Michelle has been a principal of Cioffi • Slezak • Wildgrube P.C. (formerly Carpenter & Cioffi, P.C.) since 2004, and has been with the firm since 1999. Prior to joining Cioffi • Slezak • Wildgrube P.C., Michelle worked for a general practice firm that provided a broad foundation for her practice which now concentrates in the areas of estate planning and administration, corporate and business law, and real estate.
Michelle frequently lectures for the New York State Bar Association and the Schenectady County Bar Association on real estate and estate planning issues. Michelle is also a panel member of the Legally Speaking Program for The Legal Project. Through this program, she presents seminars on estate planning and elder law issues to community groups.
Michelle is chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Real Property Section. Michelle serves on NYSBA’s Emergency Solo and Small Firm Task Force which was created to address law firm concerns in connection with COVID-19. Michelle is a member of the Schenectady County Bar Association’s Real Estate Practice Committee and is an appointed trustee for the John Alexander Trust Memorial Scholarship which is administered through the Schenectady County Bar Association. In addition, Michelle serves on the board of directors of the Federation of Bar Associations, Fourth Judicial District (Past President), Our Ability Alliance (Treasurer), the Capital Region Chamber Foundation (Chair), and the Capital Region Chamber.
Michelle was the recipient of the Schenectady County Bar Association’s first Young Lawyer Award, the Schenectady County Bar Association’s 2012 Lawyer of the Year Award, and the New York State Bar Association’s 2013 President’s Pro Bono Award.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Rutgers College and a Juris Doctor from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. She resides in Niskayuna, New York, with her husband, Drew, and Maisie and Lilo, the family pups.