Henry J. Cernitz, a Partner at Jacobson & Schwartz, joined The Firm as an Attorney in 2001. As a defense litigator on behalf of leading carriers, Mr. Cernitz brings over 28 years of successful experience to The Firm.

He began his defense career as a Staff Attorney with Eagle Insurance Company and soon became the company's Attorney of Record. During his tenure at Eagle, he demonstrated outstanding legal skills, effectively handling a large caseload concentrating in livery and general liability matters.

He further honed his litigation defense skills in a subsequent role as Senior Claims Attorney with Avis Rent-A-Car Systems. There, he held broad responsibility for all defense matters throughout the New York Metropolitan area, in addition to monitoring all of Avis' cases nationwide. His role encompassed direct involvement with the Avis Insurance Department and included such functions as drafting rental agreement provisions and legislation for the company.





Other professional credentials:

• First Vice Chancellor of the Nassau Lawyers Association, Continuing Legal Education Committee
• President of the Nassau Lawyer's Association of Long Island
• Former position with a leading defense firm on Long Island, handling automobile liability cases in addition to general liability and premises liability litigation
• Accomplished Appellate Attorney, who successfully drafted and argued more than 60 appeals in the Courts of New York State, including its highest court, The Court of Appeals
• Member of the New York State Bar Association, Torts Insurance and Construction Law Section, and the Nassau County Bar Association

Education:

• Juris Doctor, Brooklyn Law School
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, American University
• Admitted to the New York Bar, 1976

Community Service:

• Served as Soccer Coach and Little League Coach
• Vice President, Nassau Lawyers Association and Scholarship Committee Member
• Member of the Wantagh School District's Scholarship Selection Committee

Mr. Cernitz is married and has two children: a son who is an attorney in Miami, and a daughter who is an advertising sales associate in New York City.