David A. Lewis - New York, NY
Attorney at David A. Lewis Law PLLC
Legal Ethics/Professional Liability Lawyers in New York, NY
43 West 43rd Street Suite #116 New York, NY 10036
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
24
Years
Experience
New York Legal Ethics/Professional Liability Lawyer
Updated: 04/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Legal Ethics/Professional Liability
- Business Ethics
- Legal Ethics
- Ethics and Legal Malpractice Defense
Attorney Information
Overview
When a lawyer needs a lawyer, David is the one to call. In most matters of legal ethics and professional responsibility, David provides attorneys and their firms practical advice on issues of disciplinary exposure, financial risk, and conflicts of interest.
An eminent authority on disciplinary complaints, malpractice suits, and the panoply of disputes between lawyers, their firms, and their clients, David's credentials include a three-year term as chair of the New York City Bar Association's prestigious Professional Responsibility Committee. He has also served on the state level, with the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Standards of Attorney Conduct (COSAC). These committees are at the vanguard of the legal ethics field, studying and recommending changes to rules and procedures that directly affect the practice of law.
David's own practice reflects this experience. He represents lawyers and firms wherever the Rules of Professional Conduct come into play - from partnership disputes to privilege and confidentiality issues - from conflicts of interest to bar admission problems. He defends clients in disciplinary matters, disqualification motions and other court matters.
David is quick to make the distinction between ethics and morality. He understands that one's morals are not always an accurate guide to what the ethics rules proscribe.
To help lawyers grasp this distinction, David advises both outside and inside counsel - including Fortune 500 companies - on issues of ethical risk management. At his lectures and seminars, he teaches how to avoid disciplinary complaints and malpractice charges - to make sure engagement letters, conflict waivers, and other basic procedures are scrupulously executed in a way that reduces exposure. Prevention, to David, is always preferable to litigation.
David's approach to legal ethics - a field known for its rigidity, is to keep an open mind. He prefers to think through his client's entire situation, looking for other - possibly better - options than what is immediately evident.
For his clients - those lawyers and firms that may have strayed from the rules, thereby putting their careers and businesses at risk - David's thorough and carefully considered approach provides the guidance that puts those clients on the right track.
Legal Ethics Presenter
As a nationally recognized legal ethics speaker, David is often called upon to participate in programs dealing with complex legal ethics and compliance issues. These ethics programs include programs sponsored by: Practicing Law Institute, American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, the New York County Lawyers' Association, Association for Professional Responsibility Lawyers, Fortune 500 companies and various national law firms. At many of his lectures and seminars, David focuses on teaching how to better foster a culture of ethical compliance, enhance awareness and improve training from top to bottom.
David has also been honored to serve as an adjunct law professor teaching legal ethics and professional responsibility.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Publico Award, 2007
- Super Lawyers List, New York Metro Edition, 2015 - Present
- Rising Star Super Lawyers List, New York Metro Edition, 2013 - 2014
- Empire State Counsel, New York State Bar Association, 2007 - 2010
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, High Ethical Standards and Professional Ability, Martindale-Hubbell, 2019
- Golden Gavel Public Service Book Award, 2007
Other Sources of Feedback About David A. Lewis
Included on the 2026 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2024 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2019 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2018 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2015 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2014 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2013 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
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Georgetown University Law Center,
Washington,
District of Columbia, 2001
J.D.
-
Georgetown University Law Center,
Washington,
District of Columbia, 2001
-
Non Legal Education
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Colgate University,
Hamilton,
New York, 1998
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
Major: Political Science
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Colgate University,
Hamilton,
New York, 1998
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Classes and Seminars
-
Speaker, Practicing Law Institute
-
Speaker, American Bar Association
-
Speaker, New York State Bar Association
-
Speaker, New York City Bar Association
-
Speaker, New York County Lawyers' Association
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Speaker, Association for Professional Responsibility Lawyers
- Adjunct Law Professor, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Cardozo Law School
Published Works
Articles
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Co-Author, Extended Leave Can Be Aspect Of Accommodation, National Law Journal, June 6, 2005
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Co-Author, A 'Safe Harbor' for Future Conflicts Waivers, ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct, Bloomberg BNA, 2013
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Co-Author, In With the Rules, Out With the Code, New York State Bar Association Journal, June, 2009
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Inadvertent Electronic Disclosure Q&A, Practicing Law Institute's All-Star Briefing, July, 2009
Bar Admissions
- New York, 2002
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 2002
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2002
Other Affiliations
- New York City Bar Association (Member)
- New York County Lawyers Association, Ethics Institute, Board of Advisors (Member)
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (Member)
- New York City Bar Association, Professional Responsibility Committee (Chair)
- New York State Bar Association, Committee on Standards of Attorney Conduct (COSAC)
- NYSBA, Task Force on Non-Lawyer Ownership (Vice-Chair)
- NYC Bar Association (Council on the Profession)
Photo
Contact
43 West 43rd Street
Suite #116
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 951-1819
Email: Send a message
Website: https://nyethics.com/
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