Steven E. Pegalis

Steven E. Pegalis is the founder of Pegalis Law Group, LLC and one of the nation’s foremost plaintiffs’ medical malpractice trial lawyers. Pegalis is the author of American Law of Medical Malpractice, Volumes 1-3, now in its 3rd edition. In his nearly 50 years practicing law as an advocate for seriously injured victims of negligence, he has obtained some of the highest jury verdicts.  He is most proud of providing peace of mind, a sense of justice, and financial security to more than 2000 clients to date. Stacks of photos and thank-you notes from clients’ families are among his most prized processions. He believes his team’s personal investments in each case are without peer, and has resulted in consistent success for patients year after year. He and his firm have worked tirelessly with some two thousand injured individuals and their families. For example: in 1998, he obtained a $116 million jury verdict for a brain injured child, and in 2004 he obtained a $111.7 million verdict for a brain injured child.

In 2019, New York Law School honored Pegalis with their Lifetime Achievement for Community Leadership in the Law Award. Pegalis is also the only lawyer named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® for 2019, for Long Island Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs. He was also singularly named 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” on Long Island, for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation, and in 2016, was named “Lawyer of the Year,” for Plaintiffs’ Medical Malpractice lawyer in New York, by Best Lawyers© and Best Lawyers in America®.  The “Lawyer of the Year” distinction reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the region and practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.  Additionally in 2016, Pegalis was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA). In 2015, Pegalis was named co-director with Irwin R. Merkatz, MD, of the Patient Safety Project initiative at New York Law School (NYLS), focused on making significant contributions to medical safety and promoting innovative health law policies for the public good.  Also in 2015, Pegalis was honored with the Nassau County Bar Association’s WE CARE Fund award. Pegalis is the author of American Law of Medical Malpractice, Volumes 1-3, now in its 3rd edition.He serves on the NYLS Board of Trustees, was an Adjunct Professor of Law, and was honored with school’s Groundbreaker Award for a lifetime commitment to his clients, and successfully pursuing their rights with passion.

Pegalis is an advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocacy, a Dean of the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, and a member of the American Association for Justice, and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is an Associate in Law of the American College of Legal Medicine, and is AV ratedon Martindale-Hubbell for professional excellence since 1982. Each year he is voted to the Best Lawyers® List in New York and the New York Super Lawyers List. Pegalis has lectured extensively on medical/legal issues, and contributed his experience and viewpoint to numerous articles and publications. He is admitted to practice in New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He holds both a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Law degree from New York Law School, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Queens College of the City of New York.