Barry N. Covert

Barry N. Covert is a nationally recognized litigator with over thirty years of experience representing defendants in complex litigation matters before federal and state courts. Members of the legal community often refer cases to Mr. Covert for matters that involve White-Collar Criminal Defense, Violent Crime Defense, Zoning and Land Use Litigation, Professional Misconduct, Constitutional Law, Commercial Litigation, Cyber-Crimes, Title IX, Qui Tam Act, and Scientific Misconduct. The following are examples of Mr. Covert’s extensive experience: Represented defendants in a wide spectrum of criminal matters including: white-collar charges, securities violations, drug conspiracies, Hobbs Act, homicides, and RICO matters Represented defendants in Federal Court in complex criminal matters, including four federal death penalty eligible case Defended clients in civil and criminal litigation matters in New York State and Federal Courts Federal Court appearances, including the Southern District of New York, Western District of New York, and Eastern District of Virginia State Court appearances, including New York, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia Represented clients against various municipal governments in zoning and land use litigation matters including opposition to land use regulations, land use permitting, land development, land entitlement, rezoning, zoning law, zoning ordinances, and zoning variances. Represented professionals in licensing defense matters, including: attorneys, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants Represented research scientists accused of scientific misconduct; has represented numerous professional clients relating to licensing issues and defended a prominent research scientist against allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct involving several federally funded research projects involving the Office of Research Integrity (ORI); handled scientific misconduct cases at dozens of institutions across the country, including Harvard Medical School, UCLA, and State University of New York at Buffalo Represented victims of childhood sexual abuse, including the representation of victims sexual abused by priest and matters involving the Catholic Church He is fluent in German. Bar & Court Admissions State of New York United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit United States District Court, Western District of New York United States District Court, Northern District of New York United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan Education State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., 1989 State University of New York at Fredonia, B.A., cum laude, 1986 Speaking Engagements Instructor for the New York State Office of Court Administration, Judicial Magistrate’s Training Program, lecturing in the areas of criminal practice and procedure, evidence, pretrial motions and hearings, jury and non-jury Trials, DWI trials and post-conviction remedies Adjunct professor, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 2003-06 Previously lectured for the New York State Bar Association on criminal practice and procedures, pre-trial motions and hearings, and post-conviction remedies Previously lectured for the Bar Association of Erie County regarding vehicle and traffic law trials Previously lectured for the First Amendment Lawyers Association on numerous subjects Professional Activities Member, Erie County Community Corrections Advisory Board (appointed by the Erie County Legislature) President, The First Amendment Lawyers Association, a not-for-profit, nation-wide association of hundreds of attorneys devoted to the protection of Free Expression under the First Amendment, who represent businesses and individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities Member, Moot Court Board, 1988-89 Member, New York State Bar Association Member, Bar Association of Erie County Member, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys Practice Areas Criminal Defense Trials and Appeals Scientific Research and Misconduct Criminal Appeals Federal Charges State Charges Driving While Intoxicated Traffic Violations White-Collar Crime Professional Licensing Defense Sexual Abuse Victims Cannabis Law Awards and Recognitions The Best Lawyers in America Named to Best Lawyers in America from 2008 to 2024; recognized for Criminal Defense-General Practice, Criminal Defense-White Collar, DUI/DWI Defense, First Amendment Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation-First Amendment, Litigation-Land Use & Zoning, and Qui Tam Law Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2020 Named Best Lawyers’ 2020 Buffalo Litigation-Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2015 Named “Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year” for 2015 by Best Lawyers in America America’s Top 100 Attorneys: Lifetime Achievement Membership One of 100 attorneys in New York State selected based on professional experience, case results, peer reputation, community impact, and lifetime achievement AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. Legal Elite of WNY Top 10 Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal ‘s “Legal Elite of Western New York” Top 10 List Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2022 Named Best Lawyers’ 2022 Buffalo Litigation-Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2019 Named “Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year” for 2019 by Best Lawyers in America Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2018 Named “Litigation-Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year” for 2018 by Best Lawyers in America Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2014 Named “Litigation-Land Use and Zoning Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 by Best Lawyers in America Super Lawyers Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers for Criminal Defense