Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

Patti F. Potash

White Plains, NY

Admitted

• California, 1981
• New York, 1983

Patti Potash is a Name Partner, Leader of the Fleischner Potash Insurance Practice Group and Managing Partner of the Fleischner Potash White Plains office. Her clients are U.S., Lloyd's and other international primary and excess insurers, reinsurers, and insurance retention groups who issue commercial general liability, pollution, contractors, professional liability, environmental, E&O, D&O, contingency, and property coverage policies. From its start in California to presently in New York, Ms. Potash's legal practice consists of providing coverage opinions, handling coverage litigation, drafting policy and contract wordings, as well as insurance industry agreements, and responding to Insurance Department complaints. Ms. Potash also has experience in defending insureds in construction defect and injury, environmental damages and professional liability suits.

Ms. Potash's accolades over the years include SuperLawyer, Top 100 US Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers Expert Guide, Top New York Women Leaders in the Law, and 20 years of AV Rating, the highest rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Ms. Potash has written numerous articles, lectured to insurers, third party administrators and insurance-related organizations and taught CLE and CE classes on a wide variety of insurance related issues. She is particularly known for her writing and presentations on "pass through" additional insured and indemnification issues and for educating clients on coverage issues related to newly written types of coverage and insurance programs.

Memberships:

• Metropolitan Women's Bar Association
• New York County Lawyers Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Education:

• American University School of Government and Public Administration, B.A., 1977
• Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1981

Wendy K. Cardali

Long Island, NY

Admitted

• Connecticut, 1990
• New York, 1991
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1994

Since joining the firm in 1993, Wendy Cardali has been representing clients in casualty defense litigation. She has a wide range of experience in complex product liability and construction cases, as well as in toxic tort matters. Wendy has lectured on insurance topics at a variety of organizations, including the New York State Bar Association. 

As a former Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, and Trial Attorney in the Torts Division, Wendy defended the City of New York in a variety of cases involving municipal liability and handled many of the City's heaviest exposure cases.

Memberships:

• New York State Bar Association
• New York County Lawyers Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Education:

• State University of New York at Stony Brook, B.A., 1986
• St. John's University School of Law, J.D., 1990

Gil M. Coogler

New York, NY

Admitted

• Pennsylvania, 1981
• California, 1988
• New York, 1999
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1981
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California, 1988
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1999

Gil Coogler has extensive insurance coverage and commercial litigation experience, concentrating in the areas of professional errors and omissions defense, directors and officers defense, commercial liability, business property and business-interruption losses. After practicing in Pennsylvania and California, Gil joined the firm in 1999. He now practices from both the New York office and the Philadelphia office, in which he is the resident partner.

Gil is a much sought-after speaker and has been a lecturer on professional liability and insurance coverage topics before professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar and the Defense Research Institute. He has testified before legislative committees on insurance issues, and has appeared on television and radio programs discussing issues of consequence to the insurance industry. Gil has a strong track record of successfully litigating insurance coverage, directors and officers, professional liability and commercial matters for the firm's clientele, both at the trial and appellate levels.

Memberships:

• New York State Bar Association

Education:

• Washington & Jefferson College, B.A. (cum laude), 1978
• Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1981

Robert M. Drucker

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 2002
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

Robert Drucker joined the firm as an associate in 2012. Since his admission to practice in 2002, Rob has concentrated on all forms of general litigation and medical malpractice defense, including the defense of physicians and hospitals in both state and federal courts. Rob has been involved in many complex cases, handling matters from inception through trial.

Education:

• University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1998
• Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., 2001

Ian B. Forman

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1997
• Florida
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

Ian Forman joined the firm in 2014. He concentrates his practice on the defense of all types of negligence based lawsuits in the state and federal courts of New York. Ian has extensive experience representing owners, construction managers and contractors in construction site litigation and is familiar with the complexities of the New York State Labor Law. He also has experience in premises liability and products liability matters and in the defense of motor vehicle liability actions.

On the appellate level, Ian drafts motions and briefs and appears for oral arguments before the Appellate Division in the First and Second Departments.

Education:

• Washington University in St. Louis, B.A., 1992
• Loyola University New Orleans, J.D., 1996

Stuart G. Glass

Long Island, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1998
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

Stuart Glass joined the firm in 2011. His areas of practice include the litigation and trial of matters involving labor law, premises liability, lead paint poisoning, medical malpractice, negligent security, products liability, smoke detector/fire liability, dram shop, and general liability matters. Stuart has prepared lecture materials for the New York State Bar Association and a comprehensive blueprint detailing how to defend lead poisoning claims.

