Austin, TX

Offices

Austin, TX

2407 South Congress Avenue

Suite E - 399

Austin, TX 78704

Tel: 512.314.9653

Fax: 512.314.9694

Overview

Since 2015, Wilson Elser’s Austin office has handled a broad spectrum of transactional and business matters, including mergers & acquisitions, commercial contracts & agreements, intellectual property and related litigation.

While our focus is principally on insurance coverage matters, we offer ready access to a wide range of legal services, drawing on the collective experience resident among our colleagues throughout the broader firm. One point of contact can marshal the precise resources necessary to meet your distinct legal requirements.

We were ranked 35 in Law.com’s Top 100 Texas Law Firms Based on Head Count Growth.

To see the full breadth of our firmwide capabilities, visit our Services page.

Firm Highlights

Events
ANSI Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Admissibility, Strategic Use, and Practical Risk Management
Andrew Albright (Partner-Chicago) and Keti Mebuke (Associate-Chicago) will present the Wilson Elser Forum webinar “ANSI Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Admissibility, Strategic Use, and Practical Risk Management” on April 30, 2026. The webinar examines how courts treat voluntary industry safety standards in product liability cases, including their admissibility at trial and how these standards are used by experts to evaluate product design and safety. Using a revolving-door injury case by way of example, the webinar will discuss how ANSI standards (including ANSI/BHMA A156.27, governing power-operated revolving doors) are applied in product liability litigation. The session will also review relevant case law, including Illinois authority, addressing the admissibility and evidentiary role of industry standards. The webinar is designed for attorneys, claims professionals, and risk managers who handle product liability matters and seek a practical understanding of how ANSI standards influence trial, expert testimony, litigation strategy, and risk management.
Read more

News
Allin Named to 2026 Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Super Lawyers® has named Taylor H. Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) to the 2026 Southwest Rising Stars™ list for the sixth consecutive year. Taylor is included in the Transportation/Maritime category. His complex litigation practice includes defending a wide range of transportation matters and marine and admiralty claims.

The Rising Stars lists, comprising the best attorneys 40 years old and younger or who have practiced law for 10 years or less, are published in Super Lawyers magazines and leading city and regional magazines nationwide. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to these lists.
Read more

News
Wilson Elser Expands Design Professionals and Construction Practices with New Denver Partner
New York – April 20, 2026 – National law firm Wilson Elser today announced the addition of Elizabeth Olson as a partner in its Denver office, strengthening the firm's Design Professionals and Construction practices.

Olson joins Wilson Elser from a regional litigation firm focused on tort and commercial litigation, bringing more than a decade of experience successfully defending complex construction, design professional, and commercial matters across various jurisdictions.

“For 15 years, Wilson Elser’s Denver office has offered full-service legal support for clients in the Rocky Mountain region,” said Wilson Elser Chair Daniel J. McMahon. "Elizabeth's arrival deepens our bench in critical practice areas and reflects our continued investment in attracting top-tier talent to serve our clients."

“Elizabeth’s hiring enhances our existing practices in Denver,” said Jason Melichar, regional managing partner of Wilson Elser’s Denver office. “She will work closely with Ryan Williams, our Denver-based cochair of the firm’s Design Professionals Practice, in defending architects and engineers in construction defect matters.”

Olson noted that her decision to join the firm was informed by firsthand experience litigating cases opposite Wilson Elser's Denver attorneys. “The firm has an outstanding reputation in the civil litigation defense community, and I am confident that its robust platform and resources will serve my clients exceptionally well," she said.

Olson's practice encompasses a broad range of civil defense matters, including construction and design professional liability, premises liability, general casualty, contract disputes, commercial litigation, product liability, and transportation. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in Colorado and Arizona.

