Courtney Donahue Tasner, a partner with Lippes Mathias LLP's trusts and estates practice team, received the Niagara County Bar Association's 2026 Ralph A. Boniello, Jr. Pro Bono Legal Services Award at a ceremony held on May 1. 

The Niagara County Bar Association presents the award annually to recognize attorneys who take on cases without compensation while promoting understanding of the rule of law, respect for the courts, and civic responsibility. Donahue Tasner was selected by a unanimous vote of the bar association's board of directors. The board cited her willingness to accept Mental Hygiene cases on behalf of vulnerable individuals, often at the expense of her own fee. 

Donahue Tasner serves on the Niagara County Bar Association's board of directors. 

About Courtney Donahue Tasner 

Courtney Donahue Tasner is a partner with Lippes Mathias LLP's trusts and estates practice team. Donahue Tasner concentrates her practice in all areas of estate administration, probate, and related Surrogate's Court proceedings, including limited administration, working with the county public administrator, wrongful death-related estate proceedings, and contested trusts and estates proceedings. 

Donahue Tasner regularly assists clients and families with guardianship proceedings under Surrogate Court Procedure Act Articles 17 and 17-A, and Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 adult guardianship in Supreme Court. She is qualified to receive Part 36 appointments and serves as guardian ad litem in Surrogate's Court, court evaluator, and attorney for incapacitated persons under Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 in Supreme Court. Donahue Tasner is also qualified to serve as court-appointed referee in foreclosure matters. 

Donahue Tasner has extensive experience assisting clients and families with estate planning matters, partnering with financial advisors and tax professionals to develop plans tailored to each client. Such plans range from foundational estate planning — including last will and testaments, health care proxies, and power of attorney documents — to more advanced planning with trust documents for complex needs including long-term care planning. Donahue Tasner also works jointly with other practitioners whose clients require planning with government-approved supplemental needs trusts. 

Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Donahue Tasner was an associate at Mosey Persico, LLP, where she worked for the Honorable Acea M. Mosey, now Erie County Surrogate's Court judge. During law school, she interned with the Honorable John F. Batt, Niagara County Family Court judge, and the Honorable Acea M. Mosey, then Erie County public administrator. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 230 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, family offices, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.