Subrogation Lawyer in Philadelphia
Recover What’s Yours. Protect Your Bottom Line.
Insurance Recovery Counsel for Carriers, TPAs, and Self-Insured Businesses
Villari, Lentz & Lynam works from a Center City Philadelphia office and handles out-of-state files through established local counsel relationships.
Our subrogation practice runs on a contingent fee basis, so carrier risk is limited and fees are earned on recovery. Submit a substantial loss file for a free in-house review and we will assess recovery potential before you commit a dollar.
Our partners bring 100+ years of combined trial experience and have each been named a Super Lawyer by Philadelphia Magazine, a peer-voted recognition limited to the top 5% of Pennsylvania attorneys. We try cases in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, engage at First Notice of Loss, and pursue recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
Results That Reflect Our Commitment
$4,000,000
Work-place accident
$8,225,000
$4,191,000
Hand injury accident
“You won’t be disappointed to have this law firm represent you.” — Hear From Our Past Clients
The Most Common Subrogation Cases We Handle
From fire and water losses in Center City and along the Main Line to cargo subrogation at the Port of Philadelphia and product liability files involving regional manufacturers, our attorneys handle the full range of subrogation work, including:
- Property damage and fire loss claims
- Product liability and equipment failure
- Construction defect claims
- Workers’ compensation recovery
- Auto accidents involving insured drivers
- Municipal and utility-related damage claims
- Cargo and transportation losses
- Water and sprinkler system failures
- Premises liability and third-party negligence
Our Strategic Approach to Subrogation Litigation
We move quickly to preserve evidence, establish liability, and pursue every path to recovery. Here’s how our attorneys work proactively and efficiently to maximize your return:
- Early Intervention and Evidence Preservation: We begin investigations immediately, conducting site inspections, retaining product evidence, and surfacing every responsible third party before traces fade.
- Case Evaluation: We assess liability, causation, and damages to determine the best course of action and potential value of recovery.
- Preservation of Evidence: From site inspections to product retention, we take the necessary steps to protect your claim.
- Experts and Witnesses: We work with engineers, fire investigators, and industry professionals to strengthen your case.
- Direct Recovery Efforts: We pursue pre-suit negotiations with responsible parties to speed up recovery and reduce litigation costs.
- Aggressive Litigation When Needed: If negotiations fail, we file suit and litigate aggressively to secure what you’re owed.
- Regular Reporting and Transparency: We keep you informed with consistent updates and clear documentation throughout the case.
- Resolution and Collection: Whether through settlement or trial, we take all necessary steps to collect on your recovery and close the loop.
Why Carriers and Self-Insureds Choose Villari, Lentz & Lynam
- Subrogation focus, not defense-firm bias. Defense firms that handle subrogation as a side practice carry a built-in defense perspective when evaluating third-party liability. We approach every file from the recovery side.
- Capped carrier risk. Contingent fee on recovery, plus no-cost in-house review of substantial loss files before you commit.
- Admitted in PA, NJ, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with regular practice before the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Program. Established local counsel relationships extend our reach when matters cross state lines.
- Trial-tested team. Complex liability matters tried to verdict, with eight-figure outcomes for clients.
Our Attorneys
Leonard G. Villari, Founding Partner.
Admitted 1993, with 30+ years of trial practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey state and federal courts. Named a Super Lawyer by Philadelphia Magazine every year from 2005 through 2025. In 2024, appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board to a Hearing Committee, serving through 2027. Has secured verdicts ranked among Pennsylvania's Top 50 by the Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly. Member, Philadelphia Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.
Thomas A. Lynam, III, Partner.
Admitted 1999, with 25+ years of complex civil litigation experience in PA and NJ state and federal courts. Named a Super Lawyer 2011 through 2025 and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Pennsylvania 2011, 2012, and 2013. Lectures regularly to other attorneys and to labor groups on litigation and workplace-injury topics. Member, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, the American Inn of Court, and the Camden/Burlington Inn of Court.
The team also includes Steve Brennan, Alexa Raspa, and Isabella Pantano.
Areas We Serve
Pennsylvania
- Allentown
- Bethlehem
- Doylestown
- Easton
- Harrisburg
- King of Prussia
- Lancaster
- New Hope
- Reading
- West Chester
- York
New Jersey
- Camden
- Essex
- Middlesex
Other Legal Services We Offer
In addition to subrogation matters, our team at Villari, Lentz & Lynam provides full-spectrum support across a variety of personal injury and liability cases. We’re here to handle each case with the same tenacity and personalized care.
Medical Malpractice
Car Accidents
Nursing Home Abuse
Product Liability
Workers' Compensation & Workplace Injuries
Group Home Abuse
What Carriers Ask Us Before They Hand Over a File
Does Pennsylvania's "made whole" doctrine block subrogation recovery?
Pennsylvania does not strictly apply the made whole doctrine the way some states do. Carriers can typically pursue recovery without waiting for the insured to be fully compensated, though policy language and equitable principles can shift the analysis. We evaluate the facts and the policy at intake.
How does Section 319 of the PA Workers' Comp Act govern subrogation?
Section 319 grants the workers’ comp carrier statutory subrogation rights against third parties responsible for the injury. We routinely pursue these recoveries and coordinate with claimant counsel so the lien is calculated against the largest possible gross recovery.
What if a contract or commercial lease contains a waiver of subrogation?
Waivers in AIA construction contracts, commercial leases, and service agreements can bar recovery, but not always. We review the underlying documents during the file review to assess whether the waiver applies, whether it’s enforceable under PA law, and whether exceptions or carve-outs preserve a path to recovery.
What documents should we send with a file review request?
The claim file, loss reports, photographs, expert and origin-cause reports, repair estimates, the policy, and any contracts tied to the loss. The more we have at intake, the faster we can give you a defensible recovery assessment.
Is there a different deadline for construction defect or product liability subrogation in PA?
Yes. Pennsylvania has a 12-year statute of repose for construction-related claims, plus tolling and discovery-rule nuances that affect product liability files. We confirm the applicable deadline at intake to make sure no recovery window closes during evaluation.
Stop Leaving Recovery Dollars on the Table
Every closed file is a question we can answer. Send us your substantial loss files for a no-cost in-house review, and we’ll tell you what’s recoverable, what’s worth pursuing, and what’s not. No retainer. No commitment. Just clarity on where your dollars are sitting.
