Choate, Hall & Stewart

The team at Boston-based Choate, Hall & Stewart represents some of the largest reinsurers in the states and worldwide, and has been involved in a host of high-stakes and highly mediatized disputes concerning a broad spectrum of coverage claims into the billions. The group has counselled reinsurers on matters concerning cat and tandem perils like bushfires and wildfires, environmental risks such as PFAS and asbestos matters, sex abuse matters, and has developed a sub-specialism in formal life reinsurance disputes. One of three practice heads is reinsurance veteran David Attisani, who has vast experience handling reinsurance disputes involving international insurers such as Sompo International. Experienced litigator J.P. Jaillet also leads the team, working primarily with reinsurers, and while reinsurance constitutes the lion’s share of the firm’s practice, the team is also active in the direct-side insurance space, an area where third co-head Robert Kole is trusted by heavyweights like Liberty Mutual, notably in connection to billions’ worth of disputes arising from the opioid crisis, and lawsuits relating to mass shootings. Kevin Finnerty is another player on the reinsurance side of the practice, counseling some of the firm’s largest clients, and Caroline Trusty specializes in litigating on behalf of insurers.