
Benjamin M. Zuffranieri, Jr.
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Courts for the Western, Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Ninth, and District of Columbia Circuits
- Pro Hac Vice admissions:
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California
- U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Clerkships
- Justice Reid S. Moule, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, 1983-85
Education
State University College at Buffalo, B.A., Magna Cum Laude
University at Buffalo School Law School, J.D., Cum Laude
Benjamin M. Zuffranieri, Jr. was named Managing Partner on February 1, 2022, continuing the firm's focus on strengthening client relationships, growing the firm's client base, enhancing collegiality, and serving our communities. Prior to becoming Managing Partner, he served as leader of the firm's Business Litigation and Construction practices.
Mr. Zuffranieri has extensive experience in commercial, construction and international law matters. His engagements include trials, appeals, arbitrations and mediations, both domestic and international. His cases generally involved complex matters with substantial sums in dispute, including bet-the-company litigations. For many years, he served as Chair of the Hodgson Russ Litigation Practice, and gained substantial experience in alternative dispute resolution processes. Mr. Zuffranieri is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, National Roster of Neutrals, Commercial Panel. He has also been appointed to the federal court mediation panel for the United States District Court, Western District of New York. Additionally, he has participated as counsel and as a mediator in numerous arbitrations and mediations involving commercial, international, and construction disputes.
Mr. Zuffranieri was a lecturer at the University at Buffalo Law School from 1987 - 89 and at the State University of New York College at Buffalo from 1984 - 86. Prior to that he served as a Confidential Law Clerk to Honorable Reid S. Moule, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department.
Honors
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation - Construction, and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants) 2007 - 2023
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America: Lawyer of the Year (Bet-the-Company Litigation) Buffalo 2016, 2022
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) 2007 - 2022
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America: Lawyer of the Year (Litigation - Construction) 2019, 2020
- Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow, 2018
- Buffalo Business First/Buffalo Law Journal's Legal Elite of Western New York, 2014
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2013-present
- Buffalo Business First/Buffalo Law Journal Who’s Who in Law, 2008
- Buffalo State College President's Distinguished Service Award
- SUNY Buffalo Law School Moot Court Board
- Winner, Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition (Best Speaker Award)
- Winner, Albert R. Mugel National Tax Competition (Best Brief Award)
- Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award for academic achievement and appellate advocacy
Experience
- Achieved Multi-Million Dollar Settlement in Environmental and Construction Litigation
- Dismissal of Discrimination and Retaliation Case
- Lead counsel for employer in ERISA arbitration
- Lead Counsel in Breach of Contract and Fiduciary Duty Litigations
- Lead Counsel in Commercial Arbitration Involving Asset Purchase and Employment Agreements
- Lead Counsel in Corporate Dissolution Proceeding
- Lead Counsel in Mediation and Arbitration on Behalf of Project Sponsor Against Contractor
- Lead Counsel in Multi-Million Dollar Construction Arbitration
- Negotiated Seven-Figure Dispute for Sports & Entertainment Complex Developer
- Obtained Dismissals for Medical Products Manufacturer in Cases Arising out of FDA Recall
- Obtained No-Cause Jury Verdict in Insurance Coverage Dispute
- Party-appointed Arbitrator in International Arbitration
- Successful Mediation of Unfair Competition and Non-Compete Claims
- Successfully Mediated Fraud and Contract Claims to Conclusion
- Successfully Obtained Preliminary Injunctive Relief
- Successfully Resolved Complex Commercial/Construction Disputes
- Won Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Products Liability Matter
In the News
- August 28, 2013
- May 30, 2013
- August 30, 2012
- Q&A With Hodgson Russ' Ben ZuffranieriLaw360, June 16, 2011
- September 15, 2010
- September 12, 2008
Press Releases
- March 8, 2023
- December 27, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 23, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 19, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 19, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2019
- Press Release, August 12, 2019
- Press Release, January 28, 2019
- Press Release, September 24, 2018
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 19, 2018
- Press Release, August 20, 2018
- Press Release, August 15, 2018
- Press Release, September 6, 2017
- Press Release, August 15, 2017
- Press Release, August 31, 2016
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 18, 2016
- Press Release, August 19, 2015
- Press Release, August 17, 2015
- Press Release, September 29, 2014
- Press Release, August 14, 2014
- August 2013
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance Alert , September 15, 2022
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, March 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, March 11, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, March 10, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, February 8, 2021
- COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, January 29, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, January 21, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, November 4, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, October 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, October 12, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, September 10, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, August 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, July 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, July 14, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, June 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Public Authority Alert, June 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance Alert, June 5, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, May 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Construction Alert, May 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Business Litigation Alert, May 13, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Construction Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education, Municipal & Public Finance Alert, April 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Public Authority Alert, April 3, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Construction Alert , March 27, 2020
- Minimizing the Risk of U.S. LitigationLawyers Weekly, November 7, 2008
- May 18, 2006
- U.S. Federal Courts Have Broad Authority to Grant Discovery in Aid of Canadian LitigationLawyers Weekly, December 17, 2004
- Lawyers Weekly, December 12, 2003
Blog Posts
Presentations & Events
- September 28, 2020
- September 10, 2020
- September 3, 2020
- August 20, 2020
- August 10, 2020
- August 7, 2020
- Spring 2005
- Hamilton, ON, April 2005
- October 1, 2004
- 2003
- Toronto, ON, April 2002
Professional Associations
- American Arbitration Association, National Roster of Neutrals, Commercial Panel
- Member, Federal Court Mediation Panel, WDNY
- New York State Bar Association
- Bar Association of Erie County
Community & Pro Bono
- Director Emeritus and long-time Chair of the Legal/Audit Committee at the Buffalo State College Foundation, Inc.
- Former Trustee, Burchfield Penney Art Center