Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, N.D. New York
34 approved rates from 12 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Oct 15, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $350 | $350 to $353 | $350 to $784 | 12 |
| Attorney | $325 | $180 to $350 | 7 | |
| Paralegal | $95 | $80 to $180 | 9 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $350 (5) | ||
| 2025 | $350 (7) | ||
| 2024 | $125 (5) |
Median approved rate by the year of the ruling (number of rates in brackets). A year shows a median at 5 or more rates. Not adjusted for inflation.
Attorney rates by years of experience
| Experience | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20+ years | $350 | 5 |
Only rates where the opinion states the attorney's years of experience.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 20 of 28 timekeepers (71%), by a median 31.6%.
Cite these rates
$350/hr
In N.D. New York fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $350 an hour (12 rates).
$325/hr
In N.D. New York fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $325 an hour (7 rates).
$95/hr
In N.D. New York fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $95 an hour (9 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent N.D. New York rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Automotive Lift Institute, Inc. v. Dami Co., LLC, No. 5:25-cv-01010 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $325 for an attorney with 30 years' experience; $95 for paralegals); Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 267 Pension Fund v. Rinaldi Mechanical Service, LLC, No. 5:24-cv-00745 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 7, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $360 for a partner); Cayuga Nation v. Parker, No. 5:22-cv-00128 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 16, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for a partner; $200 for an associate); The Upstate New York Engineers Pension Fund v. American Iron & Crane, Inc., No. 5:25-cv-01198 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for of counsel with 17 years' experience; $350 for a partner with 19 years' experience; $350 for a partner with 20 years' experience); New York State Teamsters Conference Pension & Retirement Fund v. Yank Waste Company, Inc., No. 5:25-cv-00419 (N.D.N.Y. July 30, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney); Darwin Jimenez Amador el al v. Fox Building Group, Inc., No. 6:24-cv-00785 (N.D.N.Y. June 29, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for a partner; $200 for an associate); Gallagher v. The Unified Court System of the State of New York, No. 3:18-cv-01476 (N.D.N.Y. Dec. 30, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for a partner; $165 for an associate; $180 for attorneys); UFCW Local One Health Care Fund v. Greene Great American, Inc., No. 6:23-cv-01441 (N.D.N.Y. May 27, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for a partner with 35 years' experience; $350 for a partner with 23 years' experience; $350 for a partner with 29 years' experience); Barsch v. Modern Boss Marketing LLC, No. 1:24-cv-00820 (N.D.N.Y. May 16, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $325 for an attorney); Mesa Valley Housing Associates II Limited Partnership v. Red Lobster Intermediate Holdings LLC, No. 5:24-cv-00790 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 26, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney); U.S. Bank National Association v. Chenango Place, LLC, No. 3:23-cv-00928 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $752 to $784 for partners; $576 for an associate; $180 for a paralegal); Matagrano v. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision ("DOCCS"), No. 9:19-cv-00763 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 1, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $80 for a law clerk; $80 to $90 for paralegals).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Automotive Lift Institute, Inc. v. Dami Co., LLC
Oct 15, 2026 · Intellectual property · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 30 years $325 $325 Attorney 30 years $400 Paralegal $125 $95 Paralegal $125 $95 The court's words
Plaintiff requests the following hourly rates: $325.00 per hour for Attorney Sulimowicz, who has been a member of the New York Bar for 30 years, for work done prior to 2026 and $400.00 per hour for work done after January 1, 2026
The Court finds that Plaintiff's requested hourly rate of $325 for Attorney Sulimowicz is reasonable given her 30 years of practice, although the Court declines to award any fees using a $400 hourly rate.
the Court reduces the hourly rate for Ms. Springer to $95
Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney's fees of $5,426, for 15 attorney hours at $325 per hour and 5.8 paralegal hours at $95 per hour.
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Automotive Lift Institute, Inc. v. Autokato Engineering, LTD
Oct 8, 2026 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 30 years $400 The court's words
and $400.00 per hour for work done after January 1, 2026
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Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 267 Pension Fund et al v. Rinaldi Mechanical Service, LLC et al
Oct 7, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $360 $360 The court's words
Plaintiffs request $8,148.75 in attorneys’ fees, representing 22.6 hours of attorney time at a rate of approximately $360 per hour for the work Attorney Kornfeld, a partner at the law firm of Blitman & King, LLP, performed in this case.
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Sep 16, 2026 · Other · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $350 Associate $200 The court's words
the Court finds the reasonable hourly rate to be $350 per hour for Burch, Nicholson, and French and $200 per hour for Arias and Hopkins.
the Court finds the reasonable hourly rate to be $350 per hour for Burch, Nicholson, and French and $200 per hour for Arias and Hopkins.
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The Upstate New York Engineers Pension Fund, et al v. American Iron & Crane, Inc. et al
Aug 7, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Of counsel 17 years $350 Partner 19 years $350 Partner 20 years $350 Paralegal $95 The court's words
Plaintiffs' attorney, Richard Siegel, is of counsel at Plaintiffs' counsel's firm and 'has over 17 years of practice experience in the employee benefits and employee benefits litigation fields.'
Attorney Swyers has had nineteen years of experience in employee benefits and ERISA litigation
Attorney Golfo has over twenty years of experience representing multiemployer benefit plans under ERISA
the appropriate rate for Paralegal Khandker to be $95 per hour
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New York State Teamsters Conference Pension & Retirement Fund v. Yank Waste Company, Inc.
