Rodney O. Personius

Email: rop@personiusmelber.com
Office: (716) 855-1050 ext. 101
Mobile: (716) 515-8763
Fax: (716) 855-1052

Rodney O. Personius

Partner

I have been practicing law for approximately 45 years, which has included 6 years as a federal prosecutor and the remainder working in private practice. At present, I am mostly engaged with white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation matters, as well as the defense of professional colleagues and police personnel charged with misconduct. The competitive challenges and day-to-day unpredictability of these cases, as well as the continual opportunity for diverse personal interactions, ensures that no two days are ever the same.

I reside in the Town of Hamburg, which is located south of the City of Buffalo along Lake Erie, with my wife, Louise, our 2 teenaged children, who are twins, and Phoebe, our 80+ pound Bouvier. I am also the father of 3 adult daughters from a prior marriage, and grandfather to their 4 children.

I have had the good fortune over the past 2 decades of practicing law in a way that is invigorating, all the while handling matters of substance, where our firm’s collective experience, skill, and energy have made a difference in the lives of the clients we serve.

Bar Admissions

New York State, 1977

U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, 1977

U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, 2000

U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1979

U.S. Tax Court, 1978

Education

SUNY at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., 1976

Syracuse, University, B.A., cum laude, 1973

Experience

Partner, Brown & Kelly, LLP, 1988-2001

Assistant United States Attorney, Western District of New York, 1982-1988

Chief, Financial Crimes Unit (1985-1987)
Chief, Civil Division (1987-1988)

Associate, Condon & Sedita, P.C., 1976-1982

Associations & Memberships

Fellow, International Association of Trial Lawyers, 2006 to present

Member, Erie County and New York State Bar Associations, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Western New York Trial Lawyers Association

Service on Western District of New York Local Rules, Pro Bono Practice, and Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Plan Review Committees

Former national CJA representative for Western District of New York

Volunteer, Western District of New York Pro Se Assistance Panel

Past Board Member of Bar Association of Erie County and Erie County Bar Foundation (Treasurer)

Awards

2024 recipient of NYS Bar Association’s Charles F. Crimi Memorial Award, in recognition of a career embodying the highest ideals of the Criminal Justice Section

2023 recipient of Erie County Legal and Business Professionals Attorney of the Year Award

2014 recipient of WDNY U.S. District Judges’ Criminal Justice Act Award for distinguished criminal defense work representing indigent defendants

Rodney Personius at the front reception desk

Rodney Personius' office at Personius Melber

Rodney Personius with Brian Melber, partners

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