Wilson Elser

Wilson Elser

National defense litigation firm with 1,100+ attorneys

Overview

Wilson Elser is a defense litigation law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys handling defense and coverage matters for clients in local, state, and federal courts. The firm provides litigation, coverage, and trial services, frequently stepping in to take over unresolved matters from other firms and guiding cases to align with clients’ guidelines and terms. Its approach combines handling a high volume of matters (about 100,000 at any time) with tackling technically challenging cases. Compared with competitors, the firm distinguishes itself through its large national footprint, history of successful defense-oriented results, ability to parachute into ongoing cases, and a strong reputation as a leading defense counsel. The firm’s goal is to defend clients effectively across jurisdictions by delivering rigorous, term-aligned litigation strategies and achieving favorable outcomes on clients’ terms.

About Wilson Elser

Simplify's Rating
Why Wilson Elser is rated
B
Rated A on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consulting

Legal

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1978

People at Wilson Elser

People at Wilson Elser who can refer or advise you

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The firm elevated 41 attorneys to partnership in 2026, strengthening its national legal talent pool[3][10].
  • Hiring Thomas Dunlap bolsters emergency response services with prior FMCSA and NTSB leadership expertise[4].
  • New Data Use & AI Governance practice merges privacy and security for modern business clients[9].

What critics are saying

  • Environmental liability exposure from fracking claims lacks dedicated in-house scientific counsel, risking high impact in 12–18 months.
  • Medical malpractice client loss may occur due to Sean Maraynes' prior departure and return to New York defense litigation.
  • Denver design/construction practice erosion is likely from Elizabeth Olson's prior affiliation threatening internal team stability.

What makes Wilson Elser unique

  • Wilson Elser leads U.S. defense litigation with 1,400 attorneys handling 100,000 cases annually[2].
  • The firm uniquely integrates AI governance, data privacy, and IP into cohesive business-focused practices[1][9].
  • It maintains top Chambers USA rankings across nine departments with 11 individually accredited attorneys[6].

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Benefits

401(k) Company Match

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Company News

Medical Liability Monitor
Jun 16th, 2026
Wilson Elser rehires trial attorney Sean Maraynes as partner.

Wilson Elser rehires trial attorney Sean Maraynes as partner. National law firm Wilson Elser has rehired veteran trial attorney Sean Maraynes as a partner in its Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice. Maraynes, who previously served as of counsel with the firm before departing in 2019, returns after six years at a New York defense litigation firm. He joined Wilson Elser on June 15 and will be based in the firm's White Plains office, serving clients throughout the New York metropolitan area. "Sean is a skilled trial attorney with a proven track record of success, and his extensive experience in defending high-exposure casualty matters will be a significant asset to our medical malpractice and healthcare clients," Lori Semlies, co-chair of Wilson Elser's Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice, said in a statement. Maraynes said Wilson Elser's reputation for representing businesses, hospitals and healthcare providers was a key factor in his decision to return. His practice focuses on defending physicians, businesses and nonprofit organizations in medical malpractice and catastrophic injury litigation. He has served as lead counsel in more than 40 trials involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, premises liability, construction litigation and New York Labor Law claims. Before joining private practice, Maraynes spent five years as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted violent crimes including homicide cases. Maraynes earned his law degree from Cardozo School of Law and a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminology/criminal justice from the University of Maryland.

Claim Depot
Mar 17th, 2026
Kerkering, Barberio & Co. data breach exposes sensitive info for 4,179 individuals.

