Michael Coffey
Founding Partner
Michael Coffey, a founding partner of the New York law firm of Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski, is a preeminent trial lawyer sought by companies globally for his experience and success in handling complex, high-exposure insurance defense litigation. He has handled many of the largest insurance-related claims and litigated matters in New York state over the past 25 years and has served as a defense attorney in more than 125 jury trials for companies and syndicates in state and federal courts throughout the United States, as well as has arbitrated and mediated over 300 matters to a successful conclusion.
Overview And Experience
Michael has extensive experience defending insurance clients in all business lines, mitigating client exposure and containing costs either by alternative dispute resolution or trial by jury, when necessary. He focuses on construction litigation and defects, miscellaneous professional liability, contingency, legal malpractice, cyber security, public entity, allied health, habitation, dram shop (liquor liability) and premises liability, transportation, architects and engineers, employment practices liability, energy, excess liability and casualty.
Michael’s legal practice includes direct and excessive insurance litigation; reinsurance litigation; primary and excess monitoring, coverage and oversight of national programs for companies; insurers; syndicates; captive insurance companies; and managing general agents in the United States, London, Dublin and Bermuda. He also assists the London market insuring and reinsuring syndicates and companies with cover-holder, third-party administrator and cedant audits, ranging from single, high-exposure claim audits to portfolio, investigative, comfort and pre-commutation audits, and regularly handles a range of marine/admiralty matters internationally.
As national coordinating counsel for Coffey Modica O’Meara Capwoski, Michael provides claims and litigation management services for the firm and oversees all aspects of claims management, teams, and processes and protocols that drive the efficient and cost-effective delivery of these services. He also serves as managing director for the firm’s Connecticut office.
As a thought leader in the insurance industry, Michael is frequently asked by insurance companies, corporations and trade associations to lecture and provide training on best practices for claims handling, jury trends, trial advocacy, and New York Labor Law matters.
He has been published in numerous professional publications and is often consulted and quoted by the media as an expert in construction, trial advocacy, insurance and claims.
Contact Info:
200 E. Post Rd. Suite 210
White Plains, NY 10601
T 212-827-4501
M 508-651-6201
E mcoffey@cmocllp.com
Practice Areas
Admissions
Connecticut
New York
United States Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
US District Court, Eastern District of New York
US District Court, Northern District of New York
US District Court, Southern District of New York
US District Court, Western District of New York
Government Service
Assistant District Attorney, Brooklyn, NY
City Council Member, Norwalk, CT
Fire Commissioner, Norwalk, CT
Service Academy Selection Committee, Senator Joseph Lieberman
Education
St. John’s University of Law, JD, 1994
Research assistant position, Dr. Edward Fagan, Dean
Connecticut College, BA, 1989
Awards & Achievements
40 Under 40 Award, Fairfield County Business Journal
Corporate Achiever Award, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Fairfield County Building Trades Person of the Year
Irish Legal 100, Irish Voice Newspaper
Selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers, Construction
Memberships & Affiliations
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
American Bar Association
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.
New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Practice Areas
Catastrophic Loss
Community & Homeowners’ Association Law
Construction
Cyber, Technology, & Media Litigation
Directors & Officers
Environmental / Toxic Tort
General Liability & Casualty
Government Affairs & Compliance
Labor & Employment
Life, Health, Disability & ERISA
Medical Malpractice
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Trucking & Transportation
News
Michael Coffey Tapped to Compete in Magna’s Annual Chopped for CHOP Competition
Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski co-founder Michael Coffey has been tapped to participate in Magna Legal Services’ annual competitive mock trial conference “Chopped for CHOP (Children’s
Jessica Bornes Accepts Invitation to Join the Theodore Roosevelt American Inn of Court
Jessica Bornes, an associate in Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski LLP New York offices, has accepted an invitation to join the Theodore Roosevelt American Inn of
New York Law Journal Publishes CMOC Article on Anomalist Labor Law Appellate Decisions
Today’s New York Law Journal features an article written by Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski partners Sofya Uvaydov and Jeffrey Miragliotta, of counsel Christopher Theobalt, and associate Christopher Bitar about three New York Labor Law ladder
Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski Holds First Women in Insurance Luncheon of 2022
Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski LLP (CMOC), a national insurance defense law firm, held its first Women in Insurance Luncheon of 2022, on Tuesday, April 5th,
Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski LLP Opens Buffalo Office
After Opening Its Doors in September 2021, Firm Grows To 30 Attorneys and Six Offices Buffalo, NY (April 4, 2022) –White Plains, New York-based insurance
Law360 Article Highlights Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski’s “New Firm” Model
Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski LLP’s unique culture and business practices were highlighted in the recently published Law360 article, “Defense Boutique Finds Success Outside Old Firm