John M. Aerni

John M. Aerni

John Aerni has served as lead counsel for dozens of major insurer and financial services clients in complex litigation matters, particularly class actions involving life insurance, annuities, property/casualty insurance, ERISA benefit plans and other financial products. He has been lead counsel in over 20 trials and argued numerous appeals.

His representative matters include numerous defenses of class actions in which defendants prevailed either on dispositive motions or by defeating class certification. He has also represented the insurance industry in a variety of constitutional challenges, including a successful challenge to New York State legislation that authorized the borrowing of over $100 million from insurance guaranty funds.

He speaks regularly on a variety of topics, including taking and defending depositions and expert witnesses. He has been named as a Super Lawyer in Business Litigation in 2007 and 2008.

Selected Activities

· Co-Chair, Dewey & LeBoeuf's pro bono committee

· Chair of the Board of Directors, South Brooklyn Legal Services

· Board of Directors, Citizens Committee for New York City, Inc.

· President of the Board of Directors of Volunteers of Legal Service, Inc.