Our team
David C. Pettig, Esq.
Founding partner David C. Pettig, Esq. has been practicing trust and estate law for more than 30 years. Prior to that, he was employed as a trust officer at the Lincoln Rochester Trust Company (now JPMorgan Chase) where he was responsible for overseeing the administration and settlement of estates and trusts, while concurrently serving as secretary to the Management Committee of the Trust Division.
David is admitted to the practice of law in New York and Florida.
Elected in 1996 as a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, David has also been listed in “Best Lawyers in America” for many years. Highly respected by his peers, he has earned an AV® rating through the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review™, which acknowledges the highest level of professional ethics and ability in his field.
David is a former chairman and currently secretary of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Monroe County (NY) Bar Association. He is also a member of the American, New York, and Florida Bar Association's Trusts and Estates sections.
David has served as president of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester, NY. He has taught graduate courses on advanced estate planning for The American College and shares his knowledge with peers and other professionals through writings and lectures at professional seminars.
His service to the community includes nearly 20 years of activity with the Boy Scouts of America, serving in many capacities, including scout master and troop committee chairman. He is a former board member of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and other organizations.
David holds a B.A. from Hamilton College and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
Jason P. Torres, Esq.
Jason P. Torres, Esq., a partner of the firm, practices trust and estate law, with a concentration in estate planning, creation of wills and trusts, estate settlement, and trust administration. He is admitted to the practice of law in New York.
A member of the New York State Bar Association (Trusts and Estates Section) and the Estate Planning Council of Rochester, NY, Jason is also a past member of the Monroe County (NY) Bar Association’s Executive Council (Trusts and Estates Section) (2005–2008) and Academy of Law (2005–2008).
He currently serves as chairman and trustee of the Crestwood Children’s Foundation and the Hillside Children’s Foundation. In addition, Jason is the current chair of the Hillside Family of Agencies' Pension Committee, past chair of the Planned Giving Committee, and a past member of its Golf Tournament Committee. He is a founding board member of the Buchanan Brothers Memorial Run benefiting two scholarships in the Honeoye Falls, NY, School District, and is a former member of the SUNY Geneseo Jones School of Business Advisory Council.
Jason's service to the community also includes serving as Treasurer for the Indian Landing Elementary School Home School Association, as well as a coach for Penfield Little League.
Jason holds a B.S. in Management Science from the State University of NY at Geneseo and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.
Peggy Jean Beach, Paralegal —
Estate Administration
Peggy J. Beach is a paralegal in estate administration. Peggy has more than 30 years experience in the settlement of trusts and estates and has been with our office for more than 15 years. She is a member of the Paralegal Association of Rochester (NY), Inc.
Barbara S. Ruffell, Paralegal —
Estate Administration
Barbie S. Ruffell has more than nine years of experience in estate administration related areas of law. She is a member of the Paralegal Association of Rochester (NY), Inc., and the Monroe County (NY) Bar Association.
Barbie is a wish grantor and ambassador of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York.
Amy M. Branch, Paralegal
Estate Administration and Estate Planning
Amy joined our firm having had more than 15 years of administrative and office management experience, primarily with Icon Design & Wendell Castle Collection L.L.C.
She currently volunteers as treasurer for the Churchville-Chili Middle School’s Parent Teacher Organization, communications director for Chili Youth Baseball, and treasurer for Churchville-Chili Jr. Saints Football & Cheerleading.
Amy earned her A.A. degree in Legal Secretarial Science from Bryant & Stratton College.