Gary L. Gassman

Co-Vice Chair, Global Insurance Department
Regional Manager, Global Insurance Department – Midwest/South

Gary focuses his practice on insurance coverage counseling and litigation. He is co-vice chair of the Global Insurance Department, and is co-chair of the Professional Liability Coverage Practice. For more than 29 years, his practice has been concentrated on management liability including directors and officers and entity liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, various types of professional liability, cyber liability, and commercial general liability coverage. He also has significant reinsurance experience.

Gary speaks at insurance coverage seminars throughout the county and is active in several lead organizations. He has taught legal writing as an adjunct professor of law and regularly publishes in the areas of corporate governance, securities laws, and international and domestic D&O, E&O, and EPL exposures and trends. Gary is the immediate past chair of the American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS).  Previously, he served as the section's diversity officer and Council liaison to its special standing committee on diversity and inclusion. Gary has also led the Cozen O'Connor LGBTQ+ Attorney Resource Group and serves on the firm's diversity committee.  In 2023, he was named a "Notable Leader in DEI" by Crain's Chicago Business Magazine for his personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Gary earned a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in 1990 and a law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 1993.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 19 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

March 05, 2024

Ira Bodenstein, Jack Carriglio, Janet Davis, John Dunn, Mitch Edlund, Wendy Enerson, Gary Gassman, Tia Ghattas, Jeremy Glenn, Erin Bolan Hines, Mark Rabinowitz, Peter Roberts, Brian Shaw, Joseph Tilson, Julie Trester, Peter Valeta, Anna Wermuth, and Brian Williams were recognized as Leading Lawyers, Christina Sanfelippo was recognized as an Emerging Lawyer.

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Cozen O’Connor Attorney Gary Gassman recognized among Crain's “Notable Leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”

October 02, 2023

(Chicago, October 2, 2023) … Cozen O’Connor attorney Gary Gassman, co-vice chair of the firm’s Global Insurance Department and co-chair of its Professional Liability Practice Group, has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of its 2023 Notable Leaders in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Allyship in the Workplace

June 22, 2023

Gary L. Gassman was quoted in the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance’s (CLM) recent article discussing what constitutes the perfect work ally.

Three Cozen O’Connor Attorneys recognized as Crain's Chicago Business 2022 “Notable Gen X Leaders in Law”

December 12, 2022

Three Cozen O’Connor attorneys have been recognized as 2022 Notable Gen X Leaders in Law by Crain’s Chicago Business for their success and accomplishments in their leadership roles within the firm and across the legal community.

From Outsider to Insider: Why Do I Share My Journey of Personal Acceptance? Because It Leads to Positive Change

September 12, 2022

Gary L. Gassman wrote the article "Why Do I Share My Journey of Personal Acceptance? Because It Leads to Positive Change" for the September issue of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance's magazine.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Gary Gassman and Josephine Bahn Installed in ABA Chair Roles

August 05, 2022

Gary Gassman and Josephine Bahn, have been installed in ABA Chair Roles.

The Business Insurance Interview with Gary Gassman of Cozen O'Connor

August 03, 2022

Gary Gassman, co-vice chair of the Global Insurance Department, discusses emerging D&O threats and how the hard market is affecting insurance claims disputes.

Cozen O’Connor Announces Changes to Firm Management 2022

March 23, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2022 year.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 23 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

March 02, 2022

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 22 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named one other as an Emerging Lawyer in its 2022 survey results.

Three Cozen O’Connor Attorneys recognized as Crain's Chicago Business 2021 “Notable Gen X Leaders in Law”

November 29, 2021

Three Cozen O’Connor attorneys have been recognized as 2021 Chicago Notable Gen X Leaders in Law by Crain’s Chicago Business for their success and accomplishments in their leadership roles within the firm and across the legal community.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 26 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

January 26, 2021

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 24 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named two others as Emerging Lawyers in its 2021 survey results.

Cozen O’Connor Attorney Gary Gassman Elected Chair-Elect of ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section

August 20, 2020

Chicago attorney Gary Gassman, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Professional Liability Coverage Practice, has been elected chair-elect of the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), one of the ABA’s largest sections.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Publications

Significant D&O Cases From the First Half of 2022

September 22, 2022

Gary L. Gassman and Stephanie A. Nashban wrote the article “Significant D&O Cases From the First Half of 2022” for Westlaw Today.

Business Insurance’s Up Close Column with Gary Gassman

September 16, 2022

Gary L. Gassman was featured in Business Insurance’s Up Close column, commenting on the insurance industry’s outlook and challenges, his advocacy for the LBGTQ+ community, and a look into his personal life, hobbies, etc.

Doing His Part [Chicago Lawyer]

July 16, 2021

Gary Gassman is featured in the July edition of Chicago Lawyer discussing championing diversity and inclusion initiatives in his many roles within Cozen O'Connor and the American Bar Association (ABA).

Member Spotlight: Gary Gassman [The LGBT Bar]

February 16, 2021

Gary Gassman is profiled in a feature article with the LGBT Bar Association, touching on his global insurance practice, his ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section role as well as his position as co-leader of the firm's LGBTQ+ attorney resource group.

Claims and Litigation Management magazine

October 01, 2019

Gary Gassman was recently featured in the Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) magazine as part of the publication's "Voices" series — where attorneys offer their insights into commercial litigation trends and practices.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

2024 Professional Liability Seminar

September 26, 2024 - New York, NY

2023 Bad Faith Year in Review

February 14, 2024 - Webinar

The MCS-90 Endorsement

November 08, 2023 - Webinar

2023 Professional Liability Seminar

September 28, 2023 - New York, NY

TIPS & YLD Section Conference

May 03, 2023 - New York, NY

2022 Professional Liability Seminar

September 15, 2022 - New York, NY

Recent Developments Concerning Molestation Claims

April 28, 2022 - Baltimore, MD.

Education

  • University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1993
  • Indiana University–Bloomington, B.A., 1990

Awards & Honors

ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Leadership Academy –  2008-2009

Best Lawyers in America 2018-2025

2019, 2021, 2022 Chicago Notable Gen X Leaders in Law

Leading Lawyers Network, Top Illinois Practitioner

Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 2023

  • Illinois
  • Arizona
  • Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Chair 2022-2023
  • ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Chair-Elect, 2020-2022
  • ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Vice-Chair, 2019-2020
  • ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section’s (TIPS) Diversity Officer –  2017-2019
  • ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS): Council Member, 2015-2018; Chair, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, 2015-2016; Chair, Corporate Counsel Outreach Task Force, 2013-2015; Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, 2012-2013; Chair, Task Force on Corporate Governance, 2010-2011; Chair, International Committee, 2009-2011.
  • Member, CGL Reporter Editorial Board, 2007-2015
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society
  • Defense Research Institute
  • The John Marshall Law School, Adjunct Professor of Law on Legal Writing and Oral Argument Technique, August 1996-December 2001
  • American College of Coverage Counsel