Kerkering, Barberio & Co. data breach exposes sensitive info for 4,179 individuals. March 17, 2026 Kerkering Barberio & Co. Affected by the data breach? You may be entitled to compensation. Submit a claim today. Kerkering, Barberio & Co., a certified public accounting firm based in Sarasota, Florida, disclosed a data breach that affected 4,179 people in the United States. The firm reported the breach to state attorneys general in March 2026, nearly 10 months after first discovering the incident. The company found the breach on May 27, 2025, according to its notification letters to consumers. It sent written notices to affected individuals on March 13, 2026. The types of personal information exposed were extensive, ranging from Social Security numbers and bank account details to passport scans, medical information and login credentials. Keep reading for more details. How the breach unfolded. On or around May 27, 2025, Kerkering discovered that an unauthorized person had gained access to four of the company's email accounts, according to the firm's notification letters. The firm isolated those email accounts and hired a third-party cybersecurity company to secure the accounts and investigate what happened. The forensic investigation found evidence that some of the firm's files had been accessed by the unauthorized actor. Based on those findings, the company brought in a separate data mining vendor to review the affected data. On March 6, 2026, the firm finalized its list of individuals to notify. That process took more than nine months from the date the breach was first discovered. The breach affected three Maine residents, 21 Massachusetts residents and four New Hampshire residents, according to filings with those states' attorneys general. According to the company's notification to consumers, the data that may have been accessed includes names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, trust names and Social Security numbers, email addresses, home phone numbers, mobile phone numbers, bank account details, credit card numbers (including CVCs, expiration dates, credit card scans), driver's license numbers (scans, expiration dates), passport numbers (scans, expiration dates), login access info (username and password), medical reference numbers, private health member IDs, financial account information, health insurance information, medical information, biometric data, taxpayer identification numbers. What Kerkering did in response. After discovering the breach, the firm disconnected all access to the impacted email accounts, changed administrative credentials, restored operations in a secure mode and enhanced its security measures. The company also stated it will continue to take steps to reduce the risk of future harm. Kerkering hired the law firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP to handle the breach response and regulatory notifications. The company also engaged a third-party notification vendor to help with the process of alerting affected individuals. The firm is offering all affected individuals 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services through Cyberscout, a TransUnion company. These services include single bureau credit monitoring, a single bureau credit report and a single bureau credit score. The company set up a toll-free call center for people with questions. Affected individuals can call 1-833-297-3832, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, excluding national holidays. Steps to take if your information was exposed. Freeze credit reports. With Social Security numbers exposed, placing a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus is one of the most important steps. A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in a person's name. It is free to place and lift. Contact each bureau separately: * Experian: 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com/freeze/center.html * Equifax: 1-888-298-0045 or www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services * TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800 or www.transunion.com/credit-freeze Place a fraud alert. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify a person's identity before extending new credit. It is free and lasts one year. Contacting one bureau is enough, as that bureau will notify the other two. Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN. Because Social Security numbers and taxpayer identification numbers were exposed, tax-related identity theft is a real concern. The IRS allows any taxpayer to request an Identity Protection PIN, which prevents someone else from filing a tax return using their Social Security number. Monitor bank and credit card accounts closely. With bank account details, credit card numbers, CVCs and expiration dates exposed, affected individuals should review their financial statements carefully for any unauthorized transactions. Change passwords immediately. Anyone who used the same password for other accounts should change those passwords right away. Watch for phishing attempts. Affected individuals should be cautious about emails, phone calls or texts that reference this breach or ask for additional personal details. Scammers sometimes use stolen data to craft convincing phishing messages. Monitor health insurance statements. Affected individuals should review their Explanation of Benefits statements for any services they did not receive. Check credit reports regularly. Everyone is entitled to free credit reports, which can be obtained at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. Reviewing these reports can help people spot accounts or inquiries they do not recognize. Report suspected identity theft. If anyone notices signs of identity theft, they should report it to local law enforcement and their state attorney general's office. They can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.identitytheft.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338. Submit your claim to the law firm handling this investigation. Types of INFORMATION affected * Names * Social Security Numbers * Dates of Birth * Addresses * Government IDs * Medical Info * Financial Info Sources. Disclosures Breach summary. Affected Entity Consumers Notification date Breach Discovered Date May 27, 2025 Data breach settlements. Open for Claims

UpwardPost
Mar 16th, 2026
False flag alert: silverstein lands 24K-SF lease at l.a.'s U.S. Bank Tower.

False flag alert: silverstein lands 24K-SF lease at l.a.'s U.S. Bank Tower. Silverstein Properties has secured a new full-floor lease at its 72-story skyscraper in Los Angeles, hot on the heels of its 2 million-square-foot lease deal at 2 World Trade Center in New York City. The landlord inked a 24,416-square-foot lease with law firm Wilson Elser at U.S. Bank Tower, at 633 West Fifth Street in Downtown Los Angeles, Commercial Observer has learned. Wilson Elser will occupy the entire 31st floor at the tower and will relocate from its current office, at nearby City National Plaza, later this year. Silverstein Properties was represented in-house by Harlan Strader, as well as JLL's Jaclyn Ward, James Malone, Marin Turney and Sarah Hancock. Cushman & Wakefield's Ryan Hoopes, Tom Sutherland and Luke Raimondo represented the tenant. Other tenants at U.S. Bank Tower include U.S. Bank, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, Marsh & McLennan, Lincoln International, Sompo International and King & Spalding.

Aviation News Online
Aug 12th, 2025
Wilson Elser hires former NTSB, FMCSA official Dunlap as of counsel in Washington

US law firm Wilson Elser has appointed Thomas Dunlap, a former senior official at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as of counsel in its Washington, D.C. metro office.Dunlap will help lead emergency response services for a ke...

PR Newswire
Jun 5th, 2025
Chambers Usa 2025 Recognizes Eleven Wilson Elser Attorneys And Nine Practices

NEW YORK, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National law firm Wilson Elser announced today it was recognized in nine department categories, and 11 individual attorneys were ranked in seven categories in the Chambers USA Guide 2025.This year the firm expanded its Chambers presence to include these firm rankings:California – Insurance: Insurer– Insurance: Insurer Colorado – Insurance– Insurance Illinois – Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer– Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer New York – Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer.New individual rankings include Katherine E. Tammaro (Partner-Madison, NJ), Jane E. Young (Partner-Denver, CO), and Todd E. Jaworsky (Partner-Denver, CO).Wilson Elser moved up to Band 2 for USA National – Cannabis Law.Chambers USA is the leading legal directory, ranking the top lawyers and law firms across the United States. The legal rankings are based on in-depth market analysis and independent research, all conducted by a dedicated team of Chambers researchers.The Chambers USA 2025 rankings for Wilson ElserNine firm rankings:California – Insurance: InsurerColorado – InsuranceIllinois – Insurance: Dispute Resolution: InsurerNew Jersey – InsuranceNew York – Insurance: Dispute Resolution: InsurerTexas – InsuranceUSA Nationwide – Cannabis LawUSA Nationwide – Transportation: NTSB SpecialistsUSA Nationwide – Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York)Eleven individual attorney rankings:Todd E. Jaworsky – Colorado – InsuranceJane E

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