James Zawodzinski Jr.

James focuses his practice on complex litigation matters in both federal and state courts.  His experience includes commercial contract and real estate disputes, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) matters, proceedings involving both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law, and varying intellectual property matters including those related to patent and trademark litigation and the misappropriation of trade secrets and ideas. 

When he’s not litigating in the court room, James provides practical advice to clients.  He negotiates and resolves “business divorces,” acting as a creative problem solver to find economical and efficient outcomes in the division, sale, and transfer of assets for both privately and publicly held companies.  James also represents large funders who provide merchant cash advances to merchants across the country, work which has contributed to New York case law surrounding such transactions.

James is a proud member of the firm’s Diversity Committee and serves as the President of Homespace Corporation’s Board of Directors.

• University at Buffalo School of Law's Private Practice Award, 2024
• Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under Thirty Award, 2022
• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Business Litigation) 2021 - 2023
• Editor-in-Chief, Buffalo Journal on Gender, Law, and Social Policy
• Buffalo Moot Court Board, Charles Desmond Competition Co-Chair and Award Recipient
• Hon. John T. Elfvin Alumni Scholar
• Order of the Barristers
• Harry A. Rachlin Award for Real Property Law & Real Estate Transactions

• President, Homespace, Inc. Board of Directors
• Board of Directors: Compass House
• 2023 Rising Leaders Program, Leadership Buffalo