Jeffrey D. Walker

Jeffrey joined Coughlin & Gerhart as Special Counsel in 2026 and is based out of the firm’s Ithaca office. He brings nearly twenty-five years of experience in municipal law, litigation, and general civil practice, representing individuals, businesses, and municipalities in a wide range of legal matters.

Jeffrey began his legal career with the City of New York as an Assistant Corporate Counsel, where he worked in civil tort defense for city agencies and departments. After relocating to Tompkins County in 2005, he practiced law in the Finger Lakes region where he ultimately served as a Managing Partner at a local law firm before later serving as Assistant County Attorney for Chemung County. In that role, he served as the designated “Sheriff’s Attorney” and Secretary to the Chemung County/City of Elmira Regional Civil Service Commission.

His practice at Coughlin & Gerhart focuses on litigation and public law, including commercial and business disputes, divorce and family law matters, landlord-tenant disputes, criminal defense, construction litigation, and advising governmental entities and public agencies on policy and risk assessment issues. Jeffrey has extensive courtroom experience in both bench and jury trials and has successfully handled complex civil and criminal matters throughout his career.

Jeffrey earned his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from North Carolina State University. He is admitted to practice in New York, 2004 and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.