Your Hard-Working Team

Karen Wheadon—Injury and Malpractice Paralegal for Jim Reed

Karen Wheadon has been a Paralegal with the firm since October 2001. In 2008, she began working with attorney Jim Reed and Christina Sonsire, who both specialize in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Working for two busy litigation attorneys can be hectic, but Karen enjoys the work. “I love how each case is so different from the next – it never gets boring,” Karen says.

Born and raised in Horseheads, Karen graduated from Notre Dame High School and earned an associate’s degree in Paralegal Sciences from Corning Community College.

She now lives in Pine City with her family. She and her husband Jeremy, who works at Hilliard Corp, married May 19, 2001. Karen has two children, Emily (5) and Elise (3) and two stepchildren, Justin (17) and Erica (14).

Annette Viselli Thorne—Injury and Malpractice Paralegal for Adam Gee

A 30-year veteran in the legal field, Annette Viselli Thorne has contributed her experience to the Ziff Law Firm since 2007. Annette acts as paralegal to attorneys Adam M. Gee and Christina Bruner Sonsire, who specialize in personal injury and medical malpractice cases.

Annette juggles a wide variety of duties – secretarial tasks, preparing pleadings, meeting with clients, reviewing medical records and more.

“I enjoy the family atmosphere at Ziff Law,” Annette says. “I’m very proud of the day-to-day efforts that we make to ensure all of clients are afforded the best possible legal representation.” A Valley native, Annette has an associate’s degree in Paralegal Sciences, with a specialty in Litigation. She is the proud mother of Janine Gorski, a junior at Mansfield University. In June 2009, Annette married Rick Thorne of Painted Post.

In her free time, Annette enjoys crafts and cooking, but she also gives her attention to a number of good causes. She has been involved with the Salvation Army, Stray Haven Humane Society, the Red Cross, and many private fund-raising activities.

Aside from those interests, Annette says she loves to “spend time with my family, traveling and flying in our hot-air balloon!”

Enola Nelson– Legal Assistant to Attorney Sue Daubner– Divorce and Family Law

Enola has “loved working as a legal secretary all my adult life– I love that every day is different and that I get to meet new people every day”.  Enola works as Legal Assistant to Attorney Sue Daubner.  Together they handle cases for folks struggling with Family Court and Divorce issues.  

As a mother (and proud grandmother!), Enola understands just how difficult it can be for our clients who are dealing with some of the most difficult issues of their life.  Enola is a compassionate listener.  Equally important, Enola is a hard worker who understands that attention to detail is required to quickly and efficiently resolve these difficult cases.

Enola has been a legal secretary since 1974 and with the Ziff Law Firm since 1986!   A graduate of Southside High School and the Rochester Business Institute, Enola has lived in Elmira since she was 5 years old. She is married, with two adult children. Spending time with her first grandson is a big interest of hers outside the office. She also enjoys gardening, sewing and cooking. A hobby “on wheels” also takes up some of her free time: “Our entire family rides motorcycles,” Enola says.

Terri Ziegler—Bookkeeper

Terri Ziegler says she has always enjoyed numbers, and that works out well for us here at the Ziff Law Firm: Terri is the firm’s bookkeeper.

Terri has been with Ziff Law since 2006. In addition to taking care of the firm’s bookkeeping, Terri assists in worker’s compensation, a role she says is very rewarding. “I do get a lot of pleasure out of it when you know you have really helped someone,” she says.

Born and raised in Elmira, Terri currently lives only about a mile from where she grew up. She attended Southside High School and earned an associate’s degree in Secretarial Studies from Corning Community College.

Terri is married with two children. In her spare time, she likes to be active with her children, and get in some shopping and reading. Terri also gives some of her time to Elmira’s favorite hometown charity, the Arctic League.

Sara Denierio—Receptionist

Sara Denierio enjoys meeting new people every day, which is a good thing given her position as receptionist for the Ziff Law Firm! Sara greets attorneys, realtors, clients and more – a constant flow of new faces.

Sara has been with Ziff Law since October of 2007. She also answers calls from the switchboard, distributes the firm’s mail and handles a variety of important clerical duties, including maintaining a client database.

An Elmira native, Sara graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 2002. Her parents, Jeff and Deanna Denierio, own and operate Denierio’s Auto Detailing in Elmira. Sara has two younger brothers, Jeffrey and Vinnie.

The seasons play a big part in her interests outside of work. In the summers she likes to spend as much time as she can at the lake, boating and water skiing with family and friends. During the winter, she turns to snowmobiling. Any time of year indoors, she enjoys decorating and interior design in her spare time.

Sara also says how much she enjoys cleaning and accessorizing her vehicles. “Being a daddy’s girl this is something I have learned from him and we enjoy doing together,” she says.