Mary A. Lopatto, Chairman of ARIAS-U.S., Joins the Firm
New York, NY – January 10, 2006 – LAWFUEL – The law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP announced today that Mary A. Lopatto has been elected partner in the insurance and reinsurance practice group, resident in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
Ms. Lopatto is Chairman of the AIDA U.S. Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS-U.S.), the leading U.S. association serving the insurance and reinsurance arbitration community. Prior to joining Chadbourne, she was a partner at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Green & MacRae LLP, and recently completed her tenure as managing partner of its Washington, D.C. office.
Ms. Lopatto brings to Chadbourne 20 years of experience handling insurance and reinsurance matters. She has particular expertise in handling reinsurance disputes, including arbitrations subject to Bermuda arbitration law. She has arbitrated disputes relating to, among other things, allocation of environmental claims, insolvency and run-off matters, MGA and broker negligence, life reinsurance, variable annuity products, financial reinsurance, surety bonds, and reinsurance accounting. Ms. Lopatto lectures and publishes frequently on reinsurance and dispute resolution.
“In 2005, Chadbourne’s insurance practice saw a year of sustained growth and professional success, and our ability to attract a partner of Mary’s caliber reflects the strength of our reinsurance arbitration practice,” said Charles K. O’Neill, managing partner.
In addition to handling arbitrations, Ms. Lopatto has represented clients in litigation in state and federal courts. She has also advised clients with respect to contract drafting and coverage issues.
“Mary’s presence adds to the breadth and depth of our insurance and reinsurance practice, and her skills, coupled with experience and knowledge of the industry, will enhance our capabilities in the U.S. and abroad,” said David M. Raim, co-chairman of the Firm’s insurance and reinsurance practice group. “I have worked on cases both with and against Mary since she was a junior associate and know first hand what an excellent advocate for her clients Mary is.”
“I look forward to further developing my reinsurance practice, and am excited to have the opportunity to work with a team that offers solid credentials, a proven track record, and where there is such a strong spirit of collegiality and mutual respect,” Ms. Lopatto said.
Chadbourne’s insurance and reinsurance group offers clients an experienced interdisciplinary legal team able to address virtually any legal issue affecting the worldwide insurance and reinsurance industries. The group comprises 25 lawyers based in the Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles offices, and 15 lawyers based in London. It represents insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries, financial institutions and governmental entities on matters regarding the property-casualty and life and health business. The Firm handles reinsurance litigations and arbitrations throughout the United States, in Bermuda and in Europe.
Ms. Lopatto has been recognized by the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2005), Who’s Who Legal (September 2004) and Euromoney’s World’s Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers (November 2002).
Ms. Lopatto earned an A.B. from Princeton University in 1976 and a J.D. in 1986 from Catholic University of America, where she served as Associate Editor of the Law Review.
About Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Chadbourne & Parke LLP, an international law firm headquartered in New York City, provides a full range of legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, project finance, corporate finance, energy, telecommunications, commercial and products liability litigation, securities litigation and regulatory enforcement, special investigations and litigation, intellectual property, antitrust, domestic and international tax, insurance and reinsurance, environmental, real estate, bankruptcy and financial restructuring, employment law and ERISA, trusts and estates and government contract matters. The Firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Almaty, Warsaw (through a Polish partnership), Beijing, and a multinational partnership, Chadbourne & Parke, in London. For additional information, visit www.chadbourne.com.
