Kinsey O'Brien

Kinsey represents and advises employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. While she is resident in our Buffalo, New York office, she services her clients’ employment law needs across the U.S. She also devotes a substantial portion of her practice to assisting Canadian companies with U.S. hiring and workforce management issues.

Kinsey regularly counsels employers on onboarding/hiring issues, worker classification, compliance with wage and hour laws, leave and accommodation compliance and management, avoidance of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, internal investigations, discipline, and discharge, and workplace policies and handbooks.

Kinsey also regularly defends employers in a broad array of employment-related litigation, including allegations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave and accommodations, whistleblower claims, contract disputes, and wage and hour statutes. She is experienced in all phases of litigation, including defense of administrative charges and investigations, drafting pleadings, conducting discovery, motion practice, mediation and settlement negotiations, and trial.

Working with her clients as a strategic business partner, Kinsey helps management and human resource professionals mitigate risk through all phases of the employment relationship. She prides herself on providing timely, practical, and straightforward guidance to help her clients achieve their business objectives.

Before joining Hodgson Russ, Kinsey worked for a law firm in Buffalo. She also clerked for the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York and worked in the office of a United States Senator.

• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Employment & Labor) 2016 - 2023
• Recipient of the John N. Bennett Award for Highest Academic Achievement in Graduating Class
• Winning Team and Best Appellate Brief, Charles S. Desmond Memorial Moot Court Competition
• Second Place Appellate Brief, NYC Regional, American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition
• Former publications editor and former associate editor, Buffalo Law Review
• Former member, Buffalo Human Rights Law Journal
• Former fellow, Buffalo Public Interest Law Program

• New York State Bar Association
• WNY Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, President 2023-2024
• Bar Association of Erie County, Labor Law Committee, Chairperson
• Leadership Buffalo Class Experience 2022

• Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc., Board President, 2016 - Present, and Board Member, 2014 - Present