Lawley, a top U.S. independent insurance broker according to Business Insurance, is merging its Amherst office into the downtown Buffalo headquarters beginning January 3rd, 2022.

With more than two hundred insurance professionals in Buffalo, the Amherst team will have greater access to Lawley’s educational training programs and industry specialists. Additionally, the Amherst team will bring their comprehensive knowledge to help round out Buffalo’s ability to provide clients with customized business and personal insurance.

The merge was facilitated by Lawley leadership including Principal Christopher Ross and Amherst Partner Stuart Scheff. Scheff will now become a partner at the Buffalo office.

“The Amherst group is a talented bunch. They have their hands in protecting our clients in real estate, condominiums, startups, nonprofits, construction, and other industry specialties,” says Ross. “Their knowledge and expertise has always been a huge asset to our organization—coming to Buffalo will just make it that much easier to access.”

Prior to joining the Lawley organization, Scheff was president and owner of Scheff Insurance Agency, Inc. from 1985–2008. In 2008, Scheff helped facilitate a merge with Lawley as the Lawley Vivacqua-Scheff agency in Amherst with Rick Vivacqua. Vivacqua passed away at the end of 2015. Scheff became the managing partner of the Amherst location, working with the team of insurance and employee benefits consultants to help mitigate the risk of clients with a full-suite of insurance products.

“The Lawley organization always believes in its people. I am proud to bring the Amherst team to Buffalo so they can share their experience and grow in their careers with Buffalo’s professional resources and educational opportunities,” says Scheff. “Beyond that, it means our clients will continue to have superior customer service with a family-owned insurance brokerage that lives and breathes its core values.”

Lawley currently has locations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, but services all 50 states with insurance coverage.