Meet the Eldon Trust & Estate Team
Our attorneys and legal professionals focus on helping individuals and families navigate estate planning, probate, estate administration, trust administration, and fiduciary matters throughout Western New York. From preparing a first estate plan to guiding an executor through a complicated administration, our team provides practical legal guidance designed around each client's circumstances.
Managing Partner
Olivia Paulo-Lee
Olivia Paulo-Lee is an attorney and owner of Eldon Trust & Estate Law, serving individuals, families, property owners, and business owners throughout Buffalo and Western New York. Her practice brings together estate planning, real estate, business, and asset-related experience to help clients create thoughtful plans for protecting what they have built and preparing for the future.
Olivia has practiced law in Western New York for more than a decade, with extensive experience advising clients on matters involving real property, closely held businesses, complex assets, and long-term risk. That background gives her a practical perspective on estate planning that extends beyond the preparation of documents. She works with clients to understand how their assets are owned, how they should pass to the next generation, and how wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other planning tools can work together as part of a comprehensive estate plan.
Her experience representing property owners, developers, investors, and businesses is particularly valuable when estate plans involve real estate or business interests. Olivia understands that effective estate planning often requires consideration not only of beneficiaries, but also of property ownership, business succession, liability, family dynamics, and the practical administration of assets after death.
Olivia's approach emphasizes clear advice and planning that clients can understand and use. Rather than treating estate planning as a collection of standardized documents, she focuses on identifying a client's goals, evaluating the assets and circumstances involved, and developing a plan designed around the individual or family.
In addition to her estate planning work, Olivia has significant experience in real estate and construction law and serves as general counsel to established Western New York businesses. Her background in advocacy and dispute resolution provides an additional perspective when planning for complicated family, property, or business circumstances where avoiding future uncertainty and conflict is especially important.
Olivia began her legal career with the predecessor to Long & Paulo-Lee in 2008 and later became an owner of the firm. Her professional background also includes extensive training in mediation and dispute resolution, national-level mediation competition experience, and continued involvement in legal education and advocacy.
She remains active in the Western New York legal and professional community and has served in leadership roles with legal and community organizations, including as President of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity's Buffalo Alumni Chapter and as a board member of the Western New York Network in Aging. She has also coached University at Buffalo law students in trial advocacy and regularly speaks to local organizations on legal issues affecting individuals, property owners, and businesses.
Olivia is admitted to practice law in New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Through Eldon Trust & Estate Law, Olivia focuses on helping Western New York families make informed decisions about their estates, their property, and the legacy they intend to leave behind.
SENIOR COUNSEL
James P. Giambrone, Jr.
James P. Giambrone Jr., Esq. brings more than three decades of legal experience to Eldon, with a practice spanning estate planning, real estate, business matters, and complex contracts. He works with individuals and families on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other estate planning matters, drawing on decades of experience advising clients on their property, assets, and long-term legal needs.
A graduate of Cornell University, Jim earned his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Over the course of his career, he has handled thousands of residential real estate and refinance transactions and is also a licensed New York real estate broker. His extensive background in real estate provides a valuable perspective for estate planning involving homes, investment properties, and other significant assets.
Jim is the founder of a longstanding Buffalo-based law practice, which he led for more than 20 years. His broad transactional and legal experience allows him to bring a practical, well-rounded approach to helping clients protect their assets and plan for the future.
Outside of his legal work, Jim is a professional drummer, an avid golfer, and a longtime Buffalo Bills season ticket holder. He has also been actively involved in youth sports and community initiatives throughout Western New York.
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Iliana V. Lukasik
A lifelong Western New York native, Iliana Lukasik earned her bachelor’s degree in politics from Oberlin College and her Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law. She began her career with the firm as a law clerk before joining the team as an associate attorney.
Iliana’s practice is dedicated to estate planning and estate administration, with a focus on wills, trusts, and related matters. She brings a thoughtful, practical approach to helping individuals and families develop plans tailored to their goals and navigate the estate administration process.
While in law school, Iliana interned with Surrogate’s Court and the Center for Elder Law & Justice, experiences that continue to inform her approach to helping clients protect their families, preserve their legacies, and plan confidently for the future.
Of COUNSEL
Mike Bolas
Mike Bolas brings a unique combination of legal, tax, and financial experience to Eldon. In addition to being an attorney, Mike is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.), giving him valuable perspective when estate planning intersects with tax considerations, business interests, and complex financial matters.
Mike earned his law degree from the University of Dayton before receiving his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver. He began his career at Price Waterhouse and later co-founded Campbell & Bolas, where he practiced for more than 27 years.
His background is particularly valuable in planning for business owners, evaluating the tax and financial implications of estate planning decisions, and navigating estates involving significant or complex assets. By approaching these matters from both a legal and financial perspective, Mike helps clients consider not only how their estate plan is structured, but the broader financial consequences of those decisions.
Mike also serves as General Counsel for the Erie County Agricultural Society and as Chairman of the Board for Mercy Flight of WNY.
Chief Operating Officer
Corey Lee
Corey Lee serves as Chief Operating Officer of Eldon, overseeing the firm’s operations, technology, growth strategy, and client experience. His focus is on building the systems and processes that allow Eldon’s attorneys to provide clients with an organized, responsive, and consistently high level of service.
Corey brings a background in business operations, process improvement, and organizational leadership to the firm. He is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified ScrumMaster, with experience analyzing complex processes, improving operational efficiency, and developing systems designed around both the client and the professionals serving them.
At Eldon, Corey works behind the scenes to continually improve how clients interact with the firm—from their first contact and initial consultation through the estate planning or administration process. He also leads the firm’s adoption of technology and development of new services, with an emphasis on making sophisticated estate planning more accessible, understandable, and efficient without sacrificing the personal attention clients expect.
Together with Olivia Paulo-Lee, Corey has played a central role in developing Eldon’s vision: a modern Trust & Estate law firm combining experienced legal counsel with thoughtful systems, technology, and an exceptional client experience.