Biography

Ms. Bivona is a Partner at Damon Morey LLP who practices in the firm’s Business Litigation and Insolvency Department. She works primarily with corporations and other businesses and professional clients on a variety of commercial disputes and insolvency matters. Her work not only includes handling commercial, federal and complex litigation, but also debtor and creditor counseling and representation in bankruptcy proceedings as well as financial workouts.

In addition to her business litigation practice, Ms. Bivona actively represents debtors and creditors in bankruptcy courts and appellate courts in actions involving preferences, fraudulent transfers, setoffs, dischargeability, claims objections, confirmation, relief from the stay and other related bankruptcy matters. Ms. Bivona has served as special counsel to various Chapter 7 Trustees and has represented Chapter 11, 13 and 7 debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. Bivona handles and negotiates various workouts for both debtors and creditors.

An experienced equestrian rider, Ms. Bivona also handles equine matters, including contract negotiations, disputes, and litigation. Representing barn owners, horse owners, trainers, riders or Lessors/Lessees, Ms. Bivona assists with agreements to buy, sell or lease a horse or a riding facility, insurance coverage issues, boarding contracts, landlord/tenant matters, property damage or injuries, employment contracts or professional liability issues. She also addresses her clients’ corporate questions, on such matters as partnerships, incorporations, show management and the various governing bodies in the sport.

Ms. Bivona is admitted to practice in the states of New York, Connecticut and Michigan. Her admissions include the Federal Bar for the Northern, Southern and Eastern and Western Districts of New York and the Federal Bar for the Eastern District of Michigan, as well as United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Bivona’s professional memberships include the New York State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association, the Western New York’s Women’s Bar Association and Delta Sigma Pi (professional business fraternity).

In 2007, Ms. Bivona was selected as one of Western New York's Up and Coming Attorneys by the Daily Record and named one of Business First of Buffalo’s 40 Under Forty. Ms. Bivona is the first female chair of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Commercial and Bankruptcy Committee. Ms. Bivona also serves on the Legal Committee of the New York State Horse Counsel and is a volunteer for Judge Ninfo’s CARE Program.

Ms. Bivona lectures on various business, bankruptcy and equine matters. She has presented seminars for Lorman Educational Services, Sterling Educational Services, National Business Institute and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Ms. Bivona taught business law classes at D’Youville College and at Bryant and Stratton. Additionally, Ms. Bivona also co­authored Effects of the Bankruptcy Act, a chapter in the New York State Bar Association’s publication “Collections and the Enforcement of Money Judgments” (2006 - present).

Prior to her employment at Damon Morey, Ms. Bivona worked in private practice, primarily in the area of bankruptcy in Newburgh, New York and Detroit, Michigan. In addition, Ms. Bivona was a Judicial Internship Clerk for both the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Judicial District of Fairfield at Bridgeport Superior Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Ms. Bivona received her B.S. degree, cum laude, in Business Administration, from State University of New York at Buffalo in 1993. She received her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Michigan State University, Detroit College of Law in 1997, where she was a member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of International Law and Practice, and authored an article entitled "What Price Are We Willing To Pay For Our Environment?".