Mike Furman is one of New York’s leading professional liability lawyers, representing lawyers and law firms in state and federal courts in high stakes, complex matters.  Well-known by clients, adversaries and the Bench as a “lawyer’s lawyer,” Mike has tried numerous jury trials throughout the five boroughs and surrounding counties and argued close to 100 appeals, which over the past 25 years, have helped shape the law of legal malpractice in New York.

In addition to professional liability matters, Mike defends construction accident claims and represents insurers in insurance coverage matters.

Mike holds the Preeminent AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability, is annually designated a Metro New York “Super Lawyer.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mike began his career as an assistant district attorney in the Trial Division of the New York County District Attorney’s Office under Hon. Robert M. Morgenthau from 1989 to 1994, where he prosecuted numerous cases to verdict, and argued numerous criminal appeals.

Mike has been appointed to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Lawyer’s Professional Liability, serving from 2015 to 2018, and is a member of the Executive Committee and is the Past Chair (2013-14) of the Trial Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association, and has previously served as Secretary (2012-13) and Treasurer (2011-12).

Mike is also a member of the Professional Liability Committee of the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, and the co-author of “Professional Liability Insurance,” Insurance Law Practice, §37 (2d Ed 2006, NYSBA). Mike previously served as Chair of the Lawyers Professional Liability and Ethics Committee (Trial Lawyers Section) of the New York State Bar Association from 2009 to 2013 and is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA).

Mike is the Overall Planning Chairman of the Bi-Annual New York State Bar Association-sponsored bi-annual CLE statewide Legal Malpractice Seminar (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021) and editor-in-chief of the NYSBA CLE Legal Malpractice course-book.

Mike also drafts insurance policies and represents insurers in coverage disputes involving financial institutions, professional liability, marine and non-marine risks. From 1997 to 1999, he worked in London for a major Lloyd’s syndicate, served on various London market committees, and was co-chair of the Int’l/London Sub-committee of the Insurance Coverage Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation.

Mike has been involved in high exposure matters throughout his career and represented the Lloyd’s insurance market in the World Trade Center/September 11, 2001 liability insurance coverage litigation in the Southern District of New York, defending claims totaling over $1 Billion.

Mike has lectured extensively in the United States and Europe on various insurance-related topics, including professional liability issues and insurance coverage, and has written several insurance-related articles.

A long-term cancer survivor, Mike is also a prodigious fundraiser for cancer research, and serves on the Patient Advocacy Board for the Herbert Irving Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center.

Representative Cases/Assignments

American Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Barry, McTiernan & Moore, No. 09 CIV. 8742, 2010 WL 3452414, (S.D.N.Y. March 30, 2011)

Barnett v. Schwartz, 47 A.D.3d 197, 848 N.Y.S.2d 663 (2d Dept. 2007)

Basile v. Walt Disney Corp., No. 1:09-cv-07112-RJH, 2010 WL 2383782, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. June 14, 2010)

Becovic v. Poisson & Hackett, 49 A.D.3d 435, 854 N.Y.S.2d 63 (1st Dept. 2008)

Bender Burrows & Rosenthal, LLP v. Simon, 65 A.D.3d 499, 884 N.Y.S.2d 59 (1st Dept. 2009)

Blum v. Salomon, No. 06 CV 3149 WHP, 2006 WL 3851157, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 28, 2006)

Bosch v. Lamattina, No. 08-CV-238 (JS)(AKT), 2008 WL 4820247, at * 1 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 4, 2008)

Briarpatch Ltd. v. Briarpatch Film Corp., 60 A.D.3d 585, 876 N.Y.S.2d 37 (1st Dept. 2009), subsequent appeal, 68 A.D.3d 520, 891 N.Y.S.2d 352 (1st Dept. 2009)

Briarpatch Ltd. v. Thomas, 265 F.Supp.2d 219 (S.D.N.Y. 2003)

Castillo v. Frenkel, — N.Y.S.2d —-, 30 Misc.3d 85 (N.Y.Sup.App.Term 2010)

Chiera v. Liberty Ins. Underwriters, Inc., No. 7825/07, 2008 WL 4140581, at *1 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Westchester County Sept. 9, 2008)

Cinao v. Reers, 27 Misc.3d 195, 893 N.Y.S.2d 851 (Sup. Ct. Kings County 2010)

Coby Group, LLC v. Kriss, 63 A.D.3d 569, 881 N.Y.S.2d 101 (1st Dept. 2009)

