Phillips Lytle

ALERT: How Employers Can Prepare for New York State’s Bill Governing Personnel Records

As of May 19, 2026, both houses of the New York State Legislature passed Senate Bill S3460. If signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, the bill will amend the New York Labor Law to require employers to provide employees with access to personnel records upon request and to notify employees when negative information is placed in their personnel files, among other obligations.

Read more about the key changes to existing employer obligations concerning personnel records in our latest Labor and Employment alert by James O'Connor and Colleen McMullen.

How Employers Prepare for NYS’s Bill for Personnel Records A new bill in New York State may change how employers manage personnel records.

David Flynn was quoted in the Buffalo Business First article by Jacob Tierney, "Buffalo Unlocked: Big Builds, Bigger Limits," which discussed the data center projects in Western New York and the impact they can have on the region.

Read the article:

Data centers among biggest projects WNY has ever seen. Are they worth it? - Buffalo Business First Combined, Terawulf's data center in Somerset and Stream's STAMP data center would consume electricity equal to almost half the maximum output of Niagara Falls.

ALERT: New USCIS Policy Memorandum Characterizes Adjustment of Status as an “Extraordinary Relief” Authorized as a Matter of Administrative Grace

On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Policy Memorandum characterizing adjustment of status as a form of “extraordinary relief”, which can only be authorized as a matter of administrative grace. The memo instructs officers to “consider and weigh all the relevant evidence in the record, taking into account the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the alien is suitable for permanent residence and if approval of the alien’s adjustment of status application is in the best interest of the United States.”

Read more about the memo in our latest Immigration alert by Danielle Rizzo.

New USCIS Policy Memorandum Characterizes Adjustment of Status as an “Extraordinary Relief” Authorized as a Matter of Administrative Grace On May 21, 2026, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Policy Memorandum characterizing adjustment of status as a form of

New York State businesses may be subject to a growing number of comprehensive state privacy laws, many of which have recently taken effect. There are key distinctions and common obligations among these laws, in addition to recent enforcement actions and strategies for compliance that businesses should apply to their operations.

Read more about the various state privacy laws in our recent Buffalo Business First article by Anna Mercado Clark and Lavanya Sathyamurthy.

State Privacy Laws: Considerations for New York Businesses New York State businesses may be subject to a growing number of comprehensive state privacy laws, many of which have recently taken effect. There are key

On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it is rescinding a regulation issued during former President Joe Biden’s administration, restoring earlier and significantly lower salary thresholds for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). A technical amendment to the “Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees” regulation removes invalidated language and restores the 2019 standards. The amendment went into effect on May 15, 2026.

Read more about the amendment in our latest Labor and Employment alert by James R. O'Connor and Natalie Turney.

Overtime Exemptions Under Fair Labor Standards Act Rolled Back to 2019 Standards | Phillips Lytle LLP On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced that it is rescinding a regulation issued during former President Joe Biden’s administration,

PRESS RELEASE: Phillips Lytle Names Chad W. Flansburg Rochester Office Leader, Building on Strategic Office Expansion

Phillips Lytle LLP has named Chad W. Flansburg, a Partner with the firm, as its Rochester Office Leader, succeeding Jillian M. Dunbar after she skillfully guided the firm’s recent relocation to Innovation Square. The transition marks the next phase of the firm’s continued investment in regional growth, talent development and exceptional client service in the Rochester market.

Read more about the transition:

Phillips Lytle Names Chad Flansburg Rochester Office Leader Rochester, N.Y. —Phillips Lytle LLP has named Chad W. Flansburg, a Partner with the firm, as its Rochester Office Leader, succeeding Jillian M. Dunbar after

Earlier this month, our Rochester office was proud to be the host site for the Blood Cancer United Big Climb - Rochester after party. The Big Climb challenges participants to climb to the top of Innovation Square while raising critical funds for Blood Cancer United’s mission to end blood cancers.

Thank you to all who made this event a big success!

We are excited to formally announce the launch of the Phillips Lytle Real Estate Institute Webinar Series, a new initiative designed to equip real estate industry leaders with the insights and know-how to navigate a quickly evolving and often uncertain environment for development.

Built for real estate developers, energy and environmental companies, financial institutions, in-house counsel, investors, economic development pros and more, the Phillips Lytle Real Estate Institute Webinar Series will focus on emerging legal and regulatory issues affecting construction planning, transactions, environmental compliance and energy infrastructure. Each session will be led by Phillips Lytle’s recognized legal thought leaders offering actionable guidance, real-life case studies and forward-looking perspectives.

Read more about the Phillips Lytle Real Estate Institute Webinar Series and a schedule of events in our latest press release:

Phillips Lytle Launches Real Estate Institute Webinar Series Buffalo, N.Y. – Phillips Lytle LLP has launched a new initiative designed to equip real estate industry leaders with the insights and know-how to navigate a

Congratulations to Anna Mercado Clark for being named to City and State NY's 2026 Asian Trailblazers list!

City & State’s annual Asian Trailblazers highlights many of the high-ranking Asian Americans who are on the rise in New York. The list features trusted advisers to politicians and includes behind-the-scenes political consultants and policy strategists shaping the direction of New York, as well as advocates and activists who are improving daily life in Asian American communities – and for all New Yorkers. Anna been named to the list for the second consecutive year.

https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2026/05/2026-asian-trailblazers/413160/ -mercado-clark

We were thrilled to be able to celebrate Tyler Skretny on his Buffalo Business First 30 Under 30 recognition at last week's luncheon!