Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, W.D. New York
31 approved rates from 14 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Aug 31, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $380 | $350 to $400 | 6 | |
| Attorney | $288 | $250 to $344 | $175 to $475 | 18 |
Attorney rates by years of experience
| Experience | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20+ years | $360 | 7 |
Only rates where the opinion states the attorney's years of experience.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 8 of 31 timekeepers (26%), by a median 32.1%.
Cite these rates
$380/hr
In W.D. New York fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $380 an hour (6 rates).
$288/hr
In W.D. New York fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $288 an hour (18 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent W.D. New York rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Nazarovech v. American Elite Recovery, LLC, No. 1:20-cv-00250 (W.D.N.Y. Aug. 31, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for partners; $50 to $100 for paralegals; $50 for a law clerk); International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, District Council No. 4 v. Bison Painting & Decorating Corp., No. 1:23-cv-00341 (W.D.N.Y. June 8, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $275 to $325 for attorneys); Andrews, Jr. v. Town of West Seneca, New York, No. 1:21-cv-00746 (W.D.N.Y. May 13, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $250 to $275 for attorneys); Green v. City of Buffalo, No. 1:23-cv-01166 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 2, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $360 for an associate with 7 years' experience; $360 for a partner with 23 years' experience); United Pool Distribution, Inc. v. Custom Courier Solutions, Inc., No. 6:22-cv-06314 (W.D.N.Y. May 12, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $200 to $300 for attorneys); Perry v. Erie Count Supreme Court, No. 1:23-cv-00848 (W.D.N.Y. May 7, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $400 for an attorney; $100 for a paralegal); Gugino v. City of Buffalo, No. 1:21-cv-00283 (W.D.N.Y. May 1, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $275 for an attorney); Howard v. City of Rochester, No. 6:23-cv-06561 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 30, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $475 for attorneys); Mills v. Steuben Foods, Incorporated, No. 1:19-cv-01178 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 29, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $230 for an attorney); Ryan v. Town of Tonawanda, No. 1:23-cv-00351 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 1, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney with 33 years' experience; $125 for a law clerk; $110 for a paralegal); Hundley v. Frunzi, No. 6:20-cv-06150 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 6, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $400 for a partner with 42 years' experience; $400 for a partner with 39 years' experience; $400 for a partner with 28 years' experience); Simmons v. Ferrigno, II, No. 6:17-cv-06176 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 26, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney).
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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Nazarovech v. American Elite Recovery, LLC et al
Aug 31, 2026 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $350 $350 Partner $350 $350 Paralegal $100 $100 Paralegal $50 $50 Law clerk $50 $50 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel, Jonathan Hilton, seeks $350 per hour for his time on this matter. This Court has found this rate reasonable for plaintiff's counsel, who is a partner at Hilton Parker LLC and has extensive experience litigating consumer protection claims.
This rate is also reasonable for Mr. Hilton's partner, Geoffrey Parker, who is also experienced in this practice area.
This Court has also determined that $100 is a reasonable hourly rate for paralegal Katelyn Moehler.
Other paralegals charged a reasonable hourly rate of $50.
Although the Court has upheld an hourly rate of $110 for student law clerks, plaintiff's counsel seeks $50, which is clearly reasonable.
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Jun 8, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $305 $305 Attorney $275 $275 Attorney $325 $325 The court's words
Attorney Mark L. Stulmaker: $305 (2022); $325 (2023); $335 (2024)
Attorney Candace L. Morrison: $275 (2022); $285 (2023); $290 (2024); $300 (2025)
Attorney Jeff Reina: $325 (2023).
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Andrews, Jr. v. Town of West Seneca, New York et al
May 13, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $250 $250 Attorney $275 $275 The court's words
which at his then hourly rate of $250 resulted in a reimbursable fee of $1,525
At Jager’s then slightly increased hourly rates of $275 per hour this resulted in a fee of $742.56.
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Green et al v. City of Buffalo et al
Dec 2, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Associate 7 years $360 $360 Partner 23 years $360 $360 The court's words
Mr. Levitt, a seven-year associate of the Hodgson Russ firm and Joshua I. Feinstein ("Feinstein"), a 23-year litigating partner at the firm using a blended hourly billing rate for both attorneys of $360
Mr. Levitt, a seven-year associate of the Hodgson Russ firm and Joshua I. Feinstein ("Feinstein"), a 23-year litigating partner at the firm using a blended hourly billing rate for both attorneys of $360
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United Pool Distribution, Inc. v. Custom Courier Solutions, Inc.
May 12, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $520 $300 Attorney $555 $300 Attorney $335 $200 The court's words
Rand L. McClellan $520.00 (2022) 1.1 (2022)
Andrew E. Samuels $495.00 (2022) $555.00 (2023) 3.3 (2022) 4.2 (2023)
Paul M. M. Willison $335.00 (2022) 8.1 (2022)
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Perry et al. v. Erie Count Supreme Court
May 7, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
the Court is personally familiar with the professional reputation and work of Barry Covert ... concludes that approval of a $400 hourly rate for his legal work is appropriate.