Olson earned her J.D. from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and her B.A. in Economics and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations from Rice University.
Read more

Publications
Claims Journal Features Bortnick and Michaud Article on Subrogation After Cyber Breaches: Lessons from Axis and Travelers
Richard Bortnick (Of Counsel-Philadelphia, PA) and Charina Michaud (Associate-Chicago, IL) coauthored “Legal Analysis: Insurer Subrogation Under Scrutiny,” appearing in the April 17, 2026, posting of Claims Journal. The article analyzes two recent decisions – Axis Insurance Co. v. Barracuda Networks, Inc. and Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America v. Blackbaud, Inc. – that examine the scope of insurers’ subrogation rights in the wake of data security breaches. Rick and Charina explain that while the First Circuit in Axis rejected subrogation claims against a downstream vendor for lack of contractual privity, the Delaware Supreme Court in Travelers allowed similar claims to proceed where a direct contractual relationship existed. Together, the decisions clarify that subrogation claims in the cybersecurity context hinge on the existence and proper pleading of contractual relationships between the insured and the alleged wrongdoer. “Absent a contractual relationship between the insured and the alleged subrogee, a claim for indemnity or subrogation is unlikely to survive – particularly in jurisdictions that follow the reasoning in Axis.” Rick and Charina further explore how these rulings shape risk allocation across vendor chains and offer practical considerations for drafting and enforcing data security agreements. 
Read more

Publications
Delay Defeats Arbitration: Nevada High Court Finds 17 Months Too Long
While arbitration clauses are ubiquitous in contracts, they are meaningless if the parties do not move quickly enough to enforce them. In Lennar Communities Nevada, LLC v. Whalen, the plaintiff executed a residential purchase and sale agreement that included an arbitration clause. She then tripped and fell within the community. She sued the developer, and the parties participated in extensive discovery.

The developer did not attempt to enforce the arbitration clause for 17 months. While waiver is disfavored, the Supreme Court concluded that the three-factor test for waiver was satisfied. First, the developer knew of the waiver. Second, they acted inconsistently with the right to arbitrate by actively litigating the case in court for such a long time. The Court then introduced a new factor to the analysis. “[C]ourts should consider the totality of the circumstances when evaluating whether a party has already litigated an issue it subsequently seeks to arbitrate.” That factor was met too.

The Court next considered whether not invoking the arbitration clause earlier prejudiced the plaintiff. It expressed doubt whether that factor was valid but did not overrule it. Regardless, prejudice was found because the developer was able to obtain discovery in court that typically is unavailable in arbitration.

The opinion reiterates the importance of identifying potential arbitration clauses and deciding whether to invoke them as soon as possible.
Read more

Client Wins
Takacs and Rossi Defeat Claims Against Property Owner in Tenant Injury Lawsuit
Michael S. Takacs (Partner-Philadelphia, PA) and Andrew Rossi (Associate-Philadelphia, PA) prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on behalf of Wilson Elser’s client, a property owner/landlord. The plaintiff, a tenant at the client’s apartment complex, allegedly sustained a forehead laceration, concussion, post-concussion syndrome, and injuries to her neck after striking her forehead on a dumpster’s trunnion bar while taking out her trash. She claimed the trunnion bar, which a truck uses to lift the dumpster during emptying, was a dangerous condition because it “sticks out inconspicuously” and lacked warnings or contrasting paint to make it more visible. The codefendant waste management company supplied and serviced the dumpster under a customer service agreement with our client, retained ownership, and specifically prohibited the client from altering it. The plaintiff, who had lived at the property for more than a year, admitted to using the dumpster at least weekly to dispose of her trash. Michael and Andrew moved for summary judgment, asserting that the client neither owed nor breached a legal duty of care to protect the plaintiff where the alleged condition of the trunnion bar was open, obvious, and readily visible on equipment the client did not own or control. The court entered summary judgment on behalf of the client, dismissing all claims and crossclaims.
Read more

Events
Lawyers' Obligations with Respect to Confidentiality at Stanford Law School’s Civil Litigation Symposium
Kathleen Warin (Partner-Washington, DC) will join the panel “Lawyers’ Obligations with Respect to Confidentiality” at the Secrecy and Transparency in Civil Litigation Symposium, held on May 1-2, 2026, at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, California. The event, hosted by the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School and the National Civil Justice Institute, marks Kathleen's second time as an invited panelist at Stanford. Kathleen’s panel examines where lawyers’ duties to their clients intersect, and possibly conflict with, obligations to the public and the courts, particularly in the context of protective orders, settlements, and other forms of confidentiality in civil litigation. The symposium explores the legal and policy dimensions of confidentiality and transparency, highlighting how courts, litigants, and policymakers are navigating this balance and the tradeoffs involved.
Read more