Education:

• Clark University, B.A., 1992
• New York Law School, J.D., 1997

Deanna Elaine Hazen

New York, NY

Admitted

• Michigan, 1984
• Law Society of Upper Canada, 1992
• New York, 1995
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, 1984
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal and Sixth Circuits
• U.S. Court of International Trade, 1995

Deanna Hazen joined the firm in 1995, after practicing for several years in the State of Michigan. Her practice focuses on the defense of negligence- based lawsuits involving complex construction accidents, premises liability and security, and automobile and trucking accidents. Her practice involves both personal injury and property damage claims in the State of New York. Deanna has significant experience representing owners and contractors in construction site litigation involving New York State Labor Law, representing property owners and commercial tenants in matters of premises liability, and representing companies with vehicles involved in motor vehicle accidents. 

In her representation, Deanna seeks to provide thorough and discerning analysis of the claim and early resolution through mediation, motion practice and negotiating settlements.

Memberships:

• American and New York State Bar Associations
• Association of Trial Lawyers of the City of New York
• New York County Lawyers Association

Education:

• University of Michigan, B.B.A., 1981
• University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1984

Eric R. Leibowitz

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 2005
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2009

Eric Leibowitz has experience in coverage, commercial and intellectual property litigation. Eric also has extensive experience in all phases of litigation, ranging from complaint to motion practice to discovery to appeal. He has represented clients in a wide variety of industries, including entertainment, pharmaceutical, technology and shipping. 

Prior to joining the firm Eric was an Associate at White & Case, LLP where he specialized in intellectual property litigation, including patent and trademark litigation.

Memberships:

• New York City Bar Association

Education:

• Cornell University, B.A., 1999
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2005

Nancy D. Lewis

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1994

Nancy Lewis joined the firm as a law school student in 1992 and has spent her entire legal career at the firm, becoming a partner in 2001. She concentrates her practice on complex commercial insurance coverage litigation, civil appeals, and post-trial motions that seek to adjust and/or set aside a jury's verdict, thereby obviating the need to pursue an appeal. She also provides coverage opinions and litigates coverage disputes. Nancy's long list of successful summary judgment motions, post-trial motions and appeals is the reason that the firm clients often ask that she assume cases from other firms. 

In addition to writing appeals and supervising the work product of the firm's other appellate attorneys, Nancy provides evaluations to clients regarding the "appeal worthiness" of Orders or Judgments from within the firm and from other firms. Each evaluation involves engaging in a critical review of the Record or Trial Transcript for identification of appealable issues, determining the probability of success, and then making a well-considered recommendation to the client as to whether an appeal is warranted in light of the costs involved. In addition to the care with which she evaluates "appeal worthiness", Nancy has become known for her effective, persuasive oral arguments.

In every area of her practice, Nancy, a natural competitor, takes tremendous pride in her work, in out-witting her opponents, and in achieving the best possible results for the firm's clients.

Education:

• Dartmouth College, B.A., 1987
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1993

Nicholas L. Paone

New York, NY

Admitted

• Pennsylvania, 1987
• New Jersey
• New York, 1993
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1987
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1993

Nicholas Paone is a trial attorney with over twenty years of litigation experience. He focuses on significant cases in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These cases run the gamut from medical and dental malpractice to professional liability, insurance coverage, general liability, products liability, construction accidents and defects, property damage, employment, business disputes, securities litigation, and insurance agents and brokers errors and omissions.

Education:

• Columbia University, B.A., 1983
• Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1987

James P. Ricciardi, Jr.

Hazlet, NJ

Admitted

• New Jersey, 2008
• Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2010

James Ricciardi joined the firm in 2009. A former law clerk to the Honorable Daniel M. Waldman, J.S.C. (Ret.) of the Superior Court of New Jersey, James possesses intimate knowledge of New Jersey practice and procedure within the New Jersey State and Federal Courts. As an associate, he handles all aspects of insurance defense, including against claims of negligent security, slip-and-fall accidents, Dram Shop and products liability. Additionally, James handles a wide variety of insurance coverage litigation and subrogation matters on behalf of insurers.

Memberships:

• Pennsylvania and Monmouth County Bar Associations

Education:

• Monmouth University, B.A. (cum laude), 2005
• Widener University School of Law, J.D., 2008

Evan A. Richman

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1998

Evan Richman joined the firm in 1998, when he began as an associate for professional liability defense. Evan's practice has grown to include the defense of Directors & Officers and Brokers, as well as real estate litigation, insurance coverage, and civil and commercial litigation. 

