Methfessel & Werbel
Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 732-248-4200
- Fax: 732-248-2355
- E-Mail: mailbox@methwerb.com
- Website: www.methwerblaw.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3012, Edison, NJ 08818-3012
Established: 1972
- Practice Areas
- About Us
- Additional Locations
- Client Information
- Personnel
- Additional Links
- Insurance Law Podcasts
Practice Areas
- Automobile Liability
- Bad Faith
- Carrier Defense
- Casualty Defense
- Civil Trial Practice
- Comprehensive General Liability
- Construction Litigation
- Coverage Issues
- Defense Litigation
- Employment Practices Liability
- Environmental Coverage
- Environmental Liability
- Examinations Under Oath
- Excess and Umbrella
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Defense
- Medical Liability
- Premises Liability
- Primary and Excess Insurance
- Product Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Property Liability
- Public Entities
- Toxic Torts
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
- General Subrogation
- Large Loss Subrogation Program
About Us
The law firm of Methfessel & Werbel was established in 1972 for the purpose of providing service to the insurance and managed risk industry. We specialize solely in the defense of liability claims, the investigation and defense of first party insurance claims and the prosecution of subrogation claims on behalf of insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and self-insured entities. Our staff of 18 partners, 16 counsel, 16 associates and over 45 support personnel is committed to providing the highest level of service possible. Our main offices are located in Edison, New Jersey, providing convenient access to courts throughout the state.
Our firm brings to trial a higher percentage of cases than other law firms in New Jersey. Our claim philosophy, coupled with the threat of trial, is extremely useful in securing lower settlements, while also delivering value through the legal process.
We measure every detail of the claim process, allowing us to manage the process and control costs in a better and more predictable manner than any of our competitors. Our singular focus on insurance and claims law allows us to tune our workflow to deliver the highest value in the industry, while offering the services of attorneys who are acknowledged experts in their respective fields.
Both Mr. Methfessel and Mr. Werbel have been guest speakers at conferences and conventions where they have addressed new laws or changes to existing laws affecting the insurance industry, including the New Jersey Defense Association and New Jersey Special Investigators Association.
Additional Locations
- New York, New York
- 112 West 34th Street, 17th Floor, Room 17089
- New York, New York 10120-0101
- Telephone: 212-947-1999
- Fax: 212-947-3332
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- One Liberty Place
- 1650 Market Street, 36th Floor
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
- Telephone: 215-665-5622
- Fax: 215-665-5623
- Boston, Massachusetts
- 101 Federal Street, Suite 1900
- Boston, Massachusetts 02110
- Telephone: 617-204-5630
- Fax: 617-977-9398
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- Andover Group
- ARI Mutual Insurance Company
- Chartis Insurance
- Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
- Clarendon National Insurance Company
- The Cumberland Mutual Fire Insurance Company
- Everest National Insurance Company
- Farmers of Salem
- Franklin Mutual Insurance Company
- Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.
- Glatfelter Claims Management, Inc.
- Great American Insurance Company
- Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
- Mercer Insurance Company
- Mercury Insurance Company
- Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund
- New Jersey School Boards Association
- Norfolk and Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company
- Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation
- Preferred Mutual Insurance Company
- The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company
- Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company
- Specialty Risk Services, Inc. (SRS)
- Tower Group Companies
- Travelers Insurance Companies
Personnel Information
Partners
Joel N. Werbel
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: werbel@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 59
Practice Areas
- Insurance Defense
- Subrogation
- Insurance Coverage
- Fraud
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1965
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1971
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- Essex County Bar Association
- New Jersey Defense Association
Education:
- Dartmouth College, B.A., 1963
- Rutgers University, LL.B., 1966
John Methfessel, Jr.
