Evan Bolla.jpg

practice areas

education

  • American University, B.A., Cum Laude

  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University, J.D.

Admitted In

  • NY

Evan W. Bolla
Rated by Super Lawyers


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evan w. bolla

PARTNER


Evan W. Bolla is an insurance, employment, and commercial advisor and litigator. He helps executives, professionals, and companies solve hard problems at critical moments—recovering money, securing defense resources, and steering disputes toward practical, business-focused outcomes. Clients turn to Evan when coverage is contested, compensation is at stake, or a commercial relationship is breaking down.

Evan has built a reputation for recovering millions in insurance and employer advancement for clients and for finding financial and strategic solutions where others don’t. He routinely handles advancement and indemnification claims brought by officers, directors, and employees; advises companies on insurance coverage and strategy; counsels individuals on their rights under employment terms such as non-competes and deferred compensation; and represents companies in complex contractual disputes and other high-stakes commercial matters.

He also defends attorneys, executives, and other professionals against allegations of negligence, fiduciary breaches, fraud, and related misconduct, and advises on privilege, ethics, firm transitions, and sensitive internal matters. His matters span a wide range of industries, including financial services, professional services, medical and healthcare platforms (including MSOs and SaaS providers), aviation leasing, mortgage servicing and subservicing, SPACs, and emerging growth companies.

“Evan helped our firm navigate some insurance matters and was able to get great results while at the same time keeping us on good terms with our carriers.”
— John Ricciardi, Chief Financial Officer, Madryn Asset Management

Notable Matters

  • McGraw‑Hill Education v. AIG – Won summary judgment in the N.Y. Appellate Division, First Department, requiring the insurer to provide more than $20 million in defense costs and losses after a coverage denial (co‑counsel with Dykema LLC).

  • Former CEO of Kayser‑Roth Corporation – Won summary judgment in Delaware Chancery Court, obtaining advancement of legal fees in connection with employment dispute.

  • Investment Adviser CEO / SEC Charges – Secured arbitral award advancing legal fees for an investment adviser executive charged under the Investment Advisers Act and represented him in the SEC civil action.

  • SPAC / Solar Energy Investor Litigation – Recovered multiple million‑dollar settlements for SPAC investors in a dispute involving a solar energy target company.

  • Bankruptcy Director Claims & Coverage Recovery – Achieved pre‑suit, no‑cost release of claims against former directors of a bankrupt company after year‑long mediation and resolved related insurance dispute with the carrier paying both defense and coverage litigation costs.

  • Criminal Defense Coverage (National Law Firm Attorney) – Secured insurance funding for the criminal defense of an attorney indicted on federal fraud charges after the carrier’s initial denial of coverage.

  • Brokerage Firm / Tortious Interference – Obtained insurance coverage for the civil defense of a brokerage firm following an initial carrier denial.

  • Dechert Former Global White‑Collar Chair – Represented former practice head in (now dismissed) RICO claims alleging hacking and related misconduct.

  • Honeywell Restrictive Covenant Litigation – Successfully defeated efforts by a former director to void non‑compete and non‑solicit provisions in his employment agreement.

  • Litigation Finance Executive – Negotiated release of non‑compete and non‑solicit covenants for a senior manager at a litigation funding firm.

  • Executive Separation / Lifetime Health Benefits – Resolved dispute over a CEO’s prior separation agreement securing lifetime family health‑insurance access.

  • Break‑Up Fee Recovery (S.D.N.Y.) – Won summary judgment awarding client an unpaid break‑up fee.

  • $1.2 Million Promissory Note – Obtained summary judgment enforcing note obligations.

  • $600M Revenue Medical SaaS Company – Served as outside general counsel on litigation strategy and corporate compliance matters.

  • Founder Compensation Dispute – Negotiated increase of a founding partner’s compensation from ~$3M to ~$11M in connection with a merger transaction.

“Evan W. Bolla and the team at Harris St. Laurent [& Wechsler LLP] did an outstanding job of efficiently reviewing and advising us on a number of insurance, employment, and litigation issues. Having outside counsel you can trust to provide streamlined top quality analysis focusing on your company’s unique situation is necessary for any successful general counsel. You would be hard pressed to do better than the team at Harris St. Laurent [& Wechsler LLP].”
— Todd Wolynski, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, Waypoint Leasing

Background & Recognition

Evan began his career at Bryan Cave LLP. He heads the Firm’s Insurance Recovery Group, serves as the Firm’s General Counsel, and sits on the Management Committee. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star and Super Lawyer in New York, and his commentary on advancement, insurance, and litigation developments has appeared in the New York Law Journal, Law360, Law.com, and other publications.

Outside the office, Evan is an avid fan of live music (especially Phish and bluegrass), is an amateur chef, and loves spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.


Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler LLP
New York
Washington D.C.