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Overview

Ken Cesta is a litigator with more than 30 years of experience in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York, as well as in arbitration proceedings. His practice focuses on counseling and defending insurers and reinsurers in insurance coverage disputes and bad faith litigation across all lines of business, including including directors and officers liability, professional liability, life insurance, commercial and general liability, sexual and physical abuse and molestation, cyber/media/technology, and employment practices liability. Ken was previously part of a national trial team representing two public financial institutions in employment-related litigation throughout the United States.  

Ken also has extensive experience in the e-discovery field, implementing cost-effective e-discovery and litigation readiness plans for his clients. He holds an eDiscovery Executive Certificate and is a member of the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists. He is also a frequent lecturer on e-discovery topics, including managing e-discovery costs and document retention policies.

Ken is a former chair of the New Jersey District VB Ethics Committee and has been appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve as a special ethics master in several complex disciplinary actions brought by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. He is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey.

Experience

  • Represented reinsurer in an arbitration involving multiple claims arising under an excess of loss (XOL) reinsurance treaty.
  • Currently representing and have previously represented insurers in numerous coverage matters involving underlying sexual abuse and molestation claims.
  • Obtained dismissal on behalf of a life insurance company client of a federal court complaint alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, bad faith, and fraud related to underlying annuity contracts. 
  • Obtained summary judgment dismissing coverage and bad faith claims brought by national real estate brokerage firm against insurance company client.
  • Defended and favorably resolved professional liability insurance coverage claim related to underlying AAA mass arbitration proceeding.
  • Obtained dismissal on behalf of an insurance company client of a federal court complaint alleging breach of contract, reformation, and fraud related to professional liability insurance policy issued to a large real estate inspection company. 
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a national financial institution dismissing all counts of former employee’s federal court discrimination and wrongful termination action.
  • Successfully defended a national media company in New Jersey federal court class action alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Case settled on favorable terms for client.

Insights

Recognition

  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law (2023–2025)
  • Top Author, Alternative Dispute Resolution, JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
  • Appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court in several matters to serve as a special ethics master in complex disciplinary actions brought by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics against practicing attorneys.
  • Appointed to the Neutral Mediator Panel for the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Morris and Sussex counties (2010–2017)

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.​

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
  • District VB Ethics Committee of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
    • Former Member, Vice Chair, and Chair

Speaking Engagements

  • Managing High Profile Claims Under EPL, Cyber, and Professional Liability Policies,” Management and Professional Liability Conference, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Boston, MA (June 2018)
  • “Trial Strategies and Solutions of Business Disputes When an Insurance Carrier Is Involved,” Current Issues in Business Litigation, New Jersey Bar Association, New Brunswick, NJ (June 2017)
  • “Avoiding E-Discovery Spoliation Claims in Employment Litigation,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, West Orange, NJ (November 2016)
  • "Trust and Business Accounting Rules for NJ Lawyers," Morris County Bar Association, Morristown, NJ (November 2014)
  • “Ethical Implications of E-Discovery,” New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics, Trenton, NJ (October 2014)

Credentials

Education

  • Quinnipiac University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1986)
  • Muhlenberg College (B.A., 1983)

Bar Admissions

Industry Specialization Certifications

Court Admissions

Background

  • Shareholder, Bressler Amery & Ross, P.C., Florham Park, NJ (2014–2017)
  • Partner, Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas LLP, New Brunswick, NJ (2011–2014)
  • Partner, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, Madison, NJ (1997–2011)
  • Associate and Counsel, Budd Larner LLC, Short Hills, NJ (1992–1997)
  • Associate, Dillon Bitar & Luther LLP, Morristown, NJ (1986–1992)

Disclaimer

The information on this website is presented as a service for our clients and Internet users and is not intended to be legal advice, nor should you consider it as such. Although we welcome your inquiries, please keep in mind that merely contacting us will not establish an attorney-client relationship between us. Consequently, you should not convey any confidential information to us until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established. Please remember that electronic correspondence on the internet is not secure and that you should not include sensitive or confidential information in messages. With that in mind, we look forward to hearing from you.