Joshua Polster represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with a particular focus on insurance, fund investment and revenue share disputes, class actions, and other complex contract claims. Josh tries high-stakes cases in court and before arbitral tribunals. He is experienced in handling complex actuarial matters that arise in insurance disputes. He also regularly counsels insurers on strategic concerns and coverage issues and consults with C-suite executives and other clients related to real estate and GP stakes matters. Josh also regularly advises family offices on litigation issues.
Josh is recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. as a “Next Generation Partner” in Insurance. He is also recognized by Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation as a “Future Star” and is a repeat honoree on its “40 & Under List,” which honors the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished law firm partners under the age of 40. Josh co-authors a column on the New York Court of Appeals for the New York Law Journal. He also serves on the Litigation Committee for the New York City Bar Association and on the Insurance Authority General Liability Editorial Advisory Board for Law360. In addition, Josh maintains an active pro bono practice. He has defeated an emergency motion in a Florida voting action and, along with the ACLU and AIC, secured a preliminary injunction blocking a fast-track deportation rule.
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Work Highlights
- Travelers in connection with coverage litigation arising from the opioid crisis
- Insurer in connection with its portfolio of child victims’ act claims across multiple states
- Beazley in winning dismissal of claims related to alleged biometric privacy violations and other alleged data breaches
- Brighthouse Life Insurance Company in putative class action litigations related to universal life insurance policies
- Private family siblings and family businesses in wins at trial before the Delaware Court of Chancery and Connecticut Supreme Court
- Argued appeal and won reversal before the New York First Department in a breach of contract dispute on behalf of the estate of a fund founder
- Fund founder in confidential arbitration regarding continuing obligations and revenue sharing by current ownership
- Insurers and reinsurers in multiple confidential arbitrations, including regarding long-term care insurance, reinsurance trust disputes, and casualty insurance coverage disputes
- Genesee & Wyoming in winning arbitrations over commercial contracts valued at hundreds of millions of dollars related to the company’s railroad transportation business
- UBS in obtaining a denial of class certification in a putative class action alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty in connection with certain closed-end mutual funds
- The Toronto-Dominion Bank in obtaining a denial of class certification in a putative class action related to the Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme
- JPMorgan Chase in obtaining dismissal of fraud claims relating to the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme
- American Electric Power and its directors in obtaining dismissal of shareholder derivative litigation
Accolades
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The Legal 500 U.S., “Next Generation Partner”
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Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation, “Future Star”
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Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation, “40 & Under List” (2022, 2021)
Education
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New York University School of Law, 2011 J.D.
magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; George P. Foulk Memorial Award; Paul D. Kaufman Memorial Award; Butler Scholar; Pomeroy Scholar; Lederman Fellow in Law & Economics; Law Review
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Pace University, 2007 M.S.
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Princeton University, 2005 A.B.
Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude
Associations
- Law360, Insurance Authority General Liability Editorial Advisory Board
Clerkships
- The Honorable Dennis Jacobs, Chief Judge, Second Circuit Court of Appeals
Admissions
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New York 2012
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U. S. District Court Southern District of New York 2013
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U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York 2019
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 2019
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 2022
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 2025
Joshua Polster represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with a particular focus on insurance, fund investment and revenue share disputes, class actions, and other complex contract claims. Josh tries high-stakes cases in court and before arbitral tribunals. He is experienced in handling complex actuarial matters that arise in insurance disputes. He also regularly counsels insurers on strategic concerns and coverage issues and consults with C-suite executives and other clients related to real estate and GP stakes matters. Josh also regularly advises family offices on litigation issues.
Josh's recent work highlights include:
- Travelers in connection with coverage litigation arising from the opioid crisis;
- Insurer in connection with its portfolio of child victims’ act claims across multiple states;
- Beazley in winning dismissal of claims related to alleged biometric privacy violations and other alleged data breaches;
- Brighthouse Life Insurance Company in putative class action litigations related to universal life insurance policies;
- Private family siblings and family businesses in wins at trial before the Delaware Court of Chancery and Connecticut Supreme Court;
- Argued appeal and won reversal before the New York First Department in a breach of contract dispute on behalf of the estate of a fund founder;
- Fund founder in confidential arbitration regarding continuing obligations and revenue sharing by current ownership;
- Insurers and reinsurers in multiple confidential arbitrations, including regarding long-term care insurance, reinsurance trust disputes, and casualty insurance coverage disputes;
- Genesee & Wyoming in winning arbitrations over commercial contracts valued at hundreds of millions of dollars related to the company’s railroad transportation business;
- UBS in obtaining a denial of class certification in a putative class action alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty in connection with certain closed-end mutual funds;
- The Toronto-Dominion Bank in obtaining a denial of class certification in a putative class action related to the Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme;
- JPMorgan Chase in obtaining dismissal of fraud claims relating to the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme; and
- American Electric Power and its directors in obtaining dismissal of shareholder derivative litigation.
Josh is recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. as a “Next Generation Partner” in Insurance. He is also recognized by Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation as a “Future Star” and is a repeat honoree on its “40 & Under List,” which honors the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished law firm partners under the age of 40. Josh co-authors a column on the New York Court of Appeals for the New York Law Journal. He also serves on the Litigation Committee for the New York City Bar Association and on the Insurance Authority General Liability Editorial Advisory Board for Law360. In addition, Josh maintains an active pro bono practice. He has defeated an emergency motion in a Florida voting action and, along with the ACLU and AIC, secured a preliminary injunction blocking a fast-track deportation rule.
Josh received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Princeton University and graduated from the New York University School of Law, magna cum laude, where he was a Butler Scholar and Pomeroy Scholar. Josh served as a law clerk for the Honorable Dennis Jacobs, Chief Judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Josh began his career as a high school history teacher and received his M.S. from Pace University.