Richard T. Bell, Jr., a partner of Adams Leclair LLP, has been named Best Lawyers® 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Municipal for the Rochester, N.Y. region. This prestigious honor is awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region, based on peer feedback, making it a singular and distinguished recognition. 

Bell is a seasoned civil litigator in both state and federal courts, with a career that spans commercial litigation, construction law, real property taxation, and municipal law. His practice includes representing towns, villages, counties, school districts, and public authorities in matters ranging from tax certiorari, Article 78 actions, regulatory compliance, condemnation, procurement, and open meetings law.  Through his extensive experience in construction law, Mr. Bell also counsels municipalities and public authorities on all aspects related to public contracting and procurement, including drafting and review of construction contracts and compliance with bidding, lien and bond requirements.

“It’s a privilege to be recognized by my peers for work I find both meaningful and intellectually rewarding,” said Bell. “This honor also reflects the strength of our entire team and the trust of our municipal clients.” 

“Rich brings a depth of experience and a steady hand to even the most complex municipal and commercial matters, and we are proud to have him leading our municipal team,” said partner Tony Adams. “Rich also happens to be the best golfer we have at the firm so we can always count on him in a scramble tournament.” 

Bell presents on various legal topics at regional conferences and professional seminars and is also  a member of the New York State Assessors Association (NYSAA) and the New York Association of Towns (NYAOT).

For more on the methodology used to determine “Lawyer of the Year,” visit: https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology 

Richard Bell