Emily L. Downing

Emily Downing earned her undergraduate and law degree from the University at Buffalo. Both her BA and JD were awarded cum laude. Her undergraduate degree in Communications prepared her well for both law school and lawyering. While in Law School, she was a member of the Buffalo Law Review and served as the publication’s book review editor. She interviewed with Lewis & Lewis during the Spring of her final year of law school, accepted our offer of employment and has been with us ever since. Although her studies earned her certificates in both taxation and environmental law, Emily chose Lewis & Lewis based on her desire to work directly with clients. She values the opportunity to help real people, with serious problems.

During her two decades with Lewis & Lewis, Emily has worked in all aspects of our practice, including trials of serious personal injury cases. Her focus, and favorite job, is counseling injured workers and prosecuting their Workers’ Compensation claims. Emily is passionate about helping the “little guy” battle the big insurance company. As a working mother, she understands the difficulties of work-life balance, and the devasting effects a work injury or job loss can have on a family.

Beyond her legal career and family, one of Emily’s proudest accomplishments is the founding of a club aimed at bonding friendship through charitable work. More than 15 years ago, Emily invited a group of her closest friends to gather for monthly dinners, and each month one of them would pick a charity or group in need of help. Over the years, “The Giving Chix” have donated thousands of dollars, pounds of food, bundles of clothing, books for children and a variety of other items to those in need. Emily is life-long resident of the Buffalo area and finds it essential to give back to the community however she can.

Emily is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Injured Workers’ Bar Association and the Erie County Bar Association, in which she serves as an active member of the Workers’ Compensation Committee.

Education:
Bachelor of Arts: Communications, SUNY at Buffalo, 1993
Juris Doctor: SUNY at Buffalo, 1996