Richard Berger is a highly experienced trial attorney who has represented clients in numerous personal injury and commercial cases, including automobile accidents, breach of contract, and serious medical negligence.  Each project is a major commitment of time and energy that Mr. Berger will personally oversee to conclusion.  His efforts have resulted in millions of dollars in damage awards for his clients.

               Richard is a graduate of Columbia University and holds a law degree from New York University School of Law.  After law school, he was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York for Environmental Protection.  In 1978 he returned to western New York to join the firm of Grossman, Levine & Civiletto, a trial firm in Niagara Falls.  His principal duties were to manage the Love Canal toxic tort litigation for over 600 clients.  Richard developed new techniques for managing mass injury cases that are still in practice today.  Mr. Berger was directly involved in the successful settlement of the case in 1985 for a global settlement of $20,000,000.00.

            In 1985, Mr. Berger established his own practice in Niagara Falls, and added the Buffalo office in 1987. He is admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of New York, the Supreme Court of the United States, and to several United States District Courts and Courts of Appeals.

            The Law offices of Richard G. Berger are unique in the wide range of matters covered by attorneys with a wealth of experience and expertise.  Mr. Berger has a special interest in the development and renaissance of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and serves as a director and counsel to Western New York's most active historic preservation group, the Campaign for Greater Buffalo.  He sits on several other boards, including the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition, Inc., which is devoted to the development of an African-American Heritage District surrounding the historic Michigan Street Baptist Church.

            The clients of the Berger Law Offices are local to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, as well as regional and international.  Mr. Berger represents clients from Canada, Great Britain, Belgium, Austria, Israel, India, China and Africa, as well as Americans from across the United States.  In 2007, Mr. Berger established an office in Jerusalem, Israel in cooperation with former Buffalo attorney, Donald Zisquit.

Whatever your legal needs, the attorneys at the Berger Law Offices are qualified and ready to serve you at a reasonable cost.  Our rates are typically one-third to one-fourth the rates charged by New York and Washington counsel.

Mr. Berger's areas of concentration are:

PERSONAL INJURIES:

Motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, industrial accidents, professional malpractice, premises liability and vicious animals.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW:

Toxic Torts, ground water contamination, chemical poisoning, chemical and radiological exposure, latent disease due to exposure to environmental contamination, environmental impact statement litigation, land use and development disputes and historic preservation.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION:

Including breach of contract, landlord tenant, real estate litigation, real property tax certiorari, insurance benefits.

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION:

Under Federal Anti-Discrimination Acts, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State Human Rights Law.

FAMILY LAW –

Divorce and separation, child custody, PINS and neglect, child support and maintenance.  Guardianship for persons in need of assistance. 

REAL ESTATE:

Purchase and sale of residential and commercial property, title review and title insurance, real estate development, commercial and residential leases, filing of subdivision plats, representation before zoning boards and government councils, real estate tax abatement, wetlands and environmental reviews, landmark and historic properties, tax benefits for historic properties.

ESTATES AND TRUSTS:

Preparation of Wills and Trusts and Estate Planning, Probate and Administration of Estates, Surrogate's Court litigation, Supplemental Needs Trusts for the disabled, Guardianship under the Mental Hygiene Law. 

CORPORATE LAW:

Establishment of small business corporations and Limited Liability Companies, corporate counsel and advice, Not-for-Profit and Religious Corporations.  For large corporate matters, including public stock offerings, Mr. Berger has a working relationship with Buffalo's largest law firm to represent his clients at reasonable rates.  Of course, Mr. Berger will oversee all work performed for his clients.

INTERNATIONAL LAW:

International commercial agreements, certification of documents under the Hague Treaty, U.S. Tax Identification Numbers for Aliens.

CRIMINAL LAW:  Practice before all Courts in New York State; Erie and Niagara Counties.

VEHICLE & TRAFFIC:

DWI, DUI, Speeding, and other infractions.

BANKRUPTCY:

Personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 payoff plans.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

Disability applications before the Social Security Administration, SSA Appeals Council and appeals to the Federal Courts.

Richard G, Berger  - Curriculum Vitae