Current employer – title: II&RCS, Inc., president
Profession: Domestic and international commercial, insurance and reinsurance arbitrator, umpire and mediator.
Work History:
President, II&RCS, Inc., 1994 – Present; Vice President, Old American Insurance Services, 1993-1994; Assistant Vice President, Republic Insurance Company, 1989-1994; Independent insurance and reinsurance consultant, 1987-1989; President, National American Insurance Company and Vice President Reinsurance, Chandler Insurance Company, LTD, 1986-1987; Assistant Vice President, The Hartford Insurance Group, 1975-1986.
Alternative Dispute Resolution experience:
Since 1994, developed a practice as a full time domestic and international commercial, insurance and reinsurance arbitrator. Primary area of expertise includes commercial, insurance and reinsurance disputes, arbitration and mediation. Served as Chairman in over 45 insurance and reinsurance disputes. Also served as party appointed co-arbitrator, neutral or sole arbitrator in over one hundred and fifty arbitrations. These arbitrations varied in size up to $250 million. They involved issues including, but not limited to: summary judgment, rescission due to misrepresentations and mishandling of claims, asbestos and environmental liability, pollution, fraud, life insurance and life reinsurance , individual and group health insurance and reinsurance, bad faith and extra-contractual obligations, underwriting and claims disputes, financial risk underwriting, professional liability, directors and officers liability, captive insurance and reinsurance, builders risks, London Market business, aggregate allocations disputes, number of occurrences, international shipping, Crop and flood insurance, attorney fees disputes, public relations, workers compensation, product liability, general liability, long haul trucking, surplus lines and other general commerce, commercial property and casualty disputes.
Was also involved in other international business areas including, but not limited to: estate management, banking, family and business trusts, real estate holdings, litigation support and management to public relations and asset recovery and collections. During this period, worked diligently with international law firms, bankers, real estate agents, notaries public and estate administrators. Successfully assisted clients in the recovery, collections, liquidation of these assets and their distribution to the rightful owners. This work involved several continents and a large number of countries and jurisdictions.
Also participated as mediator in mediations involving large corporations and foreign governments.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training:
ACE21 Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are? 2021; ACE20 Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility, 2020; AAA ACE19 Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, 2019; Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor. Meeting Participant Expectations, 2018; AAA Best Practices In Commercial Arbitration, 2017; ICDR 8th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2015; ICDR 7th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2014; ICDR 6th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2013; ICDR 5th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2012; AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards ACE01, 2009; Mediation Ethics: Objectives Standards and Subjective Practices, 2009; Large Complex Construction Mediation: The Dynamics of the Negotiation Team, 2009; AAA Arbitration Road Map: The Standard for Efficient and Cost Effective Arbitration, 2009; Electronic Discovery in Arbitration: What you need to know, 2009; AAA/ICDR Neutrals Conference, 2009; ICDR International Symposia in Advanced Case Management Issues, 2009; Living with the FCPA in an Era of Enhanced Enforcement, 2008; ARIAS, US Getting Connected Seminar, 2008; The Global Credit Crisis and the International Insurance Industry, 2008; Director’s Round Table: Opportunities & Challenges Facing the Insurance Industry During the Financial Crisis, 2008; AIRROC/Cavell Communications and Networking Event Educational Sessions, 2008, Reinsurance Litigation & Arbitration Conference, 2008; 2008 Run-Off Symposium, 2008; ICDR International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation, 2007; AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure ACE03, 2006, 2005; AAA Commercial Arbitrator II Training: Advanced Case Management Issues, 2004; AAA Arbitrator Update 2004; AAA Arbitrator I Training-Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process, 2003; ARIAS-US, Discovery: Too Much of a Good Thing!, 2002; ARIAS-US, The Limits of Arbitral Power: To Infinity and Beyond, Puerto Rico, 2002.
Work Experience:
In excess of 50 years of business experience including commercial, insurance and reinsurance in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Currently serves as full time commercial arbitrator, mediator and to the insurance and reinsurance industry. Prior work experience includes responsibilities in the following areas:
Domestic and international work experience as an executive in insurance and reinsurance, including liquidations, workers compensation, captive arrangements, life insurance and reinsurance, individual and group health insurance and reinsurance, long haul trucking, specialty business, commercial casualty and property business, oil and gas and other energy related business. In addition, served as a member and chair of two committees overseeing the liquidation of the largest US reinsurance and insurance companies. Was also extensively involved in the Banking and Financial Services Industries.
International work experience includes two years of secondment in London and Paris working in the European, London Market and at Lloyds.
Was also extensively involved in several privatization projects and their financing.
Acquired through education and practice an extensive knowledge in Sharia Law and its applications to personal status, inheritance, investment, criminal, comparative and commercial laws.
Education:
Lebanese University Law School (law degree, with honors graduating in 1973); and,
The University of Texas, Odessa (“Primer in Oil and Gas Drilling,” 40 hours -1984).
Languages:
Reads, writes, speaks and conducts arbitration and mediation hearings in French, Arabic and Spanish
Professional associations:
ARIAS-US (Member since 1998 and Certified Arbitrator and Umpire); AIDA (Association Internationale des Droits des Assurances); Reinsurance Association of America (Listed in the Arbitrators’ Directory as Arbitrator and Umpire); ICC (Roster of Neutrals); AIRROC (Certified Arbitrator and Umpire); listed in the Roaster of Neutrals of the American Arbitration Association and the International Center for Dispute Resolution since 1998.
Public speaking and engagements:
2012 Appleman on Insurance Law edition: contributed with the co-author in providing the “Arbitrator’s perspective” for the Chapter titled: “Mediating and arbitrating insurance disputes”.
ICDR 2011 Fourth Annual Practice Williem C. Vis Moot: served on two panels during this event preparing candidates for the Hong Kong and Vienna International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Since that time, was invited annually to participate as arbitrator in the “Moots” and served as arbitrator in many of these events including 2022 when I served as arbitrator for the events organized by the AAA and Fordham School of Law. Served as Discussion Leader, Ethics Session at the ARIAS-US Fall Conference, November 2011. Speaker: ARIAS-US: “A Conference for Joe the Arbitrator,” May 2009; Panel member for “Streamlining the Process of Arbitration” and “Current Trends in Commercial Arbitration,” Reinsurance Litigation & Arbitration Conference, Philadelphia, September 8th-9th, 2008; Booklet co-author and speaker, “Insurance and Reinsurance,” AIDA 10th Congress, Morocco, May 1998. Currently serve as a member of the ARIAS US technology and international committees.