Jonathan Chernow

Jonathan S. Chernow has over twenty-five years of experience in the defense of insurance companies in first-party property damage claims and litigation and breach of contract actions. Jonathan specializes in insurance coverage claims involving Fine Art, Cash and Bullion, Diamonds and Jewelry, and Inland Marine and Cargo. Jonathan has expanded his practice to complex, high-exposure personal injury and wrongful death claims and lawsuits.

Jonathan provides coverage advice and defends insurers in property coverage litigation. Jonathan also defends owners and operators of transportation companies in negligence lawsuits. Before joining London Fischer LLP, Jonathan was Senior Counsel at a boutique national insurance coverage firm, where he lent his acumen as coverage counsel in a novel fine art claim alleging that a fire caused microscopic and molecular damage to several valuable paintings, and in first-party property damage claims arising from catastrophic weather events in Florida and Louisiana. Prior to that, Jonathan was a partner at a New York-area insurance coverage and defense firm.

Jonathan’s work involves meticulous 'ground-up' analysis, the crafting of coverage opinions, the rigorous examination of witnesses under oath, and the full spectrum of litigation, from initial pleadings through trial and appeal in both State and Federal courts. Jonathan is also well-versed in alternative dispute resolution, with a track record of deftly resolving contentious matters through mediation and arbitration.

Jonathan is a sought-after speaker on various insurance coverage topics including, “The Appraisal Condition and Fine Art Claim” and “Insurance Consent To Settle Provisions: How Neutrals Can Help Break The Stalemate.” Jonathan has been a frequent delegate at IFASIC, the premier International Fine Art and Specie Insurance Conference. Jonathan is also a frequent visitor to London, whether for market meetings, or for presentations such as 'Fakes & Forgeries in the Fine Art Market.” Jonathan is a former prosecutor in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

Notable Decisions/Results

In Bleecker Street Health & Beauty Aids, Inc. v. Granite State Ins. Co. et. al, 38 A.D. 2d 231 (1st Dept. 2007), Jonathan contributed to precedent on an insurer’s right to void coverage where the insured’s application for insurance contains false information.

In Gemological Institute of America v. Zarian Co ., 349 F. Supp. 2d 692 (SDNY 2004), Jonathan obtained a bench trial award of a 11.60 carat diamond in a replevin and interpleader action.

In Marbury v. Chaucer Syndicates et. al, 104 A.D. 3d 1033 (2d Dept. 2016), Jonathan obtained a decision affirming the trial court’s award of summary judgment for Insurers dismissing the insured’s complaint on the basis of the insured’s breach of the policy’s personal care, custody, and control limitation, where the insured voluntarily consigned jewelry to a dealer who failed to return it.

In Zurich America Insurance Co. v. Felipe Grimberg Fine Art, 324 Fed. Appx. 117 (2d Cir. 2009), Jonathan obtained affirmation of the District Court’s decision dismissing the insured’s counterclaims for loss of two artworks, finding the loss was not a theft by the insured’s art dealer but an unpaid sale from the insured to the dealer, and as such the artworks were not covered property under the policy because title had passed.

Jonathan Chernow (NY, NJ and PA), presented a webinar on the Appraisal Condition and Fine Art Claims, to Chubb Personal Risk Services and its Fine Art and Valuable Collections Group. The webinar focused on the purpose of the Appraisal Condition in the claim handling process and how it is utilized and interpreted in several states with high concentrations of fine art collectors and dealers.

News & Insights

June 17, 2025

Jonathan Chernow (NY, NJ and PA), presented a webinar on the Appraisal Condition and Fine Art Claims, to Chubb Personal Risk Services and its Fine Art and Valuable Collections Group. The webinar focused on the purpose of the Appraisal Condition in the claim handling process and how it is utilized and interpreted in several states with high concentrations of fine art collectors and dealers.