Albert J. Mezzanotte, Jr.

Albert J. Mezzanotte, Jr.

PARTNER
BALTIMORE
T: 410.347.9471
F: 410.234.2313

Mr. Mezzanotte concentrates his practice in the areas of business litigation, higher education, insurance coverage & defense litigation, appellate practice, professional liability, and products liability, toxic exposure & environmental litigation.  He acts as outside General Counsel for  Maryland’s Insurance Guaranty Association and for an area College. Mr. Mezzanotte has acted as lead counsel in several multi-party insurance coverage disputes and regularly represents insurers and other businesses in disputes. He is regularly recognized in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America which recognized him in 2016 as Education Lawyer of the Year in Maryland.

  • Outside General Counsel for State Insurance Guaranty Association
  • Outside General Counsel for area College
  • Lead Counsel in several multi-party insurance coverage disputes
  • Tried numerous jury trials to verdict
  • Represented manufacturers in design defect cases
  • Represented accountants in malpractice actions
  • Represented Health Care professionals in malpractice actions
  • Prosecuted and defended securities claims
  • Represented numerous alleged potentially responsible parties in CERCLA actions
 

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Insurance, Maryland, Band 2 (2018–Present)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Maryland Appellate/Commercial/Insurance "Local Litigation Star" (2010–Present)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Education Law, Insurance Law (2005–Present); Baltimore Education Law "Lawyer of the Year" (2017), Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions - Defendants (2024)
  • Maryland Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2007–2021)
  • Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards, Education - Law Firm of the Year - USA (2018)
  • AV Preeminent®: Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
  • The Daily Record, Leadership in Law Award (2006)
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Managing Partner: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston L.L.P. (1999 - June 2009)
  • Chair: Higher Education Practice, Whiteford Taylor & Preston L.L.P.
  • Director: Harford Mutual Insurance Company
  • Board of Trustees: McDaniel College
  • Chair: University of Baltimore School of Law Advisory Council, 2007 - 2009
  • Member: Inquiry Committee, Attorney Grievance Commission (1985 - Present)
  • Member: Defense Research Institute (1979 - Present)
  • Member: Maryland State Bar Association
  • Member: American Bar Association
  • Member: Baltimore City Bar Association
  • Member: Baltimore County Bar Association
  • Member: Howard County Bar Association
  • Member: District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Member: University of Baltimore School of Law Advisory Counsel
  • Best Lawyers Designation
  • Benchmark Litigation Designation
  • Chambers and Partners Designation
INSIGHTS

Author: The Owned Property Exclusion: Rules of Contract Interpretation Versus Public Policy, ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS JOURNAL, Vol. 9, No. 3/Spring 1997

ARTICLES

Client Alert: Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Revenue Losses

Business losses are mounting from COVID-19 precautions, including from shuttering your premises as a public health precaution or in response to a shutdown order.  Particularly for public-facing brick and mortar operations, alternative means to sustain revenue can be deficient or even non-existent.

NEWS

13 Whiteford Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation in 2024

Benchmark Litigation, the widely respected guide to leading litigation firms and lawyers, has announced that thirteen Whiteford attorneys have been named 2024 “Litigation Stars,” “Future Stars,” “Labor and Employment Stars,” and “40 & Under” in DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia (*new recognition in 2024).

A Record 87 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024, Ten Selected as “Ones to Watch”

87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.

16 Whiteford Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation in 2023

Benchmark Litigation, the widely respected guide to leading litigation firms and lawyers, has announced that sixteen Whiteford attorneys have been named 2023 “Litigation Stars,” “Future Stars,” “Labor and Employment Stars,” and “40 & Under Hotlist” in DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

73 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2023, Six Selected as “Lawyer of the Year”

73 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 (copyright 2022 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

Chambers Honors Whiteford in 14 Practice Areas

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2022 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes 29 attorneys in 14 practice areas at the National and State level.

16 Whiteford Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation

Benchmark Litigation, the widely respected guide to leading litigation firms and lawyers has announced that sixteen Whiteford attorneys have been named 2022 “Litigation Stars,” “Future Stars,” “Labor and Employment Stars,” and “40 & Under Hotlist” in DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

75 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2022, Eight Named “Ones to Watch”

A record 75 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 (copyright 2021 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

Chambers Honors Whiteford in 11 Practice Areas

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2021 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes 25 attorneys in 11 practice areas in 3 states and the District of Columbia.

71 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

A record 71 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

Chambers Honors Whiteford in 10 Practice Areas

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2020 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes 23 attorneys in 10 practice areas in 3 states and the District of Columbia.

A Record 11 Whiteford Lawyers Recognized as Benchmark Litigation Stars

Earlier this year, Benchmark Litigation named Whiteford, Taylor & Preston its 2019 “Maryland Law Firm of the Year.” Today, the widely respected guide to leading litigation firms and lawyers has announced that a record eleven Whiteford attorneys have been named 2020 “Litigation Stars” and “Future Stars” in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
 

57 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2019, Four Named "Lawyer of the Year"

57 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019 (copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site.

59 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2018, Two Named "Lawyer of the Year"

59 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018 (copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

In addition, two lawyers were selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for their particular areas of practice.


59 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2017, Eight Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Fifty-nine lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017 (copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, eight lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” for their particular areas of practice. 


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Recognized in 2016 Benchmark Litigation

The 2016 edition of Benchmark Litigation has ranked Whiteford, Taylor & Preston as “Highly Recommended” in Maryland.  The ranking is the publication’s top rating and identifies those firms it deems “dominant” in the state.

In addition, Benchmark Litigation named eight lawyers from the firm as Maryland “Local litigation Stars.”   The selected lawyers represent the broad diversity of the firm’s litigation experience, from sophisticated business litigation to bankruptcy to products liability.


