
Kinsey O'Brien
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York
Education
University at Buffalo, B.A., Summa Cum Laude
University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., Summa Cum Laude
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.
Honors
- 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
In the News
- Buffalo Business First, October 20, 2022
- The Trusted Professional, April 22, 2021
- Buffalo Business First, October 30, 2020
- Buffalo Law Journal, October 21, 2020
- Buffalo Law Journal, October 18, 2019
- Speaking Engagement, September 17, 2019
- Buffalo Law Journal, February 19, 2019
Press Releases
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 23, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, December 16, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, August 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, June 21, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 8, 2020
- Press Release, August 12, 2019
- Press Release, January 8, 2019
- Press Release, August 20, 2018
- Press Release, September 6, 2017
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Home Care and Healthcare Alert, May 16, 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
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, December 20, 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 Cannabis & Hemp Alert, October 19, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, October 18, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, August 19, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Cannabis and Hemp Alert , July 7, 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 Home Care Alert, May 5, 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 Cannabis & Hemp Alert, February 2, 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 OSHA and Labor & Employment Alert, December 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ 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 Healthcare and Labor & Employment Alert, November 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ OSHA 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 Cannabis & Hemp Alert, October 26, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, September 7, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Cannabis & Hemp Alert, September 2, 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 Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, May 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert, May 13, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert, April 5, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp and Medical Cannabis Alert, March 29, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp and Medical Cannabis Alert, March 23, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert, March 15, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, March 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp and Medical Cannabis Alert, February 24, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, February 22, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, February 17, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp & Medical Cannabis and Agriculture Alert, February 10, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp and Medical Cannabis Alert, February 8, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, January 27, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, January 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp & Medical Cannabis and Agriculture Alert, January 22, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, January 7, 2021
- BAEC Bulletin, January 1, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Equine Alert, December 31, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 18, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, December 3, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert , December 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, November 2, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, October 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, October 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor and Employment Alert , October 21, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, September 14, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, August 26, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Municipal and Education Alert, August 7, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, August 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, July 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, July 7, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 18, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 16, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, June 15, 2020
- Governor Cuomo’s Latest Executive Order Extends Deadlines to Submit Absentee Ballots for School VoteHodgson Russ Education Alert, June 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, June 5, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA Alert, June 1, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, May 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, May 13, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, May 2, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, April 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, April 16, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, April 14, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education, Municipal & Public Finance Alert, April 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, April 7, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Practice Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Healthcare Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, April 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, April 4, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment and OSHA Alert, April 2, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert , March 31, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, March 30, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 29, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 26, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 25, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Tax and Labor & Employment Alert, March 24, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, March 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 19, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 19, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 18, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Education Practice Alert, March 17, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, March 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, February 3, 2020
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, January 28, 2020
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, December 16, 2019
- Interim guidance adds some certainty to an evolving industry, including relief from strict criminal limitsHemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, November 4, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Municipal and Education Alert, October 21, 2019
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, October 4, 2019
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, August 23, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, August 19, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, August 16, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, July 25, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, July 17, 2019
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, July 10, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, July 2, 2019
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, July 2, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Labor & Employment Alert, June 25, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Education Alert, June 14, 2019
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, May 30, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, May 7, 2019
- Hemp & Medical Cannabis Alert, April 12, 2019
- Home Care Alert, April 1, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, March 29, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, March 26, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, March 12, 2019
- Hodgson Russ Home Care Alert, March 8, 2019
- Home Care Alert, February 28, 2019
- Home Care Alert, February 19, 2019
- Home Care Alert, January 29, 2019
- Home Care Alert, January 23, 2019
- Home Care Alert, January 16, 2019
- Labor & Employment Alert, January 15, 2019
- Home Care Alert, January 9, 2019
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 26, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 26, 2018
- Labor and Employment Alert, December 26, 2018
- Home Care Alert, December 26, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 26, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 26, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, December 26, 2018
- Home Care Alert, December 18, 2018
- Home Care Alert, December 18, 2018
- Home Care Alert, December 11, 2018
- Home Care Alert, November 5, 2018
- Home Care Alert, October 25, 2018
- Home Care Alert, October 23, 2018
- Home Care Alert, October 8, 2018
- Home Care Alert, October 8, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, October 1, 2018
- Home Care Alert, September 27, 2018
- Home Care Alert, September 26, 2018
- Home Care Alert, September 21, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, August 29, 2018
- Home Care Alert, August 24, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, August 14, 2018
- Home Care Alert, August 8, 2018
- Home Care Alert, August 6, 2018
- Home Care Alert, July 27, 2018
- Home Care Alert, July 27, 2018
- Labor & Employment Alert, July 19, 2018
- Home Care Alert, July 19, 2018
- Home Care Alert, July 12, 2018
- Home Care Alert, June 29, 2018
- Home Care Alert, May 31, 2018
- Home Care Alert, May 29, 2018
- Home Care Alert, May 22, 2018
- Home Care Alert, May 14, 2018
- Home Care Alert, May 10, 2018
- Home Care Alert, April 2, 2018
- Home Care Alert, March 7, 2018
- Labor & Employment and Employment Litigation Alert, February 27, 2018
- Home Care Alert, January 23, 2018
- Labor and Employment Alert, January 23, 2018
- Home Care Alert, January 22, 2018
- Labor and Employment Alert, December 26, 2017
- Home Care Alert, December 19, 2017
- Labor and Employment Alert, December 19, 2017
- Home Care Alert, December 19, 2017
- Home Care Alert, December 14, 2017
- Home Care Alert, December 13, 2017
- Labor and Employment Alert, December 12, 2017
- Special Education Alert, December 11, 2017
- Home Care Alert, November 15, 2017
- Home Care Alert, November 14, 2017
- Home Care Alert, November 3, 2017
Presentations & Events
- May 15, 2023
- March 15, 2023
- Buffalo Marriott Niagara 1340 Millersport Hwy, Amherst, NY 14221, January 12, 2023
- The Foundry, September 21, 2022
- Albany Capital Center, April 28, 2022
- February 3, 2022
- RIT Conference Center, Rochester, December 9, 2021
- November 19, 2021
- November 19, 2021
- Saratoga Springs, NY, October 15, 2021
- September 28, 2021
- August 7, 2021
- June 16, 2021
- June 15, 2021
- June 8, 2021
- April 21, 2021
- March 22, 2021
- January 15, 22, and 29
- January 27-28, 2021
- November 30, 2020
- October 27, 2020
- October 9, 2020
- September 29 & 30
- June 16, 2020
- May 26, 2020
- April 6 & 13, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- March 17, 2020
- Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Buffalo NY 14225, January 17, 2020
- Buffalo Niagara Marriott, Amherst, NY, November 14, 2019
- Williamsville, New York, October 23, 2019
- May 23, 2019
- Millennium Hotel Buffalo, January 18, 2019
- Buffalo Niagara Marriott, Amherst, NY, November 15, 2018
- September 18, 21, 24 and 27
- Cheektowaga, New York, September 19, 2018
- August 1, 2018
- WNY Healthcare Association Human Resources SeminarMay 16, 2018
- Paid Family Leave SeminarApril 10, 2018
- Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave, Buffalo, NY, January 12, 2018
- Buffalo Niagara Marriott, Amherst, NY, November 2, 2017
- Millennium Hotel, Cheektowaga, NY, October 4, 2017
Professional Associations
- 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
Community & Pro Bono
- Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc., Board President, 2016 - Present, and Board Member, 2014 - Present