Barry N. Covert is a nationally recognized litigator with over thirty years of experience representing defendants in complex litigation matters before federal and state courts.

Members of the legal community often refer cases to Mr. Covert for matters that involve White-Collar Criminal Defense, Violent Crime Defense, Zoning and Land Use Litigation, Professional Misconduct, Constitutional Law, Commercial Litigation, Cyber-Crimes, Title IX, Qui Tam Act, and Scientific Misconduct.

The following are examples of Mr. Covert’s extensive experience:

  • Represented defendants in a wide spectrum of criminal matters including: white-collar charges, securities violations, drug conspiracies, Hobbs Act, homicides, and RICO matters
  • Represented defendants in Federal Court in complex criminal matters, including four federal death penalty eligible case
  • Defended clients in civil and criminal litigation matters in New York State and Federal Courts
  • Federal Court appearances, including the Southern District of New York, Western District of New York, and Eastern District of Virginia
  • State Court appearances, including New York, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia
  • Represented clients against various municipal governments in zoning and land use litigation matters including opposition to land use regulations, land use permitting, land development, land entitlement, rezoning, zoning law, zoning ordinances, and zoning variances.
  • Represented professionals in licensing defense matters, including: attorneys, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants
  • Represented research scientists accused of scientific misconduct; has represented numerous professional clients relating to licensing issues and defended a prominent research scientist against allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct involving several federally funded research projects involving the Office of Research Integrity (ORI); handled scientific misconduct cases at dozens of institutions across the country, including Harvard Medical School,  UCLA, and State University of New York at Buffalo
  • Represented victims of childhood sexual abuse, including the representation of victims sexual abused by priest and matters involving the Catholic Church

He is fluent in German.

Bar & Court Admissions

  • State of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • United States District Court, Western District of New York
  • United States District Court, Northern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Education

  • State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., 1989
  • State University of New York at Fredonia, B.A., cum laude, 1986

Speaking Engagements

  • Instructor for the New York State Office of Court Administration, Judicial Magistrate’s Training Program, lecturing in the areas of criminal practice and procedure, evidence, pretrial motions and hearings, jury and non-jury Trials, DWI trials and post-conviction remedies
  • Adjunct professor, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 2003-06
  • Previously lectured for the New York State Bar Association on criminal practice and procedures, pre-trial motions and hearings, and post-conviction remedies
  • Previously lectured for the Bar Association of Erie County regarding vehicle and traffic law trials
  • Previously lectured for the First Amendment Lawyers Association on numerous subjects

Professional Activities

  • Member, Erie County Community Corrections Advisory Board (appointed by the Erie County Legislature)
  • President, The First Amendment Lawyers Association, a not-for-profit, nation-wide association of hundreds of attorneys devoted to the protection of Free Expression under the First Amendment, who represent businesses and individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities
  • Member, Moot Court Board, 1988-89
  • Member, New York State Bar Association
  • Member, Bar Association of Erie County
  • Member, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys