Morris Duffy Alonso & Faley

What Morris Duffy Alonso & Faley does

Morris Duffy Alonso Faley & Pitcoff (formerly known as Morris Duffy Alonso & Faley) is a privately held insurance defense law firm founded in 1952 by John E. Morris and headquartered at 101 Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan. The firm provides litigation defense, trial, and appellate services across approximately 30 specialized practice areas, including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, construction defects, Labor Law §§ 240(1)/241(6)/200 defense, municipal liability, civil rights defense, insurance coverage disputes, products liability, professional liability, and subrogation/recovery. It maintains six offices across New York State (New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Greene Counties) and a regional office in Bergen County, New Jersey, enabling regional coverage for carrier and municipal clients throughout the two-state jurisdiction.

The firm serves a primarily institutional client base composed of insurance carriers and self-insured entities (including MLMIC, the largest U.S. professional liability carrier), municipalities and government agencies (NY State Liquidation Bureau, NYC Transit Authority, MTA, cities, towns, police/fire departments, housing authorities, school districts), healthcare providers, trucking and motor carriers, and property management companies. The firm operates as a traditional partnership with no external investors, parent company, or private equity ownership; revenue is generated exclusively through professional services fees — primarily hourly billing for litigation defense, with contingency arrangements for subrogation and recovery matters where the firm pursues financial recovery for insurers without upfront cost.

The firm has no proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML infrastructure; its competitive position rests on talent (11 named partners with multi-decade tenure), an in-house Appellate Practice Team, extensive published court decisions across state and federal courts including the New York Court of Appeals, and a referral/reputation-driven go-to-market motion. Marketing is conducted through legal publications (notably the New York Law Journal), industry seminars, and professional networks rather than digital channels.

Name

Morris Duffy Alonso & Faley

Legal name

Morris Duffy Alonso Faley & Pitcoff

Website

https://mdafny.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Morris Duffy Alonso Faley & Pitcoff is a privately held New York insurance defense law firm founded in 1952, serving insurance carriers, municipalities, healthcare providers, and corporations across New York and New Jersey with litigation, trial, and appellate services spanning roughly 30 practice areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Defense Legal Services

NAICS

Other Insurance Related Activities (52429), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Management Liability (D&O/EPL/Fiduciary) (FSAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Insurance defense litigation
• Tort and negligence defense
• Municipal liability defense
• Medical malpractice defense
• Appellate advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Defense Legal Fees: The firm represents insurance companies, self-insured entities, and corporations in litigation defense matters, generating revenue through legal fees. Fee arrangements include hourly billing for ongoing litigation and contingency fee arrangements for subrogation and recovery matters where the firm pursues financial recovery on behalf of insurers without upfront costs to clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Morris Duffy Alonso Faley & Pitcoff is a New York-based insurance defense law firm providing litigation, trial, and appellate representation to insurance carriers, self-insured entities, municipalities, healthcare providers, and corporations across approximately 30 specialized practice areas including motor vehicle, premises liability, medical malpractice, construction defects, civil rights, and insurance coverage matters. The firm operates from six offices across New York State and New Jersey, with a model combining hourly billing for defense matters and contingency fee arrangements for subrogation and recovery claims.

