Attorney Spotlight: Aaron Knights
Who is Aaron as an Attorney?
Aaron is a partner in our commercial litigation practice group. Aaron attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis. He then moved to Washington D.C. where he clerked for a judge and practiced law for nearly 20 years. Aaron just relocated to his hometown of Buffalo, NY this past summer. Aaron brings a practical approach to litigation. His goal is always to try to resolve a case or dispute in as most favorable a manner and as early as he can for his clients.
Why did Aaron become an attorney?
Aaron has always been interested in government and policy, even as a child, so going to law school seemed like a natural fit. Aaron studied political science as an undergrad and interned for a private criminal defense lawyer. As an intern, he worked on some very interesting cases. One of those cases was a client who was charged with murder but was actually innocent. In the end, they were able to convince the prosecution to drop all the charges and exonerate the client prior to even going to trial. This case left a lasting impact on Aaron as to how powerful the right lawyer can be for a client and how powerful our legal system can be. Aaron enjoys helping people solve problems in a way that makes the most sense for them.
What is Aaron’s most memorable case?
Aaron has many memorable cases but two stand out the most to him. One was when he represented a very wealthy individual who got into a dispute with the company outfitting his 737 aircraft. The other was from when he worked at a criminal justice clinic in law school. His client tried to rob a convenience store but when he did, he put a paper bag over his head to over his face and forgot to cut the eye holes out. Since he could not see the convenience store clerk was able to detain him until the police arrived. There wasn’t a lot to work with in terms of defense for the guy, but it was memorable.
Who is Aaron outside of work?
Aaron spends most of his time outside of work with his wife and daughters. He has a 16-year-old and a “soon-to-be” 10-year-old. He describes himself as a camp counselor dad because always enjoys being outside of the house. He enjoys museums, fishing, hiking, and running. Aaron also enjoys reading, both fiction and non-fiction, specifically American History. According to our paralegals, Aaron is a “Dad Joke Hall of Famer”. He has the greatest dad jokes of all time.
Check out the video to see Aaron’s legal tip.