New York—August 10, 2021—Cohen Ziffer Frenchman & McKenna LLP has been named the New York Law Journal’s 2021 Insurance Litigation Department of the Year for the firm’s precedent-setting litigation wins on behalf of policyholders, as well as its pioneering work on Covid-19-related coverage lawsuits.
Launched in January 2021 with 12 attorneys, Cohen Ziffer has already doubled in size and won multiple momentous rulings, including a first-of-its-kind decision from the New Jersey Supreme Court on flood limit clauses, allowing New Jersey Transit Corporation to access up to $400 million in coverage for damage sustained in Superstorm Sandy. The firm also secured a precedent-setting Delaware ruling on the meaning of “securities claims” (a vital term in D&O policies), giving Verizon Communications $24 million in defense costs and allowing it to pursue coverage for an additional $95 million in settlement. In another groundbreaking matter, the firm won a New York decision where it was able to avoid the application of the pro rata allocation doctrine, which limits policyholder recoveries for asbestos-related liabilities.
In 2021, Cohen Ziffer also positioned itself at the forefront of business interruption cases for companies that suffered losses due to Covid-19, and has advised more than 100 clients on pandemic-related insurance matters. The firm’s work has resulted in precedent-setting rulings allowing policyholders in various industries, including real estate, hospitality, and entertainment, to seek coverage for business losses despite the insurance industry’s attempt to defeat coverage claims through unsuccessful early dispositive motions.
The firm will be featured in the New York Law Journal’s upcoming professional excellence issue and honored at the New York Legal Awards ceremony this fall. The complete list of 2021 Litigation Department of the Year honorees can be found here.
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