Coregis Ins. v. Lewis, Johs, Avallone, Aviles and Kaufman, LLP, No. 01 CV 3844(SJ), 2006 WL 2135782, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. July 28, 2006)

Corrado v. Rubine, 25 A.D.3d 748, 807 N.Y.S.2d 878 (2d Dept. 2006)

Demo v. Badie, 14 A.D.3d 436, 787 N.Y.S.2d 874 (1st Dept. 2005)

Dempster v. Dempster, No. 06-4771-CV, 2008 WL 1712336, at * 1 (2d Cir. April 11, 2008)

Dempster v. Dempster, 404 F.Supp.2d 445 (E.D.N.Y. 2005)

DeNatale v. Santangelo, 65 A.D.3d 1006, 884 N.Y.S.2d 868 (2d Dept. 2009)

Diamond v. Sokol, No. 05 Civ. 4993(GEL), 2007 WL 3168469, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 29, 2007)

Diamond v. Sokol, 468 F.Supp.2d 626 (S.D.N.Y. 2006)

Dimond v. Kazmierczuk & McGrath, 15 A.D.3d 526, 790 N.Y.S.2d 219 (2d Dept. 2005)

Essilfie-Obeng v. Ahyia, — N.Y.S.2d —-, 2011 WL 1312551 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. 2011)

Feldman v. Finkelstein & Partners, LLP, 76 A.D.3d 703, 907 N.Y.S.2d 313 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. 2010)

Fenster v. Smith, 39 A.D.3d 231, 832 N.Y.S.2d 572 (1st Dept. 2007)

Ferrandino & Son, Inc. v. Wheaton Builders, Inc., LLC, No. 2009-08843, 2011 WL 1088126 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. March 22, 2011)

First Central Savings Bank v. Meridian Residential Capital, No. 09-CV-3444-DLI-LB, 2011 WL 1240100, (E.D.N.Y., March 30, 2011)

Frederick v. Meighan, No. 05476/07, 2010 WL 2757996, at *1 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. July 13, 2010)

Frierson-Harris v. Hough, No. 05 CIV. 3077(DLC), 2007 WL 1343843, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. May 8, 2007), aff’d, No. 08-0453-cv., 2009 WL 2144364, at *1 (2d Cir. July 20, 2009)

Gotay v. Breitbart, 58 A.D.3d 25, 866 N.Y.S.2d 638 (1 Dept. 2008), rev’d, 912 N.E.2d 1056, 884 N.Y.S.2d 677 (2009)

Greene v. Sager, 78 A.D.3d 777, 910 N.Y.S.2d 546 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. 2010)

Hamoudeh v. Mandel, 62 A.D.3d 948, 880 N.Y.S.2d 674 (2d Dept. 2009)

Harvey v. Greenberg, No. 105665/09, 2011 WL 1162994 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. March 31, 2011)

Hashmi v. Messiha, 65 A.D.3d 1193, 886 N.Y.S.2d 712 (2d Dept. 2009)

In re Green, 200 B.R. 296 (S.D.N.Y. 1996)

In re Green, 207 B.R. 762 (S.D.N.Y. 1997)

In re September 11th Liab. Ins. Coverage Cases, 333 F.Supp.2d 111 (S.D.N.Y. 2004)

Kempf v. Magida, 37 A.D.3d 763, 832 N.Y.S.2d 47 (2d Dept. 2007)

Kvetnaya v. Tylo, 49 A.D.3d 608, 854 N.Y.S.2d 425 (2d Dept. 2008)

Leibowitz v. Impressive Homes, Inc., 43 A.D.3d 1003, 843 N.Y.S.2d 120 (2d Dept. 2007)

Liberty Surplus Ins. Corp. v. Segal Co., 420 F.3d 65 (2d Cir. 2005)

Margrabe v. Sexter & Warmflash, P.C., No. 07-CV-2798 (KMK)(GAY), 2009 WL 361830, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 11, 2009),aff’d, No. 09-0878-cv., 2009 WL 3823099, at *1 (2d Cir. Nov. 17, 2009)

Marro v. Handwerker, Marchelos & Gayner, 1 A.D.3d 488, 767 N.Y.S.2d 279 (2d Dept. 2003)

McMorrow v. Dime Sav. Bank of Williamsburgh, 48 A.D.3d 646, 852 N.Y.S.2d 345 (2d Dept. 2008)

Mercantile Capital Partners Fund, LP v. Morrison Cohen LLP, No. 601596/07, 2008 WL 1777431, at *1 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. N.Y. County March 4, 2008)

