Jody’s is the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Leader. Her practice is focused on complex business disputes, and she has represented the firm’s clients in both federal and state courts in New York and across the country.

Jody has defended class actions for public and private companies relating to the healthcare industry, statutory compliance, business practices and pricing, employment, and shareholder disputes. She is well-versed in all aspects of class action litigation including certification, discovery, and settlement approval and administration.

Jody’s experience in financial litigation includes professional liability in the accounting profession, mergers and acquisition litigation, and corporate governance disputes. She has assisted clients with responding to SEC investigations and has represented buyers, broker-dealers and brokers in court disputes and arbitration proceedings before FINRA. Jody has conducted independent internal investigations for corporate clients in response to employee accusations of wrongdoing related to financial and employment practices. 

Jody also handles intellectual property disputes, including patent and trademark litigation and the misappropriation of trade secrets, and ideas. Her experience includes representing clients on claims related to restrictive covenants and unfair competition. She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in diverse subject areas, including medical devices, energy, pharmaceuticals, life science, children's products, and sporting equipment.

Jody was an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where she taught a course on New York civil practice.

Education

Hamilton College, B.A., cum laude

University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude

Admissions

  • New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York 
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York 
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

Representative Work

  • Early Dismissal Obtained for a Class Action Alleging Public Health Law Violations
  • Early Dismissal Obtained for Class Action Alleging Consumer Fraud and Breach of Fiduciary Duty
  • Favorable Settlement Negotiated in Class Action Claiming Consumer Fraud and Mortgage Release Violations
  • Management of Multiple Shareholder Lawsuits Ends in Resolution to All Cases.
  • Multiple Non-Competition Claims Resolved For Client
  • Negotiated Voluntary Withdrawal of Class Allegations
  • Obtained Restraining Order Against Client's Former Employee

Recognitions

  • Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Litigation - Securities) 2023 - 2025
  • Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service, University at Buffalo School of Law, 2022
  • Listed, Top 25 Women Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) 2022 - 2023 
  • Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) 2011 - 2024
  • Community Leader Honoree, The National Federation for Just Communities of WNY, Inc., 2019
  • Buffalo Business First/Buffalo Law Journal's Legal Elite of Western New York, 2014 - 2016, 2018
  • Leadership Award, Minority Bar Association of Western New York, 2018

  • Women Who Move the City Award, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara & The Southern Tier, 2018

  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, University at Buffalo School of Law, Students of Color, 2017
  • Western District of New York Federal Court Special Service Award, 2015
  • Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project Pro Bono Award for Federal Court, 2014
  • Former publications editor, Buffalo Law Review
  • Adolf Homburger Award for excellence in civil procedure

News & Insights

Civic

Jody serves as the President on the Board of Directors for Buffalo Prep. She also serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for Habitat for Humanity Buffalo. Jody is a volunteer for the Western District of New York Pro Se Assistance Program, St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, Habitat for Humanity, and Girls Rule the Law. Jody is also a longtime mentor and mentor coordinator for Discover Law, University at Buffalo School of Law. 

Professional

  • New York State Bar Association
  • Bar Association of Erie County

Multimedia & Podcasts

  • Will noncompete agreements be banned in 2024?

    Will noncompete agreements be banned in 2024?

    In this episode of the Thought Leaders in Law and Business podcast, presented by Hodgson Russ and The Business Journals, Jodyann Galvin, a partner with the law firm, discusses the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed rule to ban certain types of noncompete agreements across the nation and the likelihood it will become law in 2024.

    “One in five employees has either a current noncompete obligation or has had one in the past, and many employees don't really understand what the contours of that obligation are,” Galvin said. “What the FTC concluded was noncompetes generally are bad for business, they're bad for innovation and they're bad for employees being able to move around in the fields they have chosen.”

    The opinions about this hot topic vary widely and many commentators are questioning whether the FTC has the authority to be involved in a state matter, according to Galvin.

    Listen to this podcast to learn more.

Thought Leaders in Law and Business Podcast
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Jodyann Galvin / News & Insights