Hodgson Russ LLP

Managing Partner: Benjamin Zuffranieri Jr.

Co-Chairs of the Firm, Partners: Carol Fitzsimmons and John Zak

Global Head, Attorney & Law Firm Operations: Mairi Stewart

Number of partners: 157

Number of other fee-earners: 62

International Offices: 1 (Toronto, Ontario)

Hodgson Russ LLP is an Am Law 200 full-service law firm that delivers transformative and practical legal solutions. With more than 230 attorneys, Hodgson Russ serves clients around the globe, including individuals, public companies, privately held businesses, governmental entities, and nonprofit institutions. From its offices located along the East Coast, from Toronto to Palm Beach, the firm offers strategic and timely legal advice tailored to clients’ specific business needs, allowing them to grow and thrive in their industries.

Hodgson Russ' practices span nearly every area of U.S. law. The following is a highlight of the firm’s core groups, including subjects of particular emphasis and accolades the firm has received in each area. Known for its mastery across various areas of law, Hodgson Russ is also recognized for its commitment to client service. Most recently, BTI Consulting Group named Hodgson Russ among its Client Service All-Star firms.

Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions

Hodgson Russ LLP’s Corporate and M&A Practices assist clients at every stage of business, providing strategic legal counsel across all phases of domestic and international business operations. The team is highly regarded for its ability to deliver innovative, relevant solutions tailored to client needs across various industry sectors and transaction structures, including:

• Mergers and acquisitions (including assets and stocks)
• Joint ventures
• Corporate governance
• Corporate finance transactions
• Regulatory compliance issues (including daily operational procedures)
• Strategic business growth
• Exit strategies and succession planning
• Commercial contracts
• Securities regulation

Attorneys in the firm's Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions Practices frequently serve as lead counsel in merger and acquisition transactions, guiding clients through the development and execution of processes designed to maximize efficiency and minimize time to closing. They also offer the flexibility to act in a supporting role when needed, supplementing internal resources by filling substantive gaps and adding value throughout the transaction lifecycle. The firm's approach is fully adaptable to the scope and structure of each engagement, ensuring alignment with the client’s strategic objectives.

Cybersecurity & Privacy

The cybersecurity and privacy attorneys at Hodgson Russ help clients to safeguard against cyber-attacks and loss or disclosure of sensitive information. When a breach or incident unfortunately strikes a client, the firm is ready to assist in creating response and containment plans.

Hodgson Russ has been recognized as a “Breach Coach^®” law firm by NetDiligence^®, an award-winning provider of cyber risk management software and services. This designation places Hodgson Russ among an elite group of law firms nationwide entrusted to guide clients through data breaches and complex cybersecurity incidents.

To achieve this distinction, firms must pass a rigorous vetting process. The firm’s Cybersecurity & Privacy practice met NetDiligence’s stringent standards, reflecting its depth of experience and unwavering commitment to data protection. Hodgson Russ is one of approximately 30 law firms with the Breach Coach designation.

Intellectual Property

Hodgson Russ’ robust and diverse Intellectual Property Practice encompasses copyrights, patent matters, trade secrets, and non-disclosure agreements, among other related services. Through its experience and technical rigor, the firm offers strategic counsel to clients, including small businesses, major research and educational institutions, and Fortune 500 corporations.

The IP attorneys at Hodgson Russ have a unique ability to understand complex technologies. Many of them hold advanced technical degrees in addition to law degrees and have significant professional experience in academia or industries, including software, energy, semiconductor, manufacturing, plastics, information technology, and automotive.

Hodgson Russ IP attorneys work seamlessly as a team, which allows collaboration across technologies and specialties that require knowledge of multiple fields.

Intellectual Property Litigation

The intellectual property litigators at Hodgson Russ strive to defend the innovative work that its clients develop and produce. The firm provides informed counsel and staunch advocacy for its clients throughout the litigation process, from strategy development and pre-litigation investigations to litigation and appeals. Whether this touches on patents, trademarks, copyrights, or trade secrets, Hodgson Russ attorneys bring expansive experience to a broad spectrum of intellectual property disputes.

