Andrew Finkelstein

Andrew Finkelstein – Managing Partner, Finkelstein & Partners, LLP

Mr. Finkelstein’s career reflects a rare blend of legal excellence, educational leadership, and unwavering dedication to justice and public safety.

Andrew Finkelstein is the Managing Partner of Finkelstein & Partners, LLP, where he has built a distinguished career advocating for injured individuals and holding corporate wrongdoers accountable. A nationally recognized consumer advocate and accomplished trial attorney, Mr. Finkelstein has successfully litigated numerous wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, securing multiple multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Notably, he achieved a record $50 million confidential settlement for a single injury claim, $31 million jury verdict in Ulster County, NY, and a $13.5 million settlement in a motor vehicle accident case, as well as dozens of other multi-million dollar results.

Mr. Finkelstein’s leadership extends beyond the courtroom. He currently serves as the 58th President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and is a dedicated faculty member and Executive Chairman at Trial School, a nationwide nonprofit organization committed to training trial lawyers. A quote from Andrew, as NYSTLA president, lives in this most recent article on Law.com, discussing the implications of a lawsuit if these three New York bills are signed into law.

He is an accomplished author whose book, I Hope We Never Meet, reached #1 on New York Times best seller list.

He has also taught at Keenan Trial Institute, Trial Lawyers University, and lectured at prestigious institutions including Harvard Law School and Brooklyn Law School. His continuing legal education (CLE) presentations span multiple state trial lawyer associations, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Maryland, as well as national conferences such as Mass Torts Made Perfect, and National Trial Lawyer Academy.

A passionate educator, Mr. Finkelstein frequently lectures at the Finkelstein & Partners Center for Continuing Legal Education. His topics include:

• Building the Case Using Experts and Lay Witnesses
• Science in the Courtroom
• Technology in the Courtroom
• Prosecution of a Pharmaceutical Case
• The Ethics of Online Advertising
• Structured Settlements and Personal Injury Settlements

Mr. Finkelstein is also deeply committed to community service. He led the firm’s pro bono efforts as Captain of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund through “Trial Lawyers Care,” securing over $10 million for victims while waiving all legal fees. His leadership in this initiative earned him recognition from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

In the realm of pharmaceutical litigation, Mr. Finkelstein has played a pivotal role in national cases involving dangerous drugs. He chairs the Plaintiff Personal Injury Steering Committee for the Neurontin Multi-District Litigation (MDL) in Boston and has worked closely with the FDA, filing a Citizen Petition to enhance suicide risk warnings. He also serves on the Executive Steering Committee for the Hormone Replacement Therapy MDL and is a key member of the Plaintiff Steering Committees for the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch and Viagra MDLs.

For 11 consecutive years (2014-2025) Mr. Finkelstein has been voted one of the nation’s top 50 most influential civil plaintiff’s trial lawyers by National Trial Lawyers, as published by The Trial Lawyer Magazine.

 

Selected Recent Cases

Distracted Driver Held Accountable

Andrew secured an 8 figure jury verdict against a distracted driver for causing catastrophic injuries to the client’s ankle and shoulder. Andrew claimed that the crash aggravated the pre-existing ankle and shoulder injury resulting in numerous surgeries and permanent loss of function. The jury verdict was more than 13x the last offer.

Manufacturer and Distributor Accountable for Not Fixing Known Problem

Andrew represented a worker killed by a defectively designed machine. Andrew claimed that the machine manufacturer did nothing to fix a known problem that caused other workers catastrophic injuries in the past. During trial, the machine manufacturer and their distributor settled.

Motorist Injures Minor in Motor Vehicle Crash

Andrew represented a 16-year-old student who had serious physical injuries requiring several surgeries and extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation after a motor vehicle accident. The medical treatment resulted in the client having to repeat her tenth grade year. Andrew was able to settle the case at a mediation.

