New York—March 20, 2023—Cohen Ziffer Frenchman & McKenna LLP chair Robin Cohen has been named Insurance Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Litigation.
Among many other honors, Robin has been recognized as one of the “50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal and a “Notable Woman in Law” by Crain’s New York Business. Robin is also ranked by Chambers USAin Band 1 both nationally and in New York for insurance dispute resolution, and by Benchmark Litigation as a top trial lawyer, top woman in litigation, and litigation star. Robin’s Benchmark Litigationprofile includes quotes from clients that she is “the best in terms of creativity, aggressiveness, thoroughness, preparation, grasp of market and knowledge of the insurance players and their playbook.” Sources have told Chambers USA, meanwhile, that she is “a preeminent lawyer in the insurance Bar.”
Robin has recovered more than $10 billion in assets for her clients during her more than 30-year career. Counseling an exclusive policyholder client base spanning industries and countries, she advocates for her clients in cases involving asbestos, directors and officers issues, employee coverage, employee dishonesty, environmental, first-party, product liability, toxic tort, and other claims. Over time, her cases have reflected the most prominent threats to business and society.
Last month, Robin and her team secured a rare jury verdict reversal on behalf of Conduent State Healthcare in its pursuit of insurance coverage from AIG and other insurers. Just before that, Robin won one of the first decisions addressing coverage for a special purpose acquisition company, commonly known as a “SPAC.” Ruling on behalf of policyholder Clover Health, the Superior Court of Delaware handed down a decision that the SPAC’s D&O insurers must pay defense costs for not only the SPAC itself, but also for the SPAC’s future officers and directors.
These are just a few examples of Robin’s impactful role in matters involving the most urgent risks of the moment. Following Superstorm Sandy, she secured a first-of-its-kind decision from the New Jersey Supreme Court, allowing the NJ Transit System to access $400 million in coverage for damage it sustained in the storm. She also secured coverage for PES Holdings for damage resulting from an explosion, in a dispute against over 30 carriers in Delaware Bankruptcy Court. Additionally, Robin secured a landmark decision for client Warren Pumps LLC in a case that addressed policyholders’ right to coverage after they have lost the ability to use their property due to the presence of a dangerous substance on the premises. Likewise, she has won multiple significant disputes involving D&O insurance, including a trial court judgment for Pfizer that led to a settlement in the tens of millions of dollars.