Overview

In over two decades of representing some of the largest insurers and reinsurers in both the Live and Legacy Market, Helen Franzese has earned an outstanding reputation for effectively handling complex insurance matters across the U.S.  She has successfully defended her insurer clients in a number of multi-million-dollar disputes in both Federal and State Courts, including direct actions. Helen has significant experience in counseling insurers through the coverage complexities of assured liquidations and bankruptcies, and insurer solvent and insolvent schemes of arrangement.  She specializes in helping legacy clients bring finality to long-tail insurance business and has dealt with matters involving prior settlements, CIPs, and missing and lost policies. Helen also advises on the development of new lines of insurance business and policy wordings.

As a dual-qualified lawyer, Helen is uniquely suited to provide hands-on assistance and advice on matters in both the U.S. and the U.K. She advises and represents insurers and reinsurers in litigation, mediation, and arbitration. Helen provides coverage advice and representation on third-party and first-party liability claims, including but not limited to, product liability, property damage, environmental impairment, professional indemnity, D&O, property and casualty, business interruption, event cancellation, asbestos injury, health hazard, environmental contamination and remediation, energy, oil and gas/drilling liability, and advertising injury.

Professional Leadership

Helen is a member of the British Insurance Law Association, Phi Alpha Delta, and IRLA (Insurance & Reinsurance Legacy Association).

Honors & Recognition

Helen was named to Super Lawyers London, Risings Stars from 2014-2016.

More information on awards and rankings can be found here.

Education

Helen earned her B.A. degree from Syracuse University in 1997, and her J.D. degree from Seton Hall School of Law in 2000. 

Admissions

Helen is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, as well as the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Helen has experience in representing clients in a number of other jurisdictions across the United States.

Publications & Presentations

Helen is a frequent speaker at international conferences and seminars on insurance and reinsurance litigation, counseling, and alternative dispute resolution. She regularly conducts in-house training seminars on existing and emergent coverage issues, and fair claims handling and settlement regulations.

• “Chasing Finality in U.S. Bankruptcy” – CIR Magazine, October 2024
• “2 Lessons From Missouri All-Sums Insurance Ruling”  – Law360, March 2021