Jonathan Meer is highly experienced in the area of insurance coverage, including monitoring and coverage determinations. He maintains a particular concentration in coverage for directors and officers (D&O), with an emphasis on the growing area of D&Os in cannabis companies; professional errors and omissions (E&O); lawyers (LPL); employment practices; and cyber liability programs.

Cochair of the firm’s Insurance Industry Consulting & Drafting Committee, Jonathan represents the interests of primary and excess insurers based in the United States, China, London and Bermuda in high-exposure claims against directors and officers of public and private companies, nonprofit boards, financial institutions and insurance companies. He has addressed claims related to shareholder class actions seeking multimillion-dollar damages against public companies and their directors and officers, as well as other high-profile fraud cases involving a variety of issues.

In addition, Jonathan’s litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation and professional liability. He has experience with matters arising under E&O policies covering attorneys, co-op boards, software developers, engineers, property owners, real estate professionals, consultants, agents, and other professionals. Jonathan also handles employment matters involving all types of discrimination and harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination claims. Further, Jonathan regularly provides defense, advice and counseling to a number of clients on fair housing matters and assists in developing fair housing–related policies and procedures.

Jonathan is active in the insurance industry, serving as a mentor for female professionals in The Bridge Transcend program, a D&O Trend Advisor for the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), and longtime chair of the New York City Bar Association’s D&O insurance event. He has spoken at multiple in-person and online events in recent years, including programs sponsored by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), ExecuSummit, and the Brokers & Reinsurance Markets Association. In addition, Jonathan is the author of the definitive chapter on D&O liability exposure in the United States for the Globe Law and Business publication Directors’ Liability and Indemnification: A Global Guide.

Areas of Focus

Directors & Officers Liability
Jonathan has successfully participated in mediation and litigation of D&O and other insurance coverage disputes. He regularly represents D&O insurers as coverage and monitoring counsel in complex shareholder class actions against public companies and their directors and officers for violations of federal securities laws and in shareholder derivative suits against directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duty and mismanagement in the context of mergers and acquisitions and other business transactions. Jonathan advises insurance companies and claims administrators on all coverage issues, including those involving excess insurance, extra-contractual liability, policy language, conflicts of laws, reinsurance, co-insurance, rescission, misrepresentation and the interplay of other insurance clauses.

Employment Practices Liability
Jonathan’s practice includes employment matters in the courts and before federal, state and local agencies. Such services include direct representation of clients and litigating, mediating and negotiating favorable resolutions of EEOC charges and civil actions involving a wide range of claims for violations of state and federal employment laws, including claims alleging gender, age and race discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, wrongful termination, sexual harassment and retaliation claims.

Professional Liability
Jonathan’s litigation practice includes the defense of liability actions against a variety of professionals and representation of professionals in general business disputes in miscellaneous E&O claims. Jonathan has diverse experience handling all aspects of claims and litigation assessment, management and resolution.

Cyber Liability, Data Privacy & Security
Jonathan continues to develop his proficiency in a wide range of cyber liability matters, representing primary and excess insurers as coverage and monitoring counsel in connection with first-party and third-party claims under cyber liability insurance policies. His practice also addresses insurance coverage with respect to data security and privacy protection and coverage for technology errors and omissions.

    Education

    • Rutgers School of Law (J.D., 2006)
    • Cornell University (M.P.A., 2003)
    • Cornell University (A.B., 2002)
      • cum laude

    Bar Admissions

    • New York
    • New Jersey

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Bar Association
    • Insurance Law Committee Member, New York City Bar Association

    Awards & Honors

    • Selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers® in the Insurance Coverage category, 2025
    • Ranked in the Chambers USA Guide: 2025, New York – Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer
    • Selected for inclusion in The Legal 500 United States in Insurance: Advice to Insurers Tier 3, 2024-2025
    • Selected for inclusion in The Legal 500 United States in Cannabis Tier 4, 2024
    • Ranked in the Chambers USA Guide: 2024, Up and Coming – New York – Insurance
    • Selected for inclusion in The Legal 500 - Insurance Tier 4, 2023
    • AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
    • Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers New York Rising Stars, 2013-2020

Jonathan E. Meer

Jonathan E. Meer

Events

Jonathan Meer is highly experienced in the area of insurance coverage, including monitoring and coverage determinations. He maintains a particular concentration in coverage for directors and officers (D&O), with an emphasis on the growing area of D&Os in cannabis companies; professional errors and omissions (E&O); lawyers (LPL); employment practices; and cyber liability programs.

Cochair of the firm’s Insurance Industry Consulting & Drafting Committee, Jonathan represents the interests of primary and excess insurers based in the United States, China, London and Bermuda in high-exposure claims against directors and officers of public and private companies, nonprofit boards, financial institutions and insurance companies. He has addressed claims related to shareholder class actions seeking multimillion-dollar damages against public companies and their directors and officers, as well as other high-profile fraud cases involving a variety of issues.

