J. JOSEPH WILDER, FOUNDING PARTNER

Professional Biography:
An attorney since 1984, Mr. Wilder practiced law at Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber, LLP (1983-1990) and at Falk & Siemer, LLP (1990-2000), where he was the Managing Partner from 1995-1997. Mr. Wilder was the Managing Partner of Wilder & Linneball, LLP from 2000-2007 and 2016-2019. 

Mr. Wilder's primary litigation experience has been in the representation of utilities and product manufacturers for complex or forensic litigation.  Regarding the defense of utilities, Mr. Wilder and his firm's attorneys have a unique depth and breadth of experience, having represented the major New York State gas and electric companies for decades.  Mr. Wilder has represented National Fuel Gas and its affiliates for more than 30 years, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (now National Grid) and New York State Electric & Gas for more than 20 years, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. for more than 10 years, and the Long Island Power Authority and PSEG Long Island since 2015.  Additionally, he has represented Dig Safely New York, Inc. since 1994, allowing him to often work with the Public Service Commission regarding underground safety and enforcement issues. 

Since 1984, he has also counseled clients in matters of wrongful death and personal injury claims, property damage matters, environmental issues, constitutional law matters, product liability cases, employment issues (executive compensation, discharges, discrimination claims, workers' compensation and unemployment compensation) and business law matters. He is currently National Products Liability Counsel for AMF Bakery Systems and has served as national and regional counsel for various product manufacturers. Experienced in complex litigation, Mr. Wilder was one of the principal attorneys in over 500 personal injury actions arising from the Love Canal landfill in Niagara Falls, New York. He has been involved in environmental abatement and auditing matters and has served as plaintiffs' and defendants' counsel for various CERCLA "cost recovery" actions. Mr. Wilder's experience in the permitting area includes zoning, air emissions, and New York State's first microwave treatment and destruction unit for regulated medical waste. He has routinely provided counsel to health care clients regarding all aspects of regulated medical waste. During his career, Mr. Wilder has represented such major chemical manufacturers as The Dow Chemical Company, Hooker Chemical Company, Occidental Chemical Company and the Union Carbide Corporation, in addition to many closely held businesses and insurance companies.

During his career, Mr. Wilder has appeared as counsel in litigation and counseled clients with cases in Arizona, California, Canada, Colorado, Connecticut, England, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Through his own experience and professional networking with other attorneys, Mr. Wilder has been able to counsel clients in a variety of substantive legal issues.

Mr. Wilder has been a speaker and/or chairperson for seminars presented by the American Bar Association ("ABA") and the New York State Bar Association ("NYSBA"), including the ABA's Litigation Section (Environmental Law Committee). He has been a common speaker to trade and industry groups, including the New York State Gas & Electric Utilities Claims Managers Association, Dig Safely New York Excavator Safety Seminars, the Greater Buffalo Environmental Conference, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Edison Electric Institute and Continuing Legal Educations to in-house law departments. He has frequently published legal writings. Mr. Wilder was an author of "Developments in 'Toxic Tort' Law," published quarterly by the NYSBA, and has been an author of "Pleadings and Motions Directed at Their Faults," revised and republished every two years by the NYSBA from 1995 through 2011.

In 2006, Mr. Wilder received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.  He is a past President of the Lawyers Club of Buffalo and was one of 16 attorneys selected in 1997 by Business First for its list of "Who Runs Western New York Business." Mr. Wilder was an Adjunct Instructor in Administrative Law at Hilbert College (1993-1997 and 2003-2005, respectively). He was selected in 2005 by the National Republican Congressional Committee to the Business Advisory Council and received an award as "Businessman of the Year." He was elected by his peers in 2011 for "Who's Who In The Law" for Civil Litigation and in 2007 for Business Law and for Civil Rights Litigation, as published by The Buffalo Law Journal and Business First, related to his extensive experience in First Amendment litigation.

Mr. Wilder has numerous published cases.  For a complete list, please contact Mr. Wilder.