111 Broadway, Suite 1103
New York, NY 10006
(212) 970-7111
We are civil litigators. Our practice is varied, but is substantially concentrated in defense litigation and insurance coverage. Our coverage background enhances our work as defense counsel, a combination that drives risk transfer and adds value to the management of our clients’ litigation exposure. Our focus is on results and responsiveness. We practice in state and federal courts in New York and New Jersey, and we provide insurance advice and serve as monitoring counsel in matters nationwide.
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As we enter the holiday season and the end-of-year draws near, we look back at the year with gratitude, and at the road ahead with optimism. It has been a big year for our team, obtaining results for long-term clients and introducing ourselves to new ones. There have been a few “honors” along the way, including the firm being recognized again in the Chambers and Partners 2026 New York Spotlight Guide. We are most delighted to see associate Dua Tahir named as “One to Watch” in the Best Lawyers 2026 Guide. And Allison Drachman, Sim Shapiro, Ted Hecht and Bruce Strikowsky have been recognized as Super Lawyers in the latest rankings.
Our capabilities continue to grow in the areas of defense litigation, insurance coverage and appellate practice. Jason Pozner, Cathy Carter and Mary Wloszek are great additions to the firm, and we continue to look for skilled attorneys to be part of our liability and coverage practices (please send them our way!).
Jack Delano is the newest member of our growing team, bringing an enthusiasm for our practice and an impressive background. He comes to SD&S from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, LLP, where he gained case team litigation experience (and an appetite for the hands-on advocacy and client counselling that our boutique platform will permit). In addition to his legal background in contract, corporate, antitrust and other “Big Law” engagements, Jack gained practical experience in pro bono work and prior internships. Notably, Jack served as Managing Editor of the Cornell International Law Journal, and, during law school he worked as well for the Legal Information Institute (“LII”), focusing on the publication’s Supreme Court Bulletin. In his studies, his writings and in the workplace, Jack has examined how the legal industry’s adoption of fast-moving technology developments will impact law firm processes and the practice of law.
Welcome to the team, Jack!
Jack may be reached at jtd@strikowsky.com and at (646) 793-6529.
Ted’s experience encompasses trial verdicts and appeals in state, federal and administrative law cases concerning a broad spectrum of legal disciplines, including construction, securities, surety, employment, criminal defense and catastrophic personal injuries. In the transactional sphere, Ted has represented sureties and construction companies, ground transportation operators, real estate enterprises and an international leader in demolition of civic infrastructure.
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The firm was recognized by Chambers for 2025’s Spotlight New York Guide as a leading practice in the area of Insurance.
Attorneys Bruce Strikowsky, Sim Shapiro, Allison Drachman and Theodore Hecht were designated as Super Lawyers® for 2025.
A catastrophic workplace injury prompted suit against our clients, the owner and tenant of the construction site. After we commenced a third-party action against the plaintiff’s employer, Continental Indemnity Company initiated a declaratory judgment action against its insured seeking to avoid any defense or indemnity obligation under its policy extending unlimited coverage for Employer’s Liability.
2939, LLC v. Continental Indem. Co., Case 23-7466 (2d Cir. October 23, 2024).
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We are excited to welcome two seasoned specialists to our team. Justin Pomerantz brings extensive experience in litigating all aspects of New York Labor Law and construction-related claims. Emer Forde specializes in defending commercial fleets in vehicular accident cases and other legal matters, with a strong background in municipal liability.
Sim Shapiro and Dua Tahir, supported by Renee Fancher, achieved a defense verdict yesterday on a case alleging that our client manufactured a defective adaptive device attached to a vehicle’s steering wheel. We did not dispute that the device broke apart while the car was being driven (though there were grounds to do so), deciding instead to focus on the common sense argument that plaintiff could not show that the failure was a substantial cause of the resulting crash (or the four surgeries the plaintiff underwent in its wake). The jury did find the device to have been defective, but accepted our defense that the defect was not a cause of the crash. There were complex issues presented to the Westchester jury: its ability to see past the testimony of plaintiff’s expert was a reassuring demonstration of why a capable jury is the best arbiter of a factual dispute and the most meaningful way to obtain exoneration from overreaching claims. Tremendous credit lies with their attention to details and their fair consideration of the case. Credit also belongs principally to the support of our client and its insurer, who never wavered in their support of our evaluation of the case, and, despite a series of adverse evidentiary rulings, never buckled to the pressure from plaintiff. It takes resolve to see it through to the right result, and we could not be more proud of Sim and Dua and Renee for obtaining this result for a client that did not deserve to have its reputation unfairly sullied. It bears mention that this is Sim’s THIRD defense verdict in just over a year. AMAZING
Strikowsky Drachman & Shapiro welcomes Dua Tahir as an Associate
Dua joins us as an experienced litigator with a background in the defense of complex and catastrophic liability claims, including a substantial background with New York Labor Law and other construction-related claims.
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Strikowsky Drachman & Shapiro PLLC is grateful for the 2023 “Super Lawyers” recognition of partners Bruce Strikowsky (Insurance Coverage, General Litigation, Municipal Liability) Sim R. Shapiro (Insurance Coverage, Civil Litigation, Appellate) and Theodore L. Hecht (Construction Litigation).
Congratulations to our partner Sim R. Shapiro, who has been appointed a Dean of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, a state-wide legal organization with over 5,000 members dedicated to “protect, preserve and enhance the civil justice system.” As Dean, Sim will oversee and coordinate the Academy’s Continuing Legal Education program. Sim previously served for more than a decade on the NYSATL Board of Directors, and is a prolific speaker and educator at CLE seminars and client training seminars on topics such as Premises Liability, New York Labor Law, Appellate Practice, and Insurance Coverage Defenses and Insurer Bad Faith Trends.
A major key, never panic. Don’t panic, when it gets crazy and rough, don’t panic, stay calm. Lion! Hammock talk come soon. The weather is amazing, walk with me through the pathway of more success. Take this journey with me, Lion!
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