In addition, Jonathan’s litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation and professional liability. He has experience with matters arising under E&O policies covering attorneys, co-op boards, software developers, engineers, property owners, real estate professionals, consultants, agents, and other professionals. Jonathan also handles employment matters involving all types of discrimination and harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination claims. Further, Jonathan regularly provides defense, advice and counseling to a number of clients on fair housing matters and assists in developing fair housing–related policies and procedures.

Jonathan is active in the insurance industry, serving as a mentor for female professionals in The Bridge Transcend program, a D&O Trend Advisor for the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), and longtime chair of the New York City Bar Association’s D&O insurance event. He has spoken at multiple in-person and online events in recent years, including programs sponsored by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), ExecuSummit, and the Brokers & Reinsurance Markets Association. In addition, Jonathan is the author of the definitive chapter on D&O liability exposure in the United States for the Globe Law and Business publication Directors’ Liability and Indemnification: A Global Guide.

Jonathan E. Meer

Meer and Sekerka Obtain No Probable Cause Determination in Housing Discrimination Matter

Jonathan Meer (Partner-New York, NY)​ and Angela Sekerka (Of Counsel-Chicago/New York, NY) secured dismissal of a disability discrimination housing claim before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. The charge, brought by the tenants' children, arose from a request to modify the tenant’s shower in the unit to accommodate a disability. During its investigation, the Commission found that the respondents permitted the requested modification, provided the tenant covered the cost, as required under applicable law. When the tenant indicated they could not afford the modification and instead requested early termination of the lease, the respondents also granted that request, allowing termination without a penalty.  As such, the Commission found that the allegations of disability discrimination were unsupported and dismissed the charge.

Jonathan E. Meer and Angela M. Sekerka

Sekerka and Meer Secure HUD Dismissal of National Origin Discrimination Claim

Angela Sekerka (Of Counsel-Chicago/New York, NY) and Jonathan Meer (Partner-New York, NY) secured dismissal of a claim alleging national origin discrimination in housing before the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this matter, HUD found no probable cause that national origin was considered in the respondents’ handling of the claimant’s maintenance requests or his concerns regarding unauthorized vehicles in his assigned parking space. HUD noted that even if the comment “go back to your country” was made, this single isolated comment did not rise to the level of harassment or discriminatory intent in connection with the respondents’ processing of the claimant’s maintenance requests. HUD also noted that additional maintenance requests could not be completed because the complainant refused to grant access to his unit. With respect to the parking issue, HUD found insufficient evidence of discriminatory motive based on national origin, observing that the respondents attempted to locate the vehicle owner parked in the complainant’s spot and, when unsuccessful, offered the claimant’s monetary compensation for the inconvenience.

Angela M. Sekerka and Jonathan E. Meer

Meer and Sekerka Obtain No Probable Cause Determination Before Maryland Commission on Civil Rights

Jonathan Meer (Partner-New York, NY) and Angela Sekerka (Of Counsel-White Plains, NY) secured a no probable cause determination for a landlord client in a housing discrimination matter before the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. The complainant tenant alleged that our client/respondent discriminated against her based on disability and source of income, as well as claiming retaliation. The investigation established that the respondent lacked knowledge of the complainant’s physical disability and determined that the only request for reasonable accommodation by the complainant included documentation exclusively supporting the need for an emotional support animal (ESA). The complainant, however, asserted that she requested accommodation for a severe breathing disorder, while our client maintained that no such request or medical documentation of a respiratory condition was ever received. While the complainant successfully obtained accommodation for her mental health needs, no evidence supported the existence of a formal request concerning a physical breathing disability. The investigation concluded that the respondent did not treat the complainant differently from other tenants or subject her to harassment based on her disability or source of income.

Jonathan E. Meer and Angela M. Sekerka

Thurston, Murphy-Petros and Meer Obtain Affirmance in D&O Coverage Case

Jim Thurston (Partner-Chicago, IL), Melissa Murphy-Petros (Partner-Chicago, IL) and Jonathan Meer (Partner-New York, NY) prevailed on behalf of the firm’s insurance client in a case involving an insured closely held family corporation that sought coverage under its D&O policy for a declaratory judgment action seeking enforcement of the stock transfer provisions in its shareholders’ agreements. The Second Circuit affirmed dismissal of the plaintiff’s complaint on the ground that the policy’s contract exclusion precluded coverage because the declaratory judgment action – although not an action for breach of contract – arose out of the insured’s contractual obligations under the shareholder agreements. Jim and Jonathan secured the dismissal in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; Jim and Melissa handled the Second Circuit briefing, and Melissa presented oral argument.  Jim and Melissa are now 8-1 before the U.S. Court of Appeals, where they have handled matters in the First, Second, and Ninth Circuits.

