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Starting November 8, 2026, a new New York State law will require employers to provide current and former employees with access to their personnel records upon request.

 The law applies to all New York employers, regardless of size, and introduces new requirements for employee record access, documentation, and retention.

What Employers Need to Know

Under the new law, employers must:

• Provide Personnel Records: Supply a free, complete copy of an employee's personnel record within five business days of a written request.

• Notify Employees of Negative Information: Inform employees within 10 days when negative information, such as disciplinary warnings or performance improvement plans, is added to their file.

• Allow Written Responses: Give employees the opportunity to submit written responses to information they disagree with and retain those responses in their files.

• Maintain Complete Records: Preserve personnel records throughout employment and for three years after an employee leaves.

• Prevent Retaliation: Ensure employees are not penalized for requesting access to their records.

 Violations may result in penalties ranging from $500 to $2,500 per violation.

How to Prepare

With the effective date approaching, we encourage employers to review their current personnel recordkeeping practices, establish a process for responding to employee requests, update retention policies, and ensure managers understand the new requirements.

Monroe County - Return the F.A.V.O.R. Program

Find and Assist Veterans of Record Discount Card Program

The Monroe County Clerk’s office has launched a new program: Return the F.A.V.O.R. (Find and Assist Veterans of Record Discount Card Program.)  Webster Chamber of Commerce members are invited to participate in this program.

 The Return the F.A.V.O.R. Program replaces the Veterans Discount Card Program previously offered by the Monroe County Clerk’s office.  Implementing this new program that has been successful in counties across New York State.

 This initiative connects local veterans with businesses that wish to show their appreciation for those who have served in the United States Armed Forces by offering a discount or special promotions.

 If you are interested in becoming a participating business, you can complete the online form at https://www.monroecounty.gov/favor-bizform.  Once registered, your business will be added to the official list of participating businesses available to veterans throughout Monroe County.

If you have questions, please contact Jamie Romeo, Monroe County Clerk, at (585) 753-1645 or jamieromeo@monroecounty.gov.

Underberg & Kessler LLP

UNDERBERG & KESSLER ADVISES ON THE BUY THE BLOCK AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM

Rochester, New York, November 3, 2026 – Underberg & Kessler LLP is proud to serve as legal counsel for the Buy The Block program, an initiative by the City of Rochester to revitalize neighborhoods while providing qualified residents a chance to build generational wealth through homeownership. Phase 1 of the program, led by Greater Rochester Housing Partnership (GRHP), was recently named a 2026 Leaders in Construction and Real Estate award “Top Project” by the Rochester Business Journal. 

The Buy The Block program builds new, single-family, energy-efficient homes on vacant lots in targeted neighborhoods and areas impacted by historic redlining and disinvestment. The homes are sold to qualified first-time homebuyers who will spend no more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The first phase of Buy The Block transformed 24 vacant city-owned lots in Northeast Rochester, between Upper Falls Boulevard and Clifford, North Clinton, and Hudson Avenues into single-family homes. Homes sold for $89,000 to $139,000 to buyers earning 36% to 75% of area median income, generating immediate equity and building generational wealth. The project introduced six new home models, from a 1,033-square-foot accessible ranch to a 1,729-squarefoot two-story home, each certified to the Energy Star 3.0 standard with all-electric heat pump heating and cooling — a first for a single-family project of this scale in Rochester. Homes also included recycled and low-VOC materials and electric vehicle-ready outlets.

 GRHP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the Rochester, NY region, was the selected developer for Phase I of the Buy The Block program in Northeast Rochester as well as one of the two selected developers for Phase II of the Buy The Block project, which is almost complete. Phase II includes a total of 32 houses being built in Southwest Rochester by the City of Rochester, GRHP, and Flower City Habitat for Humanity.

Underberg & Kessler’s Real Estate & Finance team, led by Patrick L. Cusato, collaborated with GRHP, the City of Rochester, Atlas Contractors LLC, architect Randy Peacock, Stantec Environmental Consulting, civil engineer Walt Baker, and various mortgage lenders to coordinate the closings of 24 individual Buy the Block Phase 1 homebuyers. Managing the timelines and requirements for each transaction, all involving first-time homebuyers, required careful coordination among all parties.

“We are pleased to have been part of this collaborative effort to create thriving neighborhoods and provide modern, energy-efficient homes for first-time homebuyers,” said Patrick L. Cusato, Co-Managing Partner. “The Buy The Block initiative demonstrates what can be accomplished when organizations come together, think creatively, and work toward a shared goal.”

 The Underberg & Kessler Buy The Block team includes Patrick L. Cusato, Kyle C. Pittman, and Mary K. Dawson.

About Underberg & Kessler LLP 
Underberg & Kessler LLP proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. For a century, the firm has provided comprehensive, client-focused legal services to businesses, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and individuals from its offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Canandaigua, and Geneseo, New York. The firm counsels clients across a wide range of practice areas, including banking and commercial lending, business and corporate law, cannabis, construction, creditors’ rights, environmental and energy, estates and trusts, family law, health care, labor and employment, litigation, municipal law, real estate and finance, and tax. Both the firm and its attorneys are consistently recognized by leading national publications, including Best Law Firms^®, Best Lawyers in America^®, and Super Lawyers. For more information, visit underbergkessler.com.

Underberg & Kessler LLP

UNDERBERG & KESSLER EARNS HIGH HONORS IN THE 2027 EDITION OF BEST LAW FIRMS®

Rochester, New York, November 6, 2026 –  Underberg & Kessler LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized for professional excellence across multiple practice areas in the 2027 edition of Best Law Firms. The Best Law Firms methodology combines multiple data sources to assess law firm performance, including client and professional references, firm-submitted data, lawyer evaluations, and leadership interviews. Eligible firms must have at least one lawyer recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in the relevant practice area and jurisdiction. Submissions are scored and grouped into law firm tiers by region, highlighting meaningful performance distinctions rather than strict rankings.

Underberg & Kessler received the following rankings in the 2027 edition:

 Tier 1

Buffalo, NY

·         Litigation - Construction

·         Litigation - Insurance

Rochester, NY

·         Commercial Finance Law

·         Corporate Law

·         Elder Law

·         Employment Law - Management

·         Health Care Law

·         Litigation - Health Care

·         Litigation - Labor and Employment

·         Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

·         Municipal Law

·         Real Estate Law

 Tier 2

Buffalo, NY

·         Commercial Litigation

·         Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants

·         Real Estate Law

Rochester, NY

·         Civil Rights Law

·         Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

·         Commercial Litigation

·         Corporate Governance Law

·         Environmental Law

·         Labor Law - Management

·         Litigation - Banking and Finance

·         Mergers and Acquisitions Law

 Tier 3

Buffalo, NY

·         Litigation - Health Care

·         Litigation - Labor and Employment

·         Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Rochester, NY

·         Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

·         Land Use and Zoning Law

·         Litigation - Municipal

 About Underberg & Kessler LLP

Underberg & Kessler LLP proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. For a century, the firm has provided comprehensive, client-focused legal services to businesses, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and individuals from its offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Canandaigua, and Geneseo, New York. The firm counsels clients across a wide range of practice areas, including banking and commercial lending, business and corporate law, cannabis, construction, creditors’ rights, environmental and energy, estates and trusts, family law, health care, labor and employment, litigation, municipal law, real estate and finance, and tax. The firm and its attorneys are consistently recognized by leading national publications, including Best Law Firms^®, Best Lawyers in America^®, and Super Lawyers. For more information, visit underbergkessler.com.

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