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Overview

Partner Jonathan B. Isaacson concentrates his practice in liability defense, insurance disputes and commercial matters. He is the co-chair of our Cannabis Practice Group, writing and lecturing extensively on the legal and business implications of the burgeoning cannabis industry and its impacts on a rapidly evolving liability landscape and insurance marketplace.

In his liability defense practice, Mr. Isaacson defends professionals from claims sounding in negligence, malpractice, breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and under statute (including RICO).  In this regard, he is routinely retained to defend claims against attorneys, accountants, insurance agents and brokers, real estate professionals, and construction/design professionals. Mr. Isaacson also represents clients with regard to disciplinary matters, including attorney grievance complaints.

Mr. Isaacson also has extensive experience representing clients in a wide range of bodily injury and property damage claims, with a particular emphasis on high exposure/catastrophic injury claims arising from construction-related accidents and occurrences, including claims arising under New York’s Labor Law Sections 200, 240 and 241(6). In addition to defending construction liability exposures, he is also adept at navigating the complex risk transfer and insurance coverage issues which inevitably arise from such matters. Mr. Isaacson’s defense experience extends beyond the construction site, to all manner of product liability, negligent security and premises liability matters. During his career, Mr. Isaacson has represented manufacturers, distributors and retailers with regard to product liability claims involving industrial equipment and consumer products.

Throughout his career, he has secured victories and favorable outcomes for clients through New York and New Jersey State and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. 

Mr. Isaacson also has served as coverage counsel for both errors and omissions and general liability insurers at the primary and excess levels. In addition to providing sound coverage advice and litigating declaratory judgment actions (when necessary), Mr. Isaacson has acted as monitoring counsel for high-exposure claims for insurers and reinsurers.

In his commercial practice, Mr. Isaacson represents clients with respect to a wide range of contractual and business disputes. While always prepared to aggressively litigate on a client’s behalf, Mr. Isaacson is meticulous in understanding the business needs and goals of his clients in order to assist with fashioning creative solutions to what often seem like intractable disputes so that matters can be resolved without the need for costly and time-consuming litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, he served as an associate with a New York litigation firm, where he litigated professional liability, product liability, general negligence and insurance coverage matters. Mr. Isaacson also analyzed complex insurance coverage issues and drafted coverage opinions for insurers.

Admissions

  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court
    • Southern District of New York
    • Eastern District of New York
    • Northern District of New York
    • District of New Jersey

Education

  • New York Law School – J.D.
    • cum laude
    • Moot Court Association
  • University at Buffalo – B.A.
    • magna cum laude

Professional Memberships

  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • CLM Long Island Chapter – Director of Membership

Representative Matters

  • Kruetzberg v. Law Offices of John Riconda, P.C., 210 A.D.3d 884 (2d Dep’t 2022) (succeeded in securing affirmance of order which granted client’s pre-answer motion to dismiss legal malpractice claims based upon statute of limitations grounds).

  • Drasche v. Edelman & Edelman 201 A.D.3d 434 (1st Dep’t 2022) (succeeded in securing affirmance of order which granted client’s pre-answer motion to dismiss legal malpractice action for failure to state a claim based, in part, upon failure to viably plead proximately caused damages).

  • Higgins v. TST Hudson, L.L.C., 179 A.D.3d 508 (1st Dep’t 2020) (succeeded in securing reversal of trial court order which granted summary judgment to Plaintiff under Labor Law 240(1) in catastrophic injury action, and in securing conditional summary judgment on client’s behalf with respect to indemnity cross-claims against other trades involved with injury-producing work).

  • Fernandez v. City of New York, 148 A.D.3d 995 (2d Dep’t 2017) (succeeded in securing affirmance of order which granted pre-answer motion to dismiss in bodily injury action asserting maritime and Labor Law claims).

  • Mr. PGP, LLC v. 10-15 Realty, LLC, 708661/2020 (Sup Ct. Queens County, 2020) (secured pre-answer dismissal in commercial matter arising from real estate dispute alleging breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims against client).

Awards

  • Super Lawyers – Rising Star (2015 – 2017)

Publications

Super Lawyers Super Lawyers Best Law Firms 2023 Best Law Firms 2024 Martindale Hubbel AV Preeminent Law 360