Education
J.D., Albany Law School, 1975
A.B., Princeton University, 1970

Professional
Member, Bar of the State of New York, 1976
Member, Bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1976
Member, Bar of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1976
Member, Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, 1978
Member, Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1983
Member, Bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1989

Legal Employment History
>Kopff, Nardelli & Dopf LLP
Partner, February 1982
>Peter C. Kopff
November 1980
>Martin Clearwater & Bell
1975 - 1980

Legal Associations
Member, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Member, New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Brooklyn-Manhattan Trial Counsel Association
Member, Defense Research Institute
Member, Nassau County Bar Association
Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates, Secretary of the New York City Chapter, 2007
Founding Member, New York State Medical Defense Bar Association
Member, International Symposia Advisory Board of the UC Davis Center for Perinatal Medicine and Law

Litigation Background
Mr. Kopff has extensive experience in the defense of medical malpractice cases. He has tried major personal injury and wrongful death cases in both Federal and State courts. His courtroom experience in obstetrical, ophthalmological and surgical cases includes numerous victories in brain damaged, wrongful death and other high exposure cases. In the courtroom, Peter relies heavily on visual demonstrative evidence, thorough preparation of his own witnesses and thoughtful cross-examination of adverse witnesses.

Publications
Medical Malpractice In New York, NYSBA, "The Brain-Damaged Baby Case From Defendant's Perspective," Third Edition, Chap. 24, April 2009.
"Medical Malpractice Avoidance and Related Liability Issues,” Refractive IOL Symposium, December 3, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada. Medical-Legal Dermatopathology: Practical and Conceptual, Vol. 10, Num. 2, April-June 2004. Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section Journal NYSBA “Cross-Examination of Medical Witness”, Fall 2002, Vol. 31, No. 2
Medical-Legal, Dermatopathology: Practical and Conceptual, Vol. 7, Num. 4, October-December 2001.
"Treating Doctor as Expert Witness," New York Law Journal, April 16, 2001.
"Principles of Behavior of Physicians In Matters Medical-Legal," Dermatopathology: Practical and Conceptual, Vol. 2, Num. 2, April-June 1996.
"New Medical Malpractice Legislation," New York Law Journal, Litigation Special section, February 14, 1995.
Modern Vascular Surgery Volume Four, "Prevention and Management of Medical Malpractice Crisis, Steps the Individual Surgeon Should Take to Avoid or Successfully Defend a Malpractice Lawsuit," Chapter 32, Vol. 4, 1991. Medical Malpractice: Strategic and Practical Principles, "Defendant's Checklist for Pre-trial Deposition of Claimant in Medical Malpractice Litigation," New York Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section, seminar publication, June 1983. “Cross-Examination of Medical Witnesses,” Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section Journal, Fall 2002, Vol. 31, No. 2.
 

