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Top 10 Sexual Harassment Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
New York has some of the strongest workplace harassment protections in the country. Since 2019, the law covers every employer, the conduct only has to rise above petty slights, and you generally have three years to file a state complaint. The employee-side firms below help Buffalo workers stop the harassment and hold employers accountable.
Updated February 23, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Sexual harassment at work is exhausting in a way that is hard to explain to people who have not lived it. You are trying to do your job while managing someone else's behavior, deciding what to document, and worrying that complaining will cost you. In New York, the law is more on your side than most people realize, and a good employment lawyer can take the weight of the legal piece off your shoulders.
New York strengthened its harassment law sharply in 2019. The New York State Human Rights Law now applies to every employer in the state, no matter how small. The old standard that required harassment to be severe or pervasive is gone; conduct is unlawful if it rises above petty slights or trivial inconveniences. Mandatory arbitration of harassment claims and most non-disclosure agreements that silence victims are restricted. And the deadline to file a sexual harassment complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights was extended to three years, while a federal EEOC charge generally must be filed within 300 days.
Harassment usually takes one of two legal forms: a hostile work environment, where unwelcome conduct makes the workplace abusive, or quid pro quo, where a job benefit is tied to tolerating advances. Retaliation for reporting either is a separate violation. The firms below represent employees, not employers, in these cases. We verified each through Super Lawyers, Justia, Avvo, and Expertise.com and cross-checked their own employment and harassment practice pages.
How we picked these 8: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Buffalo-area sexual harassment practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
The Law Office of Lindy Korn, PLLC
535 Washington St, Buffalo37+ years employee-side
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation
A Buffalo boutique built around the employee's side of workplace disputes, with a long focus on sexual harassment cases. Lindy Korn has spent more than 37 years helping Western New York workers confront harassment and retaliation, with an approach that pairs legal strategy with the human reality of these cases.
Why they made the list: A leading Buffalo harassment and civil-rights practice with decades of employee-only work and top employment-litigation ratings.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, discrimination, group claims
A large, long-established Buffalo firm whose employment attorneys handle sexual harassment and discrimination claims, including complex matters and cases involving multiple employees. The firm has repeatedly been named to the U.S. News Best Law Firms list for labor and employment work.
Why they made the list: The depth to manage complex or multi-plaintiff harassment cases, backed by Best Law Firms recognition.
Practice focus: Harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination
An employee-side firm that handles workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation for Buffalo workers, offering free consultations and taking many matters on contingency so there is no fee unless it recovers compensation.
Why they made the list: Contingency intake and a workplace-rights focus make it accessible to workers who cannot pay hourly.
Fee structure
Contingency on many claims - no fee unless they recover
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, discrimination, unfair labor practices
A Buffalo firm that assists employees facing unfair labor practices, with a practice that includes sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination claims. Its work is oriented toward employees rather than employers.
Why they made the list: A clearly employee-focused practice covering harassment and the related claims that often come with it.
Practice focus: Harassment, discrimination, employment disputes
A multi-office New York firm whose Buffalo labor and employment team advises individuals across Western New York on harassment and discrimination. The firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers as a Best Law Firm in employment law and is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
Why they made the list: Best Law Firms recognition plus a sizable, accessible Buffalo employment team.
Practice focus: Harassment, discrimination, employee rights
An employee-rights practice with more than two decades asserting the rights of workers, including those subjected to harassment and discrimination. The firm pursues claims against employers through the agencies and the courts.
Why they made the list: Long employee-side experience and a dedicated Buffalo labor-relations practice.
Practice focus: Harassment, discrimination, ADA and benefits litigation
A Hamburg firm whose litigators have represented employees in discrimination and harassment cases. Partner Andrew P. Fleming has chaired the Erie County Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Committee and has lectured on sexual harassment and related employment law.
Why they made the list: Seasoned employment trial lawyers with a partner recognized for leadership in WNY employment law.
Practice focus: Harassment, discrimination, retaliation, employment disputes
An employment litigation firm serving Buffalo and Western New York that represents employees in harassment, discrimination, and retaliation disputes, as well as related severance and restrictive-covenant matters.
Why they made the list: A focused employment-litigation practice covering Buffalo harassment claims.
Tell us what is happening and we will match you with a vetted Buffalo sexual harassment attorney. Free, confidential, no obligation - and nothing you share commits you to anything.
How to choose between them in Buffalo
Choose a firm that represents employees only. Buffalo has large management-side firms that defend employers in these cases. For a harassment claim you want a firm whose entire practice is on the worker's side.
Ask about the new, lower New York standard. Since 2019, harassment does not have to be severe or pervasive to be unlawful in New York - it just has to rise above petty slights. A current employment lawyer knows how to use that lower bar.
Talk about your job security up front. Many people worry that complaining will get them fired. Retaliation is itself illegal, and a good lawyer will walk you through how to document the harassment while protecting your position.
Get the fee structure in writing. Some harassment cases are contingency, some hourly. Ask how the firm gets paid on a case like yours before you sign anything.
What sexual harassment help typically costs in Buffalo
Buffalo sexual harassment representation is priced by the kind of case:
Initial consultation. Free to about $200 at most firms on this list, and confidential.
Contingency representation. Common in harassment suits - typically 33%-40% of any recovery, with no fee unless you win.
Hourly representation. Roughly $250-$450/hour where a matter is billed by time rather than contingency.
Agency charge preparation. Often folded into the engagement for a State Division of Human Rights or EEOC complaint.
Recovery depends on the conduct, the harm, and the employer - lost income, emotional distress, and in some cases penalties. No lawyer can promise a figure.
How long it takes
Harassment cases move on the agencies' and courts' schedules:
Internal complaint and documentation. Immediate - a lawyer helps you report and preserve evidence while protecting against retaliation.
Agency charge to determination. Roughly 6-12 months at the New York State Division of Human Rights or the EEOC.
Lawsuit through discovery. Another 12-24 months, with many cases settling along the way.
Trial. Reserved for cases that do not settle - add a year or more.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a sexual harassment lawyer in Buffalo
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many sexual harassment matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Buffalo consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most sexual harassment matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Sexual Harassment attorney in Buffalo
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about sexual harassment lawyers in Buffalo
What counts as sexual harassment under New York law?
Unwelcome sexual conduct that creates a hostile work environment, or a job benefit tied to tolerating advances (quid pro quo). Since 2019, the conduct only has to rise above petty slights or trivial inconveniences - it no longer must be severe or pervasive.
How long do I have to file?
A complaint to the New York State Division of Human Rights for sexual harassment generally must be filed within three years. A federal EEOC charge generally must be filed within 300 days. Deadlines are strict, so act early.
Will I get fired for reporting harassment?
Retaliation for reporting harassment or filing a complaint is itself illegal and can become a separate claim. A lawyer helps you document everything and respond if your employer retaliates.
Do I have to sign an NDA or arbitrate?
New York now restricts mandatory arbitration of harassment claims and limits non-disclosure agreements that silence victims. Have a lawyer review anything your employer asks you to sign.
What will a harassment lawyer cost?
Many harassment cases are handled on contingency at 33%-40% of any recovery, with no fee unless you win. Some matters are hourly at $250-$450. Most firms here offer a free, confidential first consultation.
What should I document?
Dates, times, what was said or done, who was present, and any witnesses, plus copies of relevant texts or emails kept off your work devices. Report through your employer's process if it is safe to do so, and tell your lawyer everything.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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