I was born in 1961 to Ann and Walter Lukasik in Buffalo, New York. My Polish maternal grandparents, Mary and Thaddeus  immigrated form Poland in 1917. My grandfather Thaddeus worked as a mason and my grandmother Mary was a homemaker.

My paternal grandparents, Joseph and Anna,  immigrated from Poland in 1922. My grandpa Joe, worked in a variety of factories as a laborer in the Buffalo area and my grandmother, Anna, worked as a cook for various Buffalo restaurants over the years.

My mom was born in 1922 and grew into a great beauty. My dad was captain of his football team after graduating from High School in 1942, joined the Navy and fought in the Pacific during WWII. He then returned home, married my mother and on the G.I. Bill, went to and graduated from the University of Denver.  He later developed a serious drinking problem and became an alcoholic. He died in 1980 at the age of 56.  My mom is now 79 and lives in a senior complex in the Buffalo area surrounded by her five children and five grandchildren.

I have one older sister, two older brothers and one younger brother. I grew up in a rural Newfane, New York about 25 miles north of Buffalo. While growing up there, I played football and basketball.  I also worked for seven summers as a camp counselor at the YMCA's  "Camp Kenan", a beautiful place situated on Lake Ontario.  I graduated from that  Newfane High School in 1979. I attended Buffalo State College while living with my Polish grandmother, Anna, and Aunt Clara and Uncle Eddie.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, magna cum laude, in 1984. While in college, I did a summer internship at the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C. and did a semester abroad in Siena, Italy where I studied Italian and Art.  I worked my way through college working as a night janitor for Tops Supermarkets. Thereafter, I worked at The Astor Home for Children, a facility for abused children, in Rhinebeck, New York. I lived in a group home with ten kids aged 12 to 14 who had been court ordered to this facility.

Thereafter, I attended the University of Buffalo School of Law and graduated in 1988. I worked my way through law school working as a Residential Assistant, Resident Director, cook, painting houses and a law clerk. I began practicing law immediately in Buffalo thereafter handling a variety of personal injury cases in Buffalo and New York City.

In 1994 I married the love of my life, Kelsey DiLapo, who is also a lawyer.  We have an 8 year old daughter, Iliana.

In 2002, I helped form the partnership of Cantor Lukasik Dolce & Panepinto, P.C.  The foundation of the firm is representing working people everywhere who have been injured:  steelworkers, ironworkers, laborers and railroaders.   I am currently a  partner and continue to represent plaintiffs in personal injury cases and civil rights matters  in State and Federal Court. Some of the cases I have worked on and that were reported in the New York VerdictSearch (case 1, case 2, case 3, case 4, case 5, case 6, case 7).  

I was honored as a 2008 recipient of Who's Who in Law by the Buffalo Law Journal as one of the top plaintiff's personal injury attorneys in Western New York.  This recognition is special to me because the voting for it is by my peers. 

I was also honored in 2008 by my selection as one of  Upstate New York's Super Lawyers.   This selection process identifies the top 5% of plaintiff's personal injury attorneys based on reported verdicts and settlements, peer review, and other criteria  

I was honored this year by the publication, The Best Lawyers in America.  This publication recognizes top lawyers in their field on a national basis.  

I am on the Board of Directors for Compeer, a national and local organization dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of those who struggle with all forms of mental illness.  I was honored with the Advocate of the Year for my work in advocating for the rights of people with mental illness in my community.

I am the recipient of the "Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service" from the University at Buffalo Law School Alumni Association for my work in helping lawyers with depression.  

The Erie County Bar Association and I were honored by the New York State Bar Association's Award of Merit for the creation of the Committee to Assist Lawyers with Depression in Erie County.  I am the Chair of that Committee.

I am admitted to practice in New York State, all of the federal courts in New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, am a member of the American Justice Association, New York State Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Erie County Bar Association, Public Citizen and the Coalition for Economic Justice.