Insurance Vice President

David R. Biester

*** ***** ******

Montclair, NJ 07042

*******.*@*****.***

Mobile: 973-***-****

Experience

WTC Captive Insurance Co.

General Counsel, Secretary, Vice President 2005-Present

General Counsel of not-for-profit captive insurance company established with a $1 billion grant from

FEMA to provide liability insurance coverage to the City of New York and over 100 contractors relative

to debris removal at the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Litigation: Supervised unified defense of over 10,000 claims against dozens of insured entities. Directly

involved in all strategic decisions regarding the defense of the City of New York and numerous

contractors in the most complex mass tort at the time.

Corporate governance: Counseled CEO and Board of Directors regarding numerous issues, including

multiple government reviews resulting in favorable outcomes. Responsible for governance issues of

unique not-for-profit entity with Board appointed by the Mayor of New York City.

Mass Tort Settlement: Worked closely with the CEO and outside counsel to negotiate a settlement

resulting in 96% opt-in rate, dismissal of hundreds of remaining opt out cases, and preservation of

significant insurance for future claims.

Insurance Recoveries: Developed strategy with outside counsel for pursuing underlying insurance,

resulting in over $230 million in settlements with various domestic and foreign insurance entities.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

Associate, Litigation Counsel 1994-2005

Extensive experience in mass tort, insurance coverage, and professional liability matters.

Defense of former manufacturer of light bulbs against claims spanning decades and over 60

different substances.

Complex insurance coverage litigation and advice including matters regarding silicone gel breast

implants, chewing tobacco, and cell phone cancer claims.

Defense of major foreign company against asbestos claims across the U.S.

Hon. Edmund V. Ludwig

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Law Clerk 1993-94

Law clerk to federal trial court judge. Significant exposure to civil litigation and settlement discussions.

Education

Columbia University School of Law

J. D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar 1993

Wesleyan University 1990

Bachelor of Arts, History

Honors for Thesis

Contact this candidate