Michael V. Kaplen

Michael V. Kaplen is a nationally recognized trial attorney, legal scholar, and partner of the New York personal injury law firm De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, with over 45 years of experience in personal injury, medical malpractice, and traumatic brain injury litigation. Triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, he is a leading authority on the legal and medical issues surrounding traumatic brain injury and teaches “The Legal Aspects of Traumatic Brain Injury” at The George Washington University Law School.

Key credentials

• Role: Partner, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP
• Experience: Over 45 years representing victims of personal injury, medical malpractice, and traumatic brain injury in New York
• Specialties: personal injury, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, medical malpractice, and surgical negligence
• Board certifications: Civil Trial Law – National Board of Trial Advocacy, Medical Malpractice – National Board of Trial Advocacy, Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy – National Board of Trial Advocacy
• Neutral roles: Certified mediator, American Arbitration Association; Certified arbitrator, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
• Academic positions:
  • Professorial Lecturer in Law, The George Washington University Law School (“The Legal Aspects of Traumatic Brain Injury”)
  • Clinical Professor, Graduate School of Psychology, Touro College
• Advisory role: Advisory Board Member, Brain Injury Research Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center
• Leadership:
  • Served as Chair, Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association for Justice
  • Served as Chair, Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premise Liability Section
  • Served as President, Brain Injury Association of New York State
  • Served as Chairperson, New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council
• Publications: Articles in New York Law Journal, Matthew Bender and West publications, Neurology,, Journal of School Health, and Psychiatric Clinics of North America
• Honors and rankings:
  • Super Lawyers (2006–2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America (2018–2025)
  • Public Policy Award, Brain Injury Association of New York State
  • Public Justice Achievement Award (for pro bono representation of September 11th victims)
  • Consistently listed among the Top 100 New York Trial Lawyers and Top 25 Brain Injury Attorneys in the nation

Professional profile

Michael V. Kaplen, Esq., is a nationally recognized trial attorney and legal scholar with over 45 years of experience representing victims of personal injury, medical malpractice, and traumatic brain injury.

As a founding partner of De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, he has built a national reputation for his deep understanding of the legal, medical, and neuroscientific issues that define catastrophic injury cases.

Board certifications, mediation, and arbitration

• Triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in: Civil Trial Law, Medical Malpractice, Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy
• Certified mediator by the American Arbitration Association.
• Certified arbitrator by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Practice focus

• Represents individuals in New York who have suffered catastrophic harm due to medical malpractice and surgical negligence, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, other complex personal injury and wrongful conduct cases.
• Known for integrating medical and scientific evidence into compelling legal arguments on behalf of seriously injured clients.

Academic and teaching roles

• Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, where he teaches the course “The Legal Aspects of Traumatic Brain Injury.”
• Clinical Professor at the Graduate School of Psychology at Touro College.
• Serves on the Advisory Board of the Brain Injury Research Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center, contributing to research and policy discussions on brain injury.

Leadership and professional organizations

• Served as Chair of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice.
• Served as Chair of the Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premise Liability Section (American Association for Justice).
• Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
• Fellow of the American College of Board-Certified Attorneys.
• Past President of the Brain Injury Association of New York State.
• Served as Chairperson of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council.

Publications and scholarship

• Widely published in both legal and medical journals, including: New York Law Journal, Matthew Bender and West publications, Neurology, Journal of School Health, Psychiatric Clinics of North America
• His writings address key issues in brain injury law and damages, medical ethics and patient rights, standards of care in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation
• Frequent commentator on topics involving patient rights, medical accountability, legal reform, and safety.

Honors and recognition

• Listed in Super Lawyers from 2006–2025.
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America from 2018–2025.
• Recipient of the Public Policy Award from the Brain Injury Association of New York State.
• Recipient of the Public Justice Achievement Award for his pro bono representation of victims of the September 11th tragedy.
• Consistently named among the Top 100 New York Trial Lawyers and the Top 25 Brain Injury Attorneys in the nation.

Professional ethos and impact

• Michael Kaplen’s career is defined by a commitment to justice, safety, and accountability in both the medical and legal systems.
• Through his leadership roles, teaching, scholarship, and courtroom advocacy, he continues to set the benchmark for excellence in personal injury, brain injury, and medical malpractice law, while maintaining a deep compassion for individuals and families affected by catastrophic injury.

Links

• Michael Kaplen (linkedin)
• Download Michael V. Kaplen's CV (PDF)
• Appointment to the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council, 2003 (PDF)
• Appointment to the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council, 2012 (PDF)
• George Washington University Law School
• New York Super Lawyers