About Us

Mr. Blair is the founding partner of Blair Law Firm, PLLC, and concentrates his practice in municipal law, government relations, land use law, zoning, real estate and real estate development, contract law, commercial leasing, commercial lending, commercial litigation, business/corporate law, economic development and community planning.

Mr. Blair currently serves as municipal and corporate counsel for a varied client base in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, and represents the interests of cities, towns and villages on a variety of matters including legislative enactments, contracts, consolidations, planning and zoning matters, economic development and enforcement. He also serves small businesses and large corporations on an array of development and business matters.

Between 2006 and 2018, and prior to launching Blair Law Firm, PLLC, Mr. Blair served as managing partner of a multi-office municipal and commercial law firm.  He also served as corporate “in-house” counsel for Carrols Corporation, one of the largest restaurant companies in the United States. Mr. Blair oversaw a variety of municipal relationships and complex commercial transactions, and was active in contract and easement drafting, commercial leasing, all phases of construction/development planning, permitting and execution, as well as assisting with agricultural interests of families and farm communities.

Between 2000 and 2005, Mr. Blair was associated with the Syracuse-based law firm Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC.  He practiced in the firm’s litigation, municipal, corporate/business law, banking, and real estate practice sections. He represented a varied client base including municipalities, banks, restaurant franchises, developers/builders, elder care facilities, insurance companies, manufacturers, small businesses and entrepreneurs. As part of his litigation practice, Mr. Blair represented corporations, associations, municipalities, small businesses and individuals in both state and federal courts.

Mr. Blair graduated magna cum laude from the State University College of New York at Brockport (1994) and earned a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law (2000), where he was inducted into the Order of Barristers.

Mr. Blair served as Sennett Town Justice (2001- 2006) and as acting Auburn City Court Judge (2003-2006). He has been active in many charitable organizations and is a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is admitted to practice in New York State and the Northern District of New York. He is a member of the Onondaga County, Cayuga County and New York State Bar Associations. He is also a member of the New York Planning Federation, the New York State Association of Towns and the New York Conference of Mayors.

Email:  [email protected]

Mr. Smith is Of Counsel to Blair Law Firm, PLLC and concentrates in the areas of corporate law, intellectual property, patent law, contracts, mergers and acquisitions and compliance as applied in the corporate business environment.

He is a well-seasoned patent attorney who has previously represented small to medium-sized businesses, as well as, Fortune 500 companies in all aspects of their legal affairs. He has led complex mergers and directed the legal departments of several technology-based corporations.

He joined Blair Law Firm after having previously served as general counsel to Honeywell International, Inc. in Skaneateles Falls, New York from 2008-2014, during which time he served as the legal member of a 10-person leadership team that oversaw four key corporate acquisitions valued at over $2 Billion.

Prior to this, he served as Vice President and General Counsel to Hand Held Products, Inc. from 2000-2007. During this time frame he led the Intellectual Property Strategy and Portfolio Development at the company and filed for more than 40 patents and 200 invention disclosures annually. He also was a key participant in leading the company in gaining regulatory approval internationally, and prior to joining Honeywell, he guided the company into the merger arena, where it was eventually sold for $390 million at an attractive multiple of EBITDA. He was also previously associated with Hiscock and Barclay’s Syracuse, New York office.

Mr. Smith is a 1990 Albany Law School graduate, earning cum laude honors and member of the Justinian Society. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Saint Lawrence University prior to attending law school. He is active in charitable organizations and is admitted to the New York State Bar and the United States Patent Bar.

Email: [email protected]

Andrew serves as Special Counsel, concentrating his practice in the areas of Tax Planning, Trusts and Estates, Business Consulting, Contract Law, and Real Estate.

He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and is admitted to practice law in both New York State and Florida. He serves as a tax advisor and counsel to many individuals and corporations throughout New York.

Andrew recently joined Blair Law Firm, PLLC after operating his own law firm since January 2017. He also previously worked as a Senior Tax Accountant with Bonadio & Co. LLP and Concannon, Miller & Co. P.C. before that.

Andrew is a 2014 graduate of Stetson University College of Law. He lives in Central New York with his wife and four children.

