Hancock Estabrook, LLP announced it has elected three attorneys to the firm’s partnership.

MARY L. D’AGOSTINO is a member of the firm’s litigation practice. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation, federal and state-appellate advocacy, and other civil disputes. She previously served as a confidential law clerk to U.S. magistrate judges Christian F. Hummel and David E. Peebles, as an Appellate Court attorney with the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and as an assistant corporation counsel for the City of Syracuse. D’Agostino is a graduate of Le Moyne College and received her law degree from Albany Law School of Union University.

RYAN M. POPLAWSKI is a member of Hancock Estabrook’s litigation practice and focuses on general litigation, assisting clients in the areas of personal injury, products liability, and commercial litigation. He frequently advises and defends clients in matters related to trucking litigation, accident investigation, labor-law claims, wrongful-death suits, and premises and products-liability issues. In addition, Poplawski advises trucking and transportation clients on compliance with safety regulations, the Motor Carrier Safety Act and the Department of Transportation; the best practices to limit exposure; review of contracts and leases; compliance with recordkeeping requirements; and OSHA and contamination matters. He received his bachelor’s degree from Siena College and his J.D. degree from the University at Buffalo Law School.

BRIANA K. WRIGHT is a member of Hancock Estabrook’s corporate, startup & emerging business and healthcare practices. She has significant experience with assisting women and minority-owned businesses on matters involving the NYS Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) participation program certification, procurement, and appeal process. Additionally, she serves as the firm’s professional development and diversity officer. In this role, Wright works closely with Hancock Estabrook’s executive committee to support and develop equitable and inclusive programming. She is actively involved in the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, hiring and recruitment, and professional and business development. Wright is a graduate of the University at Buffalo and received her J.D. degree from Albany Law School of Union University.

The Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC) recently added MARGARET LAVANCHA as its newly appointed human-resources director. In this role, she is a critical member of the agency’s leadership team, participating in strategic change initiatives. She will provide leadership and supervision for the agency’s human resources department, including staff recruitment, retention, and daily oversight of benefits. Additionally,  LaVancha will ensure compliance with employment law and agency policy, and maintain and implement employee benefits, along with promote employee satisfaction. LaVancha received her bachelor’s degree in business management from Ithaca College and is also an alumnus of Jefferson Community College. After college, she worked in several short-term accounting-related positions, first in Waltham, Massachusetts and then in Watertown, New York. LaVancha had previously worked in the accounting department at the Stebbins Engineering and Manufacturing Company, where she was promoted to payroll manager. She worked for five years in accounting and payroll before being promoted to the director of human resources in 2002 and maintained that position until 2020. In 2020, LaVancha was appointed chief resource officer/director of human resources and at that time passed certification exams to hold seven state contractors’ licenses for Stebbins.