Atty. Michelle M. Arbitrio
Michelle M. Arbitrio is the Managing Partner of WSHB’s White Plains, New York, office and an accomplished trial and appellate attorney with extensive experience as a litigator in the state and federal courts of New York and Connecticut.
Profile Summary
About Michelle M. Arbitrio at a glance
Michelle M. Arbitrio is a Partner based in New York, New York, practicing at Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP. Their practice focuses on employment, business, securities, litigation, and cannabis. Educated at Pace University School of Law (J.D., 2002) and Pace International Law Review, Articles Editor Providence College (B.A., 1999). Active member of Memberships •Professional Liability Defense Federation. Serands clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Michelle M. Arbitrio is the Managing Partner of WSHB’s White Plains, New York, office and an accomplished trial and appellate attorney with extensive experience as a litigator in the state and federal courts of New York and Connecticut
- Michelle also serves as National Trial Counsel and National Coordinating Counsel for her clients in state and federal lawsuits, multi-district litigations, FINRA arbitrations and class actions throughout the country
- In her capacity as National Counsel, Michelle has handled matters in Illinois, Wisconsin, Montana, Pennsylvania, Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Alabama, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Puerto Rico
- Nationally recognized for Management, Professional and Employment Liability, Michelle counsels and defends directors and officers against claims alleging fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duties, and a variety of professionals against claims based on alleged errors and omissions (E&O) in the performance of their professional services
- Michelle’s D&O work involves the defense of both for-profit and not-for-profit companies and their executives, and E&O work includes defending insurance agents and brokers, securities brokers, lawyers, and a wide range of other miscellaneous professionals
- Michelle is regularly called upon to handle complex, high-stakes commercial litigation and claims involving allegations of gross negligence, fraud and malfeasance, harassment and discrimination, as well as litigation of non-solicitation/non-compete disputes involving special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”)
- Michelle is currently serving as President-Elect of the Professional Liability Defense Federation, and has served in numerous other roles at PLDF over the years including: Chief Diversity Officer, Member of the Board of Directors, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of the Insurance Agents and Brokers Committee, and Co-Chair of the Nuclear Verdicts Committee
- She has been published numerous times in the New York Law Journal and other esteemed publications, and she is often consulted and quoted as an expert in business, insurance and claims publications
- Michelle has received numerous awards for excellence in litigation management and client service
- Newsroom News •WSHB Partner Michelle Arbitrio Installed as President-Elect of the Professional Liability Defense Federation Firm News, 9.9.25 •Understanding New York's Newest Employment Laws Article, 1.10.24 •Michelle Arbitrio Appointed Secretary of the Professional Liability Defense Federation Firm News, 10.2.23 •Michelle Arbitrio Named Chief Diversity Officer by Federation Firm News, 1.20.22 •WSHB Elevates Ten Partners to Defined Equity Status Newsroom, 1.16.20 •Powerhouse Litigator Joins WSHB as Partner Newsroom, 2.14.18 Events, Seminars & Speaking Engagements •'Confidence Gap or Ambition Tax?
- Being Your Own Best Advocate for Raises, Promotions and Career Opportunities.' Women in Insurance Leadership ExecuSummit, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, March 15, 2023 •' An Introduction to Variable Annuities, ' Presentation for Lancer Claims Services and Calsurance, 2023 •“Social Medial Solutions for Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” Women in Insurance Leadership ExecuSummit, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, March 9, 2022 •“The New Normal - Balancing Diversity and Inclusion Goals with Work/Life Balance,” DRI Construction Law Seminar, Austin, TX, January 26-28, 2022 •“The Coming Wave of SPAC Litigation: D&O and E&O Perspectives on the SPAC Trend,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, October 7, 2021 •“The Past is Prologue: The Coming Covid-19 Investor Claims Tsunami,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Meeting (Virtual), October 2, 2020 •'A Discussion Regarding Insurance Agents and Brokers E&O Claims Relating to Covid-19,' ExecuSummit Webinar, July 21, 2020 •“Active Shooter: Emerging Insurance and Risk Management Perspectives,” The Institutes’ Future of Risk Virtual Conference, April 3, 2020 •'Women, Compensation and the Gender Pay Gap,' Women Leaders in Insurance ExecuSummit, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, March 2, 2020 •“Defending Insurance Agent and Broker Failure to Procure Claims,” 13th Annual E&O Insurance ExecuSummit, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, October 30, 2019 •“Emerging Risks for Insurance Agents and Brokers - Know Thyself and What You Sell/Buy,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, September 27, 2019 •“Professional, D&O and EPL Issues Relating to Mass Shootings, ” CLM’s 2019 Cyber, Management & Professional Liability Conference, Boston, MA, July 11, 2019 •“Miscellaneous Professional Liability: Insuring the New and Unknown, ” CLM Webinar Series, Jersey City, NJ, March 28, 2019 •' Tangible Strategies for Combatting Unconscious Bias in the Workplace without Risking Backlash, ” 3rd Annual Women