Many of Evan's cases involve representation of condominiums, cooperatives, and their Boards of Managers/Directors in a wide variety of litigation matters in state and federal court. He has litigated claims pertaining to breaches of the Proprietary Lease and By-Laws; maintenance and assessment issues; tenant-shareholder relations; breach of fiduciary duty issues; and unauthorized alterations. He has also defended against many discrimination claims asserted against condominium and co-op Boards and their property managers in the New York State Division of Human Rights and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. 

Evan is also heavily involved in defending professional liability claims asserted against lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, real estate agents, and other professionals. He has defended against various complex legal malpractice claims arising from a wide array of underlying matters, including those pertaining to commercial litigation, real estate, personal injury, family law, and transactional matters. He also handles insurance coverage and commercial litigation matters at both the trial and appellate levels.

Education:

• Yeshiva University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1995
• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, J.D., 1998

Law Review:

Notes and Comments Editor, Cardoza's Arts and Entertainment Law Journal; Author: "Deception in Political Advertising: The Clash between the First Amendment and Defamation Law 16", Cadias Arts and End. L.J., 667 (1998)

Alexandra E. Rigney

White Plains, NY

Admitted

• New Jersey, 2005
• New York, 2006
• U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York

Alexandra Rigney is a member of the firm's coverage group. She represents insurance companies in complex insurance coverage disputes. Her practice encompasses providing coverage opinions, litigation, mediation and arbitration. She has experience defending professional liability actions, focusing on attorney malpractice and insurance broker malpractice. She also has experience defending employment and civil rights claims.

Memberships:

• New York County Bar Association
• The Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Education:

• Georgetown University, B.S.L.I., 2000
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 2005

Adam P. Stark

Hazlet, NJ

Admitted

• New Jersey, 1998
• New York, 1999
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1998

Adam Stark joined the firm in 2002. Since that time he has successfully represented insurers in a broad range of complex insurance coverage matters in state and federal courts as well as in private arbitrations and mediations. He has handled a variety of defense cases including construction defect, environmental liability, professional liability, property and casualty coverage and bad faith litigation. Adam has successfully represented clients in the New Jersey Appellate Court as well as the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Education:

• Rutgers College, B.A., 1994
• Rutgers University School of Law-Camden, J.D., 1997

Daniel M. Stewart

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1997
• New Jersey

Dan Stewart joined the firm as an associate in 1996. He focuses his trial practice on the defense of all types of negligence-based lawsuits in the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey, and in Connecticut’s federal court. Dan has extensive experience with a wide range of case types, including automobile and trucking, complex construction accidents, premises liability and security, and products liability matters involving personal injury and property damage claims. He is fluent in the intricacies of New York’s automotive no-fault regulations, and routinely lectures on the subject for his clients. 

Dan represents property owners and commercial tenants in all manner of premises liability matters, including negligent security claims, slip-and-fall actions, and Dram Shop claims. Dan has significant experience representing owners and contractors in construction site litigation involving New York Labor Law. 

Dan is an experienced trial attorney and has obtained numerous defense verdicts, as well as favorable pre-verdict results on behalf of his clients at various stages of trial. He has participated in more than 100 mediations and arbitrations, and countless depositions and examinations under oath.

Memberships:

• New York County Lawyers Association

Education:

• Drew University, B.A., 1991
• New York Law School, J.D., 1996

Law Review:

Managing Editor, New York Law School Journal of Human Rights

Ronald P. Berman

New York, NY

• E-Mail: rberman@fp.law

Admitted

• New York, 1975

Education:

• Long Island University, B.A., 1970
• Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1975

William M. Billings

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1982
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1991
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1992

Bill Billings joined the firm in 2009. For more than twenty-five years his primary practice has been insurance coverage and defense litigation, including both trials and appeals. Bill's coverage and defense work involves wide and diverse areas, including professional liability (insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents and brokers, directors and officers, debt collectors, actuaries); property and casualty; maritime (ocean marine and inland marine cargo/transit losses, air cargo/transit losses); employment discrimination; and mass tort litigation (New York DES litigation, New York Latex litigation, Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Asbestos litigation).

Bill has received an AV Rating, the highest rating, from Martindale Hubbell.

Education:

• Fordham University, B.A., 1978
• St. John's University School of Law, J.D., 1981

Benjamin A. Fleischner

New York, NY

Practice Areas

• Defense Litigation
• Insurance Coverage

Admitted

• New York, 1979
• New Jersey, 1985
• U.S. District Court, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of New York, 1979
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second, Third and Fifth Circuits
• U.S. Supreme Court

Additional Biographical Details:

Conference Chairman and Speaker, American Conference Institute; New York Super Lawyer, Insurance

As the first associate hired by founder Allan White in 1978, Benjamin Fleischner has spent his entire legal career at the firm. In that time, the firm has grown from two to fifty attorneys and expanded into all areas of insurance coverage and defense work. As the only associate, Ben worked in virtually every area of the practice and has as broad a range of experience as any attorney in the field. He has handled cases in every Court from night small claims in the Bronx to the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd and 3rd Circuits. Although his focus remains rooted in property and casualty coverage, his knowledge and experience in all areas of insurance matters is a benefit to clients and attorneys in the firm. 

