Elizabeth A. Kraengel

Liz handles a variety of civil litigation matters, including business disputes, construction matters, and employment disputes. In addition, she handles various trust and estate matters, including estate planning, probate petitions and litigation. She has experience in mediation, arbitration and administrative proceedings in local, state and federal court. Her experience further includes:

• Obtained seven-figure arbitration award in favor of owner against architect in complex construction design defect dispute
• Achieved verdict following bench trial in favor of general contractor against asbestos remediation subcontractor for breach of contract relating to a state public improvement project
• Represented general contractor in $4m mechanic’s lien foreclosure action and winning ruling from NY State Court of Appeals defeating tribal entity owner’s claim of sovereign immunity from suit
• Successfully defended Article 78 challenge, including appeals, to an owner’s plans to develop mixed use property
• Reached favorable resolutions in representing employers against complaints alleging employment discrimination filed with the NYS Division of Human Rights

Liz is an adjunct professor at University at Buffalo School of Law where she teaches New York Practice to upper class law students. She has presented at continuing legal education seminars on topics including: Legal Ethics of Social Media and ESI; Strategies to Combat Dirty Litigation Tactics; Demonstrating How Evidence Falls Under Hearsay Exceptions; Ethical Considerations for Working with Experts; Jury Selection Strategy. Her presentations at construction industry seminars include: Legal Issues on Construction Projects; Demystifying MWBE Compliance; Pay Equity and Salary Discrimination Laws; and Understanding Critical Clauses in Construction Contracts. She is a faculty member of the National Business Institute.

Liz has been selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list every year since 2013. In 2017 and 2019-2023 Liz ranked in the Top 25 Women attorneys by the Upstate New York Super Lawyers.

In 2016, Liz was named a Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40 honoree. In 2020 she was a recipient of The Daily Record’s Excellence in Law Award for Top Women in Law. In 2020 Liz was selected as a Diversity Fellow by the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law. The process to be selected was a competitive application and interview process and she was among six fellows selected for 2020.  She is in her second term as a member of the steering committee for the Forum on Construction Law's Dvision 12 (Owners). 

Outside of the legal profession, Liz is a proud supporter of The Ride for Roswell, where she is a member of the Extra Mile Club and has served in a number of ride related roles over the last fifteen plus years, including committee member, ambassador, riding marshal and team captain.

Construction & Demolition; Education; Hospitality; Manufacturing; Professional Services

New York State Bar Association (member); Bar Association of Erie County (director 2018-2021; nominating committee member 2022-2025); Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WNY Chapter President 2016-2017); University at Buffalo Law School Alumni Association (President 2022-23); American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law (member; Diversity Fellow 2020-2024); National Association of Women in Construction Buffalo-Niagara Chapter (member); Construction Exchange of Buffalo and WNY (member).

New York; Massachusetts; United States District Court for the Western District of New York; United States District Court for the Northern District of New York; United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York; United States Court of Federal Claims; United States Supreme Court

SUNY Buffalo Law School, J.D.
Northeastern University, B.A., summa cum laude