Kaufman Dolowich Expands Its D&O Insurance Practice With Addition of Three Industry-Leading Partners in New York

Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP (KD), a leading national law firm, today announced that it is expanding its hallmark Insurance Coverage & Litigation Practice with the addition of three Directors & Officers Liability partners in its New York City office. KD now has more than 20 attorneys nationwide providing D&O-related legal services.

Mary Jo Barry, John H. FitzSimons and David J. Kuffler each have more than two decades of experience and were partners in the New York City office of D’Amato & Lynch, LLP.  

“It is a huge opportunity when prominent attorneys who have handled major D&O and other financial lines cases for decades decide to join your firm,” said Ivan J. Dolowich, co-managing partner, KD. “We have known Mary Jo, John and David for more than 20 years. With a record number of securities class actions last year and the steep rise in litigation and regulatory challenges, we are thrilled to have these industry all-stars become part of our firm as we address our clients expanding D&O and financial lines related needs.”  

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. Barry earned her B.A. from Lafayette College and her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.  

FitzSimons’ practice focuses on directors and officers liability insurance coverage matters, as well as other professional and financial lines liability coverages, insurance bad faith and complex commercial insurance coverage. He advises clients based in the London market and Europe on US and cross-border exposures. He earned his B.A. from Manhattan College and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.

Kuffler handles matters pertaining to directors and officers liability insurance and many other lines of management and professional liability insurance. He represents insurers in coverage litigation and arbitrations in both domestic and international forums. Kuffler drafts policies and endorsements, in particular assisting clients with underwriting due diligence, policy drafting, and claims in connection with representations and warranty insurance and other types of transactional insurance. He earned his A.B. from Princeton University and his J.D. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law.

“We have gotten to know KD over the years through mediations, industry events and other forums and greatly admire the quality of the firm’s work and its great management,” said Barry. “KD offers a tremendous national platform for us to grow our practices as the D&O needs of our national and overseas clients keep expanding.”

“In addition to handling many of the industry’s most significant financial fraud cases, this team works with clients in the London market and Europe on US and cross-border exposures which meshes perfectly with KD’s increased work with its London clients who are turning attention back to the US market,” said Kevin Mattessich, managing partner of the KD New York City office.