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John Niles is an associate in the firm’s Washington, DC, office, where he is a member of the Insurance Coverage - Policyholders practice group. Mr. Niles focuses on assisting policyholders in structuring insurance recovery strategies, negotiating settlements, and resolving large or complex insurance claims. He also has experience representing policyholders in arbitration proceedings and in litigation before state and federal courts.
Mr. Niles has represented policyholders in a wide array of coverage disputes arising under third-party liability policies, including disputes over coverage for underlying asbestos, environmental, product-liability, construction-defect, and directors’ and officers’ claims. Mr. Niles also has represented policyholders in coverage disputes arising under first-party property policies, including disputes over coverage for catastrophic physical damage, business interruption losses, extra expenses, expenses to reduce loss, contingent business interruption losses, and contingent extra expenses resulting from natural disasters.
Mr. Niles maintains an active pro bono practice representing veterans and their dependents in claims for benefits and disability compensation before the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Representative Matters
- Advising and structuring settlement agreements for a Fortune 500 company in state litigation with its insurers, recovering millions of dollars in coverage for asbestos-related liabilities.
- Advising and structuring settlement agreements for a claimant committee in asbestos-related federal bankruptcy proceedings, securing millions of dollars in insurance recovery for the creditors.
- Representing a Fortune 200 manufacturer in international arbitration and federal litigation regarding hundreds of millions of dollars in coverage for property damage and business interruption loss sustained as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Pro Bono
- Negotiating a Joint Motion to Terminate a low-income veteran’s appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, entitling the veteran to full reinstatement of and retroactive entitlement to disability compensation and benefits that the Department of Veterans Affairs had terminated after twenty-five years when it wrongfully accused the veteran of being a fugitive felon.
- Negotiating a Joint Motion to Remand a low-income veteran’s appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims with favorable language that resulted in a substantial award to the veteran on remand to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Negotiating a Joint Motion to Remand a low-income veteran’s appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims with favorable language assisting the veteran with his claim’s further development on remand.
Memberships and Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee
Publications and Speeches
- "What Your Organization Needs to Know About Insurance and Risk Management: Loss Prevention," D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program Community Economic Development Project Webinar (5/23/2013)
- "The Devil Is in the Details: Key Issues Bearing on the Scope of an Insurer’s Duty to Defend," New Appleman on Insurance: Current Critical Issues in Insurance Law (Fall 2012), Co-Author
- "Insuring My Eggs in Your Basket: Contingent Interruption Coverage," Association of Corporate Counsel, Charlotte (NC) Chapter Newsletter (May 2011), Co-Author
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