Atty. John T. Cofresi

Atty. John T. Cofresi

An accomplished trial lawyer and appellate advocate in the firm’s New York City office, John Cofresi’s multifaceted practice focuses on professional liability, employment, commercial litigation and complex litigation. John brings years of experience litigating cases as a defense attorney with his carrier-side experience, from his tenure as a claims consultant with CNA, to benefit firm clients.

New York New York 21 yrs experience 21 year
Call (212) 999-7128 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About John T. Cofresi at a glance

John T. Cofresi is a Partner based in New York, New York, practicing at Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP. They have 21+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2005. Their practice focuses on personal injury, employment, ip, class action, and product liability. Admitted to practice in New York (2005). Educated at New York Law School (J.D., 2014) and State University of New York College at Oneonta (B.S., 2001). Active member of Memberships New York State Bar Association Standing Committee on Professional Discipline. Serands clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • An accomplished trial lawyer and appellate advocate in the firm’s New York City office, John Cofresi’s multifaceted practice focuses on professional liability, employment, commercial litigation and complex litigation
  • John brings years of experience litigating cases as a defense attorney with his carrier-side experience, from his tenure as a claims consultant with CNA, to benefit firm clients
  • He is a results-oriented lawyer
  • John’s experience includes, but is not limited to, the defense of owners, developers, general contractors, automobile manufacturers, insurers, lawyers, healthcare professionals and construction managers in a variety of different matters
  • His practice experience includes the defense of worksite accidents, rescission actions under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (“ILSA”), accessibility claims under the Americans with Disability Act, and claims of housing discrimination by prospective home buyers
  • John’s experience includes the defense of breach of warranty claims along with violations of New York General Business Law 349 (Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices) and 350 (False Advertising)
  • A few of John’s notable successes include securing the recovery of legal fees for a general contractor and developer from the underlying subcontractors in a contested labor law matter
  • the voluntary discontinuance of claims of malicious prosecution and abuse of process against an attorney
  • the pre-answer dismissal of breach of contact claims in a first-party insurance coverage matter on forum non conveniens grounds
  • the pre-answer dismissal of claims brought against an insurance agent for purportedly failing to procure required insurance that would have covered a cargo loss
  • the voluntary discontinuance of ILSA claims as time-barred
  • successfully obtaining a no-probable cause finding in the New York City HRC against a restaurant and its manager involving claims of workplace discrimination that was then used preclude a subsequent state action on election of remedy grounds
  • summary judgment in favor of an employer in an ERISA benefits matter under the payroll practices rule
  • a defense verdict in a week-long trial in Kings County in a matter involving a bowling accident
  • and the summary dismissal of an extremely high-value property damage subrogation claim arising out of a fire that had been asserted against a fire suppression system servicer
  • In addition to John’s comprehensive litigation practice, he is also an integral member of the firm’s London Coverage Team
  • John assists London syndicates and markets with a wide variety of insurance matters including first-party and third-party claims
  • In this capacity, John provides coverage evaluations and recommendations for both primary and excess carriers
  • As part of his coverage practice for both the domestic and London insurance market, he conducts examinations under oath, handles insurance-related litigation, and facilitates settlements in all lines of business, including natural disasters, construction, business interruption, professional liability, cyber, general liability, environmental, and property
  • Outside the office, John is an active member of his community
  • He is a three-time finisher of the New York City Marathon and a member of the New York Road Runners
  • John has completed more than 31 races for a cumulative distance of over 303.7 miles (excluding training)
  • He is also an experienced snowboarder and climber whose climbing experience includes the “Gunks,” Joshua Tree, and the Barton Greenbelt in Austin, Texas
  • Newsroom Publications •Amended Insurance Disclosure Act Brings Sigh of Relief for Insurers Resource, 3.7.22 •Co-author, Risk Exposure Trends: Ten Issues Confronting Law Firms, Bloomberg BNA (2017) •A Year Later, Did Runner v
  • New York Stock Exch., Inc., Really Expand the Application of Labor Law Section 240(1)?
  • Defense Digest, June Vol. 17, No. 2 (2011) Community Activities •New York Road Runners In the News •Victory in Labor Law Action: Multi-Plaintiff Case Dismissed •Surplus Line Insurer Secures Defense in Policy Limits Arbitration •Amended Insurance Disclosure Act Brings Sigh of Relief for Insurers Honors & Recognitions •Super Lawyers 'Rising Star' (2014)

Practice Areas Explained

John T. Cofresi's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John T. Cofresi handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Personal Injury

Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.

John T. Cofresi is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in New York →

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

John T. Cofresi is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in New York →

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

John T. Cofresi is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in New York →

Class Action

John T. Cofresi is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in New York →

Product Liability

John T. Cofresi is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in New York →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in New York

Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in New York or all attorneys in New York.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about John T. Cofresi

Where is John T. Cofresi's law office located?
John T. Cofresi's law practice is located in New York, New York. The firm is Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does John T. Cofresi handle?
John T. Cofresi focuses on personal injury, employment, ip, class action, product liability. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in New York.
How long has John T. Cofresi practiced law?
John T. Cofresi has 21+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2005.
Where did John T. Cofresi go to law school?
John T. Cofresi earned their education at (J.D., 2014); (B.S., 2001).
How can I contact John T. Cofresi for a consultation?
You can contact John T. Cofresi directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

J.D.
New York Law School
- 2014
B.S.
State University of New York College at Oneonta
- 2001

Bar Admissions

New York
Admitted: 2005

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.