Zachary Karetsky concentrates his practice on the defense of negligence-based lawsuits in New York courts, with an emphasis on defending against claims related to premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, and construction site accidents, as well as matters arising under New York State Labor Law. He handles a broad range of personal injury and property damage disputes, effectively managing matters from early investigation through discovery, depositions, dispositive motion practice, and resolution through mediation. Zachary brings a pragmatic, detail-oriented approach to litigation, shaped by his early experience at Wilson Elser, where he began his legal career as a summer law clerk.

Zachary prioritizes responsiveness and thoroughness, consistently maintaining a strong rapport with clients and carriers. He focuses on identifying the key legal and factual issues at the outset of each case to drive efficient and cost-effective strategies. Additionally, Zachary leverages targeted background investigations and tactical depositions, motion practice, and mediation to position matters for favorable pre-trial outcomes, while pursuing risk‑transfer opportunities where appropriate.

During law school, Zachary served as an Associate Editor of the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal and the Director of Outreach for the Cardozo Business Law Society. He enhanced his academic experience through legal and business internships and gained a global perspective while studying abroad at UNSW Sydney in Australia.

    Education

    • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University (J.D., 2022)
    • University of Maryland, College Park (B.A. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2019)

    Bar Admissions

    • New York
    • Florida

    Court Admissions

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

    Professional Affiliations

    • New York State Bar Association
    • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
    • Defense Association of New York (DANY)
    • DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar
    • Rising Insurance Star Executives (RISE) Ambassador

    Awards & Honors

    Selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ in the Personal Injury General category, 2025

Zachary Karetsky

Karetsky and Comer Secure Summary Judgment for Site Safety Manager in New York County

Zachary Karetsky (Associate-New York, NY) and Thomas Comer (Partner-New York, NY) secured summary judgment and dismissal of all claims against Wilson Elser’s client, a construction site safety manager, in a personal injury action in the New York Supreme Court, New York County. The plaintiff alleged she was struck by fencing that fell from barricades along a temporary pedestrian walkway adjacent to an active construction site, suing the property owner and the general contractor. They, in turn, brought a third-party action against our client seeking contractual indemnification, breach of contract, contribution, and common law indemnification. Zach and Tom moved for summary judgment, arguing that the client never executed the proposed safety consulting agreement containing indemnification obligations and, regardless, owed no duty of care because a site safety manager without authority to control or stop work cannot be liable in negligence. The defendants opposed on various contract, insurance, and factual grounds.

The court granted Wilson Elser’s motion in its entirety, finding – consistent with First Department precedent – that the client’s role was limited to recommending safety practices and did not include site control. On that basis, the court held that there were no grounds to impose common-law negligence liability on a site safety manager lacking site control authority. Without a viable negligence claim, all third-party claims and cross-claims necessarily failed, resulting in complete dismissal in our client’s favor.

Zachary Karetsky and Thomas W. Comer

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