Michael S. Gugig

Michael Gugig is an experienced commercial litigator who has tried cases in federal and state courts around the country in numerous areas including insurance, contracts, trade secrets, employment, consumer fraud, patents, partnership dissolution, environmental and class actions. He has also conducted many internal investigations for financial services companies.

In the insurance industry, Mike has defeated class certification in an action brought in the New York State Supreme Court against a long-term care carrier over allegations of fraud, breach of contract and violation of New York's consumer protection statutes. In another matter, he represented a long-term care insurance provider at trial and on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in a dispute over long-term care facility benefits, and the Tenth Circuit ruled entirely in the insurer's favor. In addition, Mike earned a victory in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, in a case for a liability carrier that resulted in the Court's confirmation of the continued viability of New York's "no-prejudice rule" with respect to late notice of occurrence.

Mike has also successfully represented numerous clients in lawsuits alleging violations of non-compete agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets and related causes of action.

Additionally, Mike represents clients in complex commercial and employment litigation. Specifically, he litigated Riccard v. Prudential Insurance Co., where Prudential was accused of age and disability discrimination and retaliation. After a 26-day arbitration, and significant related litigation in the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, Prudential was completely exonerated. Also in that case, Mike succeeded in persuading the Eleventh Circuit to adopt new law regarding arbitrations in employment disputes involving former NASD (now FINRA) members. He also secured a complete victory in a New York State Supreme Court trial in a partnership dissolution case.

Mike is an adjunct law professor at Rutgers School of Law – Newark, his alma mater, where he teaches New York Civil Practice.