2 hours of paralegal time at a rate of $100 an hour
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Gugino v. City of Buffalo et al
May 1, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $275 $275 The court's words
the $ 275 hourly rate claimed by Weischerath, which Personius does not challenge, is reasonable given what has previously been approved by the court in connection with similar matters.
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Howard v. City of Rochester et al
Apr 30, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $550 $475 Attorney $600 $475 The court's words
The Court accordingly awards Plaintiff’s lead counsel a rate of $475 per hour.
The Court awards a rate of $475 to both attorneys based on the County’s lack of opposition.
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Mills v. Steuben Foods, Incorporated et al
Apr 29, 2025 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $230 $230 The court's words
the $ 230 hourly rate claimed by Wiltenburg, which Plaintiff's former counsel does not challenge, is reasonable given what has previously been approved by the court
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Ryan v. Town of Tonawanda et al
Apr 1, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 33 years $450 $350 Law clerk $200 $125 Paralegal $150 $110 The court's words
the court finds a reasonable hourly rate for counsel’s time to be $350 per hour.
For Plaintiff’s counsel’s law clerk, a reasonable hourly rate is $125 per hour
for Plaintiff’s counsel’s paralegal, $110 per hour.
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Jan 6, 2025 · Prisoner rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 42 years $400 $400 Partner 39 years $400 $400 Partner 28 years $400 $400 The court's words
The proposed hourly rate for Sivin, Miller, and Roche is $400/hour each... Sivin, Miller and Roche have 42 years, 39 years, and 28 years, respectively, of litigation experience.
The proposed hourly rate for Sivin, Miller, and Roche is $400/hour each... Sivin, Miller and Roche have 42 years, 39 years, and 28 years, respectively, of litigation experience.
The proposed hourly rate for Sivin, Miller, and Roche is $400/hour each... Sivin, Miller and Roche have 42 years, 39 years, and 28 years, respectively, of litigation experience.
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Dec 26, 2024 · Prisoner rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel then multiplied the total hours expended by an hourly rate of $350, resulting in $10,920.00.
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Heim v. Commissioner of Social Security
Dec 20, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $202 $202 Attorney $206 $206 The court's words
Hiller seeks fees at adjusted hourly rates ranging between $201.59 and $205.84. (Docket # 18-1 at 5). I find these adjustments to be appropriate.
Hiller seeks fees at adjusted hourly rates ranging between $201.59 and $205.84. (Docket # 18-1 at 5). I find these adjustments to be appropriate.
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Cornell v. Commissioner of Social Security
Dec 20, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $204 $204 Attorney $209 $209 The court's words
Here, Hiller seeks fees at adjusted hourly rates ranging between $203.58 and $209.05. (Docket # 21-1 at 5). I find these adjustments to be appropriate.
Here, Hiller seeks fees at adjusted hourly rates ranging between $203.58 and $209.05. (Docket # 21-1 at 5). I find these adjustments to be appropriate.
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Dec 19, 2024 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 30 years $175 $175 Attorney 30 years $240 $240 The court's words
the court finds Plaintiff's counsel's request of $175 per hour for meetings with Plaintiff to be reasonable for attorneys with 30 years of experience.
Plaintiff's request for $240 per hour for the remaining time expended by Plaintiff's counsel of 16.425 hours is reasonable.
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Tripathy v. Schneider et al | Dec 18, 2024 | Attorney $250 |
| Pickering v. U.S. Department of Justice et al | Dec 12, 2024 | |
| Pickering v. U.S. Department of Justice et al | Nov 14, 2024 | |
| Orens v. Amherst Police Department et al | Oct 15, 2024 | Attorney $150 |
| Parks v. Saltsman et al | Oct 8, 2024 | Paralegal $150 |
| Douglas v. Commissioner of Social Security | Aug 27, 2024 | Attorney $241, Paralegal $100, Attorney $247 |
| Xerox Corporation v. Conduit Global, Inc. | Jul 26, 2024 | Associate $300, Associate $285 |
| Strong v. Commissioner of Social Security | Jun 11, 2024 | Attorney $235, Attorney $245, Attorney $250 |
| Falco v. Commissioner of Social Security | Jun 11, 2024 | Attorney $245, Attorney $250 |
| McGill v. Commissioner of Social Security | Jun 11, 2024 | Attorney $245, Attorney $250 |
| Board of Trustees of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3, New York (Rochester Chapter) Pension Fund et al v. Upstate Specialty Coatings LLC | Feb 1, 2024 | Attorney $285, Attorney $390, Attorney $365, Paralegal $210 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the W.D. New York approve for partners?
A median of $380 an hour across 6 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the W.D. New York approve for attorneys?
A median of $288 an hour across 18 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $250 to $344.
How often does the W.D. New York cut a requested hourly rate?
For 8 of 31 timekeepers (26%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 32.1% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the W.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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