Publications
New York’s AVOID Act Imposes 90-Day Deadline for Third-Party Claims
The New York Avoiding Vexatious Overuse of Impleading to Delay (AVOID) Act became effective on April 18, 2026, establishing new deadlines for third-party complaints. Under this Act, a third-party plaintiff must file their complaint within 90 days of serving the initial answer pursuant to CPLR § 1007(b).1

Any third-party complaint against a plaintiff’s employer, however, must be filed within 90 days of the later of (1) discovering the employer’s identity; or (2) determining that the plaintiff sustained a “grave injury” as defined by Section 11 of the Workers’ Compensation Law. CPLR § 1007(e).2

The Act prohibits filing a third-party complaint after the note of issue unless upon good cause shown or in the interest of justice. CPLR § 1007(c).3

A third-party action filed in violation of this subdivision shall be severed or dismissed without prejudice. CPLR § 1007(d).4 Any severed actions that are initiated as new actions cannot then be consolidated. CPLR § 1007(f).5

Regarding retroactivity: an amendment clarifies that the Act applies to all cases commenced on or after the April 18, 2026 effective date.6 Be advised that as of April 16, 2026, the New York State website has not yet integrated this amendment into the statutory text.7 Lexis captures this update in the editor’s notes,8 and Westlaw includes it within the proposed legislation section.9
	____________________________________________________________________________________

1 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

2 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

3 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

4 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

5 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

6 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8809 

7 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

8 2026 N.Y. ALS 79 ; 2026 N.Y. Laws 79 ; 2026 N.Y. Ch. 79 ; 2026 N.Y. SB 8809

9 https://1.next.westlaw.com/Document/NFE11DA10E4E211F0AA39CB673CF36EC6/View/FullText.html?navigationPath=Search/v1/results/navigation/i0a93b86c0000019d9c1ba0e5c3a0e723?ppcid=44f5a950322a4255ae42b3e5a5e57b22&Nav=MULTIPLECITATIONS&fragmentIdentifier=NFE11DA10E4E211F0AA39CB673CF36EC6&parentRank=0&startIndex=1&contextData=%28sc.Search%29&transitionType=UniqueDocItem&listSource=Search&listPageSource=781efccd7c647a1b5673e671cb33d842&list=MULTIPLECITATIONS&sessionScopeId=a4a94ca7e43970d7bb6b9036b5ab4e414796eb2f36e0a800dc47d1459a582deb&ppcid=44f5a950322a4255ae42b3e5a5e57b22&originationContext=NonUniqueFindSelected&transitionType=UniqueDocItem&contextData=(sc.Search)
Read more

Client Wins
Priore and Lauricella Secure Key Appellate Division Ruling Annulling and Remanding New York State Department of Labor License Denial
Albany partners Christopher Priore and Peter Lauricella successfully represented a research company and its owner/president in a CPLR Article 78 proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, challenging the New York State Department of Labor’s (DOL) denial of the clients’ application for a license to purchase, own, possess, and transport explosives (O&P license). The company, which conducts limited fireworks displays as part of its business, must maintain an O&P license issued under Labor Law Article 16, which must be renewed annually.

In July 2021, our owner client applied to renew the company’s O&P license. The DOL denied the application on the sole ground that neither the owner nor any employee held a current Pyrotechnician Certificate of Competence (PCC), despite the owner having held a PCC for many years and the company having previously obtained O&P license renewals without one. The denial was upheld after an administrative hearing and adopted by the Commissioner of Labor.

Chris and Peter challenged the Commissioner's authority to impose a blanket PCC requirement as a prerequisite for O&P licensure. The central legal issue was whether the Department of Labor's internal policy – mandating that all O&P license applicants hold or employ someone with a PCC credential – constituted a "rule" subject to the formal rulemaking procedures of the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA). They presented evidence that the DOL had historically approved O&P license applications without a PCC, and only later, after internal discussions and consultation with counsel, adopted this requirement and added a question about PCCs to the application form – all without undertaking the required rulemaking process.

