Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC participates in the Akron Chamber of Commerce, American Bar Association (Real Property/Probate/Trust, and General Practice Sections), Apartment Council of Western New York, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Clarence Chamber of Commerce, Erie County Bar Association (Real Estate, Justice Courts, Surrogate's Court, Municipal Law, Negligence and Matrimonial/Family Law Committees), Genesee County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association (Real Property, Elder Law, General Practice, Municipal, Family and Matrimonial Sections), New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Western New York Trial Lawyers Association, Rotary Club of Clarence and Prosecutor's Association of WNY.

MICHAEL H. RANZENHOFER is admitted to all New York State Courts (1980), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (1980) and the U.S. Supreme Court (1985). He received a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in 1976 from S.U.N.Y. Albany and a Juris Doctor in 1979 from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo. Mr. Ranzenhofer has been an Erie County Legislator since 1989, Erie County Legislature minority leader (1993 to 1995 and 2004) and majority leader (2003), Meals-on-Wheels Task Force member, Erie County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors (2002-2004) and S.U.N.Y. Buffalo Health Services Institutional Review Board of Directors (1998 - 2002). E-mail Michael: mranz@legalsurvival.com

ROBERT FRIEDMAN is admitted to all New York State Courts (1979) and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (1979). He received a B.A. in 1975 from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo and a Juris Doctor in 1977 from Hamline University School of Law. Mr. Friedman is Clarence IDA Attorney, Akron Village Prosecutor and former hearing officer for Supreme Court, Small Claims Assessment Review, Clarence Town Prosecutor (1985 - 2004) and Clarence Town Attorney (1998 - 2003). He is the author of The Upstart Small Business Legal Guide, How to Survive Legally as a Landlord and Personal Injury Litigation Guide, co-author of How to Form Your Own "S" Corporation and Avoid Double Taxation and columnist for the Buffalo News. 2003 Western New York Prosecutor of the Year. Legal Advisor for the Clarence Rotary Foundation and the Apartment Council of Western New York. E-mail Robert: rfriedman@legalsurvival.com

FRED FRIEDMAN, founder of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, P.C. Attorneys died January 16, 2008 in Hospice Buffalo after a short illness. He was 81. Born in 1926 in Salzburg, Austria, Fred and his immediate family narrowly escaped the clutches of German concentration camps. When he was 12, Fred and his family were assisted by a Swiss friend, who led them out of Nazi-controlled land. From Switzerland, the family traveled to France, Spain, and Portugal before arriving in the United States when Fred was 15 years old. They settled in Queens, New York. He joined the Army in 1945 after high school graduation. Through the GI Bill, Fred earned an accounting degree from New York University in 1950, and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1954. When Fred was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1955, he started a law practice in his home on Clarence Center Road in Newstead. Fred Friedman served as Akron Village Attorney, Genesee County Family Court Hearing officer and Chairman of the Committee on Law & Public Safety of the Erie County Charter Review Commission. As Austrian Consul for Western New York from 2002 to 2006 he provided information about visas, passports, pensions and other governmental benefits to both Austrian citizens and non-citizens, served as Austrian interpreter and spoke to groups, schools and universities in the United States and Austria. Fred was recognized for his community service when he was named 2006 Clarence Chamber Citizen of the Year. He served on numerous boards and organizations: Clarence Chamber of Commerce (Director and President), Clarence American Legion (Judge Advocate), Akron-Clarence Kiwanis Club (President), Erie County Judges & Police Conference (Director and First Vice President), National Council of International Visitors (Director and Western New York Chapter President), Niagara Frontier Chapter American Youth Hostel (President), Buffalo Youth Hostel (Co-Founder), SCORE (Chapter President, Counselor and Assistant District Manager), Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (Promoter and Fundraiser), Clarence Meeting House Board, attaché for the Austrian teams participating in the 1993 World University Games and Advisory Board of the U.S. Attorney of WNY for the "Safe Streets Project". As a survivor of the Holocaust, Fred was invited and honored to light a candle at the Jewish Community Center of Buffalo's 2004 Yom HaShoah Observance in memory of the 6 million who lost their lives. Fred enjoyed traveling the world, especially returning often to his Austrian homeland. Most recently, he traveled to China this past Fall. He also enjoyed hiking and spending time with his six beloved grandchildren. Surviving him are his wife, Fay Terris Friedman; three sons, attorneys Robert, Lawrence and Richard; six grandchildren and a sister, Margaret Kohlhagen. Fred will be dearly missed by his employees, clients, friends, community and loving family.