Shawna is a Senior Paralegal in the firm’s Corporate, Land Use & Zoning and Municipal Law practice areas, concentrating on municipal services, State Liquor Authority permitting, entity formations and governance, buy/sell agreements and leasing. She has over two decades of experience in her fields of competence and assists the firm with all aspects of corporate formations, business structuring and succession planning, and regulatory permitting and approval matters. Shawna also assists in the preparation of all due diligence relating to mergers and acquisitions, document drafting and review, organization of corporate records and compliance, and permitting at the state and local levels, including handling State Liquor Authority applications from the application creation stage through license issuance. She is also involved in the coordination and preparation of all municipal resolutions, agreements, local laws, and related municipal filings. Additionally, Shawna also oversees the firm’s Vehicle and Traffic and Landlord/Tenant matters and maintains productive relationships with Town, Village and City Courts throughout the region.

Shawna earned her paralegal certification in 2004. Prior to joining Blair Law Firm, she worked for many years as a corporate paralegal for a mid-sized firm in Syracuse, New York. She is a Notary Public and resides in Marcellus with her husband, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and their daughter. Shawna is an avid animal lover who fosters dogs and serves on the Board of a local rescue, and she is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she assists her local chapter of the American Legion.

Email: [email protected]

Isa is a Paralegal in the firm’s Real Estate, Commercial and Residential Lending practice area. She has over 25 years’ experience in the Real Estate industry. Her career began as a Real Estate Agent in North Carolina, where she fell in love with helping people obtain the American dream and wanted to be more involved in the legal and closing process. After 3 years as a Real Estate Agent, she transitioned to a Paralegal, gaining experience not only with closing residential real estate transactions but also facilitating 1031 Exchange closings and commercial transactions. She relocated to New York in 2015 and continued handling real estate matters on behalf of sellers, buyers, and lenders.

Prior to joining Blair Law Firm, PLLC, she worked in a high-volume real estate office handling various closings throughout New York. She is a Notary Public and resides in Cato with her triplets. She is an Army veteran and was a member of the Signal and Airborne Corps. In her spare time, she coaches a swim team, is a board member in her neighborhood, and enjoys all outdoor activities during the beautiful full seasons Central New York has to offer

Email: [email protected]

Jennifer is a Paralegal in the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Real Estate practice areas. She has over two decades of experience in real estate transactions, title review, lien and judgment searches, and foreclosure actions. She handles the preparation of wills, trusts, and related real estate planning documents, and oversees the administration of large and small estates from inception through closing. Jennifer also handles residential and commercial real estate transactions for both buyers and sellers.

Prior to joining Blair Law Firm, PLLC, she worked in the legal industry in the Syracuse area. She is a Notary Public and a member of the Skaneateles American Legion Auxiliary. She is a proud mother of two, grandmother of two, and granddaughter of Richard Merle Webster, who served in the United States Navy during World War II. Jennifer resides in Skaneateles.

Email: [email protected]

Janet is a Paralegal in the  Real Estate, Commercial and Residential Lending. She is a dedicated and detail-oriented real estate paralegal committed to providing support in all aspects of real estate transactions. She has over 10 years’ experience in the Real Estate Industry. She has her AAS in Business Administration from Cazenovia College along with her paralegal certification from Bryant & Stratton College.  Prior to joining Blair Law Firm, she worked as a paralegal for firms located in Syracuse, New York.

Janet is the proud daughter of Ronald F. Groth, a United States Navy Veteran.  She is a Notary Public and resides in Camillus with her husband, two daughters, and her English Bulldogs.

Email: [email protected]

Lynn is Blair Law Firm’s Practice Manager and maintains all accounts receivable and payable, payroll, HR and paperwork associated with new clients and basically everything else that is important to our office.   She was a Realtor in Skaneateles, has run her own consulting business, and has had various business management positions.  Lynn served as a Board Member of the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of Skaneateles Meals on Wheels, Bookkeeper for the Skaneateles Festival, and was a founding Board Member of the Skaneateles 501(c)(3) Foundation.

Lynn lives in the Town of Skaneateles with her husband, enjoys spending time with family (especially her two adorable grandsons), reading, quilting and traveling.

Email: [email protected]