Jul 30, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
The Court also finds that the requested hourly rate of $350.00 per hour is reasonable.
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Darwin Jimenez Amador el al v. Fox Building Group, Inc., et al
Jun 29, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $350 $350 Associate $200 $200 The court's words
counsel requests that attorneys Zev Antell and Craig Curwood be given a reduced hourly rate of $350
attorney Samantha Galina a reduced hourly rate of $200
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Gallagher et al v. The Unified Court System of the State of New York et al
Dec 30, 2025 · Civil rights · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $650 $350 Associate $450 $165 Attorney $450 $180 Attorney $300 $180 Attorney $300 $180 Paralegal $125 $95 The court's words
a rate of $350 for work performed by Attorney Dreyer (in recognition of his significant trial experience)
$165 for Attorney Davis (in light of the documented fact that he graduated from law school in 2024)
$180 for Attorney Owens, Attorney Mix, and Attorney Friedman (in light of the fact that no specific information has been provided about their experience)
$180 for Attorney Owens, Attorney Mix, and Attorney Friedman (in light of the fact that no specific information has been provided about their experience)
$180 for Attorney Owens, Attorney Mix, and Attorney Friedman (in light of the fact that no specific information has been provided about their experience)
$95 for Paralegal Fereday
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Carista v. Commissioner of Social Security
Jul 31, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $249 $249 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
The hourly rate Plaintiff requests, $249.08, appears to be based on the above-described calculation.
Paralegal Rate $100.00
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UFCW Local One Health Care Fund et al v. Greene Great American, Inc. et al
May 27, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 35 years $530 $350 Partner 23 years $498 $350 Partner 29 years $505 $350 Partner 9 years $420 $350 Paralegal $220 $95 Paralegal $217 $95 The court's words
the Court finds the appropriate rate for the principal attorneys, Goodman, Sanchez, Swyers, and Leins, to be $350 per hour
the Court finds the appropriate rate for the principal attorneys, Goodman, Sanchez, Swyers, and Leins, to be $350 per hour
the Court finds the appropriate rate for the principal attorneys, Goodman, Sanchez, Swyers, and Leins, to be $350 per hour
the Court finds the appropriate rate for the principal attorneys, Goodman, Sanchez, Swyers, and Leins, to be $350 per hour
the that appropriate rate for the paralegals to be $95 per hour
the that appropriate rate for the paralegals to be $95 per hour
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Barsch v. Modern Boss Marketing LLC et al
May 16, 2025 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $325 $325 The court's words
counsel declaring, under penalty of perjury, that she charges $325/hour ... The Court finds that the hourly rate charged by counsel in this case, $325/hour, is within the reasonable range of rates
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Mesa Valley Housing Associates II Limited Partnership v. Red Lobster Intermediate Holdings LLC
Feb 26, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Plaintiff is seeking $22,645.00 based on 64.7 total hours of work performed by Peter M. Damin, Esq. and Meghan M. Breen, Esq. at an hourly rate of $350.00 in attorneys’ fees
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U.S. Bank National Association v. Chenango Place, LLC et al
Jan 10, 2025 · Commercial · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $1,115 $752 Partner $980 $784 Associate $805 $576 Paralegal $310 $180 The court's words
Mr. Quaglia actually charged Plaintiff an hourly rate of primarily $752.00
Ms. Cohen, Mr. Bouzat, and the paralegals charged hourly rates of $784.00, $576.00, and $180.00, respectively.
Ms. Cohen, Mr. Bouzat, and the paralegals charged hourly rates of $784.00, $576.00, and $180.00, respectively.
Ms. Cohen, Mr. Bouzat, and the paralegals charged hourly rates of $784.00, $576.00, and $180.00, respectively.
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Broyles v. Commissioner of Social Security
Dec 26, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 The court's words
In light of this increase, the appropriate hourly rate is $251.52 per hour for 2024.
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Schaack v. Commissioner of Social Security
Nov 7, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $233 $233 Attorney $241 $241 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
The hourly rates Plaintiff requests, $232.89 for 2022, $240.93 for 2023 appear to be based on the above-described calculation.
The hourly rates Plaintiff requests, $232.89 for 2022, $240.93 for 2023 appear to be based on the above-described calculation.
Paralegal Rate $100.00 Paralegal Hours 6.8 $680.00
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Matagrano v. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision ("DOCCS") et al | Nov 1, 2024 | Law clerk $80, Paralegal $80, Paralegal $90 |
| New York State Teamsters Conference Pension & Retirement Fund et al v. Yank Waste Company, Inc. | Sep 25, 2024 | Attorney $350 |
| Brandon v. Schroyer et al | Sep 10, 2024 | Associate $200, Attorney $108 |
| Disability Rights New York v. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision et al | Aug 28, 2024 | Attorney $175, Attorney $260 |
| Li v. Spa Nail 9, Inc. et al | Aug 14, 2024 | Partner $300, Partner $150, Associate $200, Associate $100, Associate $125, Associate $80, Law clerk $80 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the N.D. New York approve for partners?
A median of $350 an hour across 12 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $350 to $353.
What hourly rate does the N.D. New York approve for attorneys?
A median of $325 an hour across 7 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the N.D. New York approve for paralegals?
A median of $95 an hour across 9 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the N.D. New York cut a requested hourly rate?
For 20 of 28 timekeepers (71%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 31.6% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the N.D. New York?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.
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