
Julia M. Hilliker
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U. S. District Court, Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- Pro hac vice admissions, California and Pennsylvania
Education
Canisius College, B.A., summa cum laude
University of Notre Dame, J.D., magna cum laude
Julia focuses her practice on trial work and complex litigation. Her areas of focus include business disputes and resulting litigation, environmental litigation, products liability, school district litigation, and employment litigation. She regularly counsels businesses in resolving disputes among management and has litigated various business dissolution matters.
In 2016, she successfully represented minority shareholders who were oppressed in petitioning for dissolution of the corporations. In the environmental context, she has successfully challenged the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Article 78 proceedings. She has represented an agricultural chemical company in litigation over selection of RCRA corrective action for arsenic in soils. She also recently secured summary judgment on behalf of a Fortune 1000 company after it was sued by numerous local residents alleging that toxic exposure to the company's operations caused personal injury and property damage claims. She also frequently handles appeals and recently successfully argued an issue of first impression regarding the labor law to New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals. In addition, Julia advises international clients on product liability and insurance issues for manufacturers and distributors wishing to enter the U.S. market.
Julia regularly speaks at CLEs on various topics, including the firm’s annual school conference and labor law matters. Julia’s past experiences include an internship at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York as well as employment at Housing Opportunities Made Equal, an organization dedicated to the enforcement of federal and state laws prohibiting housing discrimination. Julia was also previously awarded a two-year research fellowship with the Department of Human Resources for the City of Buffalo, where she assisted in disciplinary hearings, general grievances, and contract negotiations.
Honors
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants) 2023 - 2024
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) 2022 - 2023
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars, (Business Litigation) 2013 - 2021
- Listed, Business First/Buffalo Law Journal's Legal Elite of Western New York, 2013 - 2014, 2019 - 2020
- Buffalo Business First's 40 Under 40, 2018
- Buffalo Business First's Who's Who in Law 2012
- Former symposium editor, Notre Dame Law Review
- Member, Notre Dame trial team
- Moot-Court First Speaker Award
- Full fellowship recipient, University of Notre Dame Law School
- Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity
- Canisius Raichle Scholar
- Canisius Dillon Scholar
- Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society
- Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society
- Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Honor Society
Experience
- Favorable Court of Appeals Decision Ends Injury Liability Lawsuit for Manufacturing Facility Owners
- Federal Court Victory Ends Seven-Year Court Battle Over Environmental Contamination Claims
- Lead Counsel in Nationwide Aviation Wrongful Death Action Involving 50 Deaths
- Representation of Minority Shareholders in a Dissolution Proceeding of a Family of Very Lucrative Closely Held Corporation
- Summary Judgment Dismissing All Claims Brought by Shareholders Against a Former Director and Lenders
- Victory for Portville District Benefits Schools Across New York State
In the News
- The Buffalo News, July 30, 2023
- Buffalo News, November 16, 2019
Press Releases
- August 23, 2023
- August 17, 2023
- 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, September 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 23, 2019
- Press Release, August 12, 2019
- Press Release, October 10, 2018
- Press Release, August 20, 2018
- Press Release, September 6, 2017
- Press Release, August 31, 2016
- Press Release, August 19, 2015
- Press Release, September 29, 2014
- Press Release, August 14, 2014
- Press Release, January 3, 2014
- August 2013
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, May 25, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability & Complex Tort Alert, May 10, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability Litigation & Legislation Quarterly Update, May 2022
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, March 22, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability Litigation & Legislation Quarterly Update, January/February 2022
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, November 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, November 2, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, October 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Torts, Insurance and Products Liability Alert, March 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Renewable Energy Alert, March 24, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Renewable Energy Alert, August 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, August 12, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, August 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, July 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, July 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Corporate Governance & Compliance Alert, June 30, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, June 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Alert, June 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, June 2, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Class Action Litigation Alert, May 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, May 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Business Litigation Alert, May 13, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 27, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Torts, Insurance & Products Liability Alert, April 17, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 14, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Litigation Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental and Brownfield Redevelopment Alert, April 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, March 27, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, March 26, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, November 27, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental, Municipal, and Public Finance Alert, November 12, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Renewable Energy and Environmental Alert, October 8, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, August 14, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 22, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Environmental Alert, April 18, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 18, 2019
- Increased Regulatory Requirements and Water Infrastructure Investment Likely in 2019Environmental Alert, December 21, 2018
- Litigation Alert, August 3, 2018
- Labor & Employment and Employment Litigation Alert, February 27, 2018
- Hodgson Russ Alert, October 24, 2016
- Employers' Advisor Blog Archives, January 30, 2014
- Labor & Employment Alert, April 26, 2013
- A Look at the Litigation Landscape After Reigel v. Medtronic: The Benefits, Risks, and Costs of PMA Devices and §510(k) DevicesBNA Medical Devices Law & Industry Report, April 9, 2008
- March 28, 2008
- The Evolving Meaning of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments: Sentencing Effects of Aggravating Factors as Elements of the CrimeNotre Dame Law Review
- A New Constitution for New York State (contributor)2002
Presentations & Events
- Buffalo Marriott Niagara 1340 Millersport Hwy, Amherst, NY 14221, January 13, 2023
- January 15, 22, and 29
- October 1, 2019
- Community Health Center of Buffalo, April 17, 2019
- Batavia, New York, September 13, 2018
Professional Associations
Julia is a member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and a graduate of the organization's intensive training program. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and Bar Association of Erie County.
Community & Pro Bono
Julia, a Hodgson Russ Partner, is a member of the ECMC Lifeline Foundation, Inc. board of directors, a board member of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, co-chair of the Notre Dame Attorney Alumni Group for Western New York, co-captain of Hodgson Russ's annual Ride for Roswell team for the past decade, and a member of the Desmond Law Society at Canisius College. She has also served on the committee for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute All Star Galas from 2013 to present. Julia is a former board member of the National Kidney Foundation of Western New York. She is also involved in local recruiting efforts for the University of Notre Dame Law School.