Product overview

Morris Duffy Alonso Faley & Pitcoff is a full-service New York insurance defense law firm established in 1952, offering comprehensive legal representation across approximately 30 specialized practice areas. The firm provides litigation, trial, and appellate services primarily to insurance companies, self-insured entities, municipalities, and licensed professionals. The practice portfolio spans tort and negligence defense (motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, products liability, medical malpractice), commercial and civil litigation (business disputes, securities, construction defects), labor law defense, regulatory defense (environmental, food/drug/device), and industry-specific areas (maritime, trucking, hospitality). Offices are maintained in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Greene Counties in New York State, and in Bergen County, New Jersey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Admiralty & Maritime Law Legal services for maritime disputes including cargo claims, hull & machinery disputes, Jones Act claims, and maritime regulatory compliance.
• Appellate Advocacy Appellate briefing and oral argument before New York Appellate Terms, Appellate Divisions, Court of Appeals, and federal circuits including the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Architects & Engineers Liability Defense Defense of architects, engineers, surveyors, and environmental consultants in malpractice claims, construction defect litigation, and professional licensing matters.
• Business & Commercial Litigation Representation in breach of contract, commercial lease disputes, noncompete litigation, business torts, and intellectual property disputes.
• Civil Rights Defense Defense of municipalities and public officials in constitutional rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and related state law.
• Construction Defect Litigation Defense of contractors, developers, architects, and engineers in complex construction defect claims and professional malpractice matters.
• Elevator & Escalator Liability Defense Representation for elevator/escalator contractors, maintenance companies, property owners, and manufacturers in vertical transportation accident cases.
• Employment Law & Litigation Defense Defense of employers in discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and EEOC/state agency investigations.
• Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation Defense in asbestos, lead paint, mold, silica, benzene, and chemical exposure claims.
• Fire and Explosion Litigation Defense Defense in fire and explosion cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, and subrogation claims.
• Food, Drug & Medical Device Litigation Defense of pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device companies, and food product suppliers in complex regulated-industry litigation.
• Hospitality & Dram Shop Liability Defense Defense for hotels, restaurants, and alcohol-serving establishments in premises liability and liquor liability claims.
• Insurance Coverage Analysis & Litigation Counsel for insurers on policy interpretation, declaratory judgment actions, claims evaluation, and coverage disputes.
• New York Labor Law & Construction Accident Defense Defense under Labor Law §§ 240(1), 241(6), and 200 for property owners, contractors, and design professionals in construction accident claims.
• Medical Malpractice Defense Defense of physicians, surgeons, nurses, hospitals, and long-term care facilities in medical malpractice litigation and disciplinary proceedings.
• Motor Vehicle Accident Defense Defense in auto, trucking, and transit personal injury, property damage, and wrongful death claims under New York's No-Fault Law.
• Municipal Liability Defense Representation for municipalities, police/fire departments, housing authorities, and school districts in personal injury and civil rights litigation.
• Nursing Home & Long-Term Care Liability Defense Defense of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health providers against negligence, malpractice, and abuse allegations.
• Premises Liability Defense Defense of property owners, landlords, and commercial tenants in slip-and-fall, structural defect, and negligent security claims.
• Products Liability Defense Defense of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in consumer and commercial product defect, warranty, and failure-to-warn claims.
• Professional Liability Defense Defense of licensed professionals including medical professionals, architects, engineers, attorneys, and real estate professionals in malpractice claims.
• Property Loss & Damage Claims Defense Representation in first-party property damage claims involving fire, water, mold, construction-related damage, and loss of use.
• Rental Vehicle Liability & Coverage Defense Defense for rental vehicle companies in vicarious liability, Graves Amendment, and coverage disputes.
• Securities Litigation & Regulatory Defense Defense of brokers, advisors, and financial professionals in FINRA arbitrations, SEC/DOJ investigations, and securities fraud litigation.
• Security Services & Security Guard Liability Defense Defense of security companies and guards in assault, false arrest, use of force, and wrongful detention claims.
• Sexual Abuse Claims Defense Discreet defense for institutions and individuals in civil sexual abuse litigation under the Child Victims Act.
• Sports & Recreational Liability Defense Defense for facility operators, sports franchises, equipment manufacturers, and event organizers in sports injury and recreational accident claims.
• Subrogation & Recovery Recovery actions for insurers in fire, explosion, equipment failure, water/gas leaks, and natural disaster subrogation matters, with contingency fee arrangements and free claim evaluations.
• Trucking & Transportation Litigation Defense Defense of trucking companies, motor carriers, and freight operators in transportation-related personal injury and coverage litigation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully defended thousands of Labor Law § 240(1), § 241(6), and § 200 cases across New York State
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Membership Organizations (logos referenced as ftrLogo1-4)minorOthersThe firm's website footer displays logos of memberships and associations (ftrLogo1.png through ftrLogo4.png), indicating affiliation with defense industry organizations. The specific names of these organizations are not listed in the available source text.

Scale indicators4 records

Direct peers

• Rivkin Radler LLP: Long Island-based insurance defense firm with overlapping NY coverage and similar clientele of property/casualty insurers; competes directly in motor vehicle, premises liability, and subrogation work.
• Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker: One of the largest U.S. insurance defense firms with deep NY/NJ presence; directly competes for the same carrier panel business in motor vehicle, premises liability, professional liability, and construction defense that defines MDAF's core practice.
• Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP: NY-based insurance defense boutique with parallel practice mix including medical malpractice, professional liability, and Labor Law defense; a direct competitor for the same carrier panel spots.
• Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin: Nationally recognized insurance defense firm whose NY office competes head-to-head with MDAF for insurance carrier panels in casualty, professional liability, transportation, and municipal defense matters.
• McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter: Mid-Atlantic insurance defense firm with offices in NY/NJ that competes for the same insurance carrier, municipal, and self-insured panel work across casualty and professional liability lines.
• Furman Kornfeld & Brennan LLP: NYC insurance defense firm of similar size and profile, sharing a focus on NY Labor Law, premises liability, and motor vehicle defense; competes for the same mid-tier carrier and self-insured engagements.
• Cunningham Smith LLP: Insurance defense boutique specializing in casualty litigation for insurers with NY/Tri-state presence; serves the same carrier panel client base for motor vehicle, premises liability, and coverage matters.

Regional players

• Saiber LLC: NJ-headquartered defense firm with overlapping practice areas (professional liability, insurance coverage, casualty defense) that competes with MDAF for clients operating across the NY-NJ corridor.

Broad incumbents

• Cozen O'Connor: National full-service firm with a sizable insurance defense practice serving carriers on casualty, professional, and commercial matters; competes on larger panel placements but as part of a broader practice rather than a pure defense boutique.
• Anderson Kill LLP: Mid-sized NY firm with insurance recovery and coverage litigation practices that overlap MDAF's Insurance Coverage Analysis and Subrogation practice areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Morris-Duffy-Alonso-Faley-153705958004224
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/morrisduffy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Morris Duffy Alonso & Faley