A Full-Service
Litigation And
Defense Practice

Terence P. O’Connor

profile
  • Partner

Location:

Phone:

Fax:

518-465-0015

Email:

Practice Areas

Terence O'Connor is Recognized as a Member of The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals | Click to View Member Profile
AV | Martindale-Hubbell | Preeminent | Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence | Terence P. O'Connor | 2016
Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto

Terry O’Connor is a 1980 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa.  In pursuing his undergraduate degree, he also studied in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Terry received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1983.  Terry is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been voted by his peers on an annual basis as one of the Top 10 Upstate New York Attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine.  In addition, Terry has been named the Best Lawyer, Lawyer of the Year for both Medical Malpractice Law (defendants) and Products Liability Law (defendants).  In 2011 he was honored with the Albany County Bar Association’s President’s Award.  In 2015 he was elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. 

Terry is a trial lawyer who defends physicians, dentists, nurses, hospitals and nursing homes throughout New York State and Vermont.  Over the course of his career, Terry has tried upwards of 125 cases to verdict.  In defending physicians, he has handled cases involving licensing issues, wrongful death and birth trauma claims.  In addition, Terry has handled a wide variety of other civil litigation matters, including cases involving Labor Law violations, trucking accidents, motor vehicle accidents, products liability and premises liability. 

Terry has been appointed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York as a mediator/arbitrator/early neutral evaluator.  Over the past decade, Terry has mediated and arbitrated approximately 200 cases. 

Areas of Practice

  • Insurance Defense
  • Medical Malpractice Defense
  • Appellate Practice
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1984
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 1984
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1985
  • Vermont, 2013
  • U.S. District Court District of Vermont, 2017

Education

  • Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana
    • J.D. - 00/1983
  • St Lawrence University, Canton, New York
    • B.S. - 1980
    • Honors: magna cum laude
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
    • Honors: Omicron Delta Kappa
  • University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen
    • 1978

Classes / Seminars

  • The Art of Jury Selection - New York State Legislature
  • Addressing the Reptile in the Courtroom - Albany County Bar Association and numerous other national locations
  • Power Advocacy: Achieving Maximum Jury Impact During Trial, New York State Bar Association
  • Practical Skills Basic Civil Practice: The Trial, New York State Bar Association
  • Expert Testimony in Federal Court After Daubert and New Rule 26-From Discovery Through Trial, New York State Bar Association
  • Medicine in the Courtroom, New York State Bar Association
  • Cross Examining Plaintiff's Experts in Federal Court, New York State Bar Association
  • How to Handle a Neck and Back Injury Case, New York State Bar Association
  • Jury Selection Techniques: The Basics for the Civil Practitioner, New York State Bar Association
  • Proving and Defending Damages, New York State Bar Association
  • Risk Management Course, Dental Society of New York, Third and Fourth Districts and the Greater New York Dental Conference
  • Trial Practice and Medical/Legal Issues, New York State Bar Association
  • Trial Practice and Medical/Legal Issues, Albany Law School
  • Trial Practice and Medical/Legal Issues, Albany Medical Center Hospital

Honors and Awards

  • Martindale Hubbell - AV Rated-Very High to Preeminent
  • President’s Award – Albany County Bar Association
  • Federal Court - Appointed Mediator/Early Neutral Evaluator
  • Chairman, Albany County Bar Association Judicial Screening Committee
  • OMS National Insurance Company Attorney of the Year
  • Super Lawyers Top 10 Upstate New York Attorneys, 2007 - 2020
  • Super Lawyers Top 25 Hudson Valley, 2007 - 2017
  • Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Albany, NY, 2017
  • Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Albany Product Liability Law - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year"
  • Continuing Excellence Award – Defending the Specialty of Oral Surgery
  • Americas Top 100 High Stakes Litigators - Upstate New York
  • Elected as Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2015
  • Upstate New York Super Lawyers 2020, Personal Injury Litigation, Medical Malpractice Defense
  • Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2013
  • Best Lawyers in America, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2014
  • Best Lawyers in America, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2019
  • Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2020
  • Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2021
  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants & Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants & Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2024

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • The International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Vermont Bar Association
  • Vermont Trial Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Albany County Bar Association
  • Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA)
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society

Pro Bono Activities

  • Center for Disability Services, Board of Directors, Chair
  • Siena College, Board of Associate Trustees
  • Albany County Hospice, Wave Runner Program for Children of Cancer Patients
  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston Marathon, Fundraising/Jimmy Fund