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5 Best Civil Litigation Lawyers in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Lorian Hartfield
By Lorian Hartfield, Real Estate and Financial Expert · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Filing or defending a civil lawsuit in New York can mean federal court, state court, or a specialized claims fund, depending on what happened. Every civil litigation lawyer in New York on this page holds at least a 4.9 rating, and between them they carry over 2,400 Google reviews, so the split that matters most is which kind of dispute each firm actually litigates.

Short answer: The top-rated civil litigation lawyer in New York by review volume is Hansen & Rosasco, LLP (4.9 stars, 419 Google reviews), followed by Romano Law (4.9, 352 reviews) and Caesar, Napoli & Spivak (4.9, 286 reviews). All firms here rate 4.9 or higher, so the deciding factor is which one litigates your specific type of civil claim.
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New York's Civil Litigation Lawyers, Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Hansen & Rosasco, LLP 4.9 419 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claims View ›
2 Romano Law 4.9 352 Contract and business disputes View ›
3 【黎保利】律师事务所 Caesar, Napoli & Spivak 4.9 286 Personal injury civil claims View ›
4 Cohen & Fitch, LLP 4.9 172 Civil rights and police misconduct litigation View ›
5 The SUE CITY law firm 4.9 134 Suing city agencies (NYPD, MTA, Rikers) View ›
5 Best Civil Litigation Lawyers in New York (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

Hansen & Rosasco, LLP logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

4.9419 Google reviews

Hansen & Rosasco, LLP litigates 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and related healthcare claims, a specialized civil claims practice against a federal fund rather than a private-party lawsuit. The firm has represented survivors, first responders, and family members since 2001, and its site cites over $500 million recovered for clients, with case examples running into the millions for individual claimants. Reviewers describe staff guiding families through a federal claims process that runs on a no-recovery, no-fee basis.

What people praise

  • Deep, cited track record of large recoveries in this specific claim type since 2001
  • Staff repeatedly praised for compassion during an emotionally difficult claims process
  • No-recovery, no-fee structure removes upfront cost for eligible claimants
  • Long-running familiarity with VCF paperwork and deadlines

Worth knowing

  • Its litigation experience is concentrated in VCF and 9/11-related claims specifically, not general commercial or civil disputes
  • Deadlines apply to VCF claims, so timing matters if you believe you are eligible
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume419 · 98th
Confidencehigh
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: If your civil claim is a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or related healthcare matter, this firm's track record here is the deepest on the page. For a general civil lawsuit unrelated to 9/11, its demonstrated specialty does not match, so look further down this list.

250 Broadway Ste 600, New York, NY 10007

Romano Law logo
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Romano Law

4.9352 Google reviews

Romano Law litigates civil and commercial disputes as part of a broader business law practice, including contract disagreements, business divorces, and disputes tied to corporate agreements, with a stated flat-rate litigation option for clients who want predictable billing. Reviewers describe attorneys handling business-related legal disputes with an emphasis on explaining risk and likely outcomes in practical, non-legal terms before a matter escalates further.

What people praise

  • Flat monthly and project-based litigation billing options available
  • Reviewers describe attorneys as strategic and prepared before consultations
  • Handles disputes tied to business agreements and corporate matters specifically
  • Named attorneys praised for reliability and detail during ongoing matters

Worth knowing

  • Its civil litigation strength is centered on commercial and business disputes rather than personal injury or claims-fund matters
  • Flat-rate billing may not fit every kind of dispute; confirm the model applies to your case
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume352 · 93th
Confidencehigh
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown96% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest fit here for a civil dispute rooted in a business or contract disagreement, especially with the flat-rate litigation option. For a personal injury or claims-fund matter, its specialty runs elsewhere.

One Battery Park Plaza, Battery Pl 7th Floor, New York, NY 10004

【黎保利】律师事务所 Caesar, Napoli & Spivak logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

【黎保利】律师事务所 Caesar, Napoli & Spivak

4.9286 Google reviews

Caesar, Napoli & Spivak litigates personal injury civil claims in New York, including car accidents, pedestrian injuries, and elder-law-adjacent matters, with a practice built to serve the city's Chinese-speaking community in Mandarin and Cantonese alongside English. Reviewers describe multi-year cases settled after persistent negotiation with insurers, with staff named repeatedly for patient, bilingual communication throughout.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe favorable settlements reached after years of persistent case work
  • Multilingual staff serving Mandarin, Cantonese, and English-speaking clients
  • Named case managers praised for keeping families updated through long proceedings
  • Handles the practical burden of paperwork, medical bills, and insurer communication

Worth knowing

  • Its litigation focus is personal injury civil claims, not commercial or business disputes
  • Long case timelines were described by more than one reviewer, which is common in personal injury litigation but worth setting expectations around
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume286 · 88th
Confidencehigh
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong option specifically for a personal injury civil claim, and a notably good fit if you need service in Mandarin or Cantonese. Set expectations up front that injury litigation often runs years, not weeks.

