
Karl W. Kristoff
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- Illinois
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
B.A., University at Buffalo, State University of New York
J.D., John Marshall Law School
Karl has practiced law since 1968 and has been engaged almost exclusively in both school law and public sector labor relations work for more than 40 years. Karl has been designated by the New York State Commissioner of Education as a hearing officer for cases arising under Part 83 of the Commissioner's Regulations concerning teacher certification.
During the course of his work for school districts, including his recent service as General Counsel for the Rochester City School District, Karl has been involved with administrator and teacher certification and tenure area matters, student discipline problems, school construction matters, school building closings, sales and leases, board of education and annual meeting questions, student transportation matters, competitive bidding for public contracts, environmental law problems, religious establishment and academic freedom questions, school borrowings, and human rights issues. He also has significant experience with placement of students with special educational needs and appeals from committees on special education decisions, as well as abolition of position matters, public employee collective negotiations, contract administration, grievance handling and arbitration, improper practice cases before the Public Employment Relations Board, public employee strikes and other job actions, certified and non-certified employee discipline and dismissal cases (including more than 50 cases under Section 3020-a), unemployment insurance and workers' compensation matters, and appeals to the Commissioner of Education and the courts.
Karl served on active duty with the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate and special court military judge. Thereafter, he was appointed to various positions in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard of the United States, including staff judge advocate, assistant adjutant general, and commander for the headquarters, New York Air National Guard. He retired from his state service in 1999 with the rank of major general.
Karl has also served as an adjunct assistant professor in the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education and at SUNY Buffalo Law School.
Honors
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America, Upstate New York Super Lawyers, and Who's Who in American Law
- Legion of Merit of the U.S. Armed Forces
- New York State Conspicuous Service Award
- Martindale Hubbell "AV Preeminent" ranking
- WNYESC Dr. Robert W. Heller Distinguished Service Award
- ECASB Wayne Schlifke Lifetime Achievement Award
In the News
- On Board, September 1, 2014
- How I...Went From Military to Law FirmBuffalo Business First, July 11, 2014
- August 28, 2013
- September 12, 2008
Press Releases
- Hodgson Russ LLP Honored with 2023 New York State Bar Association President’s Pro Bono Service AwardApril 17, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, February 18, 2021
- Press Release, August 31, 2016
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 18, 2016
- Press Release, August 19, 2015
- Press Release, August 17, 2015
- Press Release, August 14, 2014
- August 2013
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, October 20, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, October 3, 2023
- Hodgson Russ LLP Labor & Employment Alert, September 28, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Occupational Safety & Health Act Alert, August 8, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert , July 21, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , July 6, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , June 28, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, May 16, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , April 26, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, April 18, 2023
- March 9, 2023
- March 7, 2023
- February 28, 2023
- February 22, 2023
- February 21, 2023
- February 17, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, February 7, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 28, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 27, 2022
- U.S. Department of Labor Proposes New Independent Contractor Rule for Federal Wage and Hour PurposesHodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , October 26, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , October 24, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , October 21, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert , October 21, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, October 18, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert , June 24, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, May 17, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, May 6, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Municipal and Education Alert, April 19, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, April 5, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 23, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, February 25, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, February 25, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, February 18, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, January 14, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, January 12, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, January 5, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, January 4, 2022
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, December 23, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, December 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, December 8, 2021
- New York Requires Private Employers to Notify Employees of Telephone, Email, and Internet MonitoringHodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 6, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 3, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, November 17, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, November 15, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, November 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, November 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Healthcare and Labor & Employment Alert, November 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Cannabis & Hemp and Labor & Employment Alert, November 4, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Healthcare and Labor & Employment Alert, November 2, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, October 26, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, September 7, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, September 2, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, August 6, 2021
- Labor and Employment Alert, July 19, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education and Media & First Amendment Alert, June 23, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 15, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert, May 13, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert, April 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert, March 15, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, March 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, February 22, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, February 17, 2021
- Labor & Employment Alert, November 14, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, October 28, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, May 23, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, May 18, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, April 27, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, April 5, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, April 1, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, April 1, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, March 18, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, March 11, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, January 22, 2016
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 29, 2015
- Labor & Employment Alert, July 20, 2015
- Labor & Employment Alert, July 17, 2015
- Labor & Employment Alert, July 15, 2015
- Education Alert, March 12, 2013
- Labor & Employment Alert, October 9, 2012
- October 2, 2012
- Education Law Alert, July 11, 2012
- Labor & Employment Alert, May 18, 2012
- Labor & Employment Alert, April 18, 2012
- Labor & Employment Alert, March 15, 2012
- Labor & Employment Alert, February 17, 2012
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 30, 2011
- Education Law Alert, November 28, 2011
- October 13, 2011
- Labor & Employment Alert, September 20, 2011
- Education Law Alert, July 22, 2011
- Education Law Alert, July 8, 2011
- Labor & Employment Alert, October 14, 2010
Presentations & Events
- M-Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave, Buffalo, NY 14225, January 12, 2024
- Buffalo Marriott Niagara 1340 Millersport Hwy, Amherst, NY 14221, January 13, 2023
- Working with the Media While in Crisis ModeWNY Education Law Conference2022
- June 8, 2022
- 2022 Annual School Client ConferenceMay 2022
- Buffalo Niagara Marriott, 1340 Millersport Hwy, Amherst, NY 14221, May 6, 2022
- Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave, Buffalo, NY, January 15, 2016
- Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave, Buffalo, NY, January 16, 2015
- Buffalo, NY, January 17, 2014
- October 2013
- Grand Island, NY, August 7, 2013
- Buffalo, NY, January 20, 2012
- Buffalo, NY, October 2011
- Buffalo, NY, August 29, 2011
- Buffalo, NY, May 27, 2011
- Buffalo, NY, January 14, 2011
- Buffalo, NY, July 13, 2010
- Buffalo, NY, March 31, 2010
- Buffalo, NY, January 15, 2010
- WNY Educational Service Council Seminar: Legal Issues for School Building AdministratorsBuffalo, NY, April 2009
- Buffalo, NY, January 9, 2009
Professional Associations
- Education Law Association
- New York State Association of School Attorneys
- National Council of School Attorneys
- National and New York Public Employer Labor Relations Associations
- American Arbitration Association (Construction Industry and Commercial Panels)
- Charter member, New York State School Boards Association's Legal Partners Program
- New York State Veterans Affairs Commission
- Bar Association of Erie County
- Monroe County Bar Association and Education Committee, Member
- New York State Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Community & Pro Bono
- 'Say Yes Buffalo' Legal Services Program
- Past council president and current Endowment Committee chair, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Williamsville, New York
- Member, Governance Committee of the NYS School Attorneys Association