Alice J. Cunningham

Ms. Cunningham is an attorney in the firm’s Litigation Department with a diverse practice focused on general liability defense, municipal litigation and counseling, condominium and homeowners association matters, land use, toxic tort and environmental claims, and mediation and arbitration. She represents municipalities, school districts, contractors, insurance carriers, associations, and individuals in civil and commercial litigation in state and federal court. Her defense work includes personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, negligence, and defamation claims that arise in municipal, construction, and association settings. She routinely negotiates settlements and represents clients in mediation.

In addition to her work as counsel, Ms. Cunningham serves as a mediator. She has completed Part 146-approved mediation training, the New York court standard for neutrals who serve on court mediation rosters. For several years she has also served as a volunteer mediator for the Community Mediation Center (formerly the Center for Resolution and Justice). Her experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants informs her work as a neutral.

Ms. Cunningham began her career at a boutique Buffalo firm known for environmental, land use, real estate development, and municipal work, including matters connected to the Love Canal site in Niagara Falls. That practice gave her early experience with environmental and local-government issues that continue to inform her municipal, toxic tort, and environmental work.

She later practiced at a New York civil litigation firm with a longstanding insurance defense practice. There she honed her skills defending insureds and other clients in personal injury, premises, construction, defamation, and other general liability matters, and developed a practical approach to case assessment, motion practice, settlement, and mediation.

Outside of her practice, Ms. Cunningham serves on the Board of Directors of the Second Generation Theatre Company, teaches barre at Barre3 in Buffalo, and spends time with her two rescue dogs.