David E. Leach
Partner
Experience
David E. Leach is a trial lawyer who has been practicing for over 30 years. He specializes in construction-related litigation and labor and employment matters. He also has handed all types of general liability matters, including, but not limited to, products liability, premises liability, property damage, and security matters.
Related Areas
Industries
Experience Highlights
David regularly represents construction companies on managing risk and in litigation proceedings. His clients have used his services in matters involving investigations by the United States Department of Labor, the New York State Department of Labor and OSHA. He has also defended construction-delay claims, filed mechanic’s liens, and handled disputes with other contractors over payment. He also has represented employers in all types of employment-related litigation in state and federal courts as well as in arbitration on matters involving employment discrimination, civil rights claims, and hostile work environments.
David’s environmental experience includes defending cases involving an alleged exposure to asbestos containing products and lead paint. He also has worked on many cases involving the cleanup of hazardous waste at various spill sites.
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America
- Commercial Litigation, 2025
Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2014–19
Background
Admissions
- New York
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
Education
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1986
- State University of New York at Albany, magna cum laude, 1983
Training and Certifications
- Department of Labor OSHA-10 Construction Training
News & Knowledge
Publications & Events
- Quoted in “Closed Courts No Barrier to New York Easing Its Case Backlog,” Bloomberg Law, May 13, 2020
- NYSDOL Audits: What You Can Do in Preparation for Department of Labor Investigations,” Associated Builders and Contractors, June 8, 2016.
David also has spoken at seminars for the New York State Bar Association and Syracuse Claims Association, and for various clients on an in-house basis, on subjects including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA), Labor Law Sections 200, 240(1) and 241(6), and liability for intentional acts
RECENT INSIGHTS
January 31, 2024
August 13, 2019