Kevin Gaughan Email & Phone Number

Buffalo, New York

General practice; represent small and mid-sized companies in corporate and finance matters; private and public offerings; securities arbitration matters; stock and asset purchase agreements; commercial real estate transactions; general contract and obligations law; housing court and landlord-tenant proceedings; advocacy services on behalf of corporate clients before state and federal administrative, legislative, and regulatory bodies.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

In 1997, Kevin conceived of and organized the Chautauqua Conference on Local Governance. Under the auspices of The Ford Foundation, the conference gathered more than 2,500 participants to the Chautauqua Institution to hear America’s leading local governance scholars and practitioners. Attracting national attention, Kevin was credited with beginning a region-wide discussion on how Buffalo Niagara can reduce fragmented government, thwart sprawl, and restore shared community across social, racial, and geographic boundaries.In 1998, Kevin founded the “Region-Wide Conversation,” a program of inter-church visits and discussions to foster understanding among urban and suburban residents. More than 100 places of worship participated, and two American cities adopted the program.Kevin again marshaled broad community support for his 2000 “Canal Conversation,” a two-day public forum on the Erie Canal, waterfront development, and cultural tourism. The gathering gave voice to some 3,000 citizens, whose insistence that the Canal’s western terminus be restored insured that Buffalo’s history would serve as the centerpiece of waterfront development.In 2003, Kevin founded “Buffalo Conversation,” a program by which citizens directly participated in local policy decisions. By emphasizing citizen concerns rather than politicians’ interest, the “Conversation’ breathed new life into the American tradition of town hall meetings, attracting 1,700 citizens, 64 elected official, and 48 community leaders. It was broadcast live by local ABC affiliate, WKBW-TV, and featured the first ever joint meeting of the Erie County legislature and the Buffalo Common Council.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

In 2006, Kevin published a comprehensive study on the size and cost of local government in Western New York (www.TheCost.org). Backed by this study, for the past seven years Kevin has led a movement (www.LetPeopleDecide.org) to let people decide the size and cost of county, town, village, and state government, as well as school districts.Utilizing the petition process, since 2009 Kevin has placed more propositions before voters than anyone in the history of New York State. To date, his efforts have resulted in voters adopting measures to reform government in 3 counties, 6 towns, and 1 village, saving taxpayers $5.2 million dollars per year. In 2012, The Yale Law Journal published an article surveying local government reform in America, with Kevin’s work as the principal narrative. In conjunction with publication of the article, Kevin was invited to speak at the Yale Law School in March, 2012.

Amherst, New York

Adjunct Instructor, Department of History and Government; Courses in local governance, coalition-building, and private citizens' role in devising public policy.

Buffalo, New York

Served as legislature liaison for the financing, design, and construction of the Erie County Family Court and courts facilities improvement project; negotiated and drafted Project Agreement among the State of New York, County of Erie, and City of Buffalo, which governed all aspects of the undertaking; prepared “Courts Program,” which set forth the functions, practices, and spatial requirements of the New York State Supreme, Family, and Claims courts, along with Erie County courts; interviewed courts facilities employees in the course of devising the Courts Program; collaborated with architects and planners in design and program implementation.

Doctor Of Law (J.D.)

Graduate Studies In International Relations And Public Finance

A.B. American History, American History