Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 518-465-0400
- Fax: 518-465-0015
- Website: www.1stlaw.com
Established: 1994
Practice Areas
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appellate Practice
- Automobile
- Bankruptcy
- Employer Liability
- Environmental Law
- Extra-Contractual Litigation
- General Liability
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Defense
- Mass Tort
- Medical Malpractice
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Toxic Torts
About Us
At O'Connor First, we represent insurance companies, self-insured businesses and medical professionals in a wide range of insurance defense and litigation matters. We are a full-service firm, handling litigation, administrative issues, serving as panel counsel, and acting as local counsel and in other capacities, such as mediators.
Firm Highlights
Serving clients throughout New York and Vermont, O’Connor First has built a reputation for providing trusted legal counsel and skilled trial advocacy - which we believe are the key to achieving results. We understand the financial pressures our clients are facing and always work to provide cost-effective legal solutions.
How We Offer Value
O’Connor First knows the insurance industry, the local jurisdictions and the pressures of today’s financial market. This working knowledge allows us to anticipate our clients’ needs and address them before they become costly legal problems.
Additional Locations
- Burlington, Vermont
- 180 Battery Street, Suite 240
- Burlington, Vermont 05401
- Telephone: 518-465-0400
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- Acadia Insurance Company
- Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company
- CHART RRG
- CNA Insurance Companies
- Farm Family Insurance Companies
- Fortress Insurance Company
- Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.
- Great American Custom Insurance Services
- The Main Street America Group
- The Medical Protective Company
- Medmarc Insurance Group
- North American Specialty Insurance Company
- Physicians Reciprocal Insurers
- Preferred Physicians Medical Risk Retention Group, Inc.
- PRMS, Inc. - Professional Risk Management Services, Inc.
- Scottsdale Insurance Company
- Selective Insurance Company of America
- Travelers Insurance Companies
Non-Insurance Clients
- Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
- The University of Vermont Medical Center
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Personnel Information
Partners
Terence P. O'Connor
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: toconnor@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 40
Practice Areas
- Professional Liability
- Product Liability
- General Liability
- Commercial Litigation
Admitted
- New York, 1984
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1985
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
- American, New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
- Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
- Trucking Industry Defense Association
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Education:
- University of Copenhagen
- St. Lawrence University, B.S. (magna cum laude), 1980
- University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1983
Honors:
Phi Beta Kappa, Omnicron Delta Kappa
Dennis A. First
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: first@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 45
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Medical Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Environmental Law
- Toxic Torts
Admitted
- New York, 1979
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
- American Arbitration Association (Panel of Arbitrators)
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Vassar College
- The Ohio State University, B.A. (with distinction), 1975
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 1978
Clerkship:
Law Clerk to Albany County Court (1978-1979)
Dianne C. Bresee
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: bresee@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 44
Practice Areas
- Insurance Coverage
- Environmental Law
- Mass Tort
- Commercial Law
- Toxic Torts
Admitted
- New York, 1980
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Skidmore College, B.A., 1976
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 1979
Honors:
Phi Beta Kappa
Michele M. Monserrate
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: monserrate@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 34
Practice Areas
- Medical Liability
- Professional Liability
- Product Liability
- Commercial Litigation
Admitted
- New York, 1990
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell; The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Law
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
- Capital District Women's Bar Association
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Education:
- Georgetown University, B.A. (cum laude), 1986
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D. (cum laude), 1989
Clerkship:
Law Clerk to Honorable Howard A. Levine, Associate Justice, New York State Supreme Court (1990-1992)
Michael P. Cavanagh
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: cavanagh@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 29
Practice Areas
- Professional Liability
- Product Liability
- Commercial Liability
Admitted
- New York, 1995
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
- U.S. District Court, District of Vermont
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- State University of New York at Albany, B.A. (cum laude), 1986
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D. (cum laude), 1994
Law Review:
Albany Law Review
P. Baird Joslin
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: joslin@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 25
Practice Areas
- Professional Liability
- Environmental Law
- Product Liability
- Insurance Coverage
Admitted
- New York, 1998
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
Education:
- University of Vermont, B.A., 1993
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D. (cum laude), 1997
Honors:
Justinian Society
Anne M. Hurley
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: hurley@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 35
Practice Areas
- Insurance Law
- Litigation
Admitted
- New York, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
- Capital District Women's Bar Association
Education:
- State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1985
- State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 1988
Carol E. Crummey
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: crummey@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 10
Admitted
- New York, 2014
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
Education:
- Boston College, B.A. (Dean's List), 2008
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D. (Dean's List), 2013
Aaron M. DePaolo
Albany, NY
Years of Experience: 10
Admitted
- New York, 2014
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
Memberships:
- American, New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
- Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
Education:
- Siena College, B.S. (Dean's List), 2010
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2013
Kathleen A. Barclay
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: barclay@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 19
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Errors and Omissions
- Product Liability
- General Liability
- Insurance Coverage
Admitted
- Massachusetts, 2005
- New York
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Memberships:
- New York State, Albany County and Capital District Women’s Bar Associations
- Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
Education:
- Union College, B.A., 1999
- Boston College Law School, J.D., 2004
Molly C. Casey
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: casey@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 11
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- General Liability
- Municipal and Correctional Defense
Admitted
- New York, 2013
- U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Memberships:
- New York State Bar Association
- Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association
Education:
- New York University, B.S., 2006
- Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 2012
Jeanne M. Gonsalves Lloyd
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: lloyd@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 36
Practice Areas
- Aviation
- Product Liability
- Motor Vehicle
- Premises Liability
- Construction Site Accidents
Admitted
- New York, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
Education:
- College of St. Rose, B.S. (cum laude), 1985
- Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1988
Elizabeth J. Grogan
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: grogan@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 21
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Automobile
- Trucking
- Toxic Torts
- Medical Malpractice
- Dental Malpractice
- Construction Site Accidents
Admitted
- New York, 2004
Memberships:
- New York State and Albany County Bar Associations
Education:
- The University of Maine, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1999
- Syracuse University College of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2003
Carol C. Poles
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: poles@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 23
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home Liability
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
Admitted
- New York, 1991
Memberships:
- New York State, Dutchess County and Albany Bar Associations
- New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
Education:
- The University of the South, B.A., 1985
- Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1990
Alexander L. Stabinski
Albany, NY
- E-Mail: stabinski@oobf.com
Years of Experience: 20
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- General Liability
- Product Liability
- Labor Law
- Construction Site Accidents
Admitted
- New York, 2004
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
Memberships:
- Albany County and Montgomery County Bar Associations
- Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
Education:
- Hartwick College, B.A., 1999
- Albany Law School, J.D., 2003
Associate Attorneys
- Curtis L. S. Carpenter
- Abigail A. Dean
- Shannon D. Frazier
- Emily A. Phillips
- Rebecca J. Smythe
- Samantha V. Vedder
- Elizabeth B. Yoquinto
Of Counsel
- Brian P. Krzykowski
- Peter B. Joslin
- Joseph T. Perkins
Additional Links
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