The Appellate Division unanimously agreed and annulled the Commissioner's determination. The court held that the mandatory PCC requirement was a generally applicable rule that should have been promulgated in accordance with SAPA's formal rulemaking procedures. Because the DOL failed to do so, the requirement was unenforceable. The matter was remitted to the DOL to evaluate the O&P license application at issue in accordance with properly promulgated rules and our clients’ particular facts and circumstances.
	 
Read more

Events
Recent Developments on Equitable Relief Under ERISA
Joshua Bachrach (Partner-Philadelphia, PA) will present “Recent Developments on Equitable Relief Under ERISA” at the 2026 DRI Life, Health, Disability & ERISA Seminar, held April 29 – May 1, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. Josh’s session provides a brief review of relevant Supreme Court decisions and covers various topics, such as whether surcharge is a permissible remedy under ERISA, use of Section 502(a)(3) to recover attorney’s fees, and the applicability of the exhaustion requirement. Josh, who has handled several hundred ERISA cases nationwide, also addresses breach of fiduciary duty claims and equitable relief remedies at this preeminent seminar for in-house and outside counsel regularly practicing in the life, health, disability, and ERISA areas.
Read more

News
Wilson Elser Expands Design Professionals and Construction Practices with New Denver Partner
New York – April 20, 2026 – National law firm Wilson Elser today announced the addition of Elizabeth Olson as a partner in its Denver office, strengthening the firm's Design Professionals and Construction practices.

Olson joins Wilson Elser from a regional litigation firm focused on tort and commercial litigation, bringing more than a decade of experience successfully defending complex construction, design professional, and commercial matters across various jurisdictions.

“For 15 years, Wilson Elser’s Denver office has offered full-service legal support for clients in the Rocky Mountain region,” said Wilson Elser Chair Daniel J. McMahon. "Elizabeth's arrival deepens our bench in critical practice areas and reflects our continued investment in attracting top-tier talent to serve our clients."

“Elizabeth’s hiring enhances our existing practices in Denver,” said Jason Melichar, regional managing partner of Wilson Elser’s Denver office. “She will work closely with Ryan Williams, our Denver-based cochair of the firm’s Design Professionals Practice, in defending architects and engineers in construction defect matters.”

Olson noted that her decision to join the firm was informed by firsthand experience litigating cases opposite Wilson Elser's Denver attorneys. “The firm has an outstanding reputation in the civil litigation defense community, and I am confident that its robust platform and resources will serve my clients exceptionally well," she said.

Olson's practice encompasses a broad range of civil defense matters, including construction and design professional liability, premises liability, general casualty, contract disputes, commercial litigation, product liability, and transportation. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in Colorado and Arizona.

Olson earned her J.D. from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and her B.A. in Economics and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations from Rice University.
Read more

News
Allin Named to 2026 Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Super Lawyers® has named Taylor H. Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) to the 2026 Southwest Rising Stars™ list for the sixth consecutive year. Taylor is included in the Transportation/Maritime category. His complex litigation practice includes defending a wide range of transportation matters and marine and admiralty claims.

The Rising Stars lists, comprising the best attorneys 40 years old and younger or who have practiced law for 10 years or less, are published in Super Lawyers magazines and leading city and regional magazines nationwide. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to these lists.
Read more

Events
ANSI Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Admissibility, Strategic Use, and Practical Risk Management
Andrew Albright (Partner-Chicago) and Keti Mebuke (Associate-Chicago) will present the Wilson Elser Forum webinar “ANSI Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Admissibility, Strategic Use, and Practical Risk Management” on April 30, 2026. The webinar examines how courts treat voluntary industry safety standards in product liability cases, including their admissibility at trial and how these standards are used by experts to evaluate product design and safety. Using a revolving-door injury case by way of example, the webinar will discuss how ANSI standards (including ANSI/BHMA A156.27, governing power-operated revolving doors) are applied in product liability litigation. The session will also review relevant case law, including Illinois authority, addressing the admissibility and evidentiary role of industry standards. The webinar is designed for attorneys, claims professionals, and risk managers who handle product liability matters and seek a practical understanding of how ANSI standards influence trial, expert testimony, litigation strategy, and risk management.
Read more

