Buffalo & Associates LLC represents small to middle-market companies, private equity, angel investors and funds in all areas of corporate transactional work. Our method is collaborative, keeping the client informed of all key developments as the deal progresses. Rather than solely spotting issues, our emphasis is to understand the client’s perspective and evaluate the costs and benefits that a particular negotiation posture may have on the transaction. To insure the highest probability of the transaction closing, we seek actions that add positively to the momentum of the deal. See Areas of Practice for more information.

Vaughn J. Buffalo is the founding member of the Firm. Through Mr. Buffalo's contacts at various New York law firms and practitioners, the Firm can access legal expertise in various fields and specialties to meet the needs of any particular transaction, including tax structuring and advice, employee relations, real estate, bankruptcy, intellectual property and litigation. The Firm is located within the litigation law firm of Schlam, Stone & Dolan LLP and has all of its resources as well as its partners available for support. This structure allows Buffalo & Associates to provide a value alternative to clients seeking sophisticated legal services, but where the principals desire the transaction done in a cost-efficient manner, and also done right.

Buffalo & Associates possesses the ability to complete sophisticated transactions, the foresight and business knowledge to set costs at an attractive price and the focus to expend the one-on-one time needed to provide top-quality service.

TARGETED NICHE-TRANSACTIONS
Given our size and expertise, the following scenarios describe the transition characteristics providing the best fit with our Firm and where our Firm would add the most value.

Small Transaction/Complicated Structure
Irrespective of size, transactions are often complicated. As a result, typical middle-market transactions (as well as not-for-profit matters) face the additional challenge of having fewer resources, and usually less time, to close an inherently complicated endeavor. Compounding the problem, clients with these types of transactions may hire a larger firm only to realize that their transaction is in competition with other larger or more profitable transactions for attorney attention. Buffalo & Associates will commit to you, roll up our sleeves and focus all of our resources to consummate your transaction efficiently and in the most cost-effective manner. We will make a commitment to your transaction only if we have the ability to provide the highest level of service.
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Intense Client Involvement
Law firms and their attorneys typically have a set way of doing things and do not have time to “walk a client through” the details of a transaction, particularly if brainstorming or a discussion about strategy is required. Our Firm focuses on the client that desires a great deal of exposure to the transaction—we will work with you to decide a course of action, determine parameters of expense, as well as draft and negotiate the papers. We make sure the client understands the legal and business ramifications of any action and make sure that the client is well-informed to make the ultimate decisions effecting the business.
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David vs. Goliath
The Firm is well-suited to meet the needs of a small company engaged in a business transaction with a much larger one. In these “David vs. Goliath” scenarios, it is important to understand the tactics used by larger companies and their counsel, and to employ the available and effective counter measures. Our training includes nearly ten years at some of the world’s largest and most prestigious law firms, enabling us to provide the best legal advice and insight to the smaller business in this circumstance. In addition, the Firm’s fee structure allows our lawyers to provide the necessary hours and attention to conclude a transaction, thereby countering a larger firm’s tendency to overwhelm the other side.
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GENERAL COUNSEL ADVICE AND DUE DILIGENCE SERVICES
Given our experience and cost structure, the following describes the type of person or company that would benefit most from our services as general counsel.

New Entrepreneurs
Business people trained at larger banks or boutiques, accustomed to excellent service but who cannot pay large firm rates, are our specialty.  They know the value of top-quality legal advice and may be embarking upon a new transaction or venture that needs a lot of attention and hands-on service to get it done.  The entrepreneur faces a dilemma—either hire a firm with a lot of horsepower and receive a large bill or hire a small firm at the expense of service.  Buffalo & Associates solves this problem by providing quality legal service with an extraordinary level of attention at a price that fits with the size of the deal. 
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Start-up/High Growth Companies
The Firm takes pride in providing sophisticated advice to companies that need common sense legal advice on a wide range of topics—advice that is focused on the immediate problem, timely and not over-lawyered.  Our Firm understands that only a portion of the consideration that goes into a decision is legal, other factors include business judgments assessing risk, reward, timing considerations and market perception.  Having been general counsel to an Internet start-up, Mr. Buffalo is familiar with the business concerns facing companies and how legal advice is one piece of an array of information included in any decision.
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Large Companies/Due Diligence Services
Large companies engaging in transactions requiring significant due diligence or other “junior” work for their transactions often receive eye-popping bills from larger firms for time spent by young associates.  Essentially, the company is financing the training of these associates on their deals.  Buffalo & Associates can staff a corporate due diligence project with highly-trained and experienced lawyers (10+ years) to conduct the work at a better price and will deliver a better product in a timely fashion.
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