Press Release: Kaufman Dolowich Names Mary Jo Barry and Michael Zigelman Co-Managing Partners of New York City Office

(October 16, 2018, New York, NY) — Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck (KD), a nationally recognized law firm, today announced that it has promoted Mary Jo Barry and Michael Zigelman to co-managing partners in the firm’s New York City office.  

Barry joined the firm as a partner in April of this year. Zigelman joined KD in 2008 as a senior associate and became partner in 2010. Kevin Mattessich, who served as managing partner of the New York City office and grew the office from four attorneys to 23 and oversaw the office’s development into diverse practice areas, will continue as the firm’s General Counsel and focus on enhancing  the growth of the firm’s cyber, reps & warranties and London capabilities.

“Mary Jo came to KD this spring known for handling major D&O and other financial lines cases and has demonstrated excellent leadership skills in her time at the firm,” said Ivan J. Dolowich, co-managing partner of KD. “Michael has been a leader in our global insurance coverage and litigation practice and has the legal acumen and leadership skills to help grow the office’s diverse practices. Kevin did an amazing job growing and diversifying this key office and now can be more focused on growing key practice areas for KD firm wide.”

Barry serves as counsel to primary carriers, excess carriers and reinsurers based in the US, Canada, Europe, Bermuda and other offshore jurisdictions, handling high exposure matters. She handles securities class actions, shareholder derivative actions, class and creditors’ breach of fiduciary duty claims and consumer class action, employment liability, bankers’ liability, mortgage lenders/brokers liability, investment advisor/mutual fund liability and professional negligence claims. She also provides guidance and assistance to carriers on underwriting and product development, including drafting specimen and manuscript policies, endorsements and coverage agreements.

Zigelman concentrates his practice in insurance coverage matters, specifically dealing with directors and officers liability, professional liability, ERISA/fiduciary-related claims, commercial general liability (CGL), admiralty and maritime, toxic/mass tort and environmental coverage. His experience includes drafting coverage position letters and coverage opinions, as well as litigating complex insurance coverage matters for insurers and reinsurers.

“I had gotten to know KD over the years through mediations, industry events and other forums and now that I am at the firm and see the work being done every day, I admire my colleagues even more,” said Barry.

“It has been rewarding to watch the NYC office grow from a focus on insurance coverage and directors & officers liability to become full service including financial services litigation, construction accident, professional liability and labor & employment law,” said Zigelman.

“I am excited to be able to give increased focus to our London clients who are turning attention back to the US market and growing this practice, as well as our cyber and virtual currency and reps and warranties practices, which have seen excellent growth in this business climate,” said Mattessich.