People
James A. Skarzynski
Senior Counsel
- New York
Biography
Jim counsels insurance clients on issues relating to a broad range of coverages, including directors and officers liability, financial institutions liability, investment advisor liability, private equity and hedge fund liability, lawyers professional liability, non-profit and private company liability, cyber, privacy, media and technology liability and other professional liability lines of coverage. He has worked on many of the most high profile and complex cases involving professional liability coverage. Chambers USA has described Jim as being “the gold standard” a “leader in the industry” and having “unparalleled industry knowledge and is extremely well-respected by all.”
Jim also counsels clients regarding insurance underwriting and new product development, and has assisted many clients in the drafting of both specimen insurance policies and specialized manuscript policies and endorsements for complex underwriting situations. He also has aided clients in the regulatory filing process of insurance products. As an insurance industry leader, Jim also serves as an expert witness in litigation on professional liability coverage issues.
Jim often speaks at legal conferences, seminars and in-house client training programs on D&O and related professional liability insurance. Jim is very active in and has held many leadership roles with the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS). From 2001 to 2004, Jim was the co-chair of the Annual PLUS Directors and Officers Liability Symposium. Jim also served as a Trustee of PLUS from 2012-2018. During that time Jim served in various executive capacities, including as President. Jim served as a member of the PLUS Conference Committee (2017-2023), and was the 2021 recipient of the PLUS 1 Award presented annually by PLUS to a person whose efforts have contributed substantially to the advancement and image of the professional liability industry.
Jim is a member of the New York City Bar Association, and served two three-year terms on the Association’s Insurance Committee. During that time Jim served as Chair of the Director and Officer Liability Sub-Committee during which time he co-chaired the annual D&O seminar presented by the Committee.
Jim has served as a mentor to members of The Bridge Transcends, an inclusive not-for-profit networking organization that supports the development of female talent in Financial Lines insurance and reinsurance. The leadership and support teams include men and women from across the insurance industry.
Jim also counsels clients regarding insurance underwriting and new product development, and has assisted many clients in the drafting of both specimen insurance policies and specialized manuscript policies and endorsements for complex underwriting situations. He also has aided clients in the regulatory filing process of insurance products. As an insurance industry leader, Jim also serves as an expert witness in litigation on professional liability coverage issues.
Jim often speaks at legal conferences, seminars and in-house client training programs on D&O and related professional liability insurance. Jim is very active in and has held many leadership roles with the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS). From 2001 to 2004, Jim was the co-chair of the Annual PLUS Directors and Officers Liability Symposium. Jim also served as a Trustee of PLUS from 2012-2018. During that time Jim served in various executive capacities, including as President. Jim served as a member of the PLUS Conference Committee (2017-2023), and was the 2021 recipient of the PLUS 1 Award presented annually by PLUS to a person whose efforts have contributed substantially to the advancement and image of the professional liability industry.
Jim is a member of the New York City Bar Association, and served two three-year terms on the Association’s Insurance Committee. During that time Jim served as Chair of the Director and Officer Liability Sub-Committee during which time he co-chaired the annual D&O seminar presented by the Committee.
Jim has served as a mentor to members of The Bridge Transcends, an inclusive not-for-profit networking organization that supports the development of female talent in Financial Lines insurance and reinsurance. The leadership and support teams include men and women from across the insurance industry.
Honors
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society, Board of Trustees, 2012-2018, President 2015
- Elected a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Insurance: Dispute Resolution-New York, 2023
- New York Super Lawyers, 2006 - 2023
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability
- 2021 Recipient of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society PLUS 1 Award
Professional Associations
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS): Co-Chair of the Annual PLUS D&O Symposium, 2001-2004; Trustee, 2012-2018; Secretary–Treasurer, 2012-2013; President-Elect, 2014; President, 2015; Immediate Past President, 2016; and Member of the Conference Committee, 2017-2023
- American Bar Association, Litigation, Tort Trial and Insurance and Business Law Sections, Member
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Former member of the Insurance Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Director and Officer and Professional Liability
Experience
experience
- Represents insurers in connection with the resolution of numerous securities class actions and derivative suits against public company insureds.
- Represents insurers in connection with claims arising from complex bankruptcy proceedings.
