In October of 2018, Ohrenstein & Brown joined Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, PC, merging their insurance industry practice into RMF’s renowned Litigation Department, and joining forces with RMF’s other affiliated practice areas including its privacy and cyber security, employment practice, corporate securities, real estate, trusts and estates and government relations practices. O&B’s Insurance Practice was rated “Tier 1” by U.S. News & World Report, the only Long Island insurance practice to be ranked as Tier 1. In-depth experience, a keen understanding of the industry, and a thorough grasp of the ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape allows us to provide our clients with comprehensive counsel and sound guidance in disputed matters involving claim defense, coverage litigation and counseling, reinsurance matters, and the creation of alternative risk transfer structures, including captive insurers, Risk Retention Groups, Risk Retention Purchasing Groups, regulatory and government relations matters.
The firm has handled a wide variety of complex and emerging insurance industry issues across the country. Our attorneys skillfully represent insurers, reinsurers, agents, brokers, and third-party administrators in insurance and reinsurance disputes in state, federal, appeallate, and bankruptcy courts, as well as arbitrations across the country. For example, when a large telecommunications operator had a coverage dispute due to the shortened lives of two of its satellites under a specially written insurance policy, the firm successfully litigated the case in New Jersey. When an insurer had a $450 million dispute with an insured bank concerning a novel “automobile residual value policy” covering a fleet of 225,000 leased vehicles the firm litigated in North Carolina and reached a favorable outcome. There are many other such stories, in addition to the defense of a variety of professional liability, construction, property and entertainment claims on contingency and producers errors and omissions claims. We provide our clients with solid, practical advice to address the business and legal implications of their exposure under their insurance and reinsurance contracts.
RMF attorneys represent insurers and reinsurers, agents, brokers, and third-party administrators in litigations, arbitrations, and appeals involving late notice and reporting, ex-gratia payments, reinsurance allocation, follow the fortunes and follow the settlements, breach of contract, bad faith, conversion, accounting, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty and negligence in connection with the insurance business.
RMF attorneys negotiate and document insurance transactions of all kinds, including policy and claims administration agreements, insurance program management agreements, business termination and run-off agreements, loss portfolio transfers, and commutations.
We also guide insurance industry clients through regulatory compliance and company licensing matters throughout the United States including market conduct and other investigations, company formation, licensing applications, acquisition, and reorganizations.
We see our primary role as consummate problem solvers; because we take the time to get to know our clients’ businesses, we can rapidly respond to disputes as they arise while simultaneously delivering creative and cost-effective solutions to minimize risk and liability. We invite you to explore the depth and breadth of what we do for clients in the insurance industry and those with intersecting issues, and we look forward to the privilege of working with you.
The firm is widely respected for both its courtroom skill and business acumen, combining vigorous advocacy with comprehensive strategies designed to find the best possible resolution of disputes. Please review what some of our clients have said about the effectiveness of our services.
Testimonials
“He’s an honest evaluator of a case in terms of chances at settlement or chances at trial.” – Ivy Fischer, Esq., Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel – HUB International Northeast
“They are not only great lawyers, but they are very creative when they have to be to solve problems.” Don DeCarlo, Director, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.; Former Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Travelers Group
“Mike is a very well-prepared, insightful, determined litigator. He is always available and gives you a lot of insight. He listens carefully to what to the client wants and proceeds from there.” Terence Kelleher, President and CEO, Combined Coordinating Counsel
“I have found the attorneys to be extremely knowledgeable and resourceful in addressing complex regulatory and compliance issues.” John Hill, President and Chief Operating Officer, Magna Carta Companies