Four Goldberg Segalla partners received the recognition as a 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America: David L. Brown, John P. Freedenberg, Michael T. Glascott, and Raul E. Martinez. Individual attorneys with the highest overall peer review in a specific practice area and geographic location are awarded the “Lawyer of the Year” honor.  

David Brown was recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Insurance Law in North Carolina’s Triad. He has been a Best Lawyer in America for Insurance Law every year since 2008 and has received Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year honors three previous times (2012, 2018, 2022). David serves as co-chair of the Global Insurance Services practice group. He represents insurers and insurance brokers in complex disputes throughout the country in matters involving environmental claims, construction defect claims, broker/agent issues, and directors’ and officers’ liability coverage. He has also handled complex property coverage matters involving fires and other catastrophic losses, as well as product liability claims for clients in multiple industries. David is regularly called upon to represent insurers and brokers with respect to their most sensitive matters involving their business practices and their institutional interests. He is also a certified mediator and maintains an active mediation practice. 

John Freedenberg received Lawyer of the Year recognition for his work in Product Liability Litigation for Defendants in Buffalo, N.Y., having received the same recognition in 2019. He has been a Best Lawyer in America for Aviation Law (2013-24), Personal Injury Litigation (2018-24), and Product Liability Litigation for Defendants (2013-24). John is a founding partner of Goldberg Segalla and concentrates his practice in the areas of product liability, fire science litigation, aviation law, and catastrophic personal injury litigation. He has brought scores of trials to verdict over 35 years of practice, and has had numerous summary judgments granted, making trial unnecessary. 

Michael Glascott was recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Insurance Law in Buffalo, N.Y. Michael has been a Best Lawyer in America for Construction Law (2023), Insurance Law (2015-24), Insurance Litigation (2022-24) and was the Insurance Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Buffalo, N.Y. in 2022. Michael focuses his practice on complex insurance coverage, bad faith, commercial litigation, tort, and New York Labor Law litigation. Mike counsels and represents insurers in courts throughout New York and other northeastern states.  

Raul Martinez received two Lawyer of the Year awards in Rochester, N.Y. for Insurance Law and Product Liability Litigation for Defendants. Raul has received Best Lawyer recognition for Product Liability Litigation for Defendants (2013-24), Insurance Law (2013-24), Personal Injury Litigation (2013-24) and Construction Law (2024). He also previously won Lawyer of the Year in Rochester for Insurance Law (2013) and Personal Injury Litigation for Defendants (2021, 2022). Raul has more than two decades of experience representing clients in complex personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, New York State Labor Law violations, motor vehicle, and premises liability cases. A seasoned trial and appellate lawyer who has successfully tried cases in courts across New York State, Raul also litigates in administrative proceedings, mediations, and arbitrations, and often has been selected by private parties to act as a neutral arbitrator in a wide range of civil proceedings.