Michael Kaplen

Michael V. Kaplen is a renowned attorney with a focus on traumatic brain injury law. He holds the position of Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, where he conducts the only course in the United States dedicated to this specialization. Michael has been a prominent figure in the field, serving as a member of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council, where he chaired from 2007 to 2013 and again from 2019 to 2021.

As the president of the American Academy of Brain Injury Attorneys, Michael also brings expertise as a board-certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Furthermore, he holds board certification from the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in medical malpractice. In 2014, Michael participated as an invited guest at the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit.

Michael's leadership extends to his role as a Vice President of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, where he currently serves on the board of directors. He is a member of the Board of Governors for the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Melvin M. Belli Society.

His past leadership roles include being a three-term president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State and chairing the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Automobile, Highway and Premise Liability Section, as well as the AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group. Michael has also contributed as Co-Chair of the Tort Section of the New York County Lawyer’s Association and served on the Board of Directors of Public Justice.

Recognized as a New York Super Lawyer for 12 consecutive years, Michael has been named among the top 100 trial lawyers in New York State by the American Association of Trial Lawyers. His legal practice centers on personal injury, particularly representing individuals with traumatic brain injuries resulting from negligence and medical malpractice across the United States. He is admitted to the bars of New York, Florida, and the District of Columbia.