Ben has lectured extensively on coverage issues for national lecture programs and has written articles published by the American Bar Association, Insurance Day and the New Jersey Law Journal among others. He was a founding member of the Board of Advisors for the Cares Institute at the UMDNJ SOM and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Monmouth Museum. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Law Journal Newsletters Insurance Coverage Law Bulletin an ALM publication. He was also selected as a New York Metro Area Super Lawyer in the field of Insurance Coverage 2010-2015.

Education:

• Columbia College, Columbia University, B.A., 1975
• New York Law School, J.D., 1978

Dharman P. Niles

White Plains, NY

Admitted

• New York, 1998
• Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2000
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

Dharman Niles joined the firm in 2006 and focuses his practice on liability insurance coverage and complex litigation matters at the trial and appellate levels. Dharman also handles much of the firm's Connecticut practice, including insurance coverage litigation and civil defense. 

Prior to joining the firm, Dharman practiced in both New York and Connecticut, working on a variety of issues ranging from commercial litigation to business transactions. As a law student, Dharman served as the Student Director of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Center, where he organized and ran several conferences and symposiums on human rights and humanitarian law-related subjects. Dharman was also a staff writer for the Human Rights Brief - a student-published newsletter covering human rights campaigns around the globe.

Education:

• St. Olaf College, B.A., 1992
• American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 1995

Ann Marie C. Petrey

Hazlet, NJ

Admitted

• New York, 1984
• New Jersey, 1987
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1984
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

Ann Marie C. Petrey focuses on insurance coverage nationwide and brings to her clients a combination of experience in both law firms and within the insurance industry. She has in-depth experience in representing U.S. and international clients in sophisticated insurance and reinsurance matters from a legal, contract wording, claims management, risk management, and regulatory/compliance perspective. 

She started her career at an international law firm where her diverse practice included litigation and claims management as well as insurance, reinsurance, corporate, and regulatory matters. Ann Marie also worked at a U.S. commercial property and casualty insurer as a Claims Manager and Counsel. Thereafter, Ann Marie was Director of Contract Wording at a major reinsurance underwriting manager. She has also lectured on insurance-related topics for the American Conference Institute.

Memberships:

• Brooklyn Bar Association
• Association of Professional Insurance Women

Education:

• New York University, B.A., 1980
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1983

Law Review:

Brooklyn Law Review

Kevin McArdle

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 2004

Mr. McArdle is a senior associate whose practice concentrates on the defense of clients engaged in litigation before state and federal trial courts within the State of New York. He is an Honors graduate of Siena College and Brooklyn Law School.
 
Mr. McArdle defends complex litigation matters and represents corporations and individuals in construction litigation, products liability and general liability.

Memberships:

• American Bar Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Education:

• Siena College, B.A. (cum laude), 1998
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 2003

Gene Csakany

New York, NY

Admitted

• New Jersey, 2018

Education:

• Bowling Green State University, B.A., 2014
• University of Toledo School of Law, J.D., 2018

Brian J. Divney

New York, NY

Admitted

• New York, 2002
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York

Brian Divney joined the firm in 2016. His practice focuses on all areas of insurance defense including premises liability and labor law.

Memberships:

• New York State and Westchester Women's Bar Associations

Education:

• Pace University, B.A., 1979
• Pace University School of Law, J.D., 2001

Jennifer Mindlin

Long Island, NY

Admitted

• New York, 2013
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Jennifer Mindlin joined the firm as a law clerk while in law school and is now an associate on the insurance coverage team. As a member of the insurance coverage team, Jen handles coverage litigation nationwide. She has written on the issue of pass throughs by way of indemnification and additional insured coverage and has authored an article for the firm on the evolving interpretation of the CG 20 33 Additional Insured Form.

Education:

• Emory University, B.A. (summa cum laude), 2009
• Fordham University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2012

Kirsten J. Orr

Hazlet, NJ

Admitted

• New Jersey, 2011
• New York, 2012

Kirsten Orr joined the firm as an associate in 2013. As a law student, Kirsten held several internships, including a judicial internship with the Honorable Gerald Lebovits of the New York City Civil Court.

Education:

• New York University, B.A. (cum laude), 2008
• New York Law School, J.D., 2011