David Attisani of Choate, Hall & Stewart Named "Most Highly Regarded" Attorney in Who's Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance

David A. Attisani, co-chair of the Insurance & Reinsurance Group at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, is one of only five U.S. insurance and reinsurance attorneys to be named “Most Highly Regarded” in the 13th annual edition of Who’s Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance. Attisani was also one of only 15 attorneys in the world identified as “Most Highly Regarded.”

According to Who’s Who Legal, clients describe Attisani as a “trusted adviser” who is praised for his “sharp mind.”  He is considered “prolific,” “very able,” and possesses “great experience.”

As co-chair of Choate’s internationally recognized Insurance & Reinsurance Group, Attisani directs more than 15 insurance/reinsurance lawyers who represent national and multinational insurers, reinsurers, and intermediaries in complex litigation, arbitration, and bankruptcy proceedings. The Group serves clients across the U.S., and abroad in the UK, continental Europe, Bermuda, and other offshore locations.  Attisani focuses his practice on insurance coverage and reinsurance arbitration and litigation on behalf of reinsurers, cedents, and intermediaries; risk management; alternative dispute resolution; and arbitration and litigation for insurance companies involving coverage disputes.

Some of Attisani’s significant and successful public engagements include serving as counsel in: Compagnie de Reassurance v New England Re (1st Cir 1995); Odyssey Re (London) v Stirling Cooke Brown (SNDY 2000) (“Sphere Drake”); Commercial Union v Swiss Re America (D Mass 2003); and National Union v Modern Continental (Mass BLS 2013) (“Big Dig”). Attisani has also handled a variety of confidential matters implicating (among other liabilities): 9/11 losses; Superstorm Sandy; Obamacare; the NECC fatal injections case; financial and finite issues; clergy abuse; the Big Dig/Central Artery tunnel collapse; engineering losses (Turkish crude oil pipeline); variable annuities; workers’ compensation; losses emanating from intermediary (broker, MGA) conduct; asbestos and pollution; hurricane (Wilma, Katrina, Ike) and other storm losses; underwriting disputes; fraudulent inducement; and bad faith.

In 2014, Attisani was the first-ever Boston-area attorney to be recognized in the Chambers USA nationwide rankings for Reinsurance. He was also named one of Law360’s “10 Most Admired Insurance Attorneys in America” for 2010. He is one of only 12 reinsurance lawyers listed in The Legal 500’s elite “Leading Lawyers” category (2010-2015). Attisani was also elected to Chambers (2014-2016 )Who’s Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance (2005–2015); Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers (2006–2014); Best of the Best USA (2009–2013) in insurance and reinsurance (along with only 30 other U.S. industry professionals), Best Lawyers in America (2012–2015), and Massachusetts Super Lawyers.  

Attisani is co-chairman of the ABA’s Reinsurance Subcommittee and a member of the ARIAS-US Education Committee (2013-present). He served as the reinsurance editor and an author of Appleman Treatises’ Law of Reinsurance (2012), author of its class actions chapter (2014), and he is co-author of Swiss Re’s 2014 Hydrofracking White Paper.

Attisani graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Williams College and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He also studied English literature at Oxford University.  Before starting his practice, Attisani served as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the SDNY.  From 1997 to 1998, he was a special assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, Massachusetts (Boston), where he tried 19 cases to verdict. 

Since 1996 Who's Who Legal has identified the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law.  Nominees have been selected based upon comprehensive, independent survey work with both general counsel and private practice lawyers worldwide.  Only specialists who have met independent international research criteria are listed; no one can purchase an entry in the publication.

Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, one of the nation's leading law firms, is consistently recognized for excellence by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, The Legal 500, World’s Leading Lawyers, International Who’s Who of Lawyers, and Expert Guides.  With all of its lawyers under one roof, Choate focuses on a core group of areas where it represents clients across the United States and internationally and provides exceptional efficiency, service and value.  Choate’s areas of focus include insurance/reinsurance, corporate/M&A, private equity, finance & restructuring, high-stakes litigation, life sciences, technology companies and intellectual property, government enforcement and compliance, and wealth management.