General Information
Year founded:
1912
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
EXPERIENCE. RESPONSIVENESS. RESULTS. The benchmark of Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP’s defense strategy is evident in the fact that the firm has more partners selected by its peers as “Best Lawyers in America®,” New York area, than any other firm in its field. The firm’s roots date to 1912 and it has the distinction of being one of the oldest and largest boutique litigation and appellate firms emphasizing all areas of professional liability, medical and healthcare related litigation.
What truly sets MCB apart from its competition, besides tenure in the field, is the stability and experience of its highly specialized group of trial lawyers. As a result of its commitment to excellence, MCB has grown steadily over the years, from a dozen lawyers with three partners in the mid-1970s to nearly 100 attorneys, including 34 partners. The firm offers risk management and prevention services, but predominantly handles trials and appeals of issues relating to all areas of professional liability, product and pharmaceutical liability, professional credentials and discipline, insurance coverage, and employment law. Further, MC&B serves as lead defense counsel in multiple national mass tort/pharmaceutical litigations. The firm’s employment and labor practice group is headed by a prominent employment partner,who was formerly the lead partner of the NY-NJ employment practice of a national law firm.
MCB’S results-oriented approach and uncompromising quality are the reasons many of its clients have continued to rely on the firm’s legal talent for decades. The firm publishes a quarterly newsletter, and frequently hosts client education seminars, including CLE programs and risk management lectures for various groups. MCB’s continued dynamic growth is evident by the opening of an office in Stamford, Connecticut, the firm’s sixth office. The firm is headquartered in Manhattan, with offices in East Meadow, White Plains, Newark, NJ, Rochester, NY and Stamford, CT.
To best serve its clients and be most efficient in the delivery of legal services, MCB has made sound investments in advanced technology and communications equipment that assure efficient document management and secure access from wherever the firm’s lawyers require technical support. These systems are complemented by billing, research, litigation support
and practice-specific applications.
What truly sets MCB apart from its competition, besides tenure in the field, is the stability and experience of its highly specialized group of trial lawyers. As a result of its commitment to excellence, MCB has grown steadily over the years, from a dozen lawyers with three partners in the mid-1970s to nearly 100 attorneys, including 34 partners. The firm offers risk management and prevention services, but predominantly handles trials and appeals of issues relating to all areas of professional liability, product and pharmaceutical liability, professional credentials and discipline, insurance coverage, and employment law. Further, MC&B serves as lead defense counsel in multiple national mass tort/pharmaceutical litigations. The firm’s employment and labor practice group is headed by a prominent employment partner,who was formerly the lead partner of the NY-NJ employment practice of a national law firm.
MCB’S results-oriented approach and uncompromising quality are the reasons many of its clients have continued to rely on the firm’s legal talent for decades. The firm publishes a quarterly newsletter, and frequently hosts client education seminars, including CLE programs and risk management lectures for various groups. MCB’s continued dynamic growth is evident by the opening of an office in Stamford, Connecticut, the firm’s sixth office. The firm is headquartered in Manhattan, with offices in East Meadow, White Plains, Newark, NJ, Rochester, NY and Stamford, CT.
To best serve its clients and be most efficient in the delivery of legal services, MCB has made sound investments in advanced technology and communications equipment that assure efficient document management and secure access from wherever the firm’s lawyers require technical support. These systems are complemented by billing, research, litigation support
and practice-specific applications.
Rankings
Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 3 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsNational Rankings
Tier 1
Tier 1 for Health Care Law
Metro Rankings
New York City
Tier 1 for Health Care Law
Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
White Plains
Tier 2 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Highlighted Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
The quality of the representation by Martin Clearwater & Bell has always been a standard for others to strive for.
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Very pleased with MCB's interaction with defendants. They are skilled and possess a strong work ethic that is beneficial to the defense of medical negligence cases.
Chip Reardon,
General Claims Representative
– CRICO
Health Care Law
Over many years of working closely with Martin Clearwater & Bell, I have always found the firm and its attorneys to be of the highest quality, both from a skills perspective as advocates and as true professionals. They are tireless advocates who are passionate in their representation of clients and unyielding in their pursuit of the best possible outcome.
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Martin Clearwater & Bell is regarded, and deservingly so, as one of the finest firms defending health care professionals and institutions.
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Martin Clearwater & Bell's staff are consummate professionals and outstanding trial partners. They employ a proactive defense approach and are well-managed and cost-effective.
Nancy Margro,
Vice-President, Legal Affairs and Claims
– Combined Coordinating Council
Rankings
National Rankings
Tier 1
Tier 1 for Health Care Law
Regional Rankings
New York City
Tier 1 for Health Care Law
Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
White Plains
Tier 2 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Appellate Practice
- Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law
- Employment Law - Management
- Health Care Law
- Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP has 14 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in
America®.
By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings.
For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards.
Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Awards
Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
- Best Law Firm
Main Location
New York,
NY
The News Building, 13th Floor
220 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
United States
212-697-3122
Call our New York, NY location at 212-697-3122
Get Directions
Get directions to our New York, NY location
Office Locations
Stamford,
CT
One Landmark Square
Stamford, CT 06901
United States
203-738-5226
Call our Stamford, CT location at 203-738-5226
Get Directions
Get directions to our Stamford, CT location
Newark,
NJ
744 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
United States
973-735-0578
Call our Newark, NJ location at 973-735-0578
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Get directions to our Newark, NJ location
East Meadow,
NY
90 Merrick Avenue, Suite 401
East Meadow, NY 11554
United States
516-222-8500
Call our East Meadow, NY location at 516-222-8500
Get Directions
Get directions to our East Meadow, NY location
Rochester,
NY
The Powers Building
16 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14614
United States
585-413-1699
Call our Rochester, NY location at 585-413-1699
Get Directions
Get directions to our Rochester, NY location
White Plains,
NY
245 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
United States
914-328-2969
Call our White Plains, NY location at 914-328-2969
Get Directions
Get directions to our White Plains, NY location
Significant Matters
Below are matters chosen by the firm to highlight.
Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP, which has the distinction of being the oldest and largest medical defense firm in New York, has expanded over recent decades to specialize in all areas of professional liability, medical and healthcare litigation. Our defense practices include medical malpractice, healthcare litigation, employment and labor, toxic tort and product liability, professional liability and appellate matters. Recognized by both the bench and bar as a leader in the medical defense and professional liability areas, MCB has served the professional community for over one hundred years. What truly sets MCB apart from its competition is its depth of talent and stability. All of the Firm's senior partners have over 20 years of experience or more with the Firm. As a result of our commitment to excellence, MCB has grown steadily over the years from a dozen attorneys, including three partners, in the mid-1970’s to more than 75 attorneys today. MCB has been honored by The American Lawyer as a Top 100 New York Law Firm and has three senior partners who are Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition, a number of Firm partners are selected by their peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America as well as Super Lawyers. Most of the Firm’s partners are AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, their highest rating.