Lippes Mathias today announced that Kevin J. Cross, the firm’s chairman and managing partner, and Svetlana (Lana) K. Ivy, a partner and leader of the appellate practice team, have been named to The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal’s 2025 Power Lists for Law. 

Cross was included on the Power 50 Law list, which highlights attorneys who play a central role in supporting the legal needs of Rochester’s business community. Ivy was named to the Litigation Power List, which recognizes attorneys driving litigation strategy and handling complex legal disputes.

The Power Lists were published in the RBJ and The Daily Record’s Power List Law section, which also includes rankings for labor and employment, real estate, and trusts and estates. 

About Kevin J. Cross 

Kevin J. Cross is the chairman and managing partner of Lippes Mathias and leads the firm’s Executive Committee. He is charged with responsibility for all of the firm’s offices, attorneys, and staff, serving as the conduit to the firm’s partnership and executive operations team. Mr. Cross coordinates the firm’s strategic direction, implementation of initiatives and goals, and attorney recruitment. One of his main focuses is centered on positive culture and the promotion of a collegial and collaborative professional environment where team members focus on client objectives and the betterment of the firm as a whole. 

Under Mr. Cross’ leadership since 2015, Lippes Mathias has grown to nearly 220 attorneys across 17 markets nationwide. In 2024, the firm expanded its national platform through combinations with Ward Damon, PL, a full-service law firm in West Palm Beach, Florida, and CCBLaw, a Syracuse-based health law team. 

Mr. Cross serves as president of the Scouting America Great Falls Council’s Executive Board of Directors. He also serves on the boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the Milak Memorial Scholarship, is a member of the Vistage Leadership Group, and sits on the SUNY Buffalo State Kenneth A. Cross Scholarship Selection Committee. 

About Svetlana (Lana) K. Ivy 

Lana K. Ivy focuses her practice on high-stakes commercial disputes in New York state and federal courts, and she serves as the firm’s appellate team leader. She has substantial experience resolving disputes early as well as seeing cases through arbitration or trial and through the appellate process. She has represented clients in myriad industries, including financial services, energy, life settlements, health care, telecommunications, food and beverage manufacturing, and payroll services. 

At the trial level, Ivy has litigated a wide variety of business disputes arising out of asset purchase agreements, trust agreements, vendor agreements, transactions to purchase life insurance policies on the secondary market, employment agreements and other contracts. She also frequently litigates trust and estate matters in Surrogate’s Courts around New York. Ivy has represented numerous parties bringing CPLR Article 78 proceedings to challenge agency actions and has defended municipalities and agency boards against such challenges. She has extensive experience with emergency applications for relief in various forums. 

Ivy has considerable appellate experience, having briefed and argued cases at the Appellate Division level throughout New York state, as well as before the New York Court of Appeals. While her trial-level practice is focused on business and trust and estate disputes, she has worked on a wide range of appeals involving all kinds of subject matters, including medical malpractice and mass tort cases. She regularly handles or consults other attorneys on motions for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals, and she has also worked on a pro bono basis with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office on several criminal appeals. Ivy is a co-author of the New York Appellate Practice treatise, published by LexisNexis, and has been a frequent speaker on both trial and appellate issues for Monroe County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association CLE programs. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 220 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, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.