Publications
Claims Journal Features Bortnick and Michaud Article on Subrogation After Cyber Breaches: Lessons from Axis and Travelers
Richard Bortnick (Of Counsel-Philadelphia, PA) and Charina Michaud (Associate-Chicago, IL) coauthored “Legal Analysis: Insurer Subrogation Under Scrutiny,” appearing in the April 17, 2026, posting of Claims Journal. The article analyzes two recent decisions – Axis Insurance Co. v. Barracuda Networks, Inc. and Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America v. Blackbaud, Inc. – that examine the scope of insurers’ subrogation rights in the wake of data security breaches. Rick and Charina explain that while the First Circuit in Axis rejected subrogation claims against a downstream vendor for lack of contractual privity, the Delaware Supreme Court in Travelers allowed similar claims to proceed where a direct contractual relationship existed. Together, the decisions clarify that subrogation claims in the cybersecurity context hinge on the existence and proper pleading of contractual relationships between the insured and the alleged wrongdoer. “Absent a contractual relationship between the insured and the alleged subrogee, a claim for indemnity or subrogation is unlikely to survive – particularly in jurisdictions that follow the reasoning in Axis.” Rick and Charina further explore how these rulings shape risk allocation across vendor chains and offer practical considerations for drafting and enforcing data security agreements. 
Read more

Publications
Delay Defeats Arbitration: Nevada High Court Finds 17 Months Too Long
While arbitration clauses are ubiquitous in contracts, they are meaningless if the parties do not move quickly enough to enforce them. In Lennar Communities Nevada, LLC v. Whalen, the plaintiff executed a residential purchase and sale agreement that included an arbitration clause. She then tripped and fell within the community. She sued the developer, and the parties participated in extensive discovery.

The developer did not attempt to enforce the arbitration clause for 17 months. While waiver is disfavored, the Supreme Court concluded that the three-factor test for waiver was satisfied. First, the developer knew of the waiver. Second, they acted inconsistently with the right to arbitrate by actively litigating the case in court for such a long time. The Court then introduced a new factor to the analysis. “[C]ourts should consider the totality of the circumstances when evaluating whether a party has already litigated an issue it subsequently seeks to arbitrate.” That factor was met too.

The Court next considered whether not invoking the arbitration clause earlier prejudiced the plaintiff. It expressed doubt whether that factor was valid but did not overrule it. Regardless, prejudice was found because the developer was able to obtain discovery in court that typically is unavailable in arbitration.

The opinion reiterates the importance of identifying potential arbitration clauses and deciding whether to invoke them as soon as possible.
Read more

Client Wins
Takacs and Rossi Defeat Claims Against Property Owner in Tenant Injury Lawsuit
Michael S. Takacs (Partner-Philadelphia, PA) and Andrew Rossi (Associate-Philadelphia, PA) prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on behalf of Wilson Elser’s client, a property owner/landlord. The plaintiff, a tenant at the client’s apartment complex, allegedly sustained a forehead laceration, concussion, post-concussion syndrome, and injuries to her neck after striking her forehead on a dumpster’s trunnion bar while taking out her trash. She claimed the trunnion bar, which a truck uses to lift the dumpster during emptying, was a dangerous condition because it “sticks out inconspicuously” and lacked warnings or contrasting paint to make it more visible. The codefendant waste management company supplied and serviced the dumpster under a customer service agreement with our client, retained ownership, and specifically prohibited the client from altering it. The plaintiff, who had lived at the property for more than a year, admitted to using the dumpster at least weekly to dispose of her trash. Michael and Andrew moved for summary judgment, asserting that the client neither owed nor breached a legal duty of care to protect the plaintiff where the alleged condition of the trunnion bar was open, obvious, and readily visible on equipment the client did not own or control. The court entered summary judgment on behalf of the client, dismissing all claims and crossclaims.
Read more

