Rachel A. Abbott

Managing Partner
Ms. Abbott joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 2005 and serves as its Managing Partner. Her practice is concentrated in the area of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, with a focus in medical negligence, products liability, car accidents, and falls. Ms. Abbott has tried a number of jury trials to verdict and has successfully negotiated multi-million dollar settlements. She also practices in the area of matrimonial law and divorce.
Ms. Abbott is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Broome County Bar Association. Ms. Abbott was chosen by her peers to represent the Broome County Bar Association as an alternate delegate to the New York State Bar Association for numerous years. She was a member of the Broome County Bar Association’s Judicial Committee, interviewing judicial candidates. Ms. Abbott has served on the Board for the Whitney Point Preschool & Daycare and Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the United Way of Broome County. Ms. Abbott is also a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America™ which is an exclusive Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. Additionally, Ms. Abbott is a member of the American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers. She has presented at a number of continuing legal education seminars in the area of personal injury and litigation.
Honors & Awards
- Broome County Bar Association’s N. Theodore Sommer Advocacy Award, 2020
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America©, 2016 – Present (Personal Injury Litigation)
- Named, Best Lawyers in America©, 2016 and 2022 (Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Binghamton, New York)
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers’ Rising Star, 2013 – 2019
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2020 – 2022
Practice Areas
Admissions
- New York, 2006
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2008
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, 2007
Education
Syracuse University College
of Law
- J.D., magna cum laude, 2005
Keuka College
- B.A., summa cum laude, 2002
Professional Affiliations
- New York State Bar Association (Member)
- Broome County Bar Association (Member)
- American Association of Justice (Member)
- New York State Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
- New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (Member)
- Litigation Counsel of America™ (Fellow)