Bio
Karen is a seasoned attorney with over 30 years of experience in the insurance defense industry. She has developed strong client relationships and trust through her passionate commitment to the defense of her clients. She believes that the key to the successful defense of a client is the development of a litigation strategy that allows her clients and their insurers to posture the case for success, whether that success be the result of motion practice, a negotiated settlement or trial.
Karen has been handling insurance defense matters since her admission to the bar in 1994. She has handled all aspects of civil litigation including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, mediations, arbitrations, trials and appeals. Her primary areas of practice include Construction accidents, Premises Liability, Products Liability, Automobile accidents, Municipal Liability and Professional Liability. She is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating given to attorneys for legal ability and ethical standards.
Karen represents insurers, private clients, corporations, municipalities and third party administrators in complex tort litigation. In her defense of Labor Law cases, she represents property owners, general contractors and subcontractors.. She manages civil litigation matters both in New York and Connecticut and has successfully argued cases in the First, Second and Third Departments as well as the appellate courts in Connecticut.
Karen is a frequent lecturer for the New York State Judicial Institute, having lectured at both the New Judges School as well as the Judicial Summer Seminars on New York Labor Law and Trial Practice topics. She has also provided a defense perspective on mediation for the Westchester County Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.
Karen graduated from Connecticut College where she earned accolades as a student athlete. She was a member of the intercollegiate soccer and swim teams and served as captain of the women’s swim team. She graduated with distinction in her major field of history, was selected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. She earned her law degree, with honors, from Pace University School of Law where she served as Executive Editor of the Pace Law Review.
Karen is married to Robert Ondrovic, who currently serves as a Supreme Court Justice in the 9th Judicial District. They have three children, Paige, Lauren and Ryan.
Education
Pace University School of Law, J.D. 1993, cum laude
Connecticut College, B.A., 1989, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
New York-1994
Connecticut-1995
Publications
The Admissibility of Subsequent Remedial Measures in a Product Liability Case, 3 Prod S. Liab LJ 222 (1992)
The Self Critical Analysis in the Product Liability Context, Defense Counsel Journal, Vol. 70, No. 1 (2003)