
James M. Wadsworth
Bar Associations
- New York State Bar Association
- The Florida Bar
- Bar Association of Erie County
Admissions
- New York
- Florida
Education
Princeton University, A.B.
Stanford University Law School, L.L.B.
Jim has retired from practice after serving firm clients in our Trusts & Estate practice, and the Buffalo community, in a number of roles.
Honors
- Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Man of the Year, 2013
- Listed, "Lawyer of the Year" in Best Lawyers in America (Trusts and Estates) 2020
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Trusts and Estates) 2012 - 2022
- Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Red Jacket Award, 2005
Experience
Jim has represented numerous clients in connection with estate planning and estate administration and accounting matters in Surrogate's Courts. He has also provided advice and representation regarding estate tax matters with the IRS. In addition, he has served as executor of many estates and is trustee of numerous trusts for clients and charitable organizations.
In the News
- August 28, 2013
- Buffalo Law Journal, May 20, 2013
- May 9, 2013
- Oishei Foundation Was Built on Fortune Made in Windshield WipersBuffalo News, September 25, 2012
- August 30, 2012
- Buffalo Law Journal, May 18, 2009
- Robert Gioia and the Oishei Foundation: Catalysts for Change in WNYBuffalo Spree, March 2007
- November 14, 2005
Press Releases
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 19, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2019
- Press Release, August 15, 2018
- Press Release, August 15, 2017
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 18, 2016
- Press Release, August 17, 2015
- Press Release, February 10, 2014
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Trusts & Estates Alert, December 27, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Trusts & Estates Alert, November 18, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Tax-Exempt Organizations Alert, June 19, 2019
- Estates and Trusts Alert, December 27, 2017
- Tax-Exempt Organizations Alert, December 1, 2016
- Tax-Exempt Organizations Alert, July 28, 2016
- Tax-Exempt Organizations Alert, December 15, 2015
- JD Supra, April 4, 2014
- JD Supra, January 28, 2014
- Federal/International Tax Alert, January 4, 2013
- Estates & Trusts Alert, February 3, 2010
Presentations & Events
- Buffalo, NY, June 9, 2009
Professional Associations
- Trustee, Robert and Patricia Colby Foundation
- Trustee, Mulroy Family Foundation
- Trustee, the Carlos and Elizabeth Heath Foundation
- Waste Technology Services advisory board
- Society of the Buffalo board of directors
- Buffalo Sabres Foundation board of directors
- Chair, Buffalo Tennis and Squash Preservation Foundation
Community & Pro Bono
Jim is the chairman of one of the largest foundations in the Buffalo area, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the chairman of the Board of Forest Lawn Cemetery, and chairman of the Shaw Festival Foundation. He is also a member of the board of directors of Launch NY, Calspan-University of Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC), the Niagara Community Center, and the Sabah Foundation. Formerly, Jim was a member of the board of governors of the Shaw Festival Theatre and a trustee of Nichols School and the Elmwood Franklin School. He was also a director of the Albright Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society, the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo and Erie County, the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, the Institute for Arts in Education of Western New York, and the Stanford University Law School Board of Visitors.He is also former president and a member of the board of the Buffalo Club, the Buffalo Tennis and Squash Club, and Cherry Hill Club.