Matthew P. Mazzola focuses his practice in the areas of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and managed care litigation; life, health, and disability benefit litigation; and related insurance coverage issues. He has spent much of his career litigating complicated life, health, and disability insurance related claims and disputes. Matthew creates a close working relationship with his clients to formulate an efficient legal strategy to meet their needs and effectuate a beneficial resolution. He co-chairs our firm's Managed Care + Employee Benefit Litigation group.
Health + Benefits Litigation
Matthew defends life, health, disability and accidental death and dismemberment claims brought in state and federal court against insurers, plan administrators, employers, benefit plans, managed care organizations, preferred provider organizations (PPOs), health maintenance organizations (HMOs), third party administrators (TPAs), and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including in cases governed by ERISA, Federal Employees Health Benefits Act (FEHBA), and the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. He has experience in many areas of life, health, and disability litigation, including complex health care issues involving ERISA, FEHBA and Medicare preemption, payor/provider contract disputes, nonparticipating provider reimbursement claims involving both federal and state law claims, pharmacy benefit plan/provider disputes, and behavioral health claim disputes, including claims alleging violations of federal and state Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity laws. Matthew manages litigation from inception through trial/arbitration, tirelessly working to obtain the most beneficial resolution for his clients. He also has written many appellate briefs for clients in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the New York State Appellate Divisions involving complicated legal issues in both ERISA and non-ERISA cases.
Insurance Coverage
Matthew has experience advising professional service firms on insurance coverage issues related to professional liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance, management liability insurance, cyber insurance, and property and casualty insurance. He also has assisted professional service firms in resolving insurance coverage disputes with insurers. Matthew has negotiated, drafted and revised policy language, endorsements and warranties related to insurance coverage purchased by professional services firms and drafted complicated fee agreements and non-disclosure agreements to further business relationships.
Insurance Litigation
Matthew has experience defending insurers and private corporations in the areas of medical malpractice, premises liability, general negligence, property and casualty defense, and New York State Labor Law. He has achieved favorable results for these insurers and private corporations in both state and federal court. He also advises clients on complicated legal issues concerning the interpretation of contracts and insurance policies.
Matthew regularly writes on ERISA matters for his clients and colleagues in the legal industry and has presented on these matters at conferences and continuing legal education programs.
While in law school, he participated in several national competitions.
