James Zawodzinski, Jr.

James J. Zawodzinski, Jr., is a member of the Business Litigation and Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Commercial Litigation practices. He has extensive experience negotiating and resolving “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 handles every aspect of the dissolution of businesses and counsels clients through both the corporate, financial, and real estate litigation proceedings of this process. He has a proven track-record of successfully negotiating financially beneficial outcomes for clients on cases with merchant cash advances, some of which have contributed to New York case law surrounding such transactions. James has also counselled clients on significant commercial lease disputes, foreclosure and partition actions, partnership and joint venture issues, and complex commercial landlord-tenant disputes. He also handles matters related to real estate development and land use, including the negotiation of significant judgments and liens held on real property.

James also has broad experience in bankruptcy litigation representing both debtors and creditors. He routinely provides the firm’s clients with the immediate benefit of having an attorney who understands the client’s position from both sides of the coin. In addition to debtors and creditors, James also represents committees of creditors, secured and unsecured creditors, trustees, and lenders in cases arising out of Chapters 11, 12, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.

• Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under Thirty Award, 2022
• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Business Litigation) 2021 - 2022
• 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