Manufacturers and Distributors
While Western and Upstate New York’s economy over the course of several decades has relied heavily on the manufacturing sector, the emergence of additional regulatory burdens, competition from lower-cost regions of the U.S. and the world, and the intense pressure to increase profits have resulted in a gradual evolution in the products manufacturing companies make and the methods used in their operations.
HSE has provided legal services to product manufacturers since our founding. Throughout the course of time, we have remained committed in our efforts to provide practical, reliable, and innovative solutions in response to the business and legal challenges our manufacturing clients have been forced to confront.
Our multi-disciplinary Manufacturers and Distributors practice area represent some of the most successful companies in the region. They range in size from small, privately held businesses to large, multi-nationals. The products and services they offer are diverse and comprise a wide spectrum, extending from legacy products such as steel and petroleum, to high-tech solutions in the optics, photographic, medical devices, and software industries.
Manufacturing and Distributor Operations
We have counseled companies on legal matters unique to these industries, including supply chain control and management, raw materials negotiations, warranties and returns, pricing (including issues of antitrust), specifications, labeling and licensing, testing, customer issues, regulatory impact, as well as assisted with labor and employment matters, intercompany business disputes, and regulatory issues.
Litigation
Our attorneys have successfully defended companies on a range of matters from terminations of distribution agreement, defense of product liability, various claims of defect and breach of warranty, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, trade secret and intellectual property litigation, and a wide gamut of commercial litigation.
We attribute our considerable success in defending foreign and domestic product designers and manufacturers to our willingness to roll up our sleeves and learn about our clients and their products. Our attorneys who defend products have much in common: they fight to win, and they share a genuine interest in understanding how things are made and why they were designed the way they were.
Key Contacts
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Gregory J. Coughlin
Partner
Rochester
585.231.1152
gcoughlin@hselaw.com -
Kenneth W. Africano
Partner
Buffalo
716.844.3739
kafricano@hselaw.com
Team
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Jerauld E. Brydges
Partner
Rochester
585.231.1239
jbrydges@hselaw.com -
John G. Horn
Partner
Buffalo and New York City
716.844.3728
jhorn@hselaw.com -
Edward J. Pelta
Counsel
Rochester
585.231.1178
epelta@hselaw.com -
Brian B. Shaw
Partner
Rochester
585.231.1193
bshaw@hselaw.com -
Sheldon K. Smith
Partner
Buffalo and Corning and New York City
716.844.3761
ssmith@hselaw.com
According to our clients:
“It has been a refreshing change to work with the attorneys at Harter Secrest & Emery. When I present situations that may not be in my primary attorney's field of expertise, they are quick to offer a very well-qualified associate within the firm who follows up with me very quickly and professionally.”
“I work with Harter Secrest as the quality of service and attention are above and beyond other firms I've worked with.”