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: methfessel@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 38
Practice Areas
- Insurance Law
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1986
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
Memberships:
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- New Jersey Defense Association
- Defense Research Institute
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- University of Miami, B.B.A., 1983
- Duke University, J.D., 1986
Matthew A. Werbel
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: mwerbel@methwerbel.com
Years of Experience: 26
Practice Areas
- Fraud
- Inland Marine
- Subrogation
- Environmental Litigation
- First and Third-Party Claims
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1998
Education:
- Franklin & Marshall College, B.A., 1994
- Tulane University, J.D., 1998
Lori-Brown Sternback
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: brown@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 31
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury Defense
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Lead Paint
- Appellate Practice
- Personal and Commercial Auto
- Mold
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1993
- New York, 1994
Memberships:
- New Jersey Defense Association
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- Case Western Reserve University, B.A. (cum laude), 1990
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 1993
William S. Bloom
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: bloom@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 30
Practice Areas
- Automobile
- Construction Liability
- Public Entities
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1994
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, B.S. (magna cum laude), 1991
- Duke Law School, J.D., 1994
Fredric P. Gallin
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: gallin@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 42
Practice Areas
- Environmental Coverage
- Subrogation
- Automobile
- Property Damage
- Bad Faith
Admitted
- Massachusetts, 1982
- New York, 1983
- New Jersey, 1985
- California, 1989
- Pennsylvania, 2007
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second and Third Circuits
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1979
- Boston University, J.D., 1982
- Pace University, LL.M., 1995
Eric L. Harrison
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: harrison@methweb.com
Years of Experience: 31
Practice Areas
- Civil Rights
- Employment Law
- Education Law
- Personal Injury
- General Liability
- Insurance Coverage
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1993
- New York
Additional Biographical Details:
New Jersey Institute of Continuing Education
Memberships:
- New Jersey Defense Association
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- Princeton University, B.A., 1990
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. (cum laude), 1993
I. Blakely Johnstone, III
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: johnstone#methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 49
Practice Areas
- Subrogation
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1975
- New York, 1981
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- Lehigh University, B.A., 1972
- Duke Law School, J.D., 1975
Gina M. Stanziale
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: stanziale@methwer.com
Years of Experience: 33
Practice Areas
- Automobile
- Declaratory Judgments
- Fraud
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Mediation
- Appellate Practice
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1991
Education:
- Fairleigh Dickinson University, B.A., 1988
- Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 1991
Paul J. Endler, Jr.
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: endler@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 40
Practice Areas
- Premises Liability
- Automobile
- Professional Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Product Liability
- Public Entities
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1984
Memberships:
- Union County and Middlesex County Bar Associations
Education:
- Montclair State College, B.A., 1981
- Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 1984
James P. Cullen
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: cullen@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 31
Practice Areas
- Subrogation
Admitted
- Massachusetts, 2009
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
Memberships:
- National Association of Subrogation Professionals
Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court
Education:
- Villanova University, B.S., 1988
- University of Dayton School of Law, J.D., 1993
Thomas O. Mulvihill
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: mulvihill@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 36
Practice Areas
- Insurance Law
- Insurance Coverage
- Fraud
Admitted
- New Jersey, 1988
Education:
- Seton Hall University, B.S., 1985
- Seton Hall University, J.D., 1988
Sarah K. Delahant
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: delahant@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 19
Practice Areas
- Negligence
- Liability Defense
Admitted
- New Jersey, 2005
- New York, 2006
Education:
- Rutgers University, B.S. (magna cum laude), 2002
- New York School of Law, J.D., 2005
James Foxen
Edison, NJ
- E-Mail: foxen@methwerb.com
Years of Experience: 12
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Automobile
- Trucking Liability
- Product Liability
- Construction Accidents
- Subrogation
- Insurance Coverage
Admitted
- New Jersey, 2012
- Pennsylvania
Education:
- La Salle University, B.A. (cum laude), 2008
- Rutgers University School of Law-Camden, J.D., 2011
- Athina Cornell
- Andrew Gibbs
- Jeffrey Merlino
- Jennifer Osborne
Of Counsel
- Stephen R. Katzman
- John Methfessel, Sr.
- Edward L. Thornton
- Marc L. Dembling
Counsel
- Christina M. Michelson
- Adam M. Carman
- Shaji M. Eapen
- Angela M. Gurrera
- Gerald Kaplan
- Jared P. Kingsley
- John R. Knodel
- Leslie A. Koch
- Charles T. McCook Jr.
- Richard Nelke
- Steven K. Parness
- Raina Pitts
- Amanda Sawyer
- Jared S. Schure
- Steven A. Unterburger
- Joseph Falk
Associates
- Jillian T. Clark
- Edward D. Dembling
- Michael Eatroff
- Frank J. Keenan
- Scott Ketterer
- Allison M. Koenke
- Anthony J. Mancuso
- Kajal J. Patel
- Adam M. Schwarz
- Sarah E. Shepp
- Karishma Dhruve
- John Martin
- Vittoria Sculco
- Alycia Swift
- Tiffany Tagarelli
Additional Links
Insurance Law Podcasts
Service Areas
M & W serves our clients with offices in Edison, NJ, New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvani and Boston, Massachusetts. Our offices have expanded rapidly as we meet the need for high value legal services in the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and New England markets
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