Charles C Ritter, Jr.
Senior Partner
We’re aggressive and results-oriented. Lawsuits are about the result, not the process. I’m not going to waste the client’s time and money just for the sake of litigating. I work with the client to define and achieve a successful resolution.
Charles joined Duke Holzman in 1995, after completing a federal court clerkship upon graduating law school. At Duke Holzman, Charles learned the core principles of practicing to the standard of excellence: identify goals and a strategy early on, provide the highest quality of service and obtain results. After nearly twenty years, Charles continues to refine his skills and build his practice around this simple yet effective formula.
Charles focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation, including construction, securities, contract disputes, insurance coverage and general corporate and transactional work. He represents a variety of clients, from publicly traded companies to general building and construction contractors to small business owners and entrepreneurs in a range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, medical and professional services and private finance.
Charles has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts, including appellate proceedings, arbitrations, and mediations, and he has advised clients regarding business activities, transactions, and acquisitions. Committed to providing responsive, aggressive and reassuring service, Charles builds excellent client relationships and consistently achieves optimal results.
His experience further includes:
- Successful representation of contractors against state, municipal and private owners on claims for extra compensation, delay damages and labor inefficiency claims
- Prosecution of multi-million dollar actions to establish Lien Law priority and recover on Lien Law trust fund theories
- Commercial and residential first party insurance coverage matters, including property damage disputes, arson trials, and class/group based claims
- Successful prosecution/defense of claims under federal securities laws and RICO
- Representation of developers and national retail chains concerning development and landlord tenant disputes
A recipient of the Robert J. Connelly award for trial excellence, Charles is a regular participant in conferences and seminars relating to commercial litigation and the construction industry. He is an adjunct faculty member of the Buffalo Law School Trial Advocacy Program. He is a member of the General Building Contractors of New York and the Associated General Contractors of America, as well as a member of the New York State, Erie County, and Women’s Bar Associations. Charles also serves as the Director of the Duquense Hunting and Fishing Club.
Charles was selected to the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list.
Practice Areas:
Construction & Demolition; Healthcare; Hospitality; Manufacturing; Professional Services; Real Estate and Environmental; Securities; Transportation; Commercial and Residential Insurance Coverages
New York State Bar Association; Bar Association of Erie County; Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York; General Building Contractors of New York; Associated General Contractors of America; Director of Duquense Hunting and Fishing Club
New York State; U. S. District Court for the Western and Northern Districts of New York; United States Courts of Appeals for the Second and Eleventh Circuits
SUNY Buffalo Law School, J.D.
Colgate University B.A. in Psychology and Economics