James Steiner

Biography

James Steiner is the Supervising Attorney for Barasch & McGarry’s 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Practice.

James was born in New York City and raised in South Florida. He earned his Business Administration degree in Management from the University of Central Florida, then returned to Manhattan to begin his legal career at New York Law School. While earning his law degree, James worked pro bono on the Uncontested Divorce Project, and later at a real estate firm helping residential and commercial clients in landlord/tenant disputes. 

After graduating, James joined the law firm of Barasch & McGarry where he has spent nearly a decade representing severely injured members of the 9/11 community. He now serves as the Supervising Attorney of the firm’s 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund practice and leverages his finely tuned understanding of the VCF to help the firm’s clients recover the maximum compensation available by law.

James regularly speaks on issues affecting the 9/11 community and contributes as a subject matter expert to major news networks including ABC News, Fox News, and Newsday.

James is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association as well as the New York County Lawyers’ Association.

• Education

  • New York Law School, Juris Doctorate, 2015
  • University of Central Florida, B.S., Business Administration: Management, 2011

• Admitted To Practice

  New York, 2016

• Awards & Recognition

  • Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2019
  • Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2020
  • Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2021
  • Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2022
  • Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2023
  • Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2024

• Notable Results

  James appealed the economic loss denial of a FDNY Lieutenant with pulmonary illnesses and increased his award from $20,000.00 to $1,057,281.00.

  James appealed the economic loss denial of a Citigroup office worker and increased her award from $250,000 to $1,263,377.70.

  James successfully linked a FDNY Firefighter’s disabling brain abscesses to his WTC exposure and increased his award from $0 to $1,358,879.00.

  James expedited the claim of a volunteer responder with terminal throat cancer and helped her recover an award of $1,020,788.00 in 4 weeks.

• Professional Memberships

  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association
  • New York County Lawyers’ Association

• Presentations/Lectures

  James regularly speaks to various groups of responders and survivors to explain the benefits available from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and World Trade Center Health Program.

• Press

  • Asbestos, the Lessons of 9/11, and the Dec. 27 Steam Pipe Leak in Manhattan
  • Fox News – 9/11 Survivors Battle Illness Decades Later
  • Midtown Manhattan streets closed due to ruptured steam line, possible asbestos leak
  • Many 9/11 Survivors Still Battle with Illness Decades Later
  • Trump signs 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund bill for first responders
  • Toxins at Ground Zero Make Covid-19’s Upper Respiratory Effects Especially Dangerous
  • 9/11 Advocates Create Mask & Lunch Donation Program