New York - Philadelphia - Washington, DC - Palm Beach - London
ABOUT FRANK
Personal Background
Frank grew up in central New Jersey. He attended Bucknell University, majoring in Accounting, and then earned a JD from Valparaiso University School of Law. After law school he completed a 12-month clerkship in a New Jersey trial court. He then joined Connell Foley & Geiser (now Connell Foley, LLP) and practiced law there for over 14 years.
In order to expand his professional knowledge and experience in the global dispute resolution world, he accepted an offer to join the multinational insurer, ACE Group (now Chubb Group). He and his family moved to Bermuda where Frank was an expat resident until 2019.
Professional Background
Frank practiced law at Connell Foley & Geiser, LLP from 1984 to 1998 where he was a litigation partner. His practice focused on civil trials and litigation involving traditional torts, asbestos and other long-term exposures, environmental, commercial contracts as well as insurance and reinsurance coverage. While at Connell Foley, Frank earned a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies to augment his practice as environmental disputes especially those involving CERCLA were becoming more prevalent throughout the country.
Frank joined ACE Bermuda in 1998 as Senior Vice President and Claims Counsel. In that role he provided legal counsel to the Claims department, eventually being promoted to run the entire Claims operation. He was then promoted to become Executive Vice President and General Counsel for both of ACE’s Bermuda-based insurance companies, ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd., and ACE Tempest Re. In that role he oversaw both legal and claims operations for the Bermuda operating companies. In 2003 Frank was promoted to become ACE Group’s first worldwide Chief Claims Officer, with ultimate responsibility for all claim operations around the world reporting to ACE’s Chairman and CEO. He was also a member of the company’s Executive Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Reinsurance Security Committee.
When ACE acquired Chubb in 2016, Frank became Chief Claims Officer for the new entity renamed Chubb Group. He was responsible for successfully integrating the ACE and Chubb claim organizations into one worldwide organization of more than 6000 claim professionals operating in 54 countries, paying more than $16 billion in indemnity payments annually.
In addition to responsibility for all of the active businesses, Frank had executive responsibility for the operations of Chubb’s Long-Term asbestos, environmental, and long-term latent claim exposures through the Brandywine Companies.
Frank is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Panel of Distinguished Neutrals of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), and a FINRA certified arbitrator. He is a trained Mediator having completed the 32 hour AAA Mediator’s Essentials course in Los Angeles in December, 2019 and the 40 hour Mediating the Litigated Case program at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law in February, 2021.
Learn more about Frank's Accreditations and Professional Activities.
Expertise
Tort Claims
Frank has extensive experience evaluating and resolving tort claims including:
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Severe Bodily Injury and Property Damage
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Products Liability
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Professional Liability
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Aviation
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Asbestos, Environmental and other Long-Term Exposures
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Molestation and Harassment
Commercial Contracts, Investor-State Disputes, and Political Risk
Frank has considerable experience resolving commercial and contractual claims as well construction disputes involving fidelity, crime, performance, advance payment, and surety bonds.
Chubb was one of the world’s leading underwriters of political risk and sovereign credit insurance and reinsurance. Throughout his career Frank had responsibility for evaluating and resolving many matters involving cross-border investment disputes as a result of government actions like expropriation and exchange controls, as well as political violence and instability, breach of contract, and sovereign debt defaults and restructuring. He has a solid understanding of the various dynamics and complexities that exist in cross-border financial disputes.
Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage
Property and Casualty Insurance - Throughout his career Frank has resolved many large and complex insurance coverage questions involving pharmaceuticals, railroads, aerospace, petrochemicals, automotive, construction, municipalities, colleges and universities, climate change, environmental contamination, natural catastrophes and a variety of mass torts including claims relating to asbestos, silica, and many other products. He also has resolved coverage disputes involving employment discrimination, automobile insurance, construction defects, and construction accidents.
Frank has a deep understanding of potential liabilities arising out of claims handling practices and alleged bad faith and issues arising out of the conduct of brokers and other intermediaries.
Few professionals have had greater first-hand experience analyzing and resolving disputes under the “Bermuda Form.” Frank had direct and ultimate responsibility for handling Bermuda Form disputes including 19 arbitrations that were tried to award with an average amount at stake of $100M.
Frank has considerable experience resolving reinsurance disputes both as a cedant and a reinsurer. His responsibility transcended both ACE/Chubb’s direct insurance and reinsurance companies providing a unique view of reinsurance claims from both perspectives.
Frank is co-author of New Jersey Insurance Law, a one volume treatise, currently in its 13th edition, having been printed annually since 1993.
Frank served as President and then Chairman of ARIAS-US (AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society).
Frank is a Member of the Insurance Panel of Distinguished Neutrals of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR).
Representative Arbitrator Experience:
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Appointed as a Co-Arbitrator in a dispute between American and U.K. entities regarding excess of loss reinsurance and the release of collateral.
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Appointed as a Co-Arbitrator by a Policyholder in a dispute involving additional insured issues for a large construction project.
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Appointed as a Co-Arbitrator by a U.K. insurer in a dispute with an U.S. policyholder involving “insured v insured” issues.
Life, Accident, & Health - A unique aspect of Frank’s experience has been in the Life, Accident, and Health arena. ACE/Chubb was a significant writer of both Life, Accident, and Health insurance and reinsurance. As the former General Counsel for ACE's Bermudas operating companies and as Chief Claims Officer Frank has the experience necessary and often required to meet the requirement of arbitration clauses in life, accident, and health insurance and reinsurance policies.
Directors and Officers, Other Financial Lines
Chubb was the world’s largest writer of Management Liability, Employment Practices, and Professional Liability insurance. Frank has analyzed and resolved claims relating to directors and officers including:
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Breach of fiduciary duty resulting in financial losses or bankruptcy
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Misrepresentation of company assets
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Misuse of company funds
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Fraud
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Failure to comply with workplace laws
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Theft of intellectual property and poaching of competitor’s customers
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Lack of corporate governance
Employment-Related
Frank has experience handling employment-related conflicts between employees and employers involving both single plaintiff matters to class actions. These matters include:
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Wrongful termination
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Sexual harassment
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Discrimination
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Invasion of privacy
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False imprisonment
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Breach of contract
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Emotional distress arising out of employment
International Arbitration
While at Chubb Frank had direct and ultimate responsibility for arbitrated matters including 19 international arbitrations tried to verdict with an average amount at stake of $100M.
Frank is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).
Representative Arbitrator Experience:
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Appointed as a Co-Arbitrator in a dispute between American and U.K. entities regarding excess of loss reinsurance and the release of collateral.
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Appointed as a Co-Arbitrator by a U.K. insurer in a dispute with an U.S. policyholder involving “insured v insured” issues.