in Insurance Leadership ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT, March 6, 2019 •'Insurance Agents - Liability to Insurance Agents/Brokers - Life Agent Twisting Claims,' 12th Annual E&O Liability ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT, June 20, 2018 •“Miscellaneous Professional Liability - Insuring the New and Unknown,” 11th Annual E&O Liability ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT, June 20, 2017 •“Employment Law Update: Developments in LGBTQ Discrimination Cases,” National Employment Law Defense Counsel Summit, Philadelphia, PA, May 11, 2017 •“Drafting and Enforcing Effective Non-Compete Agreements and Trade Secret Protections,” Target Markets Program Administrators Association Annual Conference, Arlington, VA, April 19, 2016 •“Ethics and E-Discovery,” CLM Presentation, Kansas City, KS, April 13, 2015 •“Securities Update: A Discussion Regarding the New FINRA Suitability Rule, REITS, TICs and Private Placements,” CLE/CE Presentation, New York, NY, March 12, 2013 •“Securities 101: An Introduction to FINRA Arbitrations,” CLE/CE Presentation, New York, NY, October 29, 2013 •WSHB Partner Michelle Arbitrio to Moderate Session at 9th Annual Women in Insurance Leadership ExecuSummit Speaking Engagement, Naples, FL, 3.27.26 Publications •The Intersection of Social Media, Political Expression, and Employment Law: Navigating an Emerging Trend in Workplace Discipline Article, 9.24.25 •Challenging FINRA's Authority: Securities Firms May Have Grounds to Contest Unilateral Expulsions Article, 12.30.24 •Supreme Court Changes Standard for Title VII Job Transfer Discrimination Claims Publication, 4.25.24 •NY Court Tackles Polyamorous Relationship Article, 11.18.22 •NYC Pay Transparency Law Goes Into Effect May 15, 2022 Article, 3.23.22 •On The Basis of Sex: Supreme Court Holds that Employers Cannot Discriminate Against Employees for Being Homosexual or Transgender Case Updates, 6.17.20 •“NYC Pay Transparency Law Goes Into Effect May 15, 2022, ” WSHB Update, March 23, 2022 •Editor: 'Insurance Coverage Issues and Current Trends in Cyber Exposures,' Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Volume 13, Number 2, Second Quarter 2021 •Co-Author: 'Are SPACs an Emerging Area of Concern for Professional Liability E&O Exposure for FINRA Brokers and Broker-Dealers?,' Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Volume 13, Number 2, Second Quarter 2021 •' Federal Court Guardrails Covid-19 Paid Leave: Paid Leave Expanded For New York Workers Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, ' WSHB FFRCA Employer Alert, August 26, 2020 •' Leading Out Loud: Cyber, Management, and Professional Liability, ' CLM Magazine, July 2020 •'How will COVID-19 Impact Insurance Agents/Brokers E & O
- Minimizing Exposure During and After the Pandemic,' PLUS Journal, Second Quarter 2020 •' New Bill In New York Proposed for Signature by Governor Andrew Cuomo is Set To Make Employers 'SWEAT ',' WSHB Update, June 17, 2020 •' Litigation Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: Emerging Trends in Directors and Officers and Securities Litigation, ' WSHB Covid-19 Resource, May 27, 2020 •' On The Basis of Sex: Supreme Court Holds that Employers Cannot Discriminate Against Employees for Being Homosexual or Transgender, ' WSHB Case Update, August 1, 2019 •' Under the Radar Emerging Risks, ' CLM Magazine, May 15, 2019, quoted answering the question: What do you believe are the emerging risks today? •“Is There a Lawyer in the House?
- Issues Presented by Non-Lawyer Representatives in FINRA Securities Arbitrations,” CLM Litigation Management Magazine, March 6, 2017 •“Call Me, Maybe: Update Regarding Liability for Debt Collection Phone Calls Under FDCPA,” Professional Liability Advocate, February 17, 2015 •“Loophole Leaves Insurers Powerless Against Fraud,” New York Law Journal, December 1, 2014 •“A Check in the Win Column for Broker-Dealers,” Professional Liability Advocate, September 16, 2014 •“Eastern District of New York Adopts ‘Express Train’ Discovery Schedule to Ensure Expeditious Resolution of Sandy-Related Coverage Suits,” Client Alert, April 24, 2014 •“Temporary Insurance Applications and Agreements: The Impact of Material Misrepresentations in Life Insurance Applications in Coverage,” FC&S Legal, December 10, 2013 In the News •The Intersection of Social Media, Political Expression, and Employment Law: Navigating an Emerging Trend in Workplace Discipline •WSHB Secures Appellate Victory in Fraud-Based Annuity Dispute •WSHB Partner Michelle Arbitrio Installed as President-Elect of the Professional Liability Defense Federation •Connecticut Appellate Court Affirms Dismissal of Complex D&O Case Involving Dillon Stadium Honors & Recognitions •Recognized in the Empower 50 Advocates Role Model List (2023) •Rising Star - Westchester’s 40 Under 40
Practice Areas Explained
Michelle M. Arbitrio's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michelle M. Arbitrio handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Michelle M. Arbitrio is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in New York →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Michelle M. Arbitrio is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in New York →
Michelle M. Arbitrio is one of 64,529 securities attorneys indexed nationally. Browse securities attorneys in New York →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Michelle M. Arbitrio is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in New York →
Cannabis attorneys for business licensing, regulatory compliance, and marijuana-related legal matters.
Michelle M. Arbitrio is one of 3,138 cannabis attorneys indexed nationally. Browse cannabis 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.
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