Luke’s practice includes representation of policyholders with complex insurance transactions, negotiations regarding insurance policy terms and conditions, and resolution of coverage disputes with insurance companies and captive reinsurers across the country and internationally. Luke frequently counsels clients about their insurance programs, policy renewals, contractual insurance and indemnification requirements, risk management, and claims procedures.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Represented policyholders and lenders in transactions and claims involving negotiation and recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars of insurance protection for financing and loan risks, collateral risks, contingent risks, litigation risks, tax risks, and contractual requirements
Lead counsel in successful U.S. arbitration regarding business interruption and lost bookings of hotel business during COVID-19 pandemic
Sapa Extrusions, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., No. 18-2206 (3d Cir. 2019) (agreeing with manufacturer that subjective elements of definition of “occurrence” provide potential coverage for allegations of faulty workmanship, product liability and breach of contract)
Represented policyholders and lenders in transactions and claims involving negotiation and recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars of insurance protection for financing and loan risks, collateral risks, contingent risks, litigation risks, tax risks, and contractual requirements
Lead counsel in successful U.S. arbitration regarding business interruption and lost bookings of hotel business during COVID-19 pandemic
Sapa Extrusions, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., No. 18-2206 (3d Cir. 2019) (agreeing with manufacturer that subjective elements of definition of “occurrence” provide potential coverage for allegations of faulty workmanship, product liability and breach of contract)
Vaughan Regional Medical Center, LLC et al. v. Steadfast Insurance Co., No. 16-238-BC (Tenn. Chancery Ct. Feb. 9, 2017) (agreeing on summary judgment with policyholders’ interpretation of “Medical Incident” so that alleged injuries to multiple plaintiffs arising from multiple surgeries may be aggregated/batched rather than subjected to numerous retentions/deductibles)
Allstate Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Wolfe, No. 39 MAP 2014 (Pa. Dec. 15, 2014) (concluding that policyholders are permitted under Pennsylvania law to settle claims by assigning to plaintiffs and other claimants their rights to statutory bad faith claims against their insurance companies, relying in part on amicus curiae brief submitted by United Policyholders)
Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London v. United States Steel Corp., No. GD-12-000409 (Pa. C.C.P. Allegheny Cty. Dec. 11, 2014) (denying insurers’ motions for summary judgment based on existence of factual issues regarding issues of regulatory estoppel and trade usage relating to coverage for historic environmental liabilities of major steel corporation under policies containing the NMA 1685 “industries, seepage, pollution and contamination clause” pollution exclusion)
U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. City of Warren, No. 10-cv-13128 (E.D. Mich., July 25, 2012) (granting City’s motion to stay declaratory judgment case concerning insurance coverage for defense and resolution of active underlying class action after three of four insurers agreed to defend City)
U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. City of Warren, No. 10-cv-13128 (E.D. Mich., June 14, 2012) (denying insurers’ motions to compel attorney-client privileged documents and attorney work product from underlying case and rejecting insurers’ arguments based on “cooperation” clause and “at issue” doctrine)
Chicago Insurance Company v. Health Care Indemnity Inc., No. 3:09-cv-00659 (S.D.W.Va., Jan. 31, 2012) (granting summary judgment in its entirety to captive of large hospital corporation sued by traditional insurer in insurance contribution matter)
Sterling Heights v. United National Insurance Co., 319 Fed. App'x. 357, 2009 WL 823634 (6th Cir. 2009) (affirming entry of summary judgment and damages award to City for allocated portion of defense and settlement costs incurred in globally resolving both covered and uncovered underlying claims made in separate state and federal litigations)
Midlantic Foods, Inc. v. AFA Protective Systems, Inc., No. 04518 (C.C.P. Phila., Nov. 19, 2009) (granting plaintiff’s motion for sanctions, including attorneys’ fees, costs and adverse inference/spoliation instruction at trial)
Simon Wrecking Co. v. AIU Insurance Co., 530 F. Supp. 2d 706 (E.D. Pa. 2008), revised on reconsideration, 541 F. Supp. 2d 714 (defining regulatory estoppel doctrine for cases involving “sudden and accidental” pollution exclusion and denying insurer’s request for summary judgment in coverage suit for costs of environmental damage caused by recycling operations and disposal of chemicals)
Recognitions
- Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Insurance Law, 2024-2025. The Best Lawyers in America© is issued by Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found at bestlawyers.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Named a 2019 Pennsylvania Trailblazer by The Legal Intelligencer for his work co-founding LEADRS, a Reed Smith affinity group focused on attracting, supporting, and promoting attorneys with disabilities of all types, physical and mental, and his pro bono efforts for the Philadelphia Name Change Project. The Trailblazers list is issued by The Legal Intelligencer. A description of the selection methodology can be found at law.com/legalintelligencer. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Won Influencers of Law recognition from the Philadelphia Inquirer, 2019. The Influencers of Law list is issued by The Philadelphia Inquirer. A description of the selection methodology can be found at inquirer.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Credentials
Education
Education
- Notre Dame Law School, 2004, J.D., cum laude, Articles Editor, Notre Dame Law Review
- Georgetown University, 2001, B.A., cum laude
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court - District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Co-chair, Philadelphia Reed Smith Diversity Committee
- Board Representative, Reed Smith Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
- Board Member, National Disabled Legal Professionals Association
Media mentions
1 / 13