Erie County Bar Foundation

Position: Litigation Associate – Banking & Creditors’ Rights

Company: Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC

Location: Buffalo, NY

About Us: Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC is a full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services and outstanding advocacy across a wide range of practice areas. Our Banking & Creditors’ Rights team represents local, regional, and national banks, credit unions, lenders, and businesses throughout New York. We are committed to delivering practical, strategic solutions that protect our clients’ interests in commercial lending, collections, foreclosures, workouts, bankruptcies, and regulatory matters. Our attorneys pride themselves on building long-term client partnerships through responsive service, sound legal counsel, and exceptional results.

Who We Need: Our Banking & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group is seeking a Litigation Associate Attorney with 1-3 years of litigation experience to join our growing team. This position offers the opportunity to build a dynamic litigation practice representing banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions in a broad range of commercial disputes, creditors’ rights, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and collection matters.

The ideal candidate enjoys courtroom advocacy, legal writing, and client interaction, and is looking to develop as a litigator in a fast-paced practice. The successful candidate will manage an active caseload, appear regularly in court, draft substantive motions and pleadings, and work closely with sophisticated financial institution clients to develop practical, results-oriented solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a high-volume litigation caseload on behalf of banks, credit unions, and other financial institution clients.
• Represent clients in commercial litigation involving loan enforcement, creditors’ rights, foreclosure, bankruptcy, workouts, evictions, and collection matters.
• Draft demand letters, pleadings, dispositive and non-dispositive motions, settlement agreements, and other litigation documents.
• Handle court appearances, including motion arguments, court conferences, foreclosure settlement conferences, eviction hearings, small claims proceedings, and other contested matters.
• Develop litigation strategies, negotiate settlements and workout agreements, and advocate for clients throughout the litigation process.
• Represent creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and related litigation.
• Manage delinquent loans, lines of credit, credit cards, auto loans, foreclosures, evictions, and other collection matters for bank and credit union clients.
• Maintain prompt turnaround times, proactively communicate with clients, and provide practical legal advice throughout the life of each matter.
• Collaborate with partners and support staff to efficiently manage cases while delivering outstanding client service.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to the New York State Bar.
• 1-3 years of litigation experience required.
• Experience in commercial litigation, creditors’ rights, banking, foreclosure, bankruptcy, or collections is preferred but not required.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral advocacy and courtroom experience.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to independently manage a high-volume caseload while balancing competing priorities.

• Commitment to responsive client service and teamwork.
• Proficiency with legal research platforms and litigation technology.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• This position is primarily performed in an office setting and involves extended periods of sitting, working at a computer, and communicating via phone and email, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• The role may require occasional standing, walking, and light lifting (e.g., files or office materials up to approximately 10–20 pounds), with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a dynamic work environment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to work with an established Banking & Creditors’ Rights practice representing financial institutions across New York.
• Ability to collaborate with experienced attorneys in a collegial, team-oriented environment.
• Professional development opportunities, in-house CLEs, and firm-paid bar association membership dues.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Engaging and inclusive work environment.
• Opportunity to handle sophisticated banking, creditors’ rights, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation matters.
• Access to cutting-edge legal resources and technology.

Salary Range: $100,000 – $120,000 per year depending on experience and skillset.

To apply, please submit your resume to careers@rupppfalzgraf.com.  We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring the possibility of having you join our team at Rupp Pfalzgraf.

All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status, or domestic violence victim status.