David P. Friedman

David P. Friedman is a partner who serves as general counsel to the firm. An accomplished litigator, he represents corporations and individuals in complex commercial and civil cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts as well as in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings. 

Frequently cited as a top-ranked litigator by many of the nation’s most prominent legal publications, David represents lawyers, law firms, and owners of small and family-owned businesses. He applies his experience, training and skills to help clients understand their legal positions, prioritize their goals, pursue litigation strategies, and find workable solutions that maximize their resources and minimize their exposure.  

David offers the talented counsel clients require when confronted with complex, intractable problems. Honest and forthright, he provides an in-depth, realistic case analysis to his clients and ensures they understand their vulnerabilities and prospects. He regularly handles a wide variety of disputes, including:

•    Attorney malpractice claims
•    Claims and grievances against attorneys for alleged ethical violations
•    Allegations of fraud, theft, breach of fiduciary duties, conspiracy and other alleged improprieties
•    Insurance coverage disputes
•    Corporate and partnership dissolutions and disputes
•    Class action lawsuits
•    Contract disputes
•    Commercial lease evictions and breaches
•    Commercial and residential mortgage foreclosures
•    Environmental enforcement actions and other environmental disputes
•    Claims due to exposure to mold and other toxic and hazardous substances
•    Construction litigation
•    Land boundary claims and other real property disputes
•    Enforcement of easements and other covenants restricting the use of real estate
•    Mechanics lien foreclosures
•    Manufacturing and distribution disputes
•    Claims for contribution and indemnification
•    Claims for breach of non-competition covenants, non-solicitation agreements, confidentiality restrictions and a wide variety of employment matters
•    Trade secret claims
•    Civil RICO litigation
•    Claims alleging unfair trade practices and violations of consumer protection laws

Known for his strong advocacy on behalf of clients in trials and appeals, David is also a veteran of numerous state grievance committee and state agency administrative hearings, arbitrations and mediations. He has represented clients during ADR proceedings and has also acted as a mediator and arbitrator. In addition, he formerly served as an attorney trial referee in the Connecticut Superior Court.
 

• Business Litigation
• Construction
• Environmental Law
• ERISA Litigation
• Insurance Recovery
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Probate and Trust Dispute Resolution
• Tort and Product Liability
• Attorney Professional Liability
• Appellate Practice
• Litigation

• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Connecticut Bar Association, Life Fellow, House of Delegates
• Fairfield County Bar Association, Former Member of Board of Directors
• Order of the Coif
• Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Board of Directors Former President

• Order of the Coif (1983)
• James W. Cooper Life Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation
• Listed as leading commercial litigation lawyer in Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners-Publishing (Chambers.com)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Commercial Litigation Law, 2020 to 2022 (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
• Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the areas of Professional Liability: Defense, Business Litigation and Appellate from 2007 to 2009 and 2013 to 2020 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)

• Clerk to the Honorable Judith S. Kaye, Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals (1986-1988)
• Legal Aid Society, Criminal Appeals Bureau, New York City, NY (1983-1986)

• August 19, 2021 - 40 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
• May 21, 2021 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
• November 6, 2020 - Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Listed Among the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Connecticut and Top 25 Women Super Lawyers in Connecticut
• August 20, 2020 - 48 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
• April 23, 2020 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
• February 28, 2020 - For Fourth Consecutive Year, Appellate Practice Group Recognized as Litigation Department of the Year by Connecticut Law Tribune
• October 30, 2019 - 37 Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
• August 15, 2019 - 33 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Four Named “Lawyer of the Year”
• May 17, 2019 - Murtha Cullina LLP Wins Third Consecutive Litigation Department of the Year Award From Connecticut Law Tribune
• April 25, 2019 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
• February 5, 2019 - David P. Friedman Completes His Service as President of the Board of Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut
• August 15, 2018 - 32 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Two Named Lawyer of the Year
• May 3, 2018 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
• October 18, 2017 - 38 Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
• October 3, 2017 - Appellate Practice Group Recognized as Litigation Department of the Year by Connecticut Law Tribune
• August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
• May 26, 2017 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
• August 16, 2016 - Attorneys Receive "Best Lawyers" Recognition
• May 27, 2016 - Murtha Cullina Recognized by Chambers USA
• February 24, 2016 - David P. Friedman Elected President of the Board of Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut
• November 17, 2015 - David P. Friedman Named Fellow of American Bar Foundation
• Murtha Cullina's Stamford Office Continues to Grow
• David P. Friedman Joins Murtha Cullina LLP

• September 19, 2018 - Insurer Loses Appeal Over Pedophile-Priest Settlements
• March 2018 - Book Review: Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Fourth Edition
• June 30, 2014 - Stamford Case Could Set Precedent As Postal Service Downsizes

• December 10, 2021 - David Friedman Presenting "Professional Boot Camp: Screening New Clients, Billing and Fee Agreements" Connecticut Bar Association
• February 22, 2018 - 2017 Connecticut Supreme Court Developments for Businesses
• Mediating Insurance Coverage Disputes

• Connecticut
• New York
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

• New York University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1983)
• Stanford University (B.A., 1979)