Mr. Gillon has achieved national recognition for his experience in representing major corporate policyholders-from airlines to energy companies-in their dealings with insurance companies, both in claims disputes, and in transactions, such as insurance placement or structuring liability transfers. His areas of focus include executive liability (D & O, fiduciary, fidelity, EPLI), disaster-related property and business interruption loss, and pollution liability.

Mr. Gillon's significant representations include litigation of United Airlines' business interruption claims arising from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, negotiating an energy company's precedent-setting settlement of coverage claims arising from multi-billion dollar securities class actions, and litigating the first bad faith claim involving an environmental cost-cap policy.

Having begun his career as an environmental lawyer, Mr. Gillon has particular experience and lectures frequently on the issues arising in that area, from the exposure of corporate officers relating to climate change disclosure, to the placement of coverage to address environmental liabilities. He has extensive experience with insurance and environmental issues in bankruptcy, as well as those relating to the redevelopment of contaminated real estate or Brownfields. Mr. Gillon is also active in the climate change area, and recently co-founded a trade association in this area, the Association of Climate Change Officers.

Areas of Concentration

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 CNL Hotels & Resorts in D&O coverage litigation regarding the critical issue of coverage for Section 11 damages.  CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. v. Twin City Fire Ins. Co., 291 Fed. Appx. 220 (11th Cir. 2008).

Representation of an energy company in coverage claim for mass tort action for manufacture and sale of MTBE.

Representation of an energy company in a first-of-its-kind workout and restructuring of $2 billion of Directors and Officers and Fiduciary insurance.

Representation of a company in litigation against Hartford Insurance Company regarding fidelity bond claims for $500 million in loss suffered in the Student Finance Corp. fraud case

Representation of major New Orleans hotel and property owner in property damage and business interruption claims arising from Hurricanes Katrina/Rita.

Representation of one of the largest U.S. law firms in Business Income Loss Claim resulting from Hurricane Wilma.

Representation of an airline on its business interruption claim relating to Hurricane Ike.

Representation of an insurance company in securing Directors and Officers and Fidelity coverage for over $200 million in loss suffered in the National Program Services illegal surety bond scandal.

Representation of developer in litigation of first bad faith coverage claim under an environmental cost-cap policy.

Representation of United Airlines for property damage and business interruption losses related to September 11, 2001. United Airlines v. Insur. Co. of State of Pa., 439 F.3d 128 (2d Cir. 2006).

Representation of an airline regarding business interruption losses under property policy due to December 2002 typhoon that destroyed its hangar in Guam.

Representation of United Airlines in complex global insurance recovery effort involving litigation and settlement of environmentally related liability at airport and non-airport sites across the country, and structuring policy buyback in Chapter 11 proceeding under §363 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Obtaining coverage for an aircraft maintenance company's significant liabilities resulting from the 1996 crash of ValuJet Flight #592 into the Florida Everglades.

Obtaining significant settlements on behalf of two major airlines for environmental liabilities at over 100 airports and Superfund sites around the country.

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.

 Education

J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1983
Associate Editor, The Tax Lawyer

B.A., Duke University, 1979
magna cum laude

Access Peter Gillon's Martindale Hubbell profile on martindale.com.