David Frenkel
David L. Frenkel is the Managing Member of Frenkel Lambert. Mr. Frenkel’s connection to and affection for the firm runs deep. He began working at the firm, then Eschen & Eschen, in 1985, as a summer law clerk while a student attending Stony Brook University. During this time, David worked closely with the managing partner, Marvin Eschen. At that time, Mr. Eschen, an engineer, an attorney, and avid sailor was at the firm’s helm balancing a portfolio consisting of products liability, insurance subrogation and general practice matters, all without the benefit of modern technology. Through Mr. Eschen, David gained experience, received encouragement and became further motivated to pursue a career in law. Even then as a young law clerk, Mr. Frenkel observed a redundancy of efforts by Mr. Eschen’s staff and attorneys and knew that technology was going to eliminate those redundancies and increase real productivity.
Mr. Frenkel graduated from New York Law school in 1990 and began working with the firm as an attorney shortly thereafter. Mr. Frenkel quickly developed and grew the firm’s mortgage litigation practice. In 1994 he earned partnership in the firm. In 1996, with a heavy heart resulting from the sudden passing of his mentor, law-partner and friend, Marvin Eschen, David assumed the role of managing partner.
As managing partner of the firm, Mr. Frenkel led the rapid transformation and growth of the firm taking advantage of the emerging case management technologies. Not satisfied with the “out of the box” software, the firm invested in customized software that enhances accuracy, efficiency and service. Alongside the commitments in software development the firm made and continues to make continuous investments in hardware infrastructure and IT security.
The firm grew with the addition of partners and was rebranded as Eschen Frenkel Weisman & Gordon. In 2008, Mr. Frenkel drove the merger with and acquisition of Lambert & Weiss, a boutique and highly respected firm focusing on Insurance Subrogation, Fidelity, Surety and Commercial law. Always envisioning the future, the next natural evolution for Frenkel Lambert was the expansion of the firm’s jurisdictional and geographic footprint. Mr. Frenkel’s vision and continued investment in technology transformed the firm from a single office firm with a New York City/Long Island centric practice into a multi-state firm with seven offices handling matters throughout all of New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Mr. Frenkel’s vision and investment in the future continues. In an environment where rules, statutes, and case law can quickly change, law firms must be able to pivot and recalibrate quickly to be in compliance. Through the development of a customized case management application, of bi-directional interfaces and document management software, Frenkel Lambert can quickly incorporate procedural and substantive changes while continuing to create efficiency gains that both serve our clients’ and the firm’s interests.
Richard Lambert
Partner, Insurance Division
Mr. Lambert graduated from Tulane University in 1986 and obtained his law degree from New York Law School in 1990. He is admitted to practice law in the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York. Mr. Lambert handles environmental claims, professional liability claims and directs the firm’s subrogation, and property liability defense practice.
Mr. Lambert has extensive experience in oil spill remediation claims and in losses caused by fire, explosion, collapse, and floods, as well as product, structural, electrical, and mechanical failures involving piping, wiring, plumbing, boilers, public utility equipment, vehicles, and HVAC systems.
Mr. Lambert is the managing partner of our insurance subrogation and environmental department.
Todd E. Weisman
Partner – Insurance Defense
Mr. Weisman is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and was admitted to practice in New York in 1983. He is a cum laude graduate of SUNY Buffalo. Todd is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts in the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York. Todd has tried a wide variety of jury trials in all five boroughs as well as in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties. Mr. Weisman began his legal career as an investigator for a law firm in Nassau County, NY. After being admitted to the Bar he rose through the ranks early in his career the “old school” way – being handed a file on a Friday afternoon and selecting a jury on Monday. He has tried negligent security cases including a favorable verdict involving a knife point rape in NY County (i.e. unified trial), and has gone the distance in apartment complex wrongful death shooting cases, and serial sexual assaults upon a minor in a Bronx youth club as well as representing security guard companies and entertainment venues in connection with inadequate security claims. Todd has obtained defense verdicts in supermarket/shopping mall slip and fall cases. He has obtained very favorable results for taverns/restaurants in Dram Shop cases including involving death and catastrophic injuries such as brain damage to a minor and above the knee amputation of a motorcyclist struck by a patron of the insured tavern. He has significant experience in NY State Labor Law 200, 241(6) and 240(1) cases and has been successful on summary judgment motions including the sole proximate cause defense and has been successful in obtaining indemnification in favor of the owner and/or a GC as against a subcontractor. Mr. Weisman has represented catering halls including a defense verdict in Kings County involving the full thickness laceration of an infant male’s genitalia on an alleged defective toilet seat in a unified trial – the list goes on. Mr. Weisman also becomes involved in the firm’s large loss subrogation matters. Mr. Weisman is adept at negotiating fair settlements; however, when an adverse party is unwilling to resolve a case in a fair and equitable manner then Mr. Weisman will be prepared to present the case to a jury and judge.
Lisa Gordon
Managing Partner – Real Estate Financing Division
Ms. Gordon graduated cum laude from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in May 1993 and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She was admitted to the New York State Bar and the New Jersey State Bar in January 1994. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of New York. Prior to her association with this firm, Ms. Gordon gained considerable experience while practicing and concentrating in the areas of real estate, foreclosure litigation and bankruptcy. As managing partner of our mortgage default practice group she supervises our operations in New York, New Jersey and Florida.