William A. Long Jr.
William A. Long Jr.
Principal Attorney
E: wlong@thelongfirm.com
O: 716 362 1139, x 305
M: 716 228 8005
William A. Long, Jr. is a highly experienced and respected attorney with three decades of trial experience and a specialization in litigating high exposure cases. As the managing attorney of The Long Firm, he has successfully defended hundreds of individuals, businesses, and municipalities against lawsuits claiming injury in a wide range of areas, including trucking, busing, products liability, personal injury, defense, and municipal and premise liability matters.
One of the significant areas of focus in Bill’s practice over the past 30 years has been defending school bus and coach operators, self-insured trucking companies, and municipalities involved in public transportation of school students. His expertise in this field is unparalleled in the western and central New York State areas. This extensive experience has earned him recognition and accolades, such as being named as the 2022 Super Lawyers of Upstate New York and being listed as a 2023 Distinguished Attorney in the MARTINDALE-HUBBELL® PEER REVIEW RATINGS. He has also been invited to join the National Trial Lawyers – Top 100, recognizing him as one of the top trial attorneys in his field in New York.
Bill’s legal career began at one of Buffalo’s oldest law firms, where he quickly made a name for himself and was named a partner in 1996. In 2005, he joined the Litigation Department as a partner in a midsize law firm, further expanding his expertise and reputation in civil trial defense. In 2008, he founded The Long Firm with the goal of establishing a boutique trial law firm that offers clients over three decades of litigation and trial experience. Bill’s approach to handling legal matters is aggressive yet focused on achieving resolution rather than lengthy litigation. His reputation for practicality, reason, common sense, and candor has led to frequent requests from referring attorneys across the region to mediate or arbitrate cases involving car and truck accidents, premise liability matters, and municipal liability settings.
Beyond his legal practice, Bill is actively involved in both community and professional organizations. He has been a prominent member of the American Bar Association: The Torts, Insurance and Compensations Section of the New York State Bar Association; the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, The Erie County Bar Association; Member and Past President of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity’s Alden Chapter; Member and President of Claims and Litigation Management Alliance 2007-2023, Erie I BOCES Legal Academy, The Buffalo Claims Association, The Western New York Insurance Association, The New York State Motor Truck Association and The New York State School Bus Contractors Association.. As a lifelong resident of Western New York, Bill remains engaged in political and community activities. In 1994, he ran as a candidate for the US House of Representatives for the 27th district of New York. Additionally, Bill has a strong passion for rowing, having been a former member and captain of the Canisius College rowing team. He also coached the college’s varsity rowing program for several years at the Storage West Side Rowing Club.
Bill’s commitment to giving back to the community extends to his involvement in various fundraising efforts for organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Ride for Roswell, Kids Escaping Drugs, and Trek for Our Troops.
Consistent with his Buffalo roots, Bill earned his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law and holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Political Science from Canisius College.
Throughout his career, Bill has constantly demonstrated his dedication to his clients, his profession, and his community. His vast experience, exceptional skills, and unwavering commitment to justice make him a highly sought-after attorney in the region.