Laurence K. Rubin

Laurence Rubin is a Partner in the  firm. He concentrates in Public and Private Development, Real Property Law, and Municipal Law, drawing upon a thirty year career in a wide range of public offices, including the unique experience of having been both the chief legal officer and the chief development and planning official for both the City of Buffalo and the County of Erie. Mr. Rubin also has served as special counsel to a variety of public entities in their development projects, including the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and the Niagara Falls Housing Authority.

Mr. Rubin has served as  Buffalo Economic Development Counsel, the Buffalo Commissioner of Community Development, Buffalo Corporation Counsel, Erie County Commissioner of Environment and Planning and  Erie County Attorney. Between holding his City and his County offices, Mr. Rubin joined Kavinoky Cook LLP and rejoined the firm in November, 2007.

During both his public and private  careers, he  has been involved in many of the major projects in our region as either a key project manager or  counsel. Sahlen Baseball Stadium, Key Towers, Fountain Plaza, Key Bank Arena, Johnnie   B. Wiley Sports Complex, Buffalo Forge affordable housing development, Pilgrim Village affordable housing development, AD Price Public Housing Redevelopment, Ellicott Mall Housing Redevelopment, Frederick Douglas Public Housing Redevelopment, Lakeview Public Housing Redevelopment, the Root Building redevelopment, New Buffalo Industrial Park, the Market Arcade Cinema and Complex, City Centre, GM Powertrain expansion, the Geico Office Development, and the Steuben Foods Plant development are some of the  projects he has helped bring to fruition.

Mr. Rubin frequently assists clients  in the use of, and in many instances the invention of, new and creative public tools to assist private development. He has authored more than a dozen State laws to promote economic development with unique tax and real property tools. He is a 1977 graduate of the State University at Buffalo Law School and is active in a wide range of community activities. He received the 2021 UB Law School Distinguished Alumnus Award for Community Service and is a Past President of Temple Beth Zion and of Jewish Family Services of Western New York.