Events
Lawyers' Obligations with Respect to Confidentiality at Stanford Law School’s Civil Litigation Symposium
Kathleen Warin (Partner-Washington, DC) will join the panel “Lawyers’ Obligations with Respect to Confidentiality” at the Secrecy and Transparency in Civil Litigation Symposium, held on May 1-2, 2026, at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, California. The event, hosted by the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School and the National Civil Justice Institute, marks Kathleen's second time as an invited panelist at Stanford. Kathleen’s panel examines where lawyers’ duties to their clients intersect, and possibly conflict with, obligations to the public and the courts, particularly in the context of protective orders, settlements, and other forms of confidentiality in civil litigation. The symposium explores the legal and policy dimensions of confidentiality and transparency, highlighting how courts, litigants, and policymakers are navigating this balance and the tradeoffs involved.
Read more

Publications
New York’s AVOID Act Imposes 90-Day Deadline for Third-Party Claims
The New York Avoiding Vexatious Overuse of Impleading to Delay (AVOID) Act became effective on April 18, 2026, establishing new deadlines for third-party complaints. Under this Act, a third-party plaintiff must file their complaint within 90 days of serving the initial answer pursuant to CPLR § 1007(b).1

Any third-party complaint against a plaintiff’s employer, however, must be filed within 90 days of the later of (1) discovering the employer’s identity; or (2) determining that the plaintiff sustained a “grave injury” as defined by Section 11 of the Workers’ Compensation Law. CPLR § 1007(e).2

The Act prohibits filing a third-party complaint after the note of issue unless upon good cause shown or in the interest of justice. CPLR § 1007(c).3

A third-party action filed in violation of this subdivision shall be severed or dismissed without prejudice. CPLR § 1007(d).4 Any severed actions that are initiated as new actions cannot then be consolidated. CPLR § 1007(f).5

Regarding retroactivity: an amendment clarifies that the Act applies to all cases commenced on or after the April 18, 2026 effective date.6 Be advised that as of April 16, 2026, the New York State website has not yet integrated this amendment into the statutory text.7 Lexis captures this update in the editor’s notes,8 and Westlaw includes it within the proposed legislation section.9
	____________________________________________________________________________________

1 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

2 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

3 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

4 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

5 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

6 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8809 

7 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1007 

8 2026 N.Y. ALS 79 ; 2026 N.Y. Laws 79 ; 2026 N.Y. Ch. 79 ; 2026 N.Y. SB 8809

9 https://1.next.westlaw.com/Document/NFE11DA10E4E211F0AA39CB673CF36EC6/View/FullText.html?navigationPath=Search/v1/results/navigation/i0a93b86c0000019d9c1ba0e5c3a0e723?ppcid=44f5a950322a4255ae42b3e5a5e57b22&Nav=MULTIPLECITATIONS&fragmentIdentifier=NFE11DA10E4E211F0AA39CB673CF36EC6&parentRank=0&startIndex=1&contextData=%28sc.Search%29&transitionType=UniqueDocItem&listSource=Search&listPageSource=781efccd7c647a1b5673e671cb33d842&list=MULTIPLECITATIONS&sessionScopeId=a4a94ca7e43970d7bb6b9036b5ab4e414796eb2f36e0a800dc47d1459a582deb&ppcid=44f5a950322a4255ae42b3e5a5e57b22&originationContext=NonUniqueFindSelected&transitionType=UniqueDocItem&contextData=(sc.Search)
Read more

Client Wins
Priore and Lauricella Secure Key Appellate Division Ruling Annulling and Remanding New York State Department of Labor License Denial
Albany partners Christopher Priore and Peter Lauricella successfully represented a research company and its owner/president in a CPLR Article 78 proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, challenging the New York State Department of Labor’s (DOL) denial of the clients’ application for a license to purchase, own, possess, and transport explosives (O&P license). The company, which conducts limited fireworks displays as part of its business, must maintain an O&P license issued under Labor Law Article 16, which must be renewed annually.

In July 2021, our owner client applied to renew the company’s O&P license. The DOL denied the application on the sole ground that neither the owner nor any employee held a current Pyrotechnician Certificate of Competence (PCC), despite the owner having held a PCC for many years and the company having previously obtained O&P license renewals without one. The denial was upheld after an administrative hearing and adopted by the Commissioner of Labor.