233 Broadway #2348, New York, NY 10279

Cohen & Fitch, LLP logo
#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Cohen & Fitch, LLP

4.9172 Google reviews

Cohen & Fitch, LLP litigates civil rights cases against law enforcement and government entities in New York, including false arrest, excessive force, and wrongful conviction claims, alongside employment discrimination matters. Reviewers describe named attorneys handling emotionally difficult civil rights cases with persistence, though the firm's own public response to a critical review explains that these cases require extensive documentation before the firm can commit to representation.

What people praise

  • Deep specialization in civil rights litigation against police and government defendants
  • Multiple named attorneys praised individually for dedication to difficult cases
  • Firm publicly explains its case-intake standards rather than staying silent on criticism
  • Handles related employment discrimination and wrongful conviction matters

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer described frustration with the documentation required before the firm would formally take a case
  • Smaller review base than the top names on this list
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume172 · 83th
Confidencemoderate
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clearest specialist here for a civil rights or police misconduct claim, an area few general civil litigators handle regularly. Understand going in that these cases require solid documentation before the firm commits, which the negative review here actually illustrates.

The Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway #2348, New York, NY 10279

The SUE CITY law firm logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The SUE CITY law firm

4.9134 Google reviews

The SUE CITY law firm litigates civil claims specifically against New York City government entities, including the NYPD, MTA, Rikers Island, and NYCHA, a narrower and more specialized civil litigation practice than a general personal injury or business firm. Reviewers describe cases involving civil rights violations and injuries on city property, with the named attorney personally representing clients through resolution.

What people praise

  • Narrow specialty in litigating against city agencies specifically, which requires distinct procedural knowledge
  • Attorney described as personally available by call or text throughout a case
  • Reviewers report full case resolution with meaningful payouts
  • Spanish-language service available per the firm's site

Worth knowing

  • Its specialty is claims against city entities specifically, not general civil or commercial litigation
  • Smallest review base on this list, so the track record, while strongly positive, is thinner than the largest names
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume134 · 78th
Confidencemoderate
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown99% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The right call specifically if your civil claim is against the NYPD, MTA, Rikers, or another city agency, since that narrow litigation area is its entire focus. For a private-party civil dispute, this is not the specialist to call.

111 John St Ste. 1850, New York, NY 10038

6

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the firm’s live Google star average. Review volume shows how many clients have rated them, ranked against other New York civil litigation lawyers. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from hundreds of reviews carries more weight than the same score from a smaller sample. Recency reflects how recently clients are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a civil litigation lawyer cost in New York? (2026)

Civil litigation fees in New York vary by the type of claim and how it is billed. Personal injury and civil rights claims here are commonly handled on a contingency basis, meaning no upfront fee unless the case recovers money, while business and commercial disputes are more often billed hourly or under a flat-rate litigation arrangement like the one Romano Law offers. Because billing structure depends so heavily on the claim type, we are not publishing a general price table, and recommend asking each firm directly how it bills for your specific matter.

Serving all of New York City

The firms above litigate cases across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, with several also handling matters in New Jersey. Searching for a civil litigation lawyer near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number so you can describe your specific claim directly.

What to ask before you hire a civil litigation lawyer

  • Have you litigated this specific type of civil claim before, and what were the outcomes?
  • Is this handled on contingency, hourly, or a flat litigation fee?
  • What documentation do you need from me before you can formally take the case?
  • How long do cases like mine typically take to resolve?
  • Who at the firm will be my primary point of contact during the case?
  • What are the realistic best and worst-case outcomes for a claim like mine?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these civil litigation lawyers?

We started from lawyers in New York with a public Google presence surfacing under civil litigation searches, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Is civil litigation the same thing as criminal defense?

No. Civil litigation covers disputes between private parties, businesses, or claims against government entities, typically resulting in money damages rather than criminal penalties. Several firms on this page also handle criminal or immigration matters separately.

How much does a civil litigation lawyer cost in New York?

It depends on the claim type. Personal injury and civil rights cases here are commonly handled on contingency with no upfront fee, while commercial disputes are more often billed hourly or at a flat litigation rate. Ask each firm directly how it structures fees for your matter.

The bottom line

Match the firm to your actual claim type rather than defaulting to the highest review count: Hansen & Rosasco for 9/11 VCF claims, Romano Law for business disputes, Caesar Napoli & Spivak for personal injury, Cohen & Fitch for civil rights against police, and The SUE CITY law firm specifically for claims against city agencies.

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