Overview

A shareholder in the firm, Peter Billis concentrates his practice on first-party property insurance coverage and large-loss subrogation matters.  Peter has significant experience representing clients in complex claims involving, among other things, explosions, fires, gas pipeline failures, water losses, construction defects, natural disasters and off-shore/maritime incidents.  Clients turn to Peter for his demonstrated ability to manage and resolve complex matters, all while clearly and candidly communicating the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases and advising on a strategy to reach a successful outcome.

With regard to coverage matters, Peter has successfully advised clients on a variety of issues that arise in commercial property claims, including, but not limited to, trigger-of-coverage and causation issues, policy exclusions, the applicability of anti-concurrent causation language, ensuing loss provisions, Time Element coverages, policy limitations and “drop down” or “difference-in-conditions” coverages.  Peter has represented clients in a number of high-value matters, including defending a first-party property insurer in a case related to a national crime ring’s theft of insured product, advising a market of insurers with regard to coverage for an oil refinery explosion and providing counsel for a claim involving the failure of a hydroelectric dam that was located in a federal waterway.

Regarding subrogation matters, Peter is regularly retained during the early stages of a loss to lead a subrogation investigation and pursue recovery.  Notable recent cases include: prosecuting a large-loss subrogation matter against an international manufacturer of industrial boiler components; pursuing a large utility company for damages caused by an electrical fire in a Manhattan skyscraper; litigating against a marine transportation company for damages caused when its anchor struck an underwater electrical cable; and investigating a gas pipeline failure to assess potential subrogation.

Beyond the above-discussed areas of property coverage and subrogation, Peter also has experience defending clients and their insured in a general liability context, representing corporate clients in general business matters and appearing in bankruptcy court.  In addition to his New York and New Jersey practice, Peter has represented clients in various other jurisdictions including Florida, Connecticut, Minnesota and Kentucky.

Professional Leadership

Peter is a member of the New York County Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association.

Education

Peter earned his B.A. degree in Political Science from Boston University in 2003 and his J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2006.

Admissions

Peter is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey, and in the United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey.

Additionally, Peter regularly represents clients in other jurisdictions by means of pro hac vice admission.

Publications & Presentations

• “Insurers Should Beware the Voluntary Payment Defense,” Law360, September 2017

Representative Cases

• Successfully prosecuted a subrogation action against one of the world’s largest utility companies in connection with an explosion and fire that occurred in sub-basement of a Manhattan office building — The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania a/s/o 140 BW LLC et al v. Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc., New York Supreme Court, New York County, Index. No. 102326/11
• Successfully defended an insurance carrier in a coverage action related a claimed loss of underground natural gas reserves – Delta Natural Gas Company, Inc., et al. v. National Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, Case No.5:11-CV-00057 (KSF)
• Represented a market of insurance carriers in an action related turbine damage caused by alleged defective superheater piping – Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited, et al. v. Babcock and Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc., United States District Court, District of Connecticut, Case No. 3:11-CV-00715-JCH
• Represented a market of insurance carriers in a maritime action related to an anchor striking a submarine, high-voltage, electrical transmission cable located in New York Harbor waters – In the matter of Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc., Motor Tug Ellen S. Bouchard, and B. No. 280 Corp., United States District Court, Southern District of New York, Case No. 14-cv-0617 (PAC)
• Prosecuted subrogation action against a contractor and its roofing subcontractors for their failure to safeguard work-in-progress from an un-forecast overnight rainstorm, which caused significant water damage to a college’s athletic building – Sompo Japan Insurance Company of America- a/s/o EF Schools, Inc. v. AFL Construction Co. Inc., et al. New York Supreme Court, Westchester County, Index. No. 68246/14
• Successfully defended coverage action alleging breach of policy and bad faith claims handling, as related to plaintiffs claim for damages to his luxury waterfront home purportedly caused by Superstorm Sandy – Lawrence D. Jaeger v. Bankers Standard Insurance Co., United States District Court, Southern District of New York, Case No. 2:14-CV-0689-VM
• Defended insured owner and general contractor of a New York City construction project from allegations that excavation work caused an estimated $20 million of damage to adjacent buildings — Ved Parkash et al – v. – 810 River Ave. Housing Development Fund Corporation et al., New York Supreme Court, Queens County, Index. No. 26574/15E
• Defended property insurer in a personal injury lawsuit brought by a post-fire contractor, alleging that the property insurer had custody and control of the loss site at the time his alleged injury occurred — Robert J. Ronelli – v. – Illinois Union Insurance Company et al, New York Supreme Court, Westchester County, Index. No. 62501/15
• Defended corporate client from lawsuit brought by a private equity investor, which alleged breach of an investment agreement and breach of the corporation’s fiduciary duties — Emile Mimran – v. – GTHerm, Inc. et al., New York Supreme Court, New York County, Index. No. 657453/17