Chris and Peter challenged the Commissioner's authority to impose a blanket PCC requirement as a prerequisite for O&P licensure. The central legal issue was whether the Department of Labor's internal policy – mandating that all O&P license applicants hold or employ someone with a PCC credential – constituted a "rule" subject to the formal rulemaking procedures of the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA). They presented evidence that the DOL had historically approved O&P license applications without a PCC, and only later, after internal discussions and consultation with counsel, adopted this requirement and added a question about PCCs to the application form – all without undertaking the required rulemaking process.

The Appellate Division unanimously agreed and annulled the Commissioner's determination. The court held that the mandatory PCC requirement was a generally applicable rule that should have been promulgated in accordance with SAPA's formal rulemaking procedures. Because the DOL failed to do so, the requirement was unenforceable. The matter was remitted to the DOL to evaluate the O&P license application at issue in accordance with properly promulgated rules and our clients’ particular facts and circumstances.
	 
Read more

Events
Recent Developments on Equitable Relief Under ERISA
Joshua Bachrach (Partner-Philadelphia, PA) will present “Recent Developments on Equitable Relief Under ERISA” at the 2026 DRI Life, Health, Disability & ERISA Seminar, held April 29 – May 1, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. Josh’s session provides a brief review of relevant Supreme Court decisions and covers various topics, such as whether surcharge is a permissible remedy under ERISA, use of Section 502(a)(3) to recover attorney’s fees, and the applicability of the exhaustion requirement. Josh, who has handled several hundred ERISA cases nationwide, also addresses breach of fiduciary duty claims and equitable relief remedies at this preeminent seminar for in-house and outside counsel regularly practicing in the life, health, disability, and ERISA areas.
Read more

News
Wilson Elser Expands Design Professionals and Construction Practices with New Denver Partner
New York – April 20, 2026 – National law firm Wilson Elser today announced the addition of Elizabeth Olson as a partner in its Denver office, strengthening the firm's Design Professionals and Construction practices.

Olson joins Wilson Elser from a regional litigation firm focused on tort and commercial litigation, bringing more than a decade of experience successfully defending complex construction, design professional, and commercial matters across various jurisdictions.

“For 15 years, Wilson Elser’s Denver office has offered full-service legal support for clients in the Rocky Mountain region,” said Wilson Elser Chair Daniel J. McMahon. "Elizabeth's arrival deepens our bench in critical practice areas and reflects our continued investment in attracting top-tier talent to serve our clients."

“Elizabeth’s hiring enhances our existing practices in Denver,” said Jason Melichar, regional managing partner of Wilson Elser’s Denver office. “She will work closely with Ryan Williams, our Denver-based cochair of the firm’s Design Professionals Practice, in defending architects and engineers in construction defect matters.”

Olson noted that her decision to join the firm was informed by firsthand experience litigating cases opposite Wilson Elser's Denver attorneys. “The firm has an outstanding reputation in the civil litigation defense community, and I am confident that its robust platform and resources will serve my clients exceptionally well," she said.

Olson's practice encompasses a broad range of civil defense matters, including construction and design professional liability, premises liability, general casualty, contract disputes, commercial litigation, product liability, and transportation. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in Colorado and Arizona.

Olson earned her J.D. from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and her B.A. in Economics and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations from Rice University.
Read more

News
Allin Named to 2026 Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Super Lawyers® has named Taylor H. Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) to the 2026 Southwest Rising Stars™ list for the sixth consecutive year. Taylor is included in the Transportation/Maritime category. His complex litigation practice includes defending a wide range of transportation matters and marine and admiralty claims.

The Rising Stars lists, comprising the best attorneys 40 years old and younger or who have practiced law for 10 years or less, are published in Super Lawyers magazines and leading city and regional magazines nationwide. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to these lists.
Read more

Events
ANSI Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Admissibility, Strategic Use, and Practical Risk Management
Andrew Albright (Partner-Chicago) and Keti Mebuke (Associate-Chicago) will present the Wilson Elser Forum webinar “ANSI Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Admissibility, Strategic Use, and Practical Risk Management” on April 30, 2026. The webinar examines how courts treat voluntary industry safety standards in product liability cases, including their admissibility at trial and how these standards are used by experts to evaluate product design and safety. Using a revolving-door injury case by way of example, the webinar will discuss how ANSI standards (including ANSI/BHMA A156.27, governing power-operated revolving doors) are applied in product liability litigation. The session will also review relevant case law, including Illinois authority, addressing the admissibility and evidentiary role of industry standards. The webinar is designed for attorneys, claims professionals, and risk managers who handle product liability matters and seek a practical understanding of how ANSI standards influence trial, expert testimony, litigation strategy, and risk management.
Read more

