James A. Skarzynski

Jim served as Chairman of the firm's Executive Committee from the firm's inception in 2003 until January 1, 2024, when he became Senior Counsel to the firm. He counsels insurance clients on a wide 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 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 advises clients regarding insurance underwriting and new product development. He has assisted many clients in drafting specimen insurance policies and specialized manuscript policies and endorsements for complex underwriting situations. Additionally, he 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. He is very active in the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) and has held many leadership roles. From 2001 to 2004, he co-chaired the Annual PLUS Directors and Officers Liability Symposium and served as a Trustee from 2012-2018, during which he held various executive roles, including President. He served on 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.

Since ending his tenure as Chairman, Jim has devoted a significant portion of his practice to pro bono representation of migrant families in defensive asylum removal proceedings in Immigration Court. Jim is also a volunteer mentor to several students at Cristo Rey High School in East Harlem, New York City. Cristo Rey serves students with the potential and motivation to succeed but who lack the educational background or financial means to attend other private, college prep schools.

 

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 - present
• New York Super Lawyers, 2006 - present
• 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
• 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
• American Bar Association, Litigation, Tort Trial and Insurance and Business Law Sections, Member
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)