Patrick Gennardo is a partner in Edwards Wildman Palmer's New York office, and is the chair of the Firm's Insurance and Reinsurance Complex Commercial Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on complex, multijurisdictional litigation, compliance, regulatory, and insurance coverage matters. For more than 15 years, Patrick has successfully advised clients on consumer fraud, corporate governance, market conduct, market timing, revenue sharing, ERISA and insurance regulatory matters. His experience includes litigating a variety of class actions and representing major financial institutions under investigation by state attorneys general and insurance regulators. Patrick has also defended a number of complex insurance coverage disputes in the property and casualty and life insurance contexts. Patrick has represented clients facing investigation by attorneys general in New York and Minnesota, as well as by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance in addition to several other regulators. In addition, Patrick is an Insurance Marketplace Standards Association ("IMSA") qualified assessor. He has assisted a number of clients in understanding their roles in monitoring compliance with regulatory standards and has helped clients to review and establish systems to maintain and monitor such compliance. He also worked on an initiative to implement a marketplace standards association in the title insurance industry. Notable Experience Representative matters include: · Havas v. Traveler's Life and Annuity Insurance Company, (New York Federal Court). Represented Traveler's Life and Annuity in a matter challenging the suitability of, and Traveler's receipt of revenue sharing and other fees relating to certain investment vehicles sold to various ERISA qualified retirement savings plans; · Miller v. Nationwide Life Insurance Company, (Louisiana Federal Court). Represented Nationwide in a purported class action alleging violations of federal securities laws in connection with newly implemented redemption fees imposed to limit "market timing"; · Cresskill Financial v. Western & Southern Insurance Company, (California State Court). Represented annuity issuer, broker/dealer and mutual fund company in an individual action alleging breach of contract and fraud relating to market timing prohibitions and trading restrictions; · Seashore Investments v. Lincoln National Financial and Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company, (North Carolina State Court). Represented Lincoln National in a purported class action challenging Lincoln National's proposed merger with Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company; · In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation, (New Jersey Federal Court). Represented Zurich American Insurance Company in a purported nationwide antitrust and consumer fraud class action challenging the insurance industry's payment of contingent commissions to insurance brokers in the property and casualty insurance context; · In re Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada Insurance Litigation, (New Jersey Federal Court and numerous state court matters). Represented Sun Life in a multidistrict class action and individual cases alleging inter alia securities and common law fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of various state consumer fraud statutes; · AWS Arbitration, (New York based arbitration). Represented GE Capital in the defense of a breach of contract, negligence and fraud based arbitration relating to GE Capital's allegedly improper handling of auto warranty claims; · Aharonoff v. Colonial Penn Insurance Company, (Florida Federal Court). Represented GE Financial Assurance in a nationwide class action alleging breach of contract in connection with "auto crash part" repairs; · Haddock v. Nationwide Financial Services, (Connecticut Federal Court). Represented Nationwide Financial Services in an ERISA class action alleging breach of fiduciary duties and prohibited transactions in connection with 401-k programs; · Snyder v. Nationwide Life Insurance Company, (New York State Court). Represented Nationwide in a nationwide class action alleging fraud in connection with the sale of various life insurance products; · In re American Family Publishers Consumer Fraud Litigation, (Numerous Federal and State Courts). Represented American Family Publishers in a multidistrict class action and individual and state attorney general actions alleging sweepstakes fraud; · Benaquisto v. IDS Life Insurance Company, (Minnesota State and Federal Court). Represented American Express Financial Advisors in two national class actions alleging market conduct fraud claims; and · In re Insurance Antitrust Litigation, (California Federal Court). Represented Lloyd's of London and London market companies in the defense of several antitrust class actions and state attorney general actions. · Successfully obtaining the dismissal of a derivative lawsuit challenging the merger of two of the nation's leading insurance carriers. · Successfully representing a major US financial services company in a matter challenging the company's receipt of revenue sharing and other fees relating to certain investment vehicles sold to ERISA qualified retirement savings plans. · Successfully representing one of the nation's leading issuers of long term care insurance in separate investigations by the New York and Texas Attorneys General. · Successfully representing some of the nation's largest life insurers in market conduct, consumer fraud and securities class actions. · Successfully representing various carriers in the defense of coverage claims. Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications · "The Great State Treasure Hunt: Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer Insurance and Reinsurance Review, September 2011. News & Publications February 2012, Client Advisory - Shareholder Brings Derivative Action Against Life Carrier's Officers and Directors Targeting Unclaimed Property Practices January 2012, Client Advisory - Whistleblower Claims $1.6 Billion in Unclaimed Property Lawsuit Against Two Leading US Life Carriers September 2011, The Great State Treasure Hunt: Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits July 2011, Client Advisory - New York Insurance Department Requires Life Insurers to Use Social Security Death Master File to Identify Deceased Policy Holders June 2011, Client Advisory - New York Attorney General Issues Subpoenas to Investigate Life Insurers' Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws May 2011, Client Advisory - California Announces Investigation of Life Insurers' Use of Social Security Death Master List and Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws May 2011, Client Advisory - State Insurance Regulators Coordinate Investigation of Life Insurers' Compliance With Unclaimed Property Laws October 4, 2010, Patrick Gennardo Launches New Insurance Practice Group at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge
New Partner to Lead Group Representing Insurance and Reinsurance Carriers in Complex Litigation Before Edwards Wildman Prior to joining Edwards Wildman Palmer, Patrick was a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and Hogan Lovells LLP, specializing in insurance litigation. |