Bill Ruskin has practiced on the leading edge of environmental, toxic tort and mass tort litigation for over thirty-five years. In 2020 and 2021, he was a Super Lawyer honoree in Environmental Litigation, one of only a handful in this field so recognized in the New York Metropolitan Area. Bill continues to be awarded the The Best Lawyers in America distinction in Mass Torts Litigation/Class Action-Defendants (2019-2024) and Environmental Law (2021-2024), and recognized as among the Best Lawyers in Westchester County by 914Inc. for distinction in both Environmental Law and Mass Torts Litigation/Class Action-Defendants (2019-2024).
Bill has been awarded the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell for over thirty-five consecutive years. In recognition of his years of work litigating significant environmental, toxic tort and mass tort lawsuits, Bill was invited in 2008 to join the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel. He was honored to served as the Chair of that organization’s Toxic & Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee in 2018-2019. In 2020, he was chosen to serve as a Distinguished Neutral on the Environmental Panel of the International Institute for Conflict Resolution (CPR), where he mediates toxic tort and environmental disputes. He served as the Chair of the IADC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee in 2023-2024.
Civic Engagement
For nearly 30 years, Bill has served as a volunteer mediator in some one-hundred fifty litigation disputes assigned to him by the Mediation Program of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. From 2015-2017, he served on the SDNY Mediation Advisory Committee (“MAC”), which serves as a liaison between the Court and the 300 volunteer mediators in the SDNY Mediation Program. On the MAC, he participated in projects to improve the Court’s mediation program by developing mediation guidance documents, soliciting critical feedback concerning the program from bar groups and litigants, and increasing the judiciary’s awareness of the breadth of subject matter expertise among the Court’s mediators. In addition, Bill served as the Chair of the MAC’s Diversity Committee, which sought to increase the diversity of volunteer mediators serving on the Court’s mediation panel. In that capacity, he and Rebecca Price met with leaders representing affinity groups, bar associations, and law school faculty throughout the City in furtherance of achieving a more diverse mediation panel.
Education
- Cornell University School of Law: J.D. 1977
- Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences: B.A. 1974
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Connecticut
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Memberships
- DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, 1991-present
- International Association of Defense Counsel, 2008-present
- New York State Bar Association– Environmental Law Committee
Accolades
- Chair, International Association of Defense Counsel’s Toxic & Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee (2018-2019)
- Chair, International Association of Defense Counsel’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (2023-2024)
- AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- Super Lawyers honoree in Environmental Litigation (2020-2021)
- Best Lawyers in America distinction in Environmental Law (2021-2024)
- Best Lawyers in America distinction in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants (2017-2024)
- Best Lawyers in Westchester County distinction in 914Inc. in Environmental Law and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants (2019-2024)
- Top Rated Lawyer distinction from The American Lawyer and Martindale-Hubbell in Energy and Environmental Law, (2013- 2014)
- Distinguished Neutral on the Environmental Panel of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) (2020-2024)