John N. Ellison

"He handles complex, high-profile and high-stakes cases."
Chambers USA, Insurance client

"John Ellison is a time-tested resource for insurance coverage disputes. We frequently turn to him for the right answer."
Chambers USA, Insurance client

"I am pleased with his expertise, responsiveness and general service."
Chambers USA, Insurance client

"John is a very savvy lawyer."
Chambers USA, Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder client

"John is on the ball and is very experienced."
Chambers USA, Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder client

John's practice concentrates in the insurance coverage area exclusively on behalf of policyholders. John's clients range from Fortune 50 companies to small closely-held companies. He has been recognized in Band 1 by Chambers USA 2007-2024: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as an "analytical and upbeat litigator with a great presence in the courtroom” and "first-class trial attorney."

John has a wide variety of experience in the insurance coverage field. John is coverage counsel to some of the world’s leading companies in such diverse industries as energy, hospitality, entertainment, telecom/communications, life sciences/pharmaceutical, gaming, manufacturing, and commodities. John routinely counsels and represents his clients in all aspects of their insurance and risk management programs.

John has been lead counsel handling claims under directors and officers policies, fidelity bonds, first-party property and business interruption policies, and other liability insurance products, as well as successfully prosecuting bad faith claims against many of the large insurance organizations.

John has also successfully obtained recoveries for environmental liabilities, toxic tort-related claims and other product liability exposures, and cyber-related losses arising from ransomware attacks and other breaches of private data facilities. In addition, he regularly counsels his clients on insurance-related issues, spanning from structuring insurance programs to reviewing policy wording and related documentation. Over the past decade, John's clients have recovered in excess of $6 billion in insurance coverage for matters that were being contested by their insurance companies.

John's international practice involves appearing in courts and tribunals throughout the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Europe. As an example, John has been lead US counsel in over twenty-five Bermuda form arbitrations in London, Bermuda, and Toronto. He has also been lead counsel in some of the largest insurance disputes over the last decade involving natural disasters and man-made tragedies like mass shootings. He also serves as a party-nominated arbitrator in many insurance arbitrations in London, New York, and Bermuda.

In a pro bono capacity, John presently serves as on the Board of Directors of United Policyholders, a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of corporate and consumer policyholders in the legislative, administrative, and legal arenas.

In addition to his active practice on behalf of policyholders, John regularly lectures around the world on insurance coverage topics and has published numerous articles in national journals and periodicals. John has also been rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating it offers.

Experience

Representative matters

Advocated for a variety of companies in relation to insurance coverage for the COVID-19 pandemic, including seeking coverage under property insurance, business interruption, contingent business interruption, civil authority, pollution insurance, event cancellation, workers' compensation and general liability insurance coverages.

Secured two international insurance arbitration awards on behalf of a Fortune 100 energy company, requiring its insurance companies to cover over $70 million in settlements relating to a gasoline additive that polluted groundwater.

Represented major mortgage servicing company against several mortgage insurers seeking to recover in excess of $100 million in mortgage insurance proceeds.

Lead counsel in precedent-setting decision allowing policyholder to "cut through" fronting captive arrangement and obtain cover directly from reinsurers based on "real-party-in-interest" to the original transactions.

Lead US counsel in $1 billion arbitration that was successfully settled at preliminary stages for nearly full recovery of claim.

Successfully represented client that had conflict with a captive insurer, and arranged to pursue coverage by recognizing the “commercial reality” of the arrangement and treating captive as a pass-through and proceeding directly against captive’s reinsurers.

Lead counsel in a mass tort dispute where the lower level coverage was purchased through a captive and catastrophe excess coverage was purchased direct from international insurers. We successfully navigated the client through potentially conflicting issues between the captive coverage and the excess coverage so that recoveries were obtained at both levels without compromising either.

Lead US counsel in London arbitration regarding mass tort liabilities arising out of underlying product liability claims. Settled under one Bermuda form policy and successfully litigated to award under another Bermuda form policy.

Lead US counsel in international arbitration for underlying medical liability claim. One claim was successfully settled, and the other has been litigated to the award stage, which remains outstanding.

Lead counsel in pursuing coverage for thousands of underlying personal injury claims for mass tort liability arising out of product exposures under policies originally sold to other “named insureds.”

Lead counsel in a coverage dispute over mass tort product liability claims where the client’s insurance was purchased through a captive that reinsured with a number of insurance companies. The client successfully obtained coverage throughout the program’s different levels, some of which were negotiated settlements, partially litigated and then settled, and full awards after international arbitrations.

Co-counsel with other firms in pursuing coverage under multiple insurance programs for mass tort liability. Acted as liaison between various firms and assisted in coordinating a successful global settlement of large portions of available coverage.

Handled a series of international arbitrations for a major health care provider facing hundreds of bodily injury claims for unnecessary cardiac procedures that resulted in total settlements paid nearing $500 million. Recoveries were obtained under health care liability and D&O coverages.

Acted for the leading U.S. gasoline refiner in obtaining full recoveries totaling more than $70 million under a tower of insurance through multiple arbitrations seeking coverage for liabilities arising out of the manufacture of gasoline with MTBE, an oxygenate that the federal government mandated in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Acted for a U.S.-based real estate investment trust that provided finance for a hotel in the Caribbean, which sustained $35 million in damages from Hurricane Omar. The value of the resort diminished and a claim was made under the mortgage impairment insurance policy. The policy was a Bermuda Form, governed by New York law, and disputes were subject to arbitration in London under the English Arbitration Act.

Successfully arbitrated on behalf of the captive insurance company of a large, publicly traded U.S. homebuilder against several international reinsurers that provided coverage on reinsurance forms with New York choice of law and London arbitration policy provisions.

Represented one of the world’s largest drug manufacturers in disputes being resolved under Bermuda Form and arbitrations in London. Seven separate arbitrations were commenced against various insurers regarding the application of a particular exclusion in the policy.

Represented a pharmaceutical company in an arbitration dispute in connection with insurance claims for opioid mass tort litigation.

Recognitions

Listed as a Leading Partner in Legal 500 USA for Insurance: advice to policyholders, 2025
Selected as one of Law360's 2021 MVPs in the area of Insurance, 2021
Ranked Band 1 in Chambers USA for Nationwide Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder and Pennsylvania Insurance, 2007-2025