Lectures Delivered
“Cross-Examination of a Medical Expert Witness,” NYSBA - Medical Malpractice Seminar, New York Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City, New York, November 19, 2009.
“Hot Issues” on the Reilly trial, Nassau/Suffolk Trial Lawyers, Westbury Manor, Westbury, New York, October 22, 2009.
Lessons learned at Reilly trial, New York State Medical Defense Bar Association, June 16, 2009.
“Cross-Examination of Medical Expert,” NYSBA, New York City, November 7, 2007.
“Jury Selection,” NYSBA, Plainview, New York, November 1, 2007.
“Why do Defendants Win at Trial?” Medical Malpractice Seminar of 2007, June 30, 2007, Cafe on the Green, Bayside, New York, sponsored by National Medical Consultants.
“Premature Delivery: Identifying, Preventing and Minimizing Adverse Outcomes,” American Conference Institute’s 6th Annual Advanced National Forum on Preventing, Managing & Defending Claims of Obstetric Malpractice, Park Hyatt, Philadelphia, P.A., June 19-20, 2007.
"A Conversation," New York Dermatological Society, April 2, 2006.
Medical Malpractice Avoidance and Related Liability Issues," Refractive IOL Symposium, December 3, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Defense of an Obstetrician in a Medical Malpractice Case: Deposition to Trial" ACOG and Center of New York OB/GYN Society, October 20, 2005, Syracuse, New York. “Hot Legal Issues“ Medical Malpractice Litigation: New York State Bar Association, October 14, 2005, New York City.
“Medical Issues: A Trial Lawyer’s Advice Suggestion For Surviving The Ordeal” Pediatric Grand Rounds, Schneider Childrens’ Hospital At North Shore, February 23, 2005.
“The Brain Damage Baby Case From Defendants Perspective: Proving The Defense And Overcoming The Plaintiff’s Emotional Appeal”, Faculty Member, The New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, The Medical Malpractice Trial: Trying The Brain Damage And Cancer Cases, January 13, 2005.
“Medical Legal Issues in Pathology,” Suffolk County Society of Pathologists, March 25, 2004.
“Issues of Medical Malpractice, Suggestions for Surviving the Ordeal,” Pediatric Grand Rounds, Winthrop University Hospital, February 3, 2004.
“Medical-Legal Issues In Dermatopathology: How to Decrease your Chances of Being Sued and Still Practice Good Medicine”, 40th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Dermatopathology, Chicago, Illinois, October 9-12, 2003.
“Prosecuting and Defending Medical Malpractice Claims – Voir Dire”, New York State Bar Association, New York City, May 9, 2003.
“Lecture and Demonstrations: Economist, Direct Examination and Cross-Examination”, How To Try Damages, Speaker, New York State Bar Association, Friday, December 6, 2002.
“Cross-Examination of Medical Witnesses,” New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyer Section Summer Meeting, August 29, 2002, Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York.
"High Exposure Trials - A Checklist of Concerns," Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company 2002 Risk Management Seminar, June 7, 2002.
"Orthopedics" presentation with Robert C. Hendler, M.D., "Medicine in the Courtroom," New York State Bar Association Seminar, Manhattan venue, May 17, 2002.
"Medical Malpractice Litigation: Opening and Summation," New York State Bar Association, April 20, 2001.
"Trial of an Obstetrical Malpractice Case: Direct Examination of Defendant's Pediatric Neurologist," Mock Trial: Actual Demonstrations from Opening Statements to Summation, New York Law Journal Seminar, March 26-27, 2001.
"New York's Medical Judgment Rule: Viable Defense for the Practicing Physician," Guest of Honor/Speaker, New York Ophthalmological Society, November 8, 1999.
"Why Personal Injury Attorneys Need Medical Illustration?" at the Association of Medical Illustrators, Atlanta National Conference, July 31, 1999.
"Medical Malpractice Litigation: Cross-Examination of the Medical Expert," New York State Bar Association, April 30, 1999.
"How to Handle a Neck and Back Injury Case," Moderator & Lecturer, Direct and Cross-Exam of an Orthopaedic Surgeon, New York State Bar Association, December 4, 1998.
"Medicine in the Courtroom, Trial Techniques, Use of Medical Evidence at Trial," Faculty (Chair)/Speaker, New York State Bar Association, November 21, 1997.
"Trial of an Obstetrical Malpractice Case," Mock Trial: Actual Demonstrations from Opening Statements to Summation, New York Law Journal Seminar, September 22, 1997.
"Medical Malpractice," Speaker, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, New York City, District II, March 23, 1997.
"Cross Examination of the Medical Expert Witness," Faculty, New York State Bar Association Program, Medical Malpractice Litigation lecture, October 25, 1996.
"The Art of Trial Advocacy: Examining the Expert Witness," Faculty/Presenter, Albany Law School Continuing Legal Education, October 13, 1995.
"Defending the Obstetrical Medical Malpractice Case," Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Lenox Hill Hospital, September 20, 1995.
"Cross Examination of Expert Witness," Seminar Faculty, New York State Bar Association Program, Medical Malpractice Program, December 1, 1994.
"Advanced Trial Practice," Inaugural Speaker, Albany Law School Alumnus-in-Residence Program, April 7, 1993.
"Use of Visual Evidence," Keeping Pace: A Guide for the Up-To-Date Litigator, New York State Bar Association, March 26, 1993.
“Advice From A Malpractice Defense Lawyer”, The Westchester Psychoanalytic Society, November 7, 1988.
"Motions Directed to the Pleadings," New York State Bar Association Seminar, October 1988.
"Medical Malpractice Panels," Nassau Academy of Law Seminar, January 1988.


 

Program Chair
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting, Newport, Rhode Island, July 19-22, 2009.
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting, Southampton, Bermuda, June 27-30, 2008.
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting, Skytop, Pennsylvania, July 22-25, 2007
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting, Cooperstown, New York, August 21-24,2006
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting, Skytop Lodge, Skytop, Pennsylvania, August 15-18, 2004.


Co-Program Chair
New York State Bar Association, Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section and Trial Lawyers Section Joint Annual Meeting, New York City, January 29, 2009.
New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting, Saratoga Springs, New York, Summer 2005.

Moderator
Defense Breakout Session “The Experts Analyze Brain Damaged Baby Cases III” Seminar November 11-13, 2004, University of California, Davis Health System, Center for Perinatal Medicine & Law and Continuing Medical Education American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Medicine and Law Committee.

Board of Trustees
Albany Law School, 2003–2009

Panel Member
“The Rights of the Wronged: Is Tort Reform Required?” Panelist: Princeton Reunion, Alumni Faculty Panel, May 27, 2005.
"Use of Authoritative Texts During Cross Examination - Cross Examination of Infant Plaintiffs," New York State Medical Defense Bar Association, February 12, 2002.
Videotaped Risk Management Program for Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company: Discussion of six case situations, November 7, 1996.

Profile
"A New Trial Weapon: Puppets," The National Law Journal, February 25, 2002.
"Winning the Malpractice Game," Medical Economics - Ob-Gyn Edition, Vol. 17, Num. 1, pp. 32, 50, January 1998.
"Winning, Successful Strategies from 10 of the Nation's Top Litigators," The National Law Journal, September 22, 1997, by Margaret Cronin Fisk, cited as "a consistent winner" who met the criterion of "a long record of favorable courtroom victories."

Awards
The New York Area’s Best Lawyers, New York Magazine, 2003-2009.
The Best Lawyers in America, 2003-2009.
Distinguished Alumni Award, October 1, 2004, Albany Law School, Class of 1975.