Millennium Import, LLC v. Reed Smith, LLP, 63 A.D.3d 561, 881 N.Y.S.2d 100 (1st Dept. 2009)

Milton v. Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, No. 02 CV 3052(NG), 2007 WL 2262893, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 3, 2007)

Minkow v. Sanders, No. 4610, 2011 WL 1045764 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. March 24, 2011)

MTB Bank-in-Liquidation v. Lloyd’s Underwriters of Dir.’s, Officers and Co. Liab. Policy # FD024940O, 7 A.D.3d 276, 776 N.Y.S.2d 789 (1st Dept. 2004)

Nelson v. Roth, 69 A.D.3d 912, 893 N.Y.S.2d 605 (2d Dept. 2010)

Pandozy v. Segan, No. 07-4944-cv., 2009 WL 2448187, at *1 (2d Cir. Aug. 11, 2009)

Pappas v. New 19 West, LLC, No. 118980/2006, 2008 WL 509087, at *1 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. N.Y. County Feb. 20, 2008)

Parametric Capital Management, LLC v. Lacher, 33 A.D.3d 376, 822 N.Y.S.2d 60 (1st Dept. 2006)

Park Place Entm’t Corp. v. Transcontinental Ins. Co., 225 F.Supp.2d 406 (S.D.N.Y. 2002)

Park Place Entm’t Corp. v. Transcontinental Ins. Co., No. 01 Civ. 6546(ELC), 2003 WL 1913709, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. April 18, 2003)

Parola, Gross & Marino, P.C. v. Susskind, 43 A.D.3d 1020, 843 N.Y.S.2d 104 (2d Dept. 2007)

Pechko v. Gendelman, 20 A.D.3d 404, 799 N.Y.S.2d 80 (2d Dept. 2005)

Peek v. Scialdone, No. 0778/06, 2007 WL 6839544, at *1 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Dutchess County May 22, 2007)

Pomerance v. McTiernan, 51 A.D.3d 526, 859 N.Y.S.2d 44 (1st Dept. 2008)

Protostorm, LLC v. Antonelli, No. 08-CV-931 NGG/JO, 2010 WL 785316, at * 1 (E.D.N.Y. March 8, 2010),reconsideration denied, No. 08-CV-931 (NGG) (JO), 2010 WL 2195679, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. May 28, 2010)

Pu v. Mitsopoulos, 67 A.D.3d 561, 888 N.Y.S.2d 401 (1st Dept. 2009).

Puletti v. Patel, No. 05 CV 2293(SJ), 2006 WL 2010809, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. July 14, 2006)

Richter v. Davidson & Cohen, P.C., 25 A.D.3d 595, 807 N.Y.S.2d 637 (2d Dept. 2006)

Sheehy v. New Century Mortgage Corp., 690 F.Supp.2d 51 (E.D.N.Y. 2010)

Shivers v. Siegel, 11 A.D.3d 447, 782 N.Y.S.2d 752 (2d Dept. 2004)

Societe Generale v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, 1 A.D.3d 164, 767 N.Y.S.2d 416 (1st Dept. 2003)

United Orient Bank v. Green, 215 B.R. 916 (S.D.N.Y. 1997)

Uzzle v. Nunzie Court Homeowners Ass’n, 70 A.D.3d 928, 895 N.Y.S.2d 203 (2d Dept. 2010)

Velasquez v. Katz, 42 A.D.3d 566, 840 N.Y.S.2d 410 (2d Dept. 2007)

Walker v. Glotzer, 79 A.D.3d 737, 913 N.Y.S.2d 290 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dept. 2010)

Warren Publ’g Co. v. Harris Pbl’ns, Inc., No. 98CIV3558RMBHBP, 2002 WL 334478 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2002),reargument denied, No. 98 CIV.3558 RMB HBP, 2002 WL 987270, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. May 14, 2002)

Weissman v. Kessler, 78 A.D.3d 465, 912 N.Y.S.2d 25 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. 2010)

Win Hay LLC v. Chin, No. 4730, 2011 WL 1312337 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. April 7, 2011)

Wright v. Meyers & Spencer, LLP, 46 A.D.3d 805, 849 N.Y.S.2d 274 (2d Dept. 2007)

Zysk v. Kaufman, Borgeest & Ryan, LLP, 53 A.D.3d 482, 862 N.Y.S.2d 72 (2d Dept. 2008)

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