- Represents insurers in matters involving financial institution E&O insurance, private equity and hedge fund policies, and mutual fund and investment advisory coverage.
- Drafts specimen and manuscript polices for clients including new entrants to the D&O and professional liability marketplace.
- Counsels clients on underwriting considerations and trends and claim management issues relevant to D&O and professional liability lines of business.
- Participates on behalf of clients in the mediation process of numerous complex, high exposure multi-party litigations.
- Serves as expert witness on D&O and professional liability issues, including bad faith exposures.
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Bankruptcy Issues in Financial Lines Claims, Bespoke Client Presentation, August 2023, Presenter.
- Presentation at American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) Annual Meeting: Who’s on First: Developments & Dialogue in Complex D&O Claims, May 2023, Presenter.
- Presentation at American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) Annual Meeting: Hot Topics in D&O Insurance, 2022, Presenter.
- Presentation at PLUS D&O Symposium: Current Trends in Securities Class Action Litigation, 2022, Moderator and Panelist.
- Client Presentation: Current Developments in SPAC Litigation, 2021, Presenter.
- Client Presentation: Claims Handling Best Practices and Trends in Bath Faith and Extra-Contractual Litigation, 2016, Presenter.
- Presentation at PLUS D&O Symposium: Parting Shots: A Conversation with Industry Leaders, 2015, Moderator.
- Chair of the annual PLUS Conference, 2014, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- PLUS Webinar: The Jobs Act, 2013, Presenter.
- Presentation at ExecuSummit: Mediation Tactics and Strategy, 2011, Presenter.
- Presentation at ExecuSummit: Current Issues in Mediation, 2010, Presenter.
- Presentation at PLUS D&O Symposium: A Mock Mediation of a Securities Class Action, 2006, Presenter.
- Presentation at Insolvency Workshop, International Association of Insurance Receivers: An Overview of Selected Director and Officer Liability Insurance Issues that Arise in the Context of Company Insolvencies, 2006, Presenter.
- Presentation at Association of the Bar of the City of New York: Current Trends in Complex D&O Liability Claims, 2005, Presenter.
- Presentation at PLUS D&O Symposium: Current Trends in the Handling and Resolution of Complex D&O Claims in a Post Sarbanes-Oxley World, 2005, Presenter.
- Presentation at PLUS D&O Symposium: Hot Topics in the D&O Insurance World, 2004, Presenter.
- Presentation at Institute for International Research: Heading off Shareholder/Derivative Litigation, 1999, Presenter.
News
Seventeen Lawyers Named 2023 New York-Metro: Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
09/22/2023We are excited to announce that Super Lawyers has named 17 of our lawyers to its 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Thirteen lawyers were recognized as 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers and four lawyers were recognized 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars.
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Skarzynski Marick & Black & Individual Lawyers in Insurance Dispute Resolution
06/01/2023The 2023 edition of Chambers USA: Leading Lawyers for Business has ranked Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP as a leading law firm for “Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer – Illinois.” Chambers USA has also individually recognized Illinois-based partners Michael M. Marick, James H. Kallianis, and Karen M. Dixon and New York-based partners, James A. Skarzynski and Alexis J. Rogoski. Chambers highlights the firm’s “strong national and international capability in relation to complex and high-value insurance coverage disputes,” and quotes additional feedback that “the team is well versed in managing and analyzing the most complex cases. They provide outstanding service and responsiveness, they promptly advise of any developments, the details and impacts.”
James Skarzynski Honored with the PLUS1 Award by PLUS
02/25/2022Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP is pleased to announce that James Skarzynski has been honored with the PLUS1 Award by The Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS).
Firm Events
2023 American College of Coverage Counsel - 11th Annual Meeting
04/25/2023James Skarzynski and Karen M. Dixon will be speaking on upcoming panels for the American College of Coverage Counsel - 11th Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.
American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) 10th Annual Meeting
05/12/2022Jim Skarzynski will be presenting at the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) 10th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, May 12th.
2022 PLUS D&O Symposium
03/01/2022Jim Skarzynski will be moderating a panel on “Current Trends in Securities Class Action Litigation” at the opening session of the 2022 PLUS D&O Symposium at the New York Marriott Marquis on March 1st.