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Overview

Michael Zigelman is the co-managing partner of Kaufman Dolowich’s New York City office.  He concentrates his practice on all aspects of insurance coverage including directors and officers liability, professional liability, ERISA/fiduciary-related claims, commercial general liability (CGL), admiralty and maritime, toxic/mass tort and environmental coverage. Mr. Zigelman’s experience includes drafting coverage position letters and coverage opinions, as well as litigating complex insurance coverage matters for insurers and reinsurers throughout the United States, including allegations of bad faith and extra-contractual exposure.

Mr. Zigelman also handles all phases of coverage advice and litigation involving first-party property and business interruption issues nationwide, including claims related to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina,  Super Storm Sandy, COVID-19, and other CAT events.  His experience also includes serving as national counsel for global insurers to assist in creating a consistent approach to handling these claims. 

As with all matters, Mr. Zigelman places emphasis on early resolution of claims and litigated matters, including arbitration, mediation, and appraisal, and has had great success on behalf of his clients.  He also routinely assists business partners, including claims and underwriting teams, in identifying underwriting and coverage issues, as well as implementation of best practices from a risk management standpoint.

Additionally, Mr. Zigelman routinely drafts insurance policies and endorsements for all lines of coverage and has argued substantive motions in both state and federal courts. He has presented continuing legal education seminars on topics ranging from the impact and fallout of the Madoff fraud to coverage issues pertaining to the FDIC and failed banks, to best practices for handling CGL claims in New York.

Mr. Zigelman also serves as co-chair for Kaufman Dolowich’s General Liability Coverage Practice Group.

Admissions

  • New York

Education

  • Hofstra University School of Law – J.D.
  • Binghamton University, State University of New York – B.A.

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Publications

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