WGRZMr. Schiavone co-authors article for Buffalo Law Journal on the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)governing commercial electronic messagesSuper Lawyers Magazine featured Mr. Schiavone as their cover story, profiling his career and experience, in their 2013 New York, Upstate EditionMr. Schiavone Provides Legal Insight For The Buffalo Law Journal on General Mills Legal Terms ControversyThe Jamestown Post-Journal reports on Mr. Schiavone receiving the Fredonia College Foundation’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service AwardBusiness First features Mr. Schiavone in a profile detailing his leadership at Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria andhis brother’s leadership at a local accounting firmBusiness First reports on Nemo Development construction initiative, including comment from Mr. SchiavoneRepresentative Clients & MattersCounsel to Buffalo Bills in connection with game day stadium operations, lease negotiations, sponsorship matters, intellectual property issues and employment mattersRepresent clients in the hospitality industry in a multitude of legal matters including all aspects of construction and development, financing, franchise matters, purchases and salesAdvise automobile dealers in franchise and financing matters, including purchases and sales of dealershipsCounsel to several manufacturing and distribution companies; advising on matters including supply/distribution agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreementsCounsel to several closely held family businesses; advising on numerous matters including facilitation of business succession planning and intergenerational transfersRepresent businesses in all facets of mergers and acquisitionsAssist corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies in connection with the preparation of shareholder’s agreements, partnership agreements and operating agreementsAdvise clients in connection with all aspects of business formation, operations and disposition: including related tax mattersRepresent clients in connection with zoning and site plan approval as well as financing for construction projects, which include new home subdivision approval, office buildings, hotels, retail operations and medical facilities
Michael Schiavone has provided legal guidance to businesses for 30 years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, commercial real estate, and estate planning.
Mr. Schiavone is experienced in regularly counseling clients in a wide array of legal matters, including:
Mr. Schiavone's clients come form a wide range of industries, including banks and financial institutions, hotel and hospitality chains, franchises, health care, manufacturing and distribution companies, and professional sports teams.
Mr. Schiavone is chairman of the firm's Business and Corporate Practice Area and a member of the firm's Management Committee. He is fluent in Italian.
Practice Areas
In the News
Click on any of the headlines below to read the articles featuring Mr. Schiavone.
Representative Clients & Matters
Practice Areas
Case History
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Buffalo (2024)
- Lawyer of the Year: Tax Law, Buffalo (2020)
- Recognized: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Recognized: Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Recognized: Corporate Law
- Recognized: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Recognized: Real Estate Law
- Recognized: Tax Law
- Practice Area: Copyright Law
- Practice Area: International Trade and Finance Law
- Practice Area: Sports Law
- Practice Area: Trademark Law
- Practice Area: Trusts and Estates
- Special Focus: Business Planning
- Special Focus: Closely-Held Businesses
- Special Focus: COVID-19
- Special Focus: General Corporate
- Special Focus: Partnership and Limited Liability
- Special Focus: Sports
- The Best Lawyers in America: Named to Best Lawyers in America every year since 2007 for Corporate Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Bus
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating: Rated AV Preeminent 5.0/5.0 by Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating, signifying his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence for le
- Super Lawyers: Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers for Business & Corporate and Sports Law. Named to Super Lawyers every year since its Upstate New York inception in 2007.
- Super Lawyers Cover Story: Featured as the subject of Upstate New York Super Lawyers 2013 annual magazine’s cover story. Client Champion Award from Martindale-Hubbell: Recognizes attorneys who demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent client service based on the quantity and quality of their client reviews on the Martin
- Who’s Who in Law: Named to the final 2012 issue of Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s “Who’s Who in Law” for Business & Corporate
- Legal Elite of Western New York: Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s Legal Elite of Western New York