Profile

At a Glance

Betsy D. Brugg is a Partner in the firm’s Real Estate and Finance Department. She represents clients in several practice areas, including real estate development and transactions, business, and estate planning. She was instrumental in the launch of the Affordable Housing and Community Development Practice Group. Ms. Brugg represents real estate developers, property owners, tenants/end users, and institutions on all matters related to real property development and ownership. Ms. Brugg represents clients in the zoning and governmental approval processes applicable to development, land use and zoning throughout upstate and western New York, including litigation. She has represented a broad spectrum of clients in the governmental approval processes for projects, including affordable, supportive, market rate, student, and senior housing, mixed-use development, office parks, retail, shopping centers, hotels, industrial uses, institutional and non-profit uses, health care, telecommunications, recreational, and other types of real estate developments and uses. Ms. Brugg has extensive experience advising clients in matters related to real estate development, zoning and land use law, municipal law, environmental law, including SEQRA, easements, economic development, PILOT agreements and real property tax law. Ms. Brugg represents clients in complex real estate transactions, leasing, financing, construction, real property tax assessment, and other real property matters.

She provides special counsel services to municipalities on matters such as zoning, planning, PILOT agreements, and SEQRA.

Ms. Brugg also serves clients in the area of estate planning, and more particularly in the areas of special needs planning and disability related issues.

Prior to joining Woods Oviatt, Ms. Brugg was a Principal with Fix Spindelman Brovitz & Goldman PC.

Ms. Brugg was the recipient of the Villa of Hope 2019 Richard C. Palermo Quality Award for her outstanding efforts in allowing the organization to enhance its social service mission.

Ms. Brugg is fluent in Spanish.

Honors

• Appears in the current edition of the "Best Lawyers in America" and was a 2026 "Lawyer of the Year", Zoning and Land Use Law
• 2024 RBJ Women of Excellence Award
• 2019 Villa of Hope - Richard C. Palermo Quality Award

Practice Areas

Industry Expertise

Education

University of Rochester, B.A.

Georgetown University, J.D.

Bar Admissions

States of New York and Connecticut

U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

Professional Affiliations

• Member of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys.
• Member of the Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations.
• Presenter in the areas of zoning and land use, affordable housing, special needs planning, disability housing, real estate law, and business law, to professional and community groups including Monroe County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, and the Monroe County Department of Planning & Development, as well as community groups such as Heritage Christian Services.

Community Involvement