This Friday, get to know Blaine Schwartz, Buffalo Jewish Federation’s new president! Blaine is a partner at Lippes Mathias, LLP, where he has practiced commercial real estate law for more than two decades. Prior to joining the firm, he spent 14 years as an attorney with Benderson Development Company, the nation’s largest privately owned commercial real estate developer.

Blaine is widely respected within Lippes Mathias and is consistently highly ranked both locallyand nationally for his experience and creative approach to solving complex real estate matters.

Beyond his legal career, Blaine has long been deeply engaged in Jewish Buffalo. His leadership roles include past president of Temple Beth Am (now Congregation Shir Shalom), immediate past board chair of Jewish Family Services, former vice president and board member of the Buffalo Jewish Federation, and former board member of the Hebrew Benevolent Loan Association.  Blaine is also an avid tennis player and enjoys listening to music in his spare time.  

Earlier in his career, Blaine worked as a journalist and broadcaster, serving as news director for WCMF Radio in Rochester, news anchor for WMMS-FM in Cleveland, and a local reporter in Cleveland for NBC Radio News and NPR. He also spent time as a professional basketball play-by-play announcer.

Blaine is married to Joanie and is the proud father of Michael, a third-year family medicine resident at University at Buffalo’s Jericho Road Community Health Care Center.