Labor & Employment

Hodgson Russ’ Labor & Employment Practice, which has grown in scope for more than 50 years, represents management exclusively. Its attorneys have robust experience with federal, state, and local laws regulating an employer’s relationship with its employees, including:

• National Labor Relations Act
• Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Title VII
• New York State Human Rights Law
• Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Laws

The Labor & Employment team regularly helps employers navigate a wide array of workplace challenges. Whether the issue is straightforward or complex, Hodgson Russ' labor and employment attorneys focus on finding effective, proactive solutions, often before disputes arise, assisting employers with:

• Contract negotiation
• Workplace policies and practices
• Employee classification
• Compliance with immigration requirements
• Employment issues involving individual employees

Employment Litigation

Hodgson Russ is known for providing efficient, effective representation to employers.Its employment litigation attorneys help clients minimize legal risk by identifying potential exposures and guiding the development of programs designed to prevent litigation. They also offer educational services, including seminars on equal employment opportunity compliance and other topics, to support employers in proactively managing workplace issues. These efforts empower clients to evaluate and address situations before they escalate into legal disputes.

The firm's employment litigation attorneys provide sophisticated counsel to clients (employers) on every aspect of the relationship between an employer and its employees. With significant experience defending clients in employment-related claims, Hodgson Russ employment litigation attorneys regularly appear in state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution forums such as mediation and arbitration. The team’s advanced experience is garnered from years of representing clients in contested proceedings, including administrative hearings, trials, motions, and appeals.

Immigration

Attorneys in Hodgson Russ' Immigration Practice work across many sectors, assisting clients with the employment of foreign nationals in the United States, both temporarily and permanently.

Whether this entails procuring appropriate visas or other work documents, strategizing alongside its clients to create long-term employment plans for domestic and international growth, or enhancing company-wide immigration programs to support global mobility operations, the firm's skilled immigration team continues to offer any legal service a client might need.

The firm's immigration attorneys counsel corporations on how to make sound decisions when hiring foreign employees, ensuring short- and long-term strategies are in place. We also work with large, multinational corporations to enhance their company-wide immigration programs to support their global mobility operations while ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations.

Litigation (Business and other)

Hodgson Russ LLP’s litigation team is a key strength of the firm, having appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Tax Court, and the Court of International Trade. In addition to their courtroom experience, the firm's litigators regularly conduct arbitrations and appear before state administrative bodies and federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Regardless of the setting, Hodgson Russ attorneys are prepared, assertive, and ready to advance each client’s cause in the most favorable and cost-effective manner.

The Litigation Practice spans a range of specialized areas, reflecting the breadth of its experience and the needs of its clients. This includes:

• Wealth Preservation, guiding clients through sensitive family and financial matters with discretion and strategic insight
• Employment Litigation, representing employers in disputes involving workplace policies, employee claims, and regulatory compliance
• Administrative, Regulatory & Municipal Litigation, advocating for clients before government agencies and in matters involving public law and local governance

Real Estate

Attorneys in Hodgson Russ LLP’s Real Estate Practice offer comprehensive counsel on all facets of real estate development, leasing, and land use. The team is recognized for its considerable experience in real property tax assessment, eminent domain, and public-private partnerships. They support clients through every stage of a project, from site investigations and environmental reviews to lease negotiations and final development.

Additionally, the firm’s Land Use & Economic Development team is among the most experienced in New York State. They represent industrial, commercial, and residential developments across jurisdictions and work closely with agencies to secure necessary permits and approvals and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Clients include corporations, financial and educational institutions, nonprofit entities, and developers. The team regularly advises on:

• Zoning variances and special permitting
• Tax abatements and economic development initiatives
• Purchase and financing of undeveloped land
• Transfer of development rights and expansion planning
• State and federal tax credits, including IDA incentives, Excelsior Jobs Program, and Start-Up NY benefits

Energy

Attorneys in Hodgson Russ’ Energy Practice provide counsel to a wide range of clients in the oil and gas, conventional power, solar, wind, and renewables sectors. The projects range from small-scale solar generation to larger-scale utility-level projects for private and public companies, financial institutions, state-owned agencies, public-private partnerships, among many others.

From site acquisition, licensing, and permitting to project financing and construction, the firm's attorneys have the skills necessary to bring projects to fruition. With a broad understanding of the Federal and State regulatory landscape, they help clients anticipate and respond to the increasingly complex rules governing the acquisition, delivery, financing, and regulation of energy.

