Pieter Van Tol
Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment
Languages
English
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Pieter Van Tol has acted as lead counsel in many of the seminal cases in the insurance and reinsurance field. With more than 25 years of litigation experience, he is recognized in multiple directories as one of the top practitioners in the insurance and reinsurance industry.
Over the course of his career, Pieter has acted as lead counsel in numerous arbitrations that went to final hearing and in several jury and bench trials. More recently, Pieter has concentrated on the developing area of broker-related insurance and reinsurance disputes, and was counsel for a major reinsurance broker in an influential decision on broker-transition issues.
In addition, Pieter advises clients on direct insurance coverage issues (including those arising from COVID-19 and business interruption), directors' and officers' liability policies, errors and omissions' policies, subrogation issues, bankruptcy litigation, insurance insolvency, international arbitration, and other cross-border matters. Clients have also turned to Pieter for advice in several major bankruptcies. Pieter represented the official creditors committee and liquidating trustee in the multibillion-dollar bankruptcy involving Abengoa S.A., and has advised numerous debtors (including Wave Consulting Achaogen, Orexigen, KaloBios, and Allonhill) on litigation matters in their Chapter 11 cases.
Because of his familiarity with the intricacies of cross-border disputes, including cutting-edge issues relating to personal jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, and the enforcement of judgments by or against foreign companies, clients have asked Pieter to act on their behalf in international arbitrations and related litigation (including appeals). These disputes have involved the information management, telecommunications, mortgage, real estate, chemical, automotive, metals, and energy industries throughout the world, including Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, Britain, China, Indonesia, and Canada.
Representative experience
Represented reinsurers in disputes over business interruption coverage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Representing a reorganized debtor in adversary proceeding in Delaware bankruptcy court asserting breach of contract, avoidance, and related claims.
Advising clients with respect to litigation aspects of Title III proceedings in Puerto Rico under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).
Represented Korean shipbuilder in claim brought by debtor relating to equipment ownership.
Advised Japanese reinsurer on issues relating to collateralized loan obligations.
Representing an information management company in cross-border litigation involving artificial intelligence (AI) against a German supplier of AI software.
Advised manufacturer and its insurer on subrogation rights against supplier.
Advised Japanese insurer on issues arising out of errors and omissions' policy.
Advised telecommunications company with respect to potential subrogation claim by insurer.
Advised on directors' and officers' insurance issues and litigation matters in Orexigen Therapeutics Chapter 11 proceeding.
Advised a foreign reinsurer in connection with insolvency and bankruptcy issues in the United States.
Advised on directors' and officers' insurance issues and litigation matters in Orexigen Therapeutics Chapter 11 proceeding.
Represented energy company in Bermuda arbitration arising out of oil delivery.
Representing the official committees of unsecured creditors and liquidating trustee in litigation bankruptcy of the Missouri and Kansas cases of Abengoa with US$9bn in debt.
Advised on litigation and insurance matters in KaloBios Pharmaceutical Chapter 11 proceeding.
Represented an international telecommunications company in New York federal court enforcement of billion-dollar International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) award.
Represented a foreign insurer in jury trial in state court against reinsurance brokers for breach of contract and tort.
Represented an international chemical company in United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitration arising out of sale of German plant.
Represented a French automotive battery manufacturer in International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) arbitration with a U.S. company and proceedings from a joint venture.
Represented a reinsurance broker in New York federal court action to recover unpaid commissions from predecessor broker.
Represented an insurer in bench trial in New York federal court arising out of reinsurer's failure to pay claims on the basis of alleged late notice.
Represented reinsurers in arbitration defending against claim for US$50m arising out of asbestos and other losses and prosecuting counterclaims.
Advised an energy company in connection with insurance aspects of maritime litigation arising out of oil delivery.
Representing a food manufacturer in litigation involving claims of misleading labeling.
Advised a foreign investment firm on potential litigation relating to real estate holdings in New York.
Advised a receiver in New York state court receivership proceedings and represented receiver in litigation and arbitration relating to recovery of assets.
Represented an international telecommunications company in UNCITRAL arbitration and related court proceedings involving breach of shareholders agreement.
Credentials
- J.D., University of Washington, 1994
- M.A., Columbia University, 1988
- B.A., Dartmouth College, summa cum laude, 1985
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York