from 2009 to 2022; no more than 5 percent of attorneys in any state are named to this publication. Who’s Who in Law Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal ‘s “Who’s Who in Law” for Criminal Defense, including the final issue in 2012 In the News Local and national media regularly turn to Barry Covert to provide analysis on various legal matters in the headlines. In addition, Mr. Covert represents clients in high-profile legal matters that often receive media coverage. Below are links to some of the stories featuring analysis from Mr. Covert. Child Victims Act Extends Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sex Abuse Survivors, interview with WGRZ Gov. Cuomo’s Proposed Child Victims Act Could Help Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Seek Justice, interview with WIVB DA Determining Charges in Homeowner’s Shooting of a Child, legal commentary for WGRZ Suspended Buffalo Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charges, legal commentary for WIVB Boy Shot in Attempted Break-In, legal commentary for WIVB Rand Paul Allegedly Assaulted by Neighbor, legal commentary for MarketWatch Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Sam Hoyt, legal commentary for WGRZ Investigation into Fatal ATV Accident, legal commentary for WGRZ Justice Center Decisions Called into Question, legal commentary for WGRZ Woman Involved in Hit and Run Released from Prison, legal commentary for WGRZ Truck Driver Charged with Manslaughter in Fatal Accident, legal commentary for WGRZ Carl Paladino Removed from Buffalo Board of Education, legal commentary for WGRZ No Criminal Charges in East Aurora Accident, legal commentary for WGRZ Buffalo Bills Lineman Adolphus Washington Arrested, legal commentary for WGRZ Injuries After Fireworks Malfunction in Lancaster, legal commentary for WGRZ Vandalism in Arcade, Orchard Park, and Sardinia, legal commentary for WIVB Supreme Court Takes Case on Cell Phone Privacy, legal commentary for WIVB Western New York Opioid Epidemic, legal commentary for WGRZ Niagara County DWI Controversy, legal commentary for WGRZ Device Proposed to Prevent Distracted Driving, legal commentary for WGRZ Debate Over Cheektowaga Sex Offender Law, legal commentary for WIVB Raise the Age Proposal, legal commentary for WGRZ Teen Arrested for Beating Two-Year-Old Boy, legal commentary for WGRZ Child Found Walking Alone in Niagara Falls, legal commentary for WGRZ Pay-to-Play Suit Against Mayor Brown Dismissed, legal commentary for WGRZ East Aurora Woman Charged with Embezzlement, legal commentary for WGRZ Litigators see decline in trial verdicts, featured in Buffalo Law Journal litigation-focused issue Requirements and Protections of Title IX, guest column for Buffalo Law Journal Barry Covert discusses issues of interest to gun owners with Guns America ’s S. H. Blannelberry International Business Times interviews Barry Covert on police departments’ secret use of an FBI-funded cell-phone tracking technology called Stingray The Buffalo News reports on a man represented by Barry Covert who was wrongly accused of producing ricin Sexual Abuse Survivors and The Child Victims Act Barry Covert represents victims of sexual abuse, including adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. He fights on behalf of his clients to hold abusers and those who allow abuse to occur accountable. Mr. Covert works to ensure his clients receive the validation they deserve for the trauma they have endured. Free Confidential Case Review Barry Covert represents nearly 50 victims of sexual abuse who are pursuing justice under New York State’s Child Victims Act. If you have been the victim of childhood sexual abuse or if you have questions about the rights of survivors of childhood sexual abuse, please contact Barry Covert for a free confidential case review. Click on any of the following videos or print stories, which include an interview with Barry Covert regarding changes in the law, ongoing investigations, and the rights of abuse survivors. Could Federal Grand Jury Subpoena Signal RICO Investigation for Catholic Diocese of Buffalo? Federal Subpoena Issued for Buffalo Diocese’s Compensation Program for Victim’s of Clergy Sex Abuse Proposed Child Abuse Reporting Expansion (CARE) Act Would Require Clergy to Report Child Abuse in New York State WBEN News Radio Interviews Barry Covert on the Child Victims Act Child Victims Act Extends Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sex Abuse Survivors ? Gov. Cuomo’s Proposed Child Victims Act Could Help Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Seek Justice Will the Buffalo Diocese Whistleblower Face Legal Action? Diocese of Buffalo’s Reaction to Whistleblower on 60 Minutes Internal Church Documents Reveal Number of Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse More Significant Than Diocese of Buffalo Previously Disclosed Document On How Buffalo Catholic Church Reports Sex Abuse Scientific Misconduct Q&A Barry Covert was selected to be the focus of Super Lawyers Q&A feature for their 2015 Upstate New York issue. Super Lawyers’ feature focuses on Mr. Covert’s Scientific Misconduct practice. Click below to read Mr. Covert’s background in scientific misconduct matters as well as his approach to handling some of the unique challenges such cases poses. Below are a few examples of Mr. Covert’s Title IX experience in the media: Barry Covert has vast Title IX experience and is often called on by news outlets for legal analysis of his and other Title IX cases. Below are a few examples of Mr. Covert’s Title IX experience in the media: Title IX provides essential protections, Buffalo Law Journal guest column Independent investigation into Niagara University Title IX finds no violations, WGRZ interview about a Title IX investigation Mr. Covert led Niagara dean of students cleared of rape cover-up accusation but will leave post, Buffalo News interview about Niagara University Title IX investigation