Squire Patton Boggs Partner Larry P. Schiffer to Speak at KC’s event

NEW YORK - Oct. 7, 2015 - PRLog -- The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today that Squire Patton Boggs partner and insurance industry veteran Larry P. Schifferwill speak at the Knowledge Group’s webcast entitled: “Arbitration of Insurance Policy Disputes: Knowing the Advantages and Disadvantages in 2016 & Beyond LIVE Webcast.”  This event is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2015 @ 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (ET).

For further details, please visit:

https://theknowledgegroup.org/event-homepage/?event_id=1333

Event Synopsis:

Many insurance policies contain an arbitration provision. Deciding whether to proceed to arbitration after the policy is issued or after a claim is disputed requires a thorough understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of arbitration.

Arbitration involves a consensual agreement by both parties to use a supposedly impartial third-party to resolve their dispute and issue a binding decision. There are significant perceived advantages to arbitration rather than litigation. These include confidentiality, autonomy, procedural flexibility, enforceability, finality, reduced delays, and lower costs.

Arbitration provides party autonomy by allowing agreement on procedures, rules, and applicable laws. Finality infers a lack of extensive judicial review of arbitral awards. Owing to the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, generally speaking it is easier to enforce foreign arbitral awards than the judgments of foreign courts.

Party autonomy and flexibility may reduce legal protections, thereby hurting the weaker litigant. Finality and enforceability also can limit legal recourse if the decision is viewed as unfair. Confidentiality limits use of statements in disputes and cases raised at a later date, and if the proceedings are complex, the duration increases and the costs rise.

The disadvantages can be particularly evident for insurance policyholders because arbitration clauses often are written to benefit the insurance company. For example, some arbitration provisions eliminate contra proferentum for ambiguous language. Hence, caveat emptor.

The Knowledge Group is producing a two-hour, LIVE Webcast entitled Arbitration of Insurance Policy Disputes: Knowing the Advantages and Disadvantages in 2016 & Beyond to help policyholders and insurers better understand and manage arbitration clauses in insurance policies. This interactive course will provide crucial information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of arbitration for various types of insurance policies and litigation cases.

In a two-hour live webcast, the speakers will discuss:

§  Advantages & Disadvantages of Arbitration

§  Arbitration Clauses in Insurance Policies

§  Arbitration Rules and Procedures

§  Selecting the Arbitration Panel

§  Enforcing and Challenging Arbitration Awards

§  Statutory and Common Law Grounds for Challenging

§  Procedural Issues

About Larry P. Schiffer

Larry P. Schiffer is a partner in the New York office of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, practicing commercial, insurance, and reinsurance litigation, arbitration, and mediation. He is active in legal and trade associations where he has held various leadership positions. He has lectured and has been widely published on reinsurance and other insurance topics. He serves as an Expert Commentator on reinsurance for IRMI.com and co-authored the chapter on reinsurance in the New York State Bar Association’s Insurance Law Practice treatise.  Mr. Schiffer received his J.D. from Albany Law School, where he graduated cum laude, was a member of the Albany Law Review and a member of the Justinian Society, and received his B.A. magna cum laude from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. He was admitted to practice in New York in 1980.

About Squire Patton Boggs LLP

Squire Patton Boggs is one of the world’s strongest integrated legal practices. With 44 offices in 21 countries, the firm is renowned for its local connections and global influence, delivering comprehensive legal services across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. With expertise spanning all key sectors, the firm is also known for its preeminent public policy practice and deep-rooted relationships in Washington DC and Brussels.

About The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series

The Knowledge Group was established with the mission to produce unbiased, objective, and educational live webinars that examine industry trends and regulatory changes from a variety of different perspectives. The goal is to deliver a unique multilevel analysis of an important issue affecting business in a highly focused format. To contact or register for an event, please visit: http://theknowledgegroup.org/