Paul Callahan is a Partner with the Law Offices of Brown and Kelly, LLP located in Buffalo, New York where he concentrates his practice on insurance coverage analysis and litigation. His work extends to the representation of insurance companies in no-fault and uninsured/underinsured motorists related matters. He also assists the special investigation units of insurance companies in the investigation and evaluation of first party claims. He obtained his undergraduate and legal degrees from the University at Buffalo and was a founding member of The Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal. He also served as the Journal’s Editor-in-Chief. Admitted to practice in the Courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Mr. Callahan has lectured and published materials on insurance coverage-related matters for the New York State and American Bar Associations. He is also the author of the chapter entitled “Insurer’s Avoidance of Policy Obligations for Material Misrepresentations” as found in Insurance Law Practice published by the New York State Bar Association.

Kenneth P. Carter, CPCU is Chief Claims Officer for Concert Group and formerly Vice President - Claim Operations with Merchants Insurance Group. Mr. Carter started his career in insurance after graduating from the University of Rochester with a degree in philosophy in 1989. He has a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership and has obtained the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter professional designation. Mr. Carter has been engaged by local and national insurance and legal organizations to lecture and write on a variety of topics including; ethics, tripartite relationships, complex decision analysis, negotiation best practices, good faith claim handling, risk transfer methodology, the use of technology in litigation management, and post-catastrophe legal and regulatory challenges. In 2012 the national Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) honored Mr. Carter as Litigation Management Professional of the Year. Ken lives in Orchard Park, NY. 

A native to Western New York, Jesse is a founding member of the insurance defense firm Cooke Doyle LLC that is active representing insureds and self-insureds in state and federal courts throughout New York and Pennsylvania. Jesse earned his JD/MBA from Arizona State University and is admitted to practice in New York and Pennsylvania. For more than a 15 years, Jesse has worked with insurers, first at Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP, then The Long Firm LLP, and now in his own practice. His experience includes litigating coverage issues, personal injury matters, and business disputes.

Norm Nieminen is a seasoned claims professional with more than three decades of experience managing complex liability and litigation matters across the Northeast. Currently a Complex Liability Specialist with Utica National Insurance Group, Norm handles high-severity claims, navigates multifaceted coverage issues, and collaborates closely with counsel, insureds, and stakeholders to drive fair and efficient resolutions.

Before joining Utica National, Norm served as a Sr. Casualty Supervisor in the Construction Unit at Merchants Insurance Group, where he oversaw teams handling significant commercial exposures. His long tenure at Merchants Mutual Insurance Company included roles as Corporate Liability Claims Specialist and Litigation Claims Representative, managing both litigated and non-litigated files of varying complexity. His portfolio spanned commercial auto, general liability, labor law matters, and personal lines, and he routinely participated in mediations across the eastern United States.

Norm began his career as a Sr. Outside Claims Adjuster with Hanover Insurance Company, gaining foundational experience in field investigations, negotiations, and claim evaluation. Throughout his career he has built a reputation for thoughtful analysis, strategic problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to professionalism.

A graduate of the State University of New York College at Buffalo, Norm combines strong technical knowledge with a grounded, collaborative approach that has made him a trusted partner to colleagues, insureds, and counsel alike. His extensive experience, leadership background, and dedication to meaningful claims outcomes continue to define his work and contributions to the industry.

Melanie Wolk is special counsel in the firm's Rochester office. She has more than 10 years of broad experience in the trial and appellate courts in New York State. Melanie has successfully represented individuals, business entities and insurance carriers in all aspects of litigation, including trials, mediations and arbitrations. Specifically, she concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, construction litigation, surety, product liability, toxic tort litigation, professional liability, and workers' compensation litigation. Melanie attends depositions and makes court appearances in asbestos cases pending for a commercial roofer, a cable and wiring manufacturer, a pump manufacturer, and other firm clients.

Melanie attended Manhattanville College and graduated with a double major in three years and proceeded to Pace University Law School, whereupon she was involved with various Moot Court teams and the Pace International Law Review. During law school she was involved in the landmark voting rights case of Goosby v. Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, 956 F.Supp 326 (E.D.N.Y. 1997) including preparing witnesses and drafting memoranda of law for trial.
 

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1999
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York