This is the optional alert bar

Paul F. Keneally

Partner

About Paul

Strategist and diplomat. Advocate and persuader. Formidable opponent, trusted friend. Paul’s effectiveness as a litigator is due to his depth of legal understanding and his determination to get clients the right result. As chair of the Firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, and a partner in our Litigation and Municipal Practice Groups, Paul represents a wide variety of businesses, individuals and organizations. From untangling complex commercial and construction litigation, navigating the minefield of labor and employment disputes, resolving tax assessment and other municipal matters, to handling general litigation, insurance defense and personal injury cases, Paul has a wealth of litigation experience in the administrative agencies and the state and federal courts.

​One of Paul’s core areas is labor and employment law, where he provides astute and proactive advice to clients in matters involving executive compensation, overtime, workplace violence, non-compete/non-solicit agreements, sexual harassment, race, sex and age discrimination, family and medical leave, and disabilities.

​Prior to joining Underberg & Kessler, Paul worked for the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, based in New York City, and served as a Federal District Court law clerk in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois. Paul was associate editor of the Fordham Law Review and was admitted to the Order of the Coif, an honorary law society.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • American Bar Association, member of Litigation and Labor & Employment Sections
  • New York State Bar Association, member
  • Monroe County Bar Association, member
  • St. John’s Foundation, Board member
  • Tennis Club of Rochester, Counsel to the Board of Directors and Management
  • Genesee Valley Chapter Society of Human Resources Management, former Legislative Representative of the Board of Directors
  • Career Development Services, former Board member
  • Literacy Rochester, former Board member
  • Young Audiences of Rochester, former Board member

Awards & Recognitions

  • 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Municipal and Municipal Law, Rochester, NY
  • 2025 Attorneys of the Year Award, Leaders in Law category, Rochester Business Journal and The Daily Record
  • 2026 & 2027 editions of Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation, Employment Law–Management, Labor Law–Management, Litigation–Labor & Employment, Litigation-Municipal, Municipal Law, Rochester, NY
  • 2022-2026 Rochester Business Journal and The Daily Record’s Power List for Labor & Employment Law
  • 2013-2025 editions of Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor & Employment, Rochester, NY
  • 2024 Literacy Rochester Queenie Zuehlke Visionary Award
  • 2022 Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Labor & Employment, Rochester, NY
  • 2007-2026 Upstate New York Super Lawyers Honoree
  • 2017 Literary Rochester Ruth Colvin Award & the 2016 President’s Award
  • 2002 Rochester Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” Award Recipient

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude)
  • Amherst College, B.A.

Admissions

  • New York State
  • US District Court – Western District of New York
  • US District Court – Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court – Northern District of New York
  • US District Court – Southern District of New York
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • District of Colorado
  • Central District of Illinois
“I’ve been a client of Underberg & Kessler for 26 years, working specifically with Paul, and have always found him to be professional, responsive, and knowledgeable. I appreciate his guidance and highly recommend their services.”
K.S., Labor & Employment client

News & Insights

Paul's Recent Articles