Michael S. Komar

As a result of his many years of experience representing insurance carriers, Mike has developed an intimate working knowledge of the various liability insurance policy forms utilized through the years (e.g., M&C, OL&T, Garage Keepers Liability, CGL, Spectrum Business Liability, umbrella, excess and claims-made coverage forms). In addition, Mike has taken and defended hundreds of fact witness and expert depositions, argued numerous discovery, in limine and dispositive motions, participated in the trial/hearing of a number of cases and arbitrations, submitted and argued various appeals, and interviewed countless individuals involved with underwriting, the development of policy forms, drafting committees of the NBCU, IRB and ISO, the handling of claims, and the rendition of loss control and engineering services.

Aside from his extensive work in the insurance coverage field, Mike also has spent many years representing banks and other clients in various securities actions, and has provided litigation advice to financial institutions and investors in connection with various corporate transactions. He also has extensive experience defending commercial contract and business disputes, product liability, toxic tort and environmental cases, including government, class action and individual claimants. He has represented chemical, petroleum and manufacturing companies in asbestos, multi-chemical sensitivity, CERCLA, and Navigation Law actions, and financial industry clients in complex business disputes.

Mike was the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude at Saint Bonaventure University in 1989, attended honors programs at Greyfriar's Hall of Oxford University, and received his J.D. cum laude from Cornell Law School in 1992. At Cornell Law School, Mr. Komar was a member of the Cornell International Law Journal and the recipient of an American Jurisprudence Award for Academic Excellence. After graduation, Mike became associated with the firms of Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel LLP and Stenger & Finnerty in Buffalo, New York, where he handled commercial litigation matters, insurance coverage, product liability and environmental cases. In 1997, Mike became associated with the law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, focusing on insurance coverage and complex litigation matters.

Mike is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Bar Association of the City of New York. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and its various Federal District Courts, in addition to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of New York. He also has been admitted pro hac vice in various state and federal court actions in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Minnesota, Illinois, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and California.

Mike resides with his wife and family in Weston, Connecticut.