A Full-Service
Litigation And
Defense Practice

Dianne C. Bresse

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  • Partner

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Phone:

Fax:

518-465-0015

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Martindale-Hubbell | AV | Preeminent | Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence | Dianne C. Bresee | 2016

Dianne C. Bresee is a 1976 graduate of Skidmore College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a 1979 graduate of Albany Law School of Union University. Her practice focuses on insurance matters, coverage defense litigation and the defense of environmental and toxic tort claims. Dianne is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (Martindale.com) and has been recognized as one of the top twenty insurance coverage lawyers in upstate New York by the SuperLawyers consumer guide (superlawyers.com) every year since 2007.

Dianne regularly represents insurers in environmental and general insurance coverage litigation. She also defends insurers and their insureds in environmental and toxic tort claims. For nearly 30 years, she has defended cost recovery and enforcement actions for petroleum spills under New York State's Navigation Law. She has served as appellate counsel in state and federal courts in numerous cases involving environmental and other insurance coverage issues. She also practices in the area of equine law.

She has lectured for the New York State Bar Association and other professional organizations on developments in New York Civil Practice, Appellate Practice and Insurance Law. Dianne served for many years on the New York Supreme Court's Committee on Character and Fitness, Dianne is a member of the New York State Bar and the American Bar Associations. She is also a member of the Defense Research Institute and is an elected member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.

Diane is also an avid equestrian and is active in animal welfare organizations.

Areas of Practice

  • Insurance Coverage Litigation, Including Environmental Coverage Litigation
  • Environmental Litigation (Including Petroleum Spill Litigation)
  • Products Liability and Toxic Torts Litigation
  • Equine Law
  • Construction Defect Claims
  • Defense of personal Injury and Property Damage Claims

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1980
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 1980
  • U.S. District Court Western District of New York, 1993
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 2000
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2005
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2008

Education

  • Albany Law School of Union University, Albany, New York
    • J.D. - 1979
  • Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York
    • B.A. - 1976
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
    • Major: English

Published Works

  • Insurance Law Practice, Contributing Author, New York State Bar Association, 2000

Classes / Seminars

  • Lecturer/Chair, Premises Liability, New York State Bar Association
  • Lecturer/Chair, Federal Court Practice, New York State Bar Association
  • Lecturer/Chair, Insurance Coverage Issues and Applications, New York State Bar Association
  • Lecturer, Developments in New York Civil Practice, Appellate Practice and Insurance Law, New York State Bar Association
  • Panelist, “Subprime and Punishment”, Insurance Issues and the Credit Crisis

Honors and Awards

  • Super Lawyers 2015 - Upstate New York Insurance Coverage
  • New York Super Lawyers since 2007 to 2016 ; Top Twenty Insurance Coverage Lawyers in Upstate New York
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV rated (Legal Ability Very High to Preeminent)
  • Super Lawyers Top 25 Women 2019
  • Upstate New York Super Lawyers 2020, Insurance Coverage
  • Best Lawyers in America- Insurance Law, 2021
  • Best Lawyers in America- Insurance Law, 2022
  • Best Lawyers in America, Insurance Law & Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2024

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Albany County Bar Association, Member
  • New York State Bar Association, Member
  • Defense Research Institute, Member
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member

Past Employment Positions

  • Carter, Conboy, Bardwell, Case, Blackwell & Napierski, Partner, 1985 to 1994
  • Carter, Conboy, Bardwell, Case, Blackwell & Napierski, Associate, 1979 to 1985

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Phi Beta Kappa

Practice Areas