Barry N. Covert

Barry N. Covert focuses his practice primarily in the following areas:

• New York State and federal criminal trials and appeals
• Constitutional law, including First Amendment, Second Amendment, and civil rights actions
• Qui Tam Act, also known as the False Claims Act
• Defending against allegations of scientific misconduct, scientific fraud, research misconduct, research fraud, plagiarism, and fabrication of evidence
• Defense of professional licensing, including for attorneys, doctors, and nurses
• Title IX issues

Mr. Covert has represented numerous professional clients relating to licensing issues and defended a prominent research scientist against allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct involving several federally funded research projects involving the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). Mr. Covert is currently handling scientific misconduct cases at numerous prominent universities throughout North America.

He is fluent in German.

Speaking Engagements

• Instructor for the New York State Office of Court Administration, Judicial Magistrate’s Training Program, lecturing in the areas of criminal practice and procedure, evidence, pretrial motions and hearings, jury and non-jury Trials, DWI trials and post-conviction remedies
• Adjunct professor, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 2003-06
• Previously lectured for the New York State Bar Association on criminal practice and procedures, pre-trial motions and hearings, and post-conviction remedies
• Previously lectured for the Bar Association of Erie County regarding vehicle and traffic law trials
• Previously lectured for the First Amendment Lawyers Association on numerous subjects

Professional Activities

• Member of Erie County Community Corrections Advisory Board (appointed by the Erie County Legislature)
• Member of the Moot Court Board, 1988-89
• Member of the New York State Bar Association
• Member of the Bar Association of Erie County, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the First Amendment Lawyers Association

Practice Areas

• Criminal Defense Trials and Appeals
• Scientific Research and Misconduct
• Criminal Appeals
• Federal Charges
• State Charges
• Driving While Intoxicated
• Traffic Violations
• White-Collar Crime
• Professional Licensing Defense

Scientific Misconduct Q&A

Barry Covert was selected to be the focus of Super Lawyers Q&A feature for their 2015 Upstate New York issue. Super Lawyers’ feature focuses on Mr. Covert’s Scientific Misconduct practice. Click below to read Mr. Covert’s background in scientific misconduct matters as well as his approach to handling some of the unique challenges such cases poses.

Title IX

Barry Covert has vast Title IX experience and is often called on by news outlets for legal analysis of his and other Title IX cases. Below are a few examples of Mr. Covert’s Title IX experience in the media:

• Title IX provides essential protections, Buffalo Law Journal guest column
• Independent investigation into Niagara University Title IX finds no violations, WGRZ interview about a Title IX investigation Mr. Covert led
• Niagara dean of students cleared of rape cover-up accusation but will leave post, Buffalo News interview about Niagara University Title IX investigation