Thomas C. Buckel, Jr.
Partner
P: (315) 565-4500 (ext. 4510)
F: (315) 565-4600
thomas.buckel@hancocklaw.com
Thomas C. Buckel, Jr., is a partner in the Litigation Practice. He has more than 30 years of experience trying complex commercial cases, consistently receiving favorable judgments, verdicts and appellate decisions. Mr. Buckel has experience prosecuting and defending cutting-edge commercial and business lawsuits, including antitrust and competition claims, and has consistently won favorable decisions in complex banking and financial actions. He has also conducted numerous arbitrations and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings, both as an advocate and as a party-selected arbitrator.
Mr. Buckel’s extensive experience as an arbitrator, elected Onondaga County Legislator, and community leader have strengthened his effectiveness as an advocate before juries and judges, and as a problem solver in helping clients find innovative, economical resolutions of their business disputes. Mr. Buckel was elected to the Onondaga County Legislature in 2007 and is actively engaged in many community and charitable activities.
Mr. Buckel has also served as an Adjunct Professor in Business Law at the Syracuse University School of Management and has lectured extensively on legal, business and government affairs.
- Assisted a local robotic manufacturer with the defense of claims of multimillion dollars in damages, resulting from an alleged defect in assembly line equipment used in the automotive industry.
- Represented a company in the federal courts of New York and Florida in cases involving claims of patent infringement, fraud, breach of confidentiality agreement and business theft.
- Represented two entities in a jury trial involving allegations of a breach of a confidentiality agreement, fraud, unfair competition and interference in contract.
- Represented a company in the prosecution of a contractor's claim for damages for work performed and lost profits sustained when a village terminated a demolition contract in the early stages of a job.
- Represented a municipality in the defense of claims for additional compensation on a sanitary sewer extension project because it "encountered unstable material which was to be used for trench backfill."
- Represented a construction entity in a jury trial involving defense of contractors against a supplier's claim for payment.
- Represented a medical billing services provider in a jury trial involving contract claim, including novel issues concerning the admissibility of computer discs containing over 50 boxes of complex billing and payment data.
- Represented a municipality in the prosecution of defaulting contractor and surety on the construction of sewage treatment plant project.
- Represented a telecommunications company in the defense of claims brought by the installer of a complex SAP business management system after it was terminated.
- Recipient, Certificate of Appreciation, Tobacco Control Partners of Onondaga County (2009 and 2010)
- Recipient, Leadership Recognition, Legal Services Corporation and Legal Aid of Mid New York (2007)
- Recipient, Leadership Award, Hospitality House for Youth (1994)
- Onondaga County Legislator, D-7th District
- Member, American Arbitration Association, Panel of Arbitrators
- Member, United States District Court, Northern District of New York, Arbitration/Mediation Panel
- Member, New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyer
- Member, New York State Bar Association, Commercial/Federal Litigation Section
- Member, New York State Bar Association, Antitrust Section
- Member, Onondaga County Bar Association
- Member, Federal Court Bar Association of the Northern District of New York
- Member, Volunteer Lawyer Landlord/Tenant Project
- Member, Board of Trustees, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Member, Le Moyne College, Board of Regents
- Member, Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order, Development Board
- Member, Canisius College, Pre-Law Advisory Board
- City Court Small Claims Arbitrator
- Past Member, Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. and Legal Aid of Mid-New York, Inc., Board of Directors
- Past President, Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. and Legal Aid of Mid-New York, Inc.
- Past Member, MedTech, Government Affairs Board
- Past Member, Everson Museum of Art, Board of Trustees
- Past Member, L’Arche Syracuse, Board of Directors
- Past Member, Catholic Charities Refugee Program
- Past Member, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, School of Spiritual Living
- Past Member, Syracuse Urban Ministry, Board of Directors
- Past Member, Media Unit, Advisory Board
- Past Incorporator, Advisor & Pro Bono Attorney, Families Together in New York State
- Past President, Board Member and Counselor, Hospitality House for Homeless Youth, Inc.
- Past Mentor and Program Coordinator, Syracuse School District
- Past Selection of Superintendent Advisory Board, Syracuse School Board
- Past Upstate New York Coordinator, New York State Mentoring Program
- Past Member, Onondaga County Citizens Foundation, Board of Governors
Mr. Buckel lectures frequently on legal practice and business issues. Various topics include:
- Civil Trial Practice
- Settlement and Mediation
- Current Developments in Architectural Law
- Litigation and Liability Issues Facing Architects
- Using Technology in Litigation
- Local Politics, Financial Reporting and SEC Investigations
- Opening Statements
- Green Architecture and Emerging Standards of Architects' Legal Liability
- Practical Legal Ethics in New York
- What Cancer Survivors Need to Know about Health Insurance
- Legal Implications of Doing Business on the Internet
- Constitutional Challenges to the Affordable Care Act
- Federalism and Local Government Responsibilities
- Personal Jurisdiction
- Eminent Domain, the Kelo Case and the Intersection of Law and Public Policy
- “Judgeship Vacancy Highlights Turf War,” The Post-Standard, June 2011.
- “Judge to Rule on Kinney's Hart Lawsuit,” Watertown Daily Times, 2006.
- “SU, Everson Discuss Stronger Ties, Officials Say". Talks Focus on Expanding Their Relationship, But They Offer No Details,” The Post-Standard, June 2006.
- “Kinney Drugs Says Developer Betrayed Trust Suit, Says Guy Hart Sr. Used Confidential Info to Entice Walgreens Onto Kinney Turf,” The Post-Standard, December 2005.
- “Kinney Drugs Sues Developers,” Watertown Daily Times, December 2005.
- “Unusual Case; Oral Hearings Set In N.Y. for Rare Antitrust Case,” Modern Healthcare, August 2004.
Political and Public Policy:
- Author, “Reject Raise; Rescind Retirement,” The Post-Standard, 2011.
- Author, “How to Control County Spending,” The Post-Standard, September 2010.
- Author, “Reduce Size of County Legislature,” The Post-Standard, June 2010.
- Author, “New York at a Turning Point,” The Post-Standard, January 2010.
- Author, “PWC Closing Says Much About Area’s Economy,” The Post-Standard, March 2007.
- Author, “Upstate Needs A Lot More Than Reform In Albany,” The Post-Standard, October 2004.
- The University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1981
- Canisius College, B.A., 1978
- Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Graduate Coursework, 1999 – 2001.
- New York
- United States Court of Appeals (Second Circuit)
- United States District Court (NDNY)
