Fired in Buffalo and think it crossed a legal line? Start here.
Top 10 Wrongful Termination Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
New York is an at-will state, so a firing is only illegal when it crosses a line - discrimination, retaliation, FMLA interference, whistleblower reprisal, or breach of a contract. Most Buffalo claims start with a charge at the EEOC or the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the clock starts the day you are let go.
Updated February 09, 202613 min readEditorially independent
If you were let go in Buffalo and suspect the real reason was your age, race, sex, pregnancy, disability, or because you reported something illegal, you may have a claim - but being fired unfairly is not the same as being fired illegally. New York is an at-will state. An employer can let you go for a bad reason or no reason at all. The line is crossed only when the firing was because of a protected characteristic, in retaliation for a protected activity, in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, or in breach of an actual contract.
Two clocks matter most. A federal discrimination charge through the EEOC generally must be filed within 300 days in New York. A complaint to the New York State Division of Human Rights under the State Human Rights Law generally must be filed within three years. Severance offers usually come with their own short deadline to sign, often 21 days, sometimes 45 for group layoffs. The firms below live in these deadlines.
For a wrongful termination claim you want a firm built around employees, not one that defends employers. Buffalo has plenty of large management-side defense firms; the ones on this list represent the worker. We confirmed each through legal directories such as Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Justia, and Expertise.com, cross-referenced against each firm's own published employment practice.
How we picked these 9: 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 wrongful termination practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP
42 Delaware Ave, BuffaloLarge WNY firm
Practice focus: Wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation
One of Western New York's largest and oldest firms, with a dedicated labor and employment group whose attorneys have decades of experience helping wrongfully terminated employees. The firm has repeatedly been named to the U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list, with multiple attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Why they made the list: Deep bench, long Best Law Firms recognition, and a labor and employment practice that handles complex discrimination and termination cases.
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation
An employee-side firm that regularly handles workplace discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation cases for Buffalo workers. It offers free initial consultations and takes many employment matters on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless it recovers compensation.
Why they made the list: Contingency-friendly intake and a focused workplace-rights practice make it accessible for workers who cannot pay hourly.
Fee structure
Contingency on many claims - no fee unless they recover
Practice focus: Discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge
A boutique built entirely around the employee's side of the table. Lindy Korn has spent more than 37 years as a civil rights and employment attorney in Western New York, working to make workplaces free of illegal discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and is consistently rated among Buffalo's top employment litigators.
Why they made the list: Decades of employee-only civil rights work and top Super Lawyers ratings for employment litigation in Buffalo.
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, unfair labor practices
A Buffalo firm that assists employees facing unfair labor practices, handling wrongful termination, discrimination, and sexual harassment claims. Its practice is oriented toward workers rather than the companies that employ them.
Why they made the list: A clearly employee-focused practice covering the full range of workplace claims, listed in regional employment directories.
Practice focus: Employment law, discrimination, severance and separation review
A multi-office New York firm whose Buffalo labor and employment team advises individuals and businesses across Western New York. 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 in employment law plus a sizable, affordable Buffalo employment team.
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, employee and worker rights, discrimination
An employee-rights practice with more than 20 years asserting the rights of workers who were illegally fired. If you were terminated without lawful cause, the firm pursues claims against the employer through the agencies and the courts.
Why they made the list: Two decades of employee-side termination work and a dedicated Buffalo labor-relations practice page.
Hamburg, NY (Buffalo metro)Largest WNY employment settlement on record
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, discrimination, ADA and benefits litigation
A South Park Avenue firm in Hamburg whose litigators have represented employees in discrimination and wrongful termination cases, including what the firm describes as the largest employment claim settlement in Western New York history. Partner Andrew P. Fleming has chaired the Erie County Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Committee.
Why they made the list: A documented record-setting employment settlement and a partner recognized for leadership in WNY employment law.