The firm's Energy team works collaboratively with attorneys in all key practice areas, including Environmental, Corporate, Real Estate, Finance, Tax, Labor & Employment, Cybersecurity & Privacy, and Litigation, to offer energy clients the coordinated and informed counsel they need to meet their legal challenges.

Environmental

Hodgson Russ’ Environmental Practice provides strategic legal counsel to public and private clients across a range of environmental matters. The firm’s attorneys help businesses comply with federal, state, and local regulations, manage risk, and maintain operational efficiency. Their work includes environmental due diligence for transactions, permitting and review under NEPA and SEQRA, and defense in enforcement actions involving hazardous substances, permit violations, and air and water quality issues.

The team also supports sustainable development, advising on green building standards, energy efficiency projects, and brownfield redevelopment, including securing tax incentives. When disputes arise, Hodgson Russ offers strong litigation and appellate advocacy, backed by a multidisciplinary approach that guides clients from project planning through post-construction challenges.

Trusts & Estates

The Trusts & Estates Practice at Hodgson Russ offers clear, strategic legal guidance to safeguard assets both during their client's lifetime and for future generations. They serve a diverse range of clients – including individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and corporate trust departments – across local, national, and international matters. With a focus on thoughtful planning and execution, the firm's trust and estate attorneys provide tailored solutions for estate and trust planning, administration, settlement, and taxation, often working closely with other legal teams to ensure a well-rounded approach.

The Hodgson Russ trust and estate attorneys design estate plans that reflect the impact of U.S. tax laws on both domestic families and international families with U.S.-based assets. By coordinating with clients’ legal advisors in their home countries, they help create cross-border estate plans that align with multiple legal systems. The team also brings deep experience in navigating the income tax complexities that international families may face, including those involving foreign trusts, corporations, and other entities.

State & Local Tax

The Hodgson Russ State & Local Tax (SALT) Practice is widely regarded as one of the most respected and experienced teams in the country for handling complex tax matters, particularly in New York State and New York City. With over 40 years of experience, the practice provides strategic legal counsel across planning, compliance, audits, litigation, and damage control, serving both businesses and individuals.

The practice is renowned for its work in New York State tax residency audits, an area where the rules are nuanced. Attorneys guide clients through every stage of the audit process, from pre-audit planning and documentation review to audit defense and appeals. They help clients build strong factual records, respond effectively to inquiries, and negotiate with tax authorities to resolve disputes efficiently. Their approach combines deep legal knowledge with practical insight, helping clients protect their interests and avoid costly outcomes.

Beyond residency, the team advises on cross-border and multijurisdictional tax matters, defends clients in administrative and judicial forums, and develops strategies to mitigate exposure and penalties.

Canada:

For more than 50 years, Canadian businesses, individuals, nonprofits, and their advisors have trusted Hodgson Russ for U.S. legal advice that is precisely calibrated for cross-border clients. The firm's attorneys understand U.S. law in a Canadian context and are sensitive to the differences in law, expectations, and culture that characterize cross-border transactions and matters. They also routinely work closely with Canadian law firms on cross-border matters and clients. Meanwhile, the Toronto office is one of the firm's fastest-growing locations.

Europe and Global:

Hodgson Russ is one of only three U.S. law firm members of Eurolegal, a mark of the firm’s strength in providing U.S. legal services to European clients. As such, Hodgson Russ is well-positioned to facilitate introductions to independent and medium-sized firms in Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland.

Hodgson Russ has nearly 100 Practice Areas with dedicated and multidisciplinary teams focused on the specific issues facing a wide variety of industries and providing representation in every major area of U.S. law. Below is a sampling of the firm's services:

• Antitrust, Trade Regulation & Anticorruption
• Banking & Finance
• Bankruptcy & Restructuring
• Class Action Litigation
• Commerical Litigation
• Corporate & Business
• Corporate Finance
• Corporate Governance
• Cybersecurity & Privacy
• Energy
• Employee Benefits
• Healthcare
• Immigration
• Intellectual Property
• International Tax
• Labor & Employment
• Land Use & Economic Development
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Municipal
• Public Finance
• Occupational Safety & Health Act
• Product Liability & Complex Tort
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Real Estate
• Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance
• State & Local Tax
• Tax Investigations & Defense
• Transactional Tax
• Trust & Estates
• White Collar Crime

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