Insurance Management
Resume:
CHRISTOPHER P. MORRISON
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** **** ****** (732)
Metuchen, NJ 08840
**.********@*****.***
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VICE PRESIDENT and SENIOR LITIGATION COUNSEL
Experienced attorney seeking opportunity to assume significant
responsibility as part of in-house legal team in challenging environment.
Currently managing sophisticated book of casualty claims and representing
Swiss Re companies on a wide variety of global insurance and reinsurance
matters. Experienced in litigation and strategic claims handling, coverage
analysis, risk management, supervision of outside counsel. Current claims
load includes broad range of matters including structured risk, product
liability, general liability, APH, construction defect, and workers'
compensation claims. Seeking opportunity to apply my legal, litigation,
and leadership skills in a challenging role.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation New
York, NY
Claims and Liability Management Division - Large Corporate and Specialty
Vice President, Senior Legal Counsel, Claims Manager (August 2004 to
present)
Currently represents the interests of various Swiss Re companies in U.S.-
based insurance programs for large corporate clients, specializing in third-
party liability programs for transportation, energy, and pharma industry
practice groups. Responsible for analyzing scope of coverage, reservation
of rights and assertion of legal defenses, setting reserves, managing
outside counsel and controlling legal spend, negotiating and resolving
disputed and undisputed claims. Reports to senior management regarding
significant claims of note, (e.g. claims excess $10 million exposure to
company).
Responsible for claims oversight including auditing of a variety of
structured risk programs, notably the privatized Texas Workers'
Compensation Assigned Risk Pool now known as the Facility Insurance
Company, and two multi-hospital professional liability programs with
combined reserves approaching $1 billion. Monitor account development,
implement plans to control or mitigate losses, audit client files and
prepare reports regarding same, liaise with all members of deal team to
promote effective account management, manage outside consultants and
counsel. Responsible for programs including hospital professional
liability (including participation in round-table discussion of claims with
senior client management), workers' compensation, general liability,
catastrophe bonds, construction defect / contractor liability, asbestos
liability, commercial carrier liability, and other insurance / facultative
reinsurance programs.
* Chosen to participate in Swiss Re's "Leadership Development Program"
(LDP), a highly selective (less than 1% of employees chosen to participate)
and intensive three-year program designed to identify and groom the future
leaders of Swiss Re. Graduated program in January 2010.
Facility Insurance Company
Austin, TX
Member of the Board of Directors (November 2007 to present)
Responsible for helping to define and execute corporate strategy for Swiss
Re subsidiary running off former State of Texas assigned risk pool for
workers' compensation claims. Participate in Board meetings and report
regarding claims environment and audit results.
Office of the Attorney General, Appellate Section
Trenton, NJ
Deputy Attorney General (April 2004 to August 2004)
Represented the State of New Jersey on matters arising out of direct appeal
from state court criminal matters and convictions in the New Jersey
Appellate Division and Supreme Court.
Smith, Stratton, Wise, Heher & Brennan
Princeton, NJ
Counsel (August 2002 to April 2004)
Litigation Associate (1995 to June 2001)
Advised and represented clients throughout all phases of dispute resolution
and/or litigation. Specialized in matters including insurance coverage,
breach of contract, construction defect, product liability, and personal
injury. Negotiated and drafted terms of a variety of contracts including
sophisticated settlement and release agreements. Independently managed an
extensive caseload of large and small matters from pre-litigation
investigation and negotiation through trial and appeal in state and federal
courts in New Jersey and New York. Advise clients on risk assessment,
avoiding litigation, and budgeting and minimizing litigation costs.
Office of the Public Defender, Appellate Section
Newark, NJ
Assistant Deputy Public Defender (June 2001 to August 2002)
Represented criminal defendants on direct appeal and post-conviction
relief. Reviewed and analyzed trial transcripts, advised clients regarding
possible legal avenues of redress, drafted briefs and argued appeals before
the New Jersey Appellate Division and Supreme Court. Chosen as one of two
counsel to advocate for the Public Defender's position before Special
Master on the Supreme Court Death Penalty Proportionality review project.
The Honorable Steven M. Gold, U.S. Magistrate Judge,
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Brooklyn, NY
Law Clerk (1992 to 1994)
Responsibilities included researching questions of law to aid in drafting
orders on pre- and post-trial motions, drafting reports and recommendations
to District Court Judges. Worked on wide variety of substantive and
procedural matters including complex civil litigation, search and seizure
issues, habeas corpus, and social security appeals. Responsible for
scheduling, supervising student interns, and attending courtroom
proceedings.
The Honorable A. Simon Chrein, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge,
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Brooklyn, NY
Law Clerk (1991 to 1992)
Responsibilities included researching questions of law to aid in drafting
orders on pre- and post-trial motions, drafting reports and recommendations
to District Court Judges. Worked on wide variety of substantive and
procedural matters including complex civil litigation, search and seizure
issues, habeas corpus, and social security appeals. Responsible for
scheduling, supervising student interns, and attending courtroom
proceedings.
OTHER EXPERIENCE:
Borough of Metuchen, NJ
Metuchen, NJ
Councilman (January 2008 to present)
Elected to the Borough Council via general election. Represents residents
of Metuchen, a Borough with a population exceeding 13,000. Responsible for
working with the Mayor and five other Councilpersons to balance a $15.5
million dollar municipal budget while minimizing the tax burden on
residents. Have served as Council Liaison to the Metuchen Emergency
Medical Service, Auxiliary Police Force, Cultural Arts Commission, Board of
Assessment, and Cable Television Advisory Board. Responsible for drafting
and passing legislation and resolutions, monitoring County, State, and
Federal legislation on behalf of the town, and advocating the interests of
the Borough, its residents and businesses in a broad scope of matters.
Elected to a three-year term.
EDUCATION:
Fordham University School of Law New
York, NY
J.D., received May, 1991
Manhattan College
Bronx, NY
B.A. in English received May, 1987, (Minor in Business).
PROFESSIONAL :
Admitted in the State of New Jersey (1991), the District of New Jersey,
the State of New York (1992), the Southern and Eastern Districts of New
York, and Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
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