• 212-827-4501

Michael W. Coffey

Founding Partner

Michael Coffey, a founding partner of the New York law firm of Coffey Modica, is a preeminent trial lawyer sought by companies globally for his experience and success in handling complex, high-exposure insurance defense litigation. He has handled many of the largest insurance-related claims and litigated matters in New York state over the past 25 years and has served as a defense attorney in more than 125 jury trials for companies and syndicates in state and federal courts throughout the United States, as well as has arbitrated and mediated over 300 matters to a successful conclusion.

200 E Post Road, Suite 210
White Plains, NY 10601
508-651-6201

30 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, CT 06820
203-896-5566

mcoffey@coffeymodica.com

Overview

Michael has extensive experience defending insurance clients in all business lines, mitigating client exposure and containing costs either by alternative dispute resolution or trial by jury, when necessary. He focuses on construction litigation, miscellaneous professional liability, contingency, legal malpractice, cyber security, public entity, allied health, habitation, dram shop (liquor liability) and premises liability, transportation, architects and engineers, employment practices liability, energy, excess liability and casualty.

Michael’s legal practice includes direct and excess insurance litigation; reinsurance litigation; primary and excess monitoring, coverage and oversight of national programs for companies; insurers; syndicates; captive insurance companies; and managing general agents in the United States, London, Dublin and Bermuda. He also assists the London market insuring and reinsuring syndicates and companies with cover-holder, third-party administrator and cedant audits, ranging from single, high-exposure claim audits to portfolio, investigative, comfort and pre-commutation audits, and regularly handles a range of marine/admiralty matters internationally.

As national coordinating counsel for Coffey Modica, Michael provides claims and litigation management services for the firm and oversees all aspects of claims management, teams, and processes and protocols that drive the efficient and cost-effective delivery of these services.  He also serves as managing director for the firm’s Connecticut office.

As a thought leader in the insurance industry, Michael is frequently asked by insurance companies, corporations and trade associations to lecture and provide training on best practices for claims handling, jury trends, trial advocacy, and New York Labor Law matters.

He has been published in numerous professional publications and is often consulted and quoted by the media as an expert in construction, trial advocacy, insurance and claims.

Michael Coffey in the News

Admissions

  • Connecticut
  • New York
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court, Southern District of New York
  • US District Court, Western District of New York

Government Service

  • Assistant District Attorney, Brooklyn, NY
  • City Council Member, Norwalk, CT
  • Fire Commissioner, Norwalk, CT
  • Service Academy Selection Committee, Senator Joseph Lieberman

Awards & Achievements

  • 40 Under 40 Award, Fairfield County Business Journal
  • Corporate Achiever Award, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
  • Fairfield County Building Trades Person of the Year
  • Irish Legal 100, Irish Voice Newspaper
  • Selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers, Construction

Education

  • St. John’s University of Law, JD
    and Research Assistant to Dr. Edward Fagan, Dean
  • Connecticut College, BA