Paul Leclair is a founding partner of Adams Leclair LLP in Rochester, NY. He brings more than 30 years of experience in commercial, construction, partnership, employment, and personal injury litigation. He has successfully represented clients in jury and bench trials and other proceedings in state, federal and bankruptcy court, and at mediations and arbitrations.

A majority of Paul Leclair’s work is referred from other attorneys in the community, and he is known for being responsive, diligent and providing excellent service. His commercial matters include traditional disputes such as breach of contract, real estate, insurance coverage, and partnership disagreements, and he also spends considerable time on construction matters litigating and counseling contractors about their projects. In addition, Paul has been engaged to mediate many types of commercial and personal injury cases.

Whenever given the opportunity, Paul boasts of his four children, Doug, Aline, Dane and Natalie, whom he raised with his wife of more than 30 years, Rebecca Leclair.

RESULTS/REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Obtained dismissal of claims at the outset of litigation in case involving restrictive covenants and non-compete provisions
• Obtained judgment for landlord whose tenant improperly assigned a lease
• Negotiated several million-dollar settlement in favor of mechanical contractor against municipality on public arena construction project
• Obtained dismissal of claim against contractor by municipality alleging impropriety in minority subcontracting
• Obtained judgment in arbitration in favor of manufacturer of machinery defending claims of defective workmanship
• Obtained verdict in favor of injured farmer making delivery in hazardous conditions
• Negotiated favorable settlements in favor of many injured clients

ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS

• Former Trustee and Member, Monroe County Bar Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Past President, Rochester Inns of Court
• Member, Knights of Columbus
• Coach, Rochester Hispanic Youth Baseball League

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

• Named Fellow of New York Bar Foundation 2023
• AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
• Recognized by “Best Lawyers of America” for Commercial Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2024-2026
• Selected to “Super Lawyers”
• Humanitarian Award, Monroe County Bar Foundation, 2016
• Pro Bono Award, US District Court, WDNY, 2015 & 1997

PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS

• Monroe County Bar Association, numerous presentations on litigation skills and practice
• Former regular presenter to Russian judges and lawyers in Rochester’s sister-city, Novgorod, Russia, on advocacy skills to promote the rule of law through the Russian American Rule of Law Consortium

ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS BY PAUL LECLAIR

• Leclair Leads College Class in Discussion of Legal Ethics, October 30th, 2024
• Suing Employees for Negligence?, The Daily Record, January 30, 2019.
• Forging Ahead to the Future Despite Serious Personal Problems, The Daily Record, April 16, 2018.
• Significance of Getting Transcripts Signed by a Witness, The Daily Record, October 17, 2013.