General Information

Year founded: 1912
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Logo for Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP

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.

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 firms

National 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

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.
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