Amanda Burns

Partner
Hodgson Russ LLP

Years in current role: 2

What skills do you think are most crucial for new attorneys entering the field today?

Communication and collaboration is key. With remote work being a lasting vestige of the pandemic, it certainly altered how we interact with colleagues and clients. In particular, many communications have been reduced to emails. However, I’ve found that the most productive exchanges often occur during in-person and virtual meetings as it is easier to collaborate in those settings. Given how key collaboration is when developing an efficient legal strategy, I recommend that new attorneys prioritize these interactions when training and shadowing with colleagues.

How does the Rochester community influence your work or professional philosophy?

Rochester is a close-knit community, which fosters a more collegial atmosphere with respect to the practice of law. This environment is the main reason that I was attracted to practicing in Rochester in the first place and remains one of reasons that I’ve enjoyed doing so over the years. You often argue motions with opposing counsel in court and then see them at the grocery store later that day. As a result, there is less gamesmanship simply for the sake of it and we’re more focused on moving cases to a resolution, which benefits everyone involved in the long run.

What’s your ideal way to spend a weekend in the Finger Lakes or Western New York?

We’re fortunate to live so close to the Finger Lakes. My ideal weekend would be to spend it with family down on the lake. Our day would be filled with water sports and time outside. At night, we would have a huge family dinner followed by a “friendly” game of dominoes.

This profile is part of our Litigation Power List for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at nydailyrecord.com.