V. Christopher Potenza

Mr. Potenza is the co-chair of Hurwitz Fine’s Litigation Department. An established and respected litigator, he focuses his practice primarily on general liability and tort defense, including product liability, premises liability, transportation and automotive liability, commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, and nursing home negligence.  He also leads the firm’s Products Liability and Medical Device Team, including toxic tort, asbestos, and lead-based paint defense. Mr. Potenza has substantial experience handling cases at the federal, state, and appellate levels. He has taken numerous cases to verdict throughout New York State and regularly represents clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings.

Mr. Potenza is the editor of the firm’s monthly electronic newsletters, Products Liability Pointers, which covers all areas of products liability litigation, including negligence, strict products liability, medical device litigation, and toxic and mass torts, and Medical & Nursing Home Liability Pointers, which provides the latest news, developments, and analysis of recent court decisions impacting the medical and long-term care communities.  He has authored numerous articles for industry publications on litigation practice and management and is a frequent presenter for continuing education programs.

He is co-chair of the Harmonie Group's Litigation Practices Committee and is a past member of the Board of Directors. The Harmonie Group is an-invitation-only international network of law firms, vetted for their standards, ethics and values in handling complex litigation for corporations, third party administrators and insurance companies. He is also a member of the nationally renowned Defense Research Institute (DRI). Additionally, Mr. Potenza serves as Co-Chair of the Toxic Tort Committee of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association."

Mr. Potenza has been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list every year since 2013 and has been recognized as a Top 50 Upstate New York Super Lawyer since 2018. He is included in the 2024 and 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and has also been listed in Buffalo Business First’s Who’s Who in Law.

Mr. Potenza has managed the firm’s Mentor Program, which promotes the professional growth and development of associate attorneys.  He is also a member of the Erie County Bar Association and the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Potenza also volunteers as a mock trial coach at his alma mater, St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute.

Mr. Potenza graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics & Business Management, where he was also a four-year member of the Varsity Track & Field Team. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law. He is a Mentor in the University at Buffalo School of Law Alumni Mentoring Program and also serves as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador for Cornell University.