The appeal was covered by Law360 in their June 22, 2023, December 5, 2023, March 22, 2024, March 27, 2024, June 17, 2024 articles.

James K. Thurston, Melissa A. Murphy-Petros and Jonathan E. Meer

Meer Obtains Dismissal of Discrimination Action before New York State Division of Human Rights

Jonathan Meer (Partner-New York, NY) successfully defended a hotel operator in connection with a claim of discrimination based on race, national origin, disability and retaliation by a former housekeeper employee before the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYS DHR). DHR’s investigation found that, even assuming the housekeeper had a disability (general malaise), our client provided her an accommodation by allowing her to get a COVID-19 test and does not reflect that any discriminatory animus existed. In terms of the alleged discrimination based on race and national origin, the DHR noted that the “Complainant has not articulated how she was discriminated against because she is Hispanic and Salvadorian when everyone she worked with was as well.” It also noted that there “is nothing alleged that could have been interpreted as being engaged in a protected activity.” The DHR concluded that it found “no evidence of a discriminatory or retaliatory animus present in any of the respondent’s actions as alleged by the complainant” and dismissed all the claims against Wilson Elser’s client.

Jonathan E. Meer

Events

Jonathan Meer is highly experienced in the area of insurance coverage, including monitoring and coverage determinations. He maintains a particular concentration in coverage for directors and officers (D&O), with an emphasis on the growing area of D&Os in cannabis companies; professional errors and omissions (E&O); lawyers (LPL); employment practices; and cyber liability programs.

Cochair of the firm’s Insurance Industry Consulting & Drafting Committee, Jonathan represents the interests of primary and excess insurers based in the United States, China, London and Bermuda in high-exposure claims against directors and officers of public and private companies, nonprofit boards, financial institutions and insurance companies. He has addressed claims related to shareholder class actions seeking multimillion-dollar damages against public companies and their directors and officers, as well as other high-profile fraud cases involving a variety of issues.

In addition, Jonathan’s litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation and professional liability. He has experience with matters arising under E&O policies covering attorneys, co-op boards, software developers, engineers, property owners, real estate professionals, consultants, agents, and other professionals. Jonathan also handles employment matters involving all types of discrimination and harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination claims. Further, Jonathan regularly provides defense, advice and counseling to a number of clients on fair housing matters and assists in developing fair housing–related policies and procedures.

Jonathan is active in the insurance industry, serving as a mentor for female professionals in The Bridge Transcend program, a D&O Trend Advisor for the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), and longtime chair of the New York City Bar Association’s D&O insurance event. He has spoken at multiple in-person and online events in recent years, including programs sponsored by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), ExecuSummit, and the Brokers & Reinsurance Markets Association. In addition, Jonathan is the author of the definitive chapter on D&O liability exposure in the United States for the Globe Law and Business publication Directors’ Liability and Indemnification: A Global Guide.

Events

Jonathan Meer is highly experienced in the area of insurance coverage, including monitoring and coverage determinations. He maintains a particular concentration in coverage for directors and officers (D&O), with an emphasis on the growing area of D&Os in cannabis companies; professional errors and omissions (E&O); lawyers (LPL); employment practices; and cyber liability programs.

Cochair of the firm’s Insurance Industry Consulting & Drafting Committee, Jonathan represents the interests of primary and excess insurers based in the United States, China, London and Bermuda in high-exposure claims against directors and officers of public and private companies, nonprofit boards, financial institutions and insurance companies. He has addressed claims related to shareholder class actions seeking multimillion-dollar damages against public companies and their directors and officers, as well as other high-profile fraud cases involving a variety of issues.

In addition, Jonathan’s litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation and professional liability. He has experience with matters arising under E&O policies covering attorneys, co-op boards, software developers, engineers, property owners, real estate professionals, consultants, agents, and other professionals. Jonathan also handles employment matters involving all types of discrimination and harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination claims. Further, Jonathan regularly provides defense, advice and counseling to a number of clients on fair housing matters and assists in developing fair housing–related policies and procedures.

Jonathan is active in the insurance industry, serving as a mentor for female professionals in The Bridge Transcend program, a D&O Trend Advisor for the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), and longtime chair of the New York City Bar Association’s D&O insurance event. He has spoken at multiple in-person and online events in recent years, including programs sponsored by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), ExecuSummit, and the Brokers & Reinsurance Markets Association. In addition, Jonathan is the author of the definitive chapter on D&O liability exposure in the United States for the Globe Law and Business publication Directors’ Liability and Indemnification: A Global Guide.

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