Joseph Finnerty concentrates his commercial litigation practice in securities and business litigation for corporate clients and individuals, and counseling and litigation for leading insurance companies. Joseph defends public and private companies and their management against claims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and securities law violations, and he frequently represents leading insurers in significant D&O and financial institutions coverage disputes. Joseph has significant experience in class action litigation arising out of the Alien Tort Claims Act.
Joseph is regularly engaged to organize effective defenses in the shifting liability landscape. He recently represented the largest insurer of investment banks in the IPO securities litigation and in related litigation over coverage for more than $180 million in SEC penalty and disgorgement orders, defended the directors of a public company in death spiral preferred stock litigation and represented insurance underwriters in D&O rescission litigation arising out of one of the country's largest financial frauds. Joseph also recently led the internal investigation of a multinational charity involved in alleged corporate governance breaches and defended the former chief executive of a bankrupt public company against claims of fraud in connection with applications for corporate financing. He defends directors and officers against securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims in litigation in New York and in federal and state courts across the country.
Joseph is also regularly engaged by corporations in business contract and commercial litigation disputes. He was engaged by one of the country's largest insurance brokers to litigate corporate control and damages claims arising out of the dissolution of a joint venture between the broker and three of the world's largest insurers. He litigated a series of class actions and a consolidated MDL proceedings arising out of the alleged unlawful sale of insurance in which the plaintiffs sought the disgorgement of premiums in excess of $500 million.
Joseph's insurance practice includes litigation, investigations and counseling in connection with financial institutions liability, directors and officers liability, alternative risk transfer products, captive insurance programs, professional liability programs, business interruption coverages, property coverages and manuscripted new products. He has represented the industry's leading liability insurance carriers, including The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Zurich Financial, St. Paul Travelers, The ACE Group of Companies, The Hartford and CNA Insurance Companies, as well as various Lloyd's syndicates and London underwriters, among many others.
Joseph is committed on behalf of corporations and their managers to forming thoughtful, effective and lasting corporate governance responses to the fluctuating liability exposure landscape. He is equally committed to DLA Piper's success in building a national and international law firm that provides the premium service and experience demanded by the most discriminating corporate executives.
Joseph is a member of the firm's Policy Committee.
