RUBIN - Key Persons
Aaron F. Fishbein is a partner in the Firm, handling first-party and liability coverage matters. He has over 30 years of experience advising insurance companies and litigating complex, high profit lawsuits and mediations, including some with over $100,000,000 at risk.
Alan J. Sorkowitz is a partner in the firm's Reinsurance department. He attended St. John's University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. Alan is admitted to practice in New York State, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Second Circuit, and several other federal courts. He has 35 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance fields. He has been published in the ABA Practical Lawyer, the ARIAS Quarterly, and Bloomberg's Corporate Law & Accountability Report. After graduating law school, Alan was a law clerk to the Hon. Sterry R. Waterman of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Bruce M. Friedman is a founding partner of the firm and heads the Reinsurance Law, Commercial Litigation, Arbitration and Litigation departments. He attended New York University, LL.M. in Corporate Law, New York Law School, J.D. and State University of New York at Stony Brook, B.A. He is admitted to practice law in New York State, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, Second Circuit, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York and U.S. Supreme Court. Bruce is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Charles T. Rubin is a founding partner of the firm and heads the First Party Insurance Defense and Regulatory Law departments. He attended John Marshall Law School, J.D. and Franklin Pierce College, B.S. He is admitted to practice law in New York State, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Charles is a member of The Gavel Society, Tau Epsilon Rho, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the New York State Bar Association.
Crystal Monahan is a partner in the firm's Reinsurance department. She joined the firm in 2006. Crystal attended the University of Michigan Law School and is admitted to practice law in New York State.
David F. Boucher, Jr., is a partner in the firm's No-Fault department. David attended New England School of Law and is admitted to practice law in New York State.
David Landfair is an attorney practicing in the Firm's No-Fault Department. He previously practiced no-fault litigation representing healthcare providers. David attended Brooklyn Law School and the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice in New York.
Deena Khalifa is an associate in the firm's no-fault department. Deena attended the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center of Touro College and is admitted to practice law in New York State.
Douglas K. Scheller, Jr.is an associate in the Firm's Admiralty, Transportation
and Marine Insurance practice team. Douglas attended Tulane University
School of Law where he attained a Certificate of Concentration in Maritime
Grant M. Meisels is a partner in the firm's General Liability department. Grant attended The Jacob B. Fuchsberg Law Center of Touro Center, J.D. and is admitted to practice law in the State Courts of New York and in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Grant is also a certified public accountant
James E. Mercante heads the firm's Admiralty, Transportation and Marine Insurance practice team. He specializes in commercial and recreational admiralty consultation and litigation, marine insurance coverage, transportation disputes, arbitration and appeals. Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired). President, Board of Commissioners of Pilots of the State of New York. AV Preeminent Rated. Proctor in Admiralty.
Jared Blau-Kursman is an associate in the Firm's no-fault department. Jared is a former Clerk for State Justice Manuel J. Mendez and is now working in Insurance litigation.
Joshua Shack is an associate in the firm's No-Fault litigation department. Josh attended the Pennsylvania State University, Dickenson School of Law and is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.
Kenneth S. Fiorella is a founding partner of the firm and heads the Litigation, Insurance Coverage and Insurance Defense departments. He attended State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., B.A. cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa Assistant Corporation Counsel and New York City Law Department. He is admitted to practice law in New York State and United States District Court, Southern District of New York. Kenneth is a member of the American Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association and AV Peer Review Rated
Kevin Zhang is an associate in the firm's General Liability department. Kevin attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Lee Mandarino is an associate in the firm's General Liability department. Lee attended Widener University School of Law and is admitted practice in the State of New York, as well as the State of Pennsylvania.
Leila Cardo is a partner in the firm's General Liability department. Leila attended Fordham University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the State of New York as well as the United States District Court, Southern District of New York and Eastern District of New York. She was formerly an Attorney of Record and Managing Attorney with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company's Brooklyn Legal Office.
Lenard Brumfield is an associate in the Firm's no-fault department. Lenard attended Albany Law School and is admitted to practice in the State of New York.
Lochlan J. McDonnell is an attorney admitted to practice law in New York State.
Matthew Langweil is an associate in the firm's General Liability department. Matthew attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of law and is admitted to practice law in the State of New York
Michael E. Tomsky is a partner in the firm's First Party and Insurance Coverage departments. Michael attended Temple Law School and is admitted to practice law in New York State. Michael also worked at the Queens County District Attorney's Office from 2007 to 2013 prosecuting high level felony cases
Michael Philippou is an attorney admitted to practice law in New York State.
Michael Stern is a partner in the firm's Admiralty and Transportation department. Michael attended Duke University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and New Jersey, and the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District of New Jersey and the Court of International Trade.
Paul Kovner is of counsel in the firm's General Liability and Insurance Coverage departments. Paul attended New York Law School and is admitted to practice law in the State Courts of New York and in the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts. Paul handles all aspects of General Liability involving personal injuries or property damage and related coverage matters, including premises, Labor Law, liquor law liability, broker's errors and omissions and legal malpractice. He also handles first party coverage disputes involving fraud and arson defenses. He has tried approximately 70 cases to verdict.
Stewart B. Greenspan is a partner in the firm's General Liability department. Stewart attended Pace Law School and is admitted to practice law in the State Courts of New York and in the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts. Stewart handles all aspects of General Liability including premises, liquor law liability, Labor Law, police liability and related coverage matters. He is especially versed in construction matters, including issues of indemnity and additional insured tenders. He has tried numerous cases to verdict.
Vitaly Vilenchik is an associate in the firm's no-fault and first-party coverage groups. Vitaly focuses his practice primarily on first-party coverage, claim investigations, and no-fault litigation and arbitration. Vitaly helps insurers and self-insurers develop investigation, claims handling and litigation strategies to detect, prevent and deter fraud. He specializes in complex coverage issues raised by first-party claims and has taken hundreds of examinations under oath, handled scores of insurance fraud investigations and dozens of fraud litigation matters.
Among Vitaly's most notable successes is PV Holding Corp. v AB Quality Health Supply Corp., 2020 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 7917, 2020 NY Slip Op 07725 (1stDep't 2020), in which the appellate division upheld an insurer's disclaimer of coverage and explicitly held that the disclaimer was applicable on a global basis.