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Peter M. Gillon

Peter M. Gillon
Co-Chair – Insurance Recovery and Advisory Practice
Greenberg Traurig
Washington, DC

Peter has achieved national recognition for his experience in addressing complex insurance coverage disputes, including representing United Airlines in its business interruption claims arising from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and handling one of the largest D&O coverage workouts ever completed.  Peter also offers insurance knowledge in the area of advising clients with respect to existing and new coverage placements.  Peter's experience stems from his original practice as an environmental attorney, and he continues this work today, addressing environmental risk and risk transfer products in the context of business transactions, real estate, bankruptcy, particularly as relates to the redevelopment of contaminated property or brownfields. 
Areas of Experience
  • Insurance coverage litigation involving all major lines
  • Negotiation of insurance coverage, including environmental risk transfer
  • Advising companies on coverage needs, terms and conditions
  • Environmental risk management in real estate transactions, bankruptcy
Significant Representations
  • Representation of Texas Pacific Group on various insurance matters.
  • Representation of El Paso Corporation in a first-of-its-kind workout and restructuring of $2 billion of Directors and Officers and Fiduciary insurance.
  • Representation Private Equity National Indemnity, LP in $1 billion public offering of new insurance company as company's insurance counsel (pending).
  • Representation of  Kemper Insurance Co. in pursuing Directors and Officers and Fidelity coverage for claims totaling over $200 million involving an unlawful scheme to obtain fidelity bonds from a Kemper affiliate.  (multiple lawsuits)
  • Representation of developer in litigation of first bad faith coverage claim under an environmental cost-cap policy.  (RFI v. Zurich, D. Ct. Ariz.)
  • Ongoing representation of United Airlines for property damage and business interruption losses related to September 11, 2001. (United v. AIG, S.D. N.Y.)
  • Representation of Continental Airlines regarding business interruption losses under property policy due to December 2002 typhoon that destroyed CAL hangar in Guam.
  • Representation of Continental Airlines in complex global insurance recovery effort involving litigation and settlement of environmentally related liability at airport and non-airport sites across the country.  (Continental v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, D. Ct. Colo.)
  • Obtaining full coverage for SabreTech's significant liabilities resulting from the 1996 crash of ValuJet Flight #592 into the Florida Everglades.  (Sabretech v. Lloyd's, D. Ct. Missouri)
  • Obtaining significant settlements on behalf of United Airlines and Delta Air Lines for environmental liabilities at over 100 airports and Superfund sites around the country.
  • Recovering millions of dollars for the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority for blizzard-related subway system business interruption claims.
  • Representation of developers of environmentally contaminated brownfield properties throughout the U.S., including New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Indiana. Also founded and represent national association of developers of environmentally impaired properties.
  • Environmental counsel to some of the largest Chapter 11 debtors, as well as PRP groups, in bankruptcy proceedings, including Eastern, Eagle-Picher, Continental, Shieldalloy, Uniroyal, National Gypsum, Torwico, and Montgomery-Ward.

Articles, Publications & Lectures


Articles
  • Co-Author, "An Inconvenient Suit: Why Global Warming Should Concern Directors and Officers," January 2007
  • Quoted, "How to make sure coverage will be there when needed," Business Insurance, January 2007
  • Co-Author, "Securities Claims Coverage Under Director's And Officer's Liability Policy--Less Than Meets the Eye?" Mealey's Emerging Insurance Disputes, December 2006
  • Monthly columnist, Brownfield News magazine (2001-present)
  • Published, "The Liability of Parent Companies Under CERCLA: United States v. Bestfoods," Toxics Law Reporter, July 29, 1998
  • Frequent author and lecturer on emerging issues, such as the effect of environmental laws on business transactions, strategies for bringing private rights of action under those laws, and the treatment of environmental liabilities in bankruptcy
  • Co-Editor of the legal treatise, "Environmental Law and Business Transactions," published by Matthew-Bender
  • Member, Editorial boards of Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter and Environmental Liabilities and Enforcement Penalties Reporter
  • Published, "Corporate Officer Liability Under the New Clean Air Act: Responsible Officer or Designated Felon" and "Bankruptcy and Environmental Law: A Practical Approach"
Awards & Recognition
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
  • Listed, Who's Who in American Law, 2005-2006
Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1983
  • Associate Editor of The Tax Lawyer
  • B.S., magna cum laude, Public Policy Studies, Duke University, 1979
Admitted to Practice
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida