The Top Attorneys of North America, a New York based publication, distinguishes and profiles leading attorneys who have reached a recognizable degree of success and leadership in their field. The directory is valued for promoting awareness of the accomplishments within the North American legal community.
Top Attorney – Charles E. Kutner
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New York, NY WW/Press/ – Charles E. Kutner (Retired) Founder of the Law Offices of Kutner Friedrich LLP was Recognized and Distinguished as an Exclusive Emerald Club Member in the Top Attorneys of North America 2026-2027 edition.
“I listen to my clients, keep close communication and I am supportive of their legal needs.” – Charles E. Kutner
Charles E. Kutner, Esq.: Trusted Medical Malpractice Defense Counsel in New York
For healthcare providers and legal professionals facing liability claims in New York, the quality of defense counsel can determine the outcome of a career. Charles E. Kutner, Esq. has spent more than 35 years building a practice defined by results, earning a reputation as one of New York’s most accomplished medical malpractice defense attorneys. Through The Law Offices of Charles E. Kutner, LLP, he and his team offer experienced, attentive representation to professionals whose livelihoods depend on a strong and strategic defense.
The firm serves clients throughout New York City, including all five boroughs, as well as Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. This broad reach positions the firm to handle complex defense matters across the full range of New York’s most active legal venues, giving clients consistent coverage wherever their cases arise.
The Law Offices of Charles E. Kutner, LLP focuses exclusively on liability defense, representing medical and legal professionals across a wide variety of specialties. Whether the matter involves medical malpractice or legal malpractice, the firm brings the same comprehensive, detail-oriented approach to every case. That standard of practice has earned the firm an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest distinction available and a reflection of both exceptional legal ability and the highest ethical standards. The firm is also particularly recognized for its consistent record of obtaining dismissals at the earliest stages of litigation, an outcome that matters greatly to professionals who cannot afford prolonged legal exposure.
Charles E. Kutner, Esq. has taken more than 150 verdicts throughout his career, including defense verdicts in high-stakes cases involving neurologically injured newborns, wrongful death, and stroke. These are among the most emotionally charged and legally intricate categories of medical malpractice litigation, and his record across them reflects a deep command of both the medicine and the law. His client experience is equally broad. He has represented hospitals, emergency room physicians, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and physicians across virtually every specialty of medicine, giving him the clinical fluency required to engage with the factual and procedural complexities that drive these cases.
Beyond his trial record, Mr. Kutner has played a meaningful role in shaping how New York courts interpret medical malpractice law. His appellate work spans several decisions that have established significant precedent in the field. In Broadnax v. Gonzalez (2 NY3d 148), the court addressed claims for maternal emotional distress arising from medical malpractice resulting in a stillbirth. In Stewart v. Cohen (82 AD3d 874), the proceedings clarified the continuous treatment toll under CPLR 214-a, a procedural rule that governs when the statute of limitations begins to run in malpractice matters. In Sample v. Levada (8 AD3d 465), the case examined maternal emotional distress claims brought by the mother of a child born with a disability. Each of these decisions reflects Mr. Kutner’s engagement not just with individual cases, but with the evolving legal standards that define the boundaries of professional liability in New York.
Mr. Kutner’s academic background reinforces the foundation of his practice. He earned his law degree from Albany Law School in 1981, one of the oldest and most respected law schools in New York State. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Haven, a credential that informs his understanding of the institutional and administrative structures in which healthcare professionals operate every day.
Charles E. Kutner, Esq. is also a recognized educator and contributor to legal professional development across New York. He lectures regularly for the New York State Bar Association and has presented on topics including handling breast cancer cases in May 2018 and managing medical malpractice matters in February 2019. He has also lectured for Loriman Education Services on the subject of handling depositions. Each year, Mr. Kutner speaks at the St. John’s University School of Law Seminar on Medical Malpractice, where he engages directly with attorneys and law students on the nuances of this demanding practice area. In Summer 2017, he presented at the Annual Summer Judicial Seminar Series for members of the New York State Judiciary, where his topic covered medical malpractice trials and expert disclosure. This commitment to legal education reflects a broader investment in the quality of practice across the defense bar, not just within his own firm.
His contributions extend to published scholarship as well. Charles E. Kutner, Esq. is the author of Frye Hearings: A Review of Case Law Utility and Application, published in the Journal of the Defense Association of New York in Spring 2015. The piece examines the application of the Frye standard, which governs the admissibility of scientific evidence in New York courts and carries significant weight in medical malpractice proceedings. He is also the author of Damage Laws of the Fifty States, a comprehensive reference used in connection with the NYSBA lecture series. Together, these publications demonstrate a commitment to advancing practical legal knowledge across the profession.
The legal community has recognized Charles E. Kutner, Esq. through two of the most credible benchmarks available to practicing attorneys. His AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell places him among the top tier in his field, based on peer assessments of legal ability and professional ethics. He has also been named to Super Lawyers for his work in Malpractice Defense, a distinction awarded to attorneys who have achieved a high level of peer recognition and demonstrated professional excellence over time. These honors are not self-declared. They reflect the independent judgment of colleagues and evaluators who weigh performance and results.
For any healthcare provider or legal professional facing a liability claim in New York, choosing the right defense counsel is one of the most consequential decisions they will make. The Law Offices of Charles E. Kutner, LLP combines proven trial results, substantive appellate experience, and a focused commitment to resolving matters as efficiently as possible. Charles E. Kutner, Esq. understands what is at stake when a malpractice claim is filed and brings a thorough, case-specific approach to every matter the firm handles. Professionals across New York City and the surrounding counties can contact the firm to discuss their defense needs with experienced and recognized counsel.
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