63 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Four Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty-three lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015 (copyright 2014 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, four lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in the Baltimore region for their particular areas of practice.


Fifty-Four Whiteford Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in Maryland

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that 54 of its Maryland-based attorneys are listed among the 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

The firm is particularly proud of the young lawyers who are recognized as “Rising Stars” and the three partners who received special recognition -- Edward Buxbaum and Dwight Stone in the Top 100, and Mary Claire Chesshire in the Top 50 Women.


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Recognized in 2014 Benchmark Litigation and Benchmark Plaintiff

The 2014 editions of Benchmark Litigation and Benchmark Plaintiffs have ranked Whiteford, Taylor & Preston in the top tier of litigation firms in Maryland.

Eight lawyers from the firm were named as Maryland “Local litigation Stars” in Benchmark Litigation, and three of them were also named in Benchmark Plaintiffs. In addition, Daniel Griffith, the head of the firm’s Wilmington office, continued to be listed as a “Future Star” in the rankings for Delaware.


61 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America; Nine Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty-one lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014 (copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices, including the firm's new Roanoke office.

In addition, nine lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in their jurisdictions and areas of practice.


Whiteford Taylor Receives "Trailblazer Award" from the Equal Justice Council

Whiteford Taylor & Preston was very honored to receive a Trailblazers Award from the Equal Justice Council of Maryland Legal Aid on June 18, 2013.

The Council noted that Trailblazer Awards are given to firms that have "continuously demonstrated their commitment to ensuring equal access to justice and support of Maryland Legal Aid…"


Sixty-Four Whiteford Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that 64 of its attorneys are listed among the 2013 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in three states.

The firm is particularly proud of the young lawyers who are recognized as “Rising Stars”; the four partners who are listed in the Top 100 in Maryland – Edward Buxbaum, Edwin Fee, William Ryan, and Dwight Stone; and the 16 who are named for the first time this year.


60 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America Five Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 (copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.).

This represents an increase of seven over last year.  The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, five lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in their jurisdictions and areas of practice.


Forty-Six Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in Maryland; Five in Maryland Listed in “Top 100”

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that 46 of its attorneys are listed among the 2012 Maryland Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

The firm is particularly proud of the five who are listed in the Top 100 in Maryland – Edward Buxbaum, Edwin Fee, Paul Nussbaum, William Ryan, and Dwight Stone. Selection of the Top 100 lawyers in a jurisdiction is strictly based on the highest scores in the Super Lawyer judging process, and Whiteford is one of the two firms with the most names on the list.

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and 11 Attorneys Listed in Benchmark Litigation 2012

The 2012 edition of Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys has once again ranked Whiteford, Taylor & Preston in the top tier of litigation firms in Maryland, with more ranked lawyers than any other firm on the list.

Ten lawyers from the firm were named as “Local litigation stars” and one as a “Future Star.”

Only seven firms in Maryland received the highest ranking of “Highly recommended,” which indicates those firms deemed “dominant” in the state.


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and 12 Attorneys Listed in Benchmark Litigation 2010

Ten lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston in Maryland and two in Delaware have been selected by Euromoney's Legal Media Group as "leading litigation attorneys." Their names appeared in the 2010 edition of the guide Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys. This is an increase of six over last year. In Maryland, the firm has substantially more ranked lawyers than any other firm on the list.


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Announces Management Changes

As it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP is delighted to announce its new leadership team.

Having completed four terms as Managing Partner, Albert J. Mezzanotte, Jr. will serve one more year as the Firm's Managing Partner and transition those duties to Martin T. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher is a present member of the firm's Management Committee and after serving a one year term as Managing Partner Elect will then commence a three year term as Managing Partner.

Al Mezzanotte Honored by the University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD – Whiteford, Taylor & Preston (WTP) is delighted to announce that Albert J. Mezzanotte, Jr., was honored yesterday with the H. Mebane Turner Service Award at the University of Baltimore’s 39th Annual Alumni luncheon at the Belvedere Hotel. 

Named after the former president of the University of Baltimore, H. Mebane “Meb” Turner, the award recognizes those volunteers deemed “shining stars” in honor of the contributions to the University’s continued welfare. 


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Named Employer of Distinction

October 27, 2006 – Baltimore – The ARC of Baltimore, in partnership with the Baltimore Business Journal, has selected Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) as an Employer of Distinction.  This inaugural award honors companies who have clearly demonstrated that employing individuals with developmental disabilities has contributed to their company’s success.   


M. Natalie McSherry & Albert J. Mezzanotte, Jr. Honored

October 18, 2006 – Baltimore – Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) is proud to announce that M. Natalie McSherry and Albert J. Mezzanotte, Jr., have been named among the 2006 winners of The Daily Record’s Leadership in Law program.  McSherry and Mezzanotte will be honored at the Leadership in Law luncheon on November 17.  


36 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Named Maryland Super Lawyers

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) is pleased to announce that 36 WTP attorneys have been named in Maryland Super Lawyers publication. Maryland Super Lawyers will appear in a special advertising section in the January 2007 issue of Baltimore Magazine and in the Maryland Super Lawyers magazine.


6 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Named Among Baltimore's Legal Elite

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) is delighted to announce that Baltimore SmartCEO Magazine (SmartCEO) has selected six WTP attorneys for its list of Baltimore's Legal Elite.   

"We're honored that our attorneys have been recognized for their skills, knowledge, and client dedication.  While we've always known how fortunate we are to have them as part of the Whiteford family, we're very pleased to have this type of outside recognition," explained Martin Fletcher, a member of the firm's Management Committee.