Overview
Brian Colistra has an impressive legal career with expertise in several practice areas, including aviation, product liability, premises liability, general liability, and asbestos defense. He has led over 100 bench and jury trials as the primary trial counsel, securing numerous directed and defense verdicts for his clients. With five years serving as an Assistant District Attorney, finishing in the Violent Felony Unit, he refined his trial skills, maintaining a remarkable record in felony and misdemeanor convictions, establishing himself as a tenacious trial attorney.
Transitioning to civil practice, Brian continued his zealous advocacy by defending a wide range of high-profile cases across multiple U.S. jurisdictions. In his national aviation practice, he represents airport owners, aircraft manufacturers, and other industry vendors in cases varying from complex aircraft crashes to simple accidents on airport property. Notably, he defended a renowned motorcycle company against asbestos-related wrongful death claims. Brian's litigation achievements and his expertise in handling intricate wrongful death cases led a Fortune 500 insurance company to engage him to defend a high-profile residential fire incident that garnered national attention. Additionally, he serves as the primary regional counsel for an A+ rated insurance company, defending claims of premises, product, general, and automobile liability.
A 2020 selection to Connecticut's Lawyers of Distinction, Brian has been a lecturer for the New York State Bar Association and has provided in-house Continuing Legal Education classes for insurance adjusters.
Experience
Credentials
Education
- New York Law School (J.D., 1995)
- Canisius College (B.A., 1991)
Licensed to Practice in
- New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit