Duane Schoonmaker

Duane Schoonmaker grew up in Vestal, New York, on the shores of the Susquehanna River. He earned his undergraduate degree cum laude in Communications from SUNY Albany, then earned his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 1985. He has been practicing law since his admission in New York in 1986. He began his career near his hometown in Binghamton representing injured plaintiffs, moved to Buffalo in 1989, and joined William Mattar in April 2018. He has earned multiple million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, recognized statewide, and has received the Super Lawyers designation for outstanding character and professional achievement. He has been invited to speak at continuing legal education programs on topics including court rules, trial practice, deposing corporate defendants, federal rules amendments, slip and fall cases, and social media in litigation.