Jim represents national and international clients in major insurance and reinsurance litigation and arbitration matters. He is an accomplished trial lawyer and has tried jury and non-jury cases in federal and state courts, administrative proceedings and numerous arbitrations throughout the United States. His practice includes representation and counseling in matters involving both property and casualty and life and health reinsurance, insolvencies, coverage issues, agents and brokers, surety issues, and life insurance, as well as a large variety of other insurance matters. Jim has also represented clients in complex commercial litigation involving a wide range of substantive areas, including contract disputes, securities, creditors' rights, real estate, employment discrimination, publishing, advertising, franchising, fraud, and other business torts.
He has been listed in the Euromoney's Legal Group's Guide to the world's leading insurance and reinsurance lawyers, Chambers' America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in American Law. He was also recently listed in "Intelligent Insurer" magazine as "highly commended" and in New England Super Lawyers (2011).
Notable Experience
· Numerous reinsurance litigations (including jury trials) and arbitrations, including acting as one of the lead counsel in one of the largest reinsurance arbitrations of all time.
· Representation of plaintiff in a ground-breaking reinsurance underwriting negligence action.
· Representation of a reinsurer in a leading case dealing with letters of credit as security for reinsurance.
· Representation of a reinsurer in an arbitration concerning the enforceability of a rate change clause in a life reinsurance agreement.
· Representation of cedents and reinsurers in disputes involving allocation or number of occurrence issues.
· Representation of reinsurers in disputes arising from insolvencies.
· Served as an expert witness on aspects of U.S. reinsurance law in English court proceedings.
· Representation of a broker in a complex dispute arising from a joint venture involving corporate owned life insurance.
· Drafting reinsurance contracts.
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
· Speaker at Re/Insurance Mediation Institute Spring Conference in 2010.
· "Issues Arising from Reinsurance of Captives," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, June 2010.
· Speaker at American Conference Institute Programs on Run-Off and Commutations in 2009, 2010.
· "Resolution of Runoff Disputes: What Works Best?" AIRROC Matters; Spring 2008.
· "Strategies for Reinsurance Collections," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Update, December 2007.
· "Has the Time Come for Reasoned Opinions in Reinsurance Arbitration Awards," Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Update, December 2005.
· Speaker at International Claims Association meeting in September 2005.
· "Rate Changes Under Yearly Renewable Term Reinsurance Contracts - An Emerging Issue," Society of Actuaries Reinsurance News, May 2005.
· Speaker at several American Conference Institute programs on insurance and reinsurance in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
· Speaker on life reinsurance issues at Society of Actuaries Valuation Actuaries Symposium in 2004.
· "Life & Health Disputes Turn Nasty," Risk & Insurance, January 2004.
· "Hearing Management," ARIAS Quarterly, Fourth Quarter 2003.
· Editor, reviewer and/or final reader of two leading reinsurance texts.
· Speaker at Wall Street Transcript Conference on the Insurance Industry, 2003.
· Chair, American Conference Institute Program on Reinsurance Claims and Collections in 2003.
· Panel member at ARIAS programs in 1998, 2001 and 2003.
· Speaker at Reinsurance Association of America programs in 2001 and 2002.
· Regular speaker at Strain Reinsurance Seminars since 1984.
News & Publications
July 20, 2010, EAPD Recognized in Intelligent Insurer's Annual Survey of 'Legal Leaders'
June 2010, Insurance and Reinsurance Review - June 2010
June 2010, Issues Arising from Reinsurance of Capitives
September 18, 2009, 'Guide to the World's Leading Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers' Lists 13 EAPD Attorneys (US, UK and Hong Kong)
2008, A Guide to US Reinsurance Arbitration 2008
The Review
June 13, 2008, Chambers and Partners Recognizes Firm in Twenty Areas
December 2007, Insurance and Reinsurance Update - December 2007
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
June 18, 2007, Chambers and Partners Recognizes Firm in Twenty Areas
June 7, 2006, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Recognized By Chambers USA
December 1, 2005, Insurance & Reinsurance Update - December 2005
September 1, 2004, Insurance & Reinsurance Update - Fall 2004
Edwards & Angell, LLP
March 1, 2004, Insurance & Reinsurance Update - Spring 2004
Edwards & Angell, LLP
September 1, 2003, Insurance & Reinsurance Update - Fall 2003
Edwards & Angell, LLP
February 20, 2003, Edwards & Angell Attorneys James Shanman, Vincent Kiernan and Michael Thompson Join National Law Firm Edwards & Angell as Partners at New Stamford Office
Edwards & Angell, LLP
January 23, 2003, National Law Firm of Edwards & Angell Opens New Office in Stamford, CT
Edwards & Angell, LLP - Labor and Employment Bulletin
November 20, 2002, Partner Vincent J. Vitkowsky of Edwards & Angell Most Nominated in the U.S. and Second in the World as a Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyer
Edwards & Angell, LLP
Events
June 7, 2011, New York, NY, 10th Annual Half-Day Insurance and Reinsurance Seminar
Memberships
· New York State Bar Association
· American Bar Association, Tort & Insurance Practice Section
· Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Committee on Association Insurance Plans
· ARIAS US - Certified Arbitrator