Lisa A. Coppola L'89

Lisa A. Coppola obtained her Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in advertising and marketing from Syracuse University and her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law in 1989.  As a law student, she was on the Syracuse Law Review and Moot Court, and participated on the National Trial Team, traveling regionally and to nationals under the mentorship of Professor Elijah Huling and Professor Emeritus Travis H.D. Lewin.  As a 3L, her team won the Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition, and she was named Best Advocate. 

Ms. Coppola is now a partner with Buffalo-based Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham & Coppola, a firm that has grown from five to 38 attorneys in the past 10 years.  Her clients rely on her to help them avoid risk in employment and general business matters, but if a dispute arises, Ms. Coppola is well-acquainted with the courtroom, having tried numerous cases to verdict in both federal and state court. In addition to counting regional businesses among her clients, Ms. Coppola also represents a number of charter schools in Western New York. 

Ms. Coppola has created a niche for herself and her firm by focusing on women business owners through the firm’s Legal Weapons initiative.  Through interactive networking seminars, speaking engagements, newsletters, and online communications, Ms. Coppola and her partners engage and educate entrepreneurs and help them to manage and grow their businesses.

Ms. Coppola’s work has not gone unnoticed.  She has received numerous awards and is a sought-after speaker.  She was named a 2012 New York Super Lawyer and was honored as a 2011 Woman of Influence by Business First of Buffalo. She serves as a board member of the Canisius College Women’s Business Center, The Mid-Day Club of Buffalo, Asian Connection of WNY, and the Health Sciences Charter School.