Professional Liability

C&G’s Professional Liability group is well placed to represent lawyers and law firms in a wide variety of issues relating to professional liability and alleged malpractice. Our attorneys have successfully defended clients against claims of professional negligence, fiduciary breach, fraud, third-party liability, and conflict of interest, among other claims. They have decades of experience litigating high-stakes, complex, and multiparty professional liability disputes. Our practice includes a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and experienced Chambers and The Legal 500-ranked litigators with excellent track records in civil and criminal trials and appeals. Our attorneys are active members of the legal community, and, in addition to co-chairing an ethics sub-committee of the American Bar Association, serve on the New York City Bar Association’s Professional Discipline Committee and the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Responsibility. They are active thought leaders, including chairing annual ethics panels for the Practicing Law Institute, regularly presenting CLEs on legal ethics matters, and publishing articles on professional responsibility issues.

Key Contacts

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Litigation & Arbitration

Represented prominent law firm in complex nationwide malpractice class action.

Represented national law firm in tax malpractice claim arising from $219 million bond offering by the Virgin Islands government.

Represented law firm in malicious prosecution action brought by one of nation’s largest companies and its founder.

C&G’s Douglas J. Pepe Mentioned in Story on Class Action

August 8, 2023 | News

Cohen & Gresser partner Douglas J. Pepe was once again mentioned in Law360 for his representation of law firm Milberg LLP in a class action, Bobbitt v. Milberg et al., alongside co-counsel Gregory P. Joseph and Gila S. Singer of Joseph Hage Aaronson LLC and Michele G. Thompson of the Udall Law Firm LLP. A $32 million settlement in the yearslong malpractice action received preliminary approval from a federal judge in April, and class counsel has now asked the court to approve $9.6 million in attorney fees.

Douglas J. Pepe Mentioned in Law360 Coverage of Milberg Settlement

April 11, 2023 | News

Cohen & Gresser partner Douglas J. Pepe was recently mentioned in Law360 for his representation of law firm Milberg LLP in a class action, Bobbitt v. Milberg et al., alongside co-counsel Gregory P. Joseph and Gila S. Singer of Joseph Hage Aaronson LLC and Michele G. Thompson of the Udall Law Firm LLP. A settlement in the yearslong malpractice action received preliminary approval from a federal judge.

Cohen & Gresser Strengthens Litigation and Arbitration Team with Addition of Douglas J Pepe in New York

January 5, 2022 | News

International law firm Cohen & Gresser today announced that leading litigator and trial lawyer Douglas J Pepe will join the firm as a partner in its New York office.

Doug brings over 20 years of experience representing corporations, financial services clients (including hedge funds and private equity funds), law firms, and other clients in complex commercial litigation. His practice focuses on high-stakes securities litigation, legal malpractice cases, insurance disputes, mass torts, class action defense, and legal issues in the blockchain and digital currency space.

“I’ve co-counseled with Cohen & Gresser in the past and am thrilled to be joining a talented team with exceptional trial capabilities, high-quality work, and excellent judgment,” said Doug. “I look forward to building my practice here and to working with my new colleagues around the world on complex commercial disputes, professional liability defense, and blockchain advisory work.”

Doug has successfully litigated tens of billions of dollars in claims involving a wide variety of complex issues, including playing a leading role on the Court-appointed Executive Committee charged with directing the subrogation and property damage claims arising out of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

“I’m delighted to welcome Doug to the firm,” said Lawrence T Gresser, co-founder and global managing partner of Cohen & Gresser. “We know him well and like and respect him very much. He is a first-rate litigator and will be integral in providing elite client service and guidance in areas that are important to our clients, including growing our commercial and securities litigation practices, our professional liability practice, and our blockchain and digital currency group.”

Prior to joining Cohen & Gresser, Doug was a partner at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLC, a preeminent litigation boutique. Doug is a member of the American Law Institute and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He also serves as a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University School of Law, where he teaches blockchain law and technology.