Mark Bunim

Mark J. Bunim, Esq.

Mediator & Arbitrator | Commercial, Insurance Coverage & Complex Business Disputes

New York | 40+ Years Legal Experience | 450+ Mediations

Professional Overview

Mark J. Bunim is a New York mediator and arbitrator with more than 40 years of legal experience and more than 450 mediations involving commercial, insurance, business, professional liability, employment, real estate, construction, healthcare, and other complex civil disputes. A former commercial and insurance coverage litigator, he brings substantial subject-matter experience to matters involving insurance coverage and allocation, contract disputes, partnerships and joint ventures, and multi-party commercial conflicts.

Mr. Bunim has served as a mediator, sole arbitrator, panel arbitrator, and arbitration chair in domestic and international matters. His ADR work includes proceedings under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and other dispute resolution organizations.

Before concentrating on dispute resolution, Mr. Bunim represented businesses, insurers, policyholders, and other parties in sophisticated commercial and insurance litigation. He previously served as a partner at Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman, later Bryan Cave LLP, where he headed the firm's insurance coverage litigation team, and subsequently served as Managing Partner of Ohrenstein & Brown.

This combination of extensive litigation experience, insurance knowledge, and substantial work as a neutral allows Mr. Bunim to help parties evaluate legal and business risk while identifying practical opportunities for resolution.

Mediation & Arbitration Practice

Mr. Bunim's mediation practice encompasses complex civil and commercial matters in which parties frequently face significant financial exposure, complicated contractual relationships, insurance issues, or multiple competing interests.

His areas of ADR experience include:

Commercial & Business Disputes

• Complex commercial disputes
• Contract interpretation and performance
• Partnership disputes
• Joint venture conflicts
• Business relationship disputes
• Multi-party commercial matters

Insurance & Reinsurance

• Insurance coverage disputes
• Coverage interpretation
• Allocation disputes
• Insurance recovery
• Reinsurance matters
• Professional liability
• Risk management disputes

Additional Civil & Commercial Matters

• Employment disputes
• Real estate
• Construction
• Healthcare
• Technology
• Professional liability

Mr. Bunim's extensive background in insurance coverage litigation is particularly relevant to disputes in which insurance obligations, allocation of risk, policy interpretation, or coverage issues materially affect settlement.

Mediation Approach

Mr. Bunim brings the perspective of both an experienced advocate and a seasoned neutral to the mediation process.

His approach emphasizes understanding the legal and factual issues underlying the dispute while also identifying the business, financial, and practical considerations affecting each party's settlement position.

In complex commercial and insurance matters, he works with counsel and decision-makers to evaluate litigation risk, clarify areas of disagreement, narrow disputed issues, and explore realistic pathways toward resolution.

His experience handling sophisticated litigation and serving in multiple neutral roles enables him to work effectively with attorneys, corporate representatives, insurers, professionals, and other parties confronting high-stakes disputes.

Arbitration Experience

Mr. Bunim has served as chair, sole arbitrator, and panel arbitrator in numerous domestic and international proceedings.

His arbitration experience includes commercial, insurance, contract, partnership, professional liability, real estate, construction, healthcare, technology, and related business disputes.

He serves on several arbitration and mediation panels, including:

American Arbitration Association (AAA)

• Large Complex Case Panel
• Commercial Panel
• Insurance Specialty Panel
• Mediation Panel

FedArb

• Commercial Arbitrators & Mediators Panel
• Representation & Warranty Insurance Specialty Panel

Mr. Bunim is also a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators.

ADR Panels & Professional Leadership

Mr. Bunim's dispute resolution affiliations and panel appointments include:

• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN)
• New York Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Mediation Panel
• New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division Mediator Panel
• Executive Committee, New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section
• Former Co-Chair, Insurance Dispute ADR Committee, New York State Bar Association
• Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators

His advanced mediation and arbitration training has included programs through the CPR Center for Dispute Resolution, New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division, American Arbitration Association, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), ARIAS-US, and other ADR organizations.

Professional Background

Before focusing on mediation and arbitration, Mr. Bunim spent decades handling sophisticated commercial and insurance-related litigation.

His experience includes:

• Commercial litigation
• Insurance coverage and recovery
• Insurance allocation disputes
• Contract disputes
• Risk management
• Complex business litigation

He formerly served as a Partner at Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman, later Bryan Cave LLP, where he headed the insurance coverage litigation team.

He subsequently served as Managing Partner of Ohrenstein & Brown.

This experience provides Mr. Bunim with an understanding of the legal analysis, financial exposure, business considerations, and strategic decisions that frequently drive complex commercial and insurance disputes.

Thought Leadership

Mr. Bunim is a frequent speaker and author on alternative dispute resolution, insurance, and related legal issues.

He has presented for organizations including:

• New York State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Claims & Litigation Management conferences

His writings have appeared in publications including:

• New York Law Journal
• Litigation Management Magazine
• Dispute Resolution Journal

New York Commercial & Insurance Dispute Resolution

With more than 40 years of legal experience, 450+ mediations, extensive arbitration experience, and a longstanding background in insurance coverage and commercial litigation, Mark J. Bunim offers parties and counsel substantial experience resolving sophisticated business and insurance-related disputes.

He is particularly well suited for matters involving insurance coverage and allocation, complex contracts, partnerships and joint ventures, professional liability, and multi-party commercial conflicts where experienced evaluation of both legal and business considerations can assist the parties in reaching resolution.