Richard Furlong has represented labor organizations for over 25 years. His work has covered all aspects of traditional labor law, including:
•organizing drives
•arbitration and agency hearings
•negotiations and all related court proceedings
Mr. Furlong’s experience also includes counseling unions on non-traditional activities, including strategic campaigns, creative use of public relations, and other tactics geared toward empowering workers.
His knowledge and experience have drawn the attention of many attorneys and labor specialists, who frequently call upon Mr. Furlong to be a lecturer. However, his true passion is exploring-with his union clients-how to use labor law offensively to leverage workers’ power.
Speaking Engagements
•State University of New York at Buffalo, adjunct law professor for bridge courses, 2000-03
•Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, presenter of numerous courses and seminars, 1985-2003
•Numerous individual seminars for union leaders and members
Awards and Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America
Named to Best Lawyers in America from 2014 to 2024; recognized for Labor Law-Union and Litigation - Labor and Employment
Rated “Distinguished” by Martindale-Hubbell
An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2022
Named Best Lawyers’ 2022 Buffalo Labor Law-Union “Lawyer of the Year”
Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2020
Named Best Lawyers’ 2020 Buffalo Labor Law-Union “Lawyer of the Year”
Who’s Who in Law
Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s final edition in 2012 of “Who’s Who in Law” for Labor & Employment
Client Testimonials
Below are comments several clients have provided regarding their experience working with Mr. Furlong. Organizations are listed for identification purposes only.
“Rich Furlong is, bar none, the best union attorney the Painters’ Union has ever had the privilege of retaining. His knowledge of labor law, his creativity and his passion have time and again been the reasons this Union has prevailed against huge odds.”
- Dan Boody, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
Painters District Council No. 4
“Until we hired Rich, we never really appreciated the power we had negotiating with Cornell University. Rich’s knowledge of the law, coupled with his experience negotiating, turned the power equation around in our favor.”
- David Marsh, President
Cortland-Tompkins Counties Building & Construction Trades Council
“We are a union of lawyers. When looking to hire a lawyer a few years ago, we asked around the legal community for recommendations. One name kept coming up: Rich Furlong. He has worked with us negotiating three (3) collective bargaining agreements and we have never looked back.”
- Roland Hayes, President
Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo Attorneys’ Union
“Years ago, when I was Business Agent with Operating Engineers Local 17, we were challenged by some notorious union busting outfits who boasted of their track records crushing unions. Rich Furlong and the Local 17 leadership and membership put together very creative game plans that stopped the union-busters dead in their tracks. It wasn’t easy, but we prevailed and the union-busters have stayed out of Buffalo ever since.”
- Tom Hopkins, Business Manger/Business Agent (retired)
Operating Engineers, Local No. 17
“Rich was a professor of mine in law school. His course on Strategic Alternative Campaigns aroused a passion in me to seek the presidency of my union, the New York State Troopers PBA. I won the election and I believe that course truly helped me understand that the ‘nothing can be done’ crowd is dead wrong. We transformed the PBA into a powerful, creative force, using many of the cutting-edge tactics I learned in Rich’s course.”
- Dan De Federicis, President (retired)
New York State Troopers PBA
“I hired Rich Furlong as my lacrosse agent in 2008. I have been so impressed with his negotiating skills and the results he has achieved on my behalf as a player that I have since retained his firm and him to review endorsement contracts, business ventures, etc. Rich combines tenacity with professionalism and the results speak for themselves. I would not consider using any other agent.”
- Casey Powell
Captain, 2006 United States National Team, World Lacrosse Championships;
Major Lacrosse League All-Time Scoring Leader;
4 Time All-American, Syracuse University.
“When I was drafted I received great advice from a teammate: a player needs to focus on maintaining peak performance and not be distracted by contract negotiations. So, I hired Rich to do my negotiating. Whether I was playing for Portland, Edmonton or Philadelphia I have been able to maintain my focus on playing lacrosse because Rich did the bargaining with the front offices. And the deals he put together have creatively advanced my interests. I don’t miss an opportunity to recommend to other players that they retain Rich as their agent.”
- Brodie Merrill
Named “Best Lacrosse Player in the World” -Inside Lacrosse, Jan. 2007;
Named “Best Defender” and “All World Defenseman”, 2006 World Lacrosse Championships;
All-Pro, 2005-2012, Major Lacrosse League;
All-Star, 2006-2012, National Lacrosse League.
“We have retained Rich on several large and complex matters and have always gotten outstanding results. He shines in the most difficult cases.”
- Zach Currier, President
Professional Lacrosse Players’ Association
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