Unsafe Work Conditions Cause Truck Driver to Fall 10 Feet

Andrew represented a truck driver for a retail auto supply store who broke many bones after stepping off an unprotected edge in a warehouse while making a delivery. This eventually led to an amputation below his knee and installation of a prosthetic device. The safety gate that normally protects the edge was removed from the loading dock level in order to speed up the delivery. The employer was accountable for failing to uphold a safe work place and settled at jury selection to avoid taking the case to court.

Child Injured by Defective Design of Commercial Lawn Mower

Andrew represented a seven-year-old boy who was playing in his driveway when he was struck in the head with a baseball that became projectile after being run over by a commercial lawn mower. The child’s skull was fractured and he required extensive surgery to repair the skull damage, motor skill impairment and cognitive problems. An engineering expert determined the defective design of the mower violated industry standards. The landscaper was also at fault for failing to police the lawn for objects before mowing. The case was settled at mediation.

Failure to Treat Acute Asthma Timely

Andrew represented a 30-year-old client who entered the hospital with shortness of breath and was dead two days later. The cause of death was Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). The hospital failed to perform the standard testing which would have allowed for a timely discovery of this disease and saving a life. After depositions of the doctors and the hospital representatives, the case was settled.

Nursing Home Abuse

Andrew represented a nursing home resident who was under doctor’s orders to only be served soft food due to a disability. The nursing home and food delivery service ignored these orders because sufficient protocols and systems were not in place. The client was served a hard-boiled egg which caused her to choke to death. It was the hope of the client’s family that the nursing home administration change their ways and this does not happen to other residents. The case against the two entities settled.

Unsafe Conditions at a Train Station

Andrew represented a train commuter who stepped through a metal plate causing him to fall on both knees and tear his quadriceps in both legs. This thin metal plate was placed over a hole without being secured as a temporary fix to a serious problem. The client required multiple surgeries and now uses a cane to walk. Had train station authorities properly secured the metal plate, ensuring safety for passengers, the fall never would have happened. The case was settled just before jury selection.

Dog Bite Results in Tearing Injuries

Andrew represented a 12-year-old client who was bitten in the face by a dog, causing terrible tearing injuries. The client suffered significant disfigurement which will require long term therapy as well as future plastic surgery to try to revise her scars. The case went to trial and a jury determined the defendants to be liable for the dog’s actions.

War Hero’s PTSD Triggered from Crash

Andrew represented a veteran who fought in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and returned home to work as a Corrections Officer. His position involved checking cars for contraband at one of the entrances. While examining the rear of a van, another van lurched forward, momentarily pinning and injuring him. While the physical injuries were not too extensive, the surprise of the trauma triggered his then under control PTSD. Andrew’s client was ultimately unable to return to work due to the severe depression that developed from this work-related event. The case was settled before trial.

Pick-Up Driver Runs Over Motorcyclist

Andrew represented a motorcyclist who was run over by a pick-up driver who pulled out from a stop sign directly in front of him. Andrew’s client had multiple broken bones and required several surgeries. The police issued a ticket to the pick-up driver for failing to yield the right of way. Initially, the insurance company tried to blame the client for being on a motorcycle and only offered a small portion of the insurance policy. With Andrew’s representation, the client was able to receive the full amount left on their policy, which was offered well before trial.

 

MEMBERSHIPS

• Executive Committee Member of The National Trial Lawyers 2013 – 2020
• New York State Bar Association
• Orange County Bar Association
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• American Trial Lawyers Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar
• Advocates Forum
• Executive Board Member of National Trial Lawyers of America
• Executive Board Member of New York State Trial Lawyers Association
• The Round Table 2014: America’s 100 Most Influential Trial Lawyers by The Trial Lawyer magazine
• The Round Table 2015: America’s 100 Most Influential Trial
• Lawyers by The Trial Lawyer magazine
• The National Safety Council

 

Speaking Engagements

Apr 10, 2025: Turning Challenges Into Triumph: Behind the $31M Verdict with Courtney Winston and Andrew Finkelstein

August 2024: Andrew Finkelstein talks at National Trial Lawyers Big Truck and Auto Summit 2024