Publications
Claims Journal Features Bortnick and Michaud Article on Subrogation After Cyber Breaches: Lessons from Axis and Travelers
Richard Bortnick (Of Counsel-Philadelphia, PA) and Charina Michaud (Associate-Chicago, IL) coauthored “Legal Analysis: Insurer Subrogation Under Scrutiny,” appearing in the April 17, 2026, posting of Claims Journal. The article analyzes two recent decisions – Axis Insurance Co. v. Barracuda Networks, Inc. and Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America v. Blackbaud, Inc. – that examine the scope of insurers’ subrogation rights in the wake of data security breaches. Rick and Charina explain that while the First Circuit in Axis rejected subrogation claims against a downstream vendor for lack of contractual privity, the Delaware Supreme Court in Travelers allowed similar claims to proceed where a direct contractual relationship existed. Together, the decisions clarify that subrogation claims in the cybersecurity context hinge on the existence and proper pleading of contractual relationships between the insured and the alleged wrongdoer. “Absent a contractual relationship between the insured and the alleged subrogee, a claim for indemnity or subrogation is unlikely to survive – particularly in jurisdictions that follow the reasoning in Axis.” Rick and Charina further explore how these rulings shape risk allocation across vendor chains and offer practical considerations for drafting and enforcing data security agreements. 
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Publications
Delay Defeats Arbitration: Nevada High Court Finds 17 Months Too Long
While arbitration clauses are ubiquitous in contracts, they are meaningless if the parties do not move quickly enough to enforce them. In Lennar Communities Nevada, LLC v. Whalen, the plaintiff executed a residential purchase and sale agreement that included an arbitration clause. She then tripped and fell within the community. She sued the developer, and the parties participated in extensive discovery.

The developer did not attempt to enforce the arbitration clause for 17 months. While waiver is disfavored, the Supreme Court concluded that the three-factor test for waiver was satisfied. First, the developer knew of the waiver. Second, they acted inconsistently with the right to arbitrate by actively litigating the case in court for such a long time. The Court then introduced a new factor to the analysis. “[C]ourts should consider the totality of the circumstances when evaluating whether a party has already litigated an issue it subsequently seeks to arbitrate.” That factor was met too.

The Court next considered whether not invoking the arbitration clause earlier prejudiced the plaintiff. It expressed doubt whether that factor was valid but did not overrule it. Regardless, prejudice was found because the developer was able to obtain discovery in court that typically is unavailable in arbitration.

The opinion reiterates the importance of identifying potential arbitration clauses and deciding whether to invoke them as soon as possible.
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Client Wins
Takacs and Rossi Defeat Claims Against Property Owner in Tenant Injury Lawsuit
Michael S. Takacs (Partner-Philadelphia, PA) and Andrew Rossi (Associate-Philadelphia, PA) prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on behalf of Wilson Elser’s client, a property owner/landlord. The plaintiff, a tenant at the client’s apartment complex, allegedly sustained a forehead laceration, concussion, post-concussion syndrome, and injuries to her neck after striking her forehead on a dumpster’s trunnion bar while taking out her trash. She claimed the trunnion bar, which a truck uses to lift the dumpster during emptying, was a dangerous condition because it “sticks out inconspicuously” and lacked warnings or contrasting paint to make it more visible. The codefendant waste management company supplied and serviced the dumpster under a customer service agreement with our client, retained ownership, and specifically prohibited the client from altering it. The plaintiff, who had lived at the property for more than a year, admitted to using the dumpster at least weekly to dispose of her trash. Michael and Andrew moved for summary judgment, asserting that the client neither owed nor breached a legal duty of care to protect the plaintiff where the alleged condition of the trunnion bar was open, obvious, and readily visible on equipment the client did not own or control. The court entered summary judgment on behalf of the client, dismissing all claims and crossclaims.
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