Search PillsburyLaw.com
  • All
  • Lawyers
  • Capabilities
  • Insights
Joseph D. Jean, Partner

Joseph D. Jean

Partner
New York

Partner, New York

T: +1.212.858.1038
T: +1.212.858.1038

Areas of Focus

For so many of my clients, it would be a devastating event if they didn’t get the coverage they bargained for, and when I get that coverage for them, it really feels good.
—Joseph D. Jean

Law360’s Insurance MVP Joseph Jean provides real-world advice and has recovered billions in damages for clients who have suffered catastrophic property losses.

Joseph, a Pillsbury partner and trial lawyer, advocates for commercial insurance policyholders against their insurance companies. He has represented policyholders on some of the nation’s largest and most important catastrophic losses, including the World Trade Center attacks, Superstorm Sandy and other disasters. Joseph applies his thorough understanding of insurance law and the complexities of policy coverages and exclusions, offering clients real world, proactive and strategic business advice to win arguments and avoid disputes.

Representative Experience

  • Representing New York University and NYU Langone Medical Center in more than $1.4 billion property damage and business interruption insurance claims against FM Global and Turner Construction arising from Superstorm Sandy.
  • Secured one of the largest insurance jury verdicts in California in 2015, a $55.3 million breach of contract, bad faith and punitive damages award for Victaulic Company, a mechanical pipe-joining manufacturer.
  • Representing a national developer in connection with significant property and business interruption losses arising from construction defects involving nearly 400 residential units, common areas and a parking garage.

View More

  • Litigated several multimillion-dollar property and business interruption claims arising from a wide-scale catastrophe and from production line failures for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of polyethylene terephthalate.
  • Represented at trial one of the world’s largest suppliers of building products in connection with an insurance recovery and bad-faith case involving hundreds of millions of dollars.
  • Represented a New York university in all aspects of its insurance program, including significant Hurricane Irene losses and coverage for defense of claims arising from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • Secured tens of millions of dollars in reimbursements for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies in claims related to securities, derivative, fiduciary, ERISA, products liability and environmental matters.
  • Handled an appeal before the 2nd Circuit for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to recover defense costs arising from numerous 9/11-related suits.
  • Represented Boston Properties and 90 Church Street LP in litigation involving more than $150 million in property damage and business interruption losses resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • Represented a major global bank in international arbitration against several Lloyd’s syndicates that resulted in more than $30 million in reinsurance proceeds, attorneys’ fees and interest from its reinsurers.
  • Represented an international provider of nuclear and fossil fuel energy in arbitration over insurance coverage for more than $30 million in nuclear fuel rod losses at one of its nuclear energy generation plants.
  • Represented a building products manufacturer with the insurance aspects of a domestic and international acquisition valued in excess of $400 million.

  • Represents a mining company and several of its subsidiaries and affiliates in connection with all aspects of their insurance program, including a more than $150 million loss at one of their mines and the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster, recovering to date over $50 million for the client without litigation.

Professional Highlights

View More

  • Named by Law360 as an Insurance MVP in 2015.
  • Honors and Awards
    • Recipient of Lexology and the International Law Office’s “Client Choice Award” for Insurance in New York (2018).
    • The Legal 500 U.S., Insurance: Advice to Policyholders (2017 – 2019)
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Litigation Strategies – How to Maximize Property Claim Recovery,” Pillsbury Insurance Policyholder Summit, New York. October 29, 2019. Co-presenter.
    • “Mission Possible: Proving Insurance Bad Faith and Punitive Damages” Pillsbury 2016 MCLE Marathons, New York. Feb. 23, 2016. Co-presenter.
    • “Mission Possible: Proving Insurance Bad Faith and Punitive Damages (Featuring a GC’s Perspective)” Pillsbury 2016 MCLE Marathons, San Diego and Los Angeles, Jan. 20 – 21, 2016. Co-presenter.
    • “Mission Possible: Proving Insurance Bad Faith and Punitive Damages,” Pillsbury 2016 MCLE Marathons, San Francisco, Jan. 14, 2016. Co-presenter.
    • “South Carolina’s 1,000-Year Flood Requires Immediate Action to Maximize Insurance Recovery,” Pillsbury Co-Sponsored Webinar, Nov. 4, 2015. Speaker.
    • “Crisis Management: Legal Issues to Consider and How to Get Your Insurer to Pay for Them,” Association of Corporate Counsel – Greater New York Chapter, New York, April 21, 2015. Speaker.
    • “Finding Shelter after the Storm: Survival Following Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Floods and Fires,” LexisNexis Business Catastrophe Webinar, Sept. 24, 2014. Speaker.
    • “FEMA Claims for Nonprofit Entities,” RIMS Conference, April 30, 2014. Speaker.
    • “Key Insurance Provisions to Mitigate Contractual Risk,” Institute of Supply Management Webinar, Aug. 8, 2013, and March 26, 2013. Speaker.
    • “Cancellations, Collapses and other Catastrophes – Insurance Coverage for Live Events,” Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee’s 25th Annual CLE Seminar. March 1, 2013. Speaker.
    • “Innovative Strategies to Maximize Insurance Recovery for Claims Stemming from Superstorm Sandy,” NJICLE 2013 Corporate Counsel Institute, Jan. 23, 2013. Speaker.
    • “Back by Popular Demand: Innovative Strategies to Maximize Insurance Recovery for Claims Stemming from Superstorm Sandy,” Webinar, Nov. 20, 2012. Speaker.
    • “Innovative Strategies to Maximize Insurance Recovery for Claims Stemming from Superstorm Sandy” Webinar, Nov. 7, 2012. Speaker.
  • Associations
    • American Bar Association
    • New York Bar Association
    • Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, Board of Directors

Education

  • J.D., Vermont Law School, 1997
    cum laude, Recipient of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Excellence in Bankruptcy Award Articles Editor for the Vermont Law Review

    B.A., Trinity College, 1994

Admissions

  • New York

    Connecticut

    New Jersey

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

    U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

    U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

    U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Clerkships

  • Superior Court, Washington County, Vermont, clerk to Judge Mary Miles Teachout

    Vermont State District Court, clerk to Judge Edward J. Cashman

Joseph's Insights

Alert 09.29.22

Hurricane Ian: Insurance Implications

Hurricane Ian struck Florida on September 28. By late afternoon, it was a Category 5 storm with top winds of 155 miles per hour, producing huge storm surges along a wide area of the state’s southwestern coast. Damage is expected to reach historic levels. Those in the affected area should prepare for insurance recovery.

View More
View All