Benjamin M. Zuffranieri Jr.

Benjamin M. Zuffranieri, Jr. is the Co-Chair of the firm; he previously served as Managing Partner from 2022 through February 2026, when he led the firm’s substantial growth, including its focus on strengthening client relationships, growing the firm's talent and client base, enhancing collegiality, and serving communities in which the firm has offices. 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.

Mr. Zuffranieri is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, National Roster of Neutrals, Commercial and Construction 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. 

Mr. Zuffranieri is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only honorary society of trial lawyers. Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. He is also a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, an invitation-only, selective, and limited membership international association of the world’s best construction lawyers.

Services

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

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