Kinsey O'Brien

Kinsey represents and advises private and public employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.  She regularly counsels employers on compliance with federal wage and hour laws, worker classification issues, inclusive hiring and employment practices including leave and accommodation management, avoidance of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, discipline, and discharge, and workplace policies and handbooks.  Working with her clients as a strategic business partner, Kinsey helps management and human resource professionals mitigate risk through all phases of the employment relationship.

Kinsey is also highly experienced in conducting and advising clients on investigations into alleged harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other misconduct by employees.

Kinsey also regularly defends employers in a broad array of employment-related litigation, including allegations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave and accommodations, whistleblower actions, contract disputes, and federal and state wage and hour statutes. She is experienced in all phases of litigation, including handling administrative charges and investigations, drafting pleadings, conducting discovery, motion practice, class and collective certification issues, mediation and settlement negotiations, and trial.

Before joining Hodgson Russ, Kinsey worked for a law firm in Buffalo. She also clerked for the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York and worked in the office of a United States Senator.

• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Employment & Labor) 2016 - 2022
• Recipient of the John N. Bennett Award for Highest Academic Achievement in Graduating Class
• Winning Team and Best Appellate Brief, Charles S. Desmond Memorial Moot Court Competition
• Second Place Appellate Brief, NYC Regional, American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition
• Former publications editor and former associate editor, Buffalo Law Review
• Former member, Buffalo Human Rights Law Journal
• Former fellow, Buffalo Public Interest Law Program

• New York State Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, State Director
• WNY Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, President-Elect 2022-2023
• Bar Association of Erie County, Labor Law Committee, Chairperson
• Leadership Buffalo Class Experience 2022

• Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc., Board President, 2016 - Present, and Board Member, 2014 - Present