Practice focus: Employment disputes, discrimination, wrongful termination
An employment litigation firm serving Buffalo and Western New York that represents employees in discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination disputes, as well as restrictive-covenant and severance matters.
Why they made the list: A focused employment-litigation practice covering Buffalo, listed among regional employment counsel.
Practice focus: Workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation
A Buffalo firm that handles employment matters including workplace discrimination and wrongful termination alongside personal injury and estate work, representing employees who were pushed out or fired in violation of the law.
Why they made the list: An employee-side employment practice with a visible Buffalo presence in legal directories.
Tell us about your situation and we will match you with vetted Buffalo wrongful termination attorneys. Free, confidential, no obligation - and the EEOC clock may be shorter than you think.
How to choose between them in Buffalo
Confirm they represent employees, not employers. Buffalo has many large management-side defense firms. For a wrongful termination claim you want a firm whose practice is built around workers, so its instincts and relationships line up with yours.
Ask about the filing deadline first. A federal EEOC charge in New York generally must be filed within 300 days; a State Division of Human Rights complaint generally within three years. If you have a severance offer, the signing deadline is even shorter. The right firm pins down your dates at the first call.
Ask how they get paid on your kind of claim. Severance reviews are often flat-fee. Discrimination suits may be contingency. Some matters are hourly. Get the structure in writing before you sign anything.
Have them separate unfair from illegal. A good employment lawyer will tell you honestly whether your firing was merely unfair or actually unlawful. One who promises a payout before reviewing your documents is selling you something.
What wrongful termination help typically costs in Buffalo
Buffalo wrongful termination work is priced by the kind of help you need:
Initial case review. Free to about $200 at most firms on this list.
Severance agreement review and negotiation. Commonly $500-$2,500 flat, or hourly at $250-$450.
EEOC or State Division of Human Rights charge. Often folded into a contingency engagement; hourly work runs $250-$450/hour.
Litigation through trial. Usually contingency at 33%-40% of any recovery, sometimes blended with reduced hourly billing.
Settlement value depends on the strength of the evidence, your lost income, and the employer's size. No lawyer can promise a number.
How long it takes
Plan for a long runway:
Severance review. Days to a couple of weeks - usually the fastest engagement, driven by the signing deadline.
Agency charge to a right-to-sue letter or determination. Roughly 6-12 months at the EEOC or the State Division of Human Rights.
Lawsuit through discovery. Another 12-24 months, with most cases settling along the way.
Trial. Reserved for the minority of cases that do not settle - add a year or more.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a wrongful termination 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 wrongful termination 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 wrongful termination 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 Wrongful Termination 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 wrongful termination lawyers in Buffalo
Is my Buffalo firing actually illegal?
Only if it crossed a legal line. New York is at-will, so being fired unfairly is not enough on its own. It must involve illegal discrimination, retaliation for a protected activity, FMLA interference, whistleblower reprisal, or breach of a written contract.
How long do I have to file?
A federal EEOC charge in New York generally must be filed within 300 days of the firing. A complaint to the New York State Division of Human Rights under the State Human Rights Law generally must be filed within three years. Contract claims have their own deadlines. Move quickly.
Should I sign my severance agreement first?
Have a lawyer read it first. Severance deals often waive your right to sue, and once you sign, that is usually final. A short review can sometimes increase the payment or carve back the release.
What will a wrongful termination lawyer cost me?
It depends on the help. Severance reviews are often a flat $500-$2,500. Discrimination suits are frequently contingency at 33%-40% of any recovery. Many firms here offer a free first consultation.
What evidence helps my case?
Your offer letter and handbook, performance reviews, the termination notice, emails or texts about the firing, and notes on what was said and by whom. Do not delete anything, and keep copies off your work devices.
Can I be retaliated against for filing?
Retaliation for filing a discrimination charge or reporting illegal conduct is itself unlawful and can become a second claim. Tell your lawyer immediately if your employer reacts.
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.
Helpful next steps
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