Biography

Christopher C. Novak’s practice primarily focuses on complex insurance coverage disputes involving environmental, pollution, commercial property and casualty insurance, professional indemnity, and financial institutions bonds. 
 
Mr. Novak has represented domestic and international insurance clients in the litigation of toxic tort, environmental, property and casualty, professional liability and bad faith claims. He has also represented international and domestic reinsurers in numerous arbitrations throughout the United States. Mr. Novak also has substantial experience in the litigation and arbitration of reinsurance matters arising out of pollution liability, asbestos, toxic tort and health hazard claims. In addition, he frequently provides policy wording advice to U.S, Bermuda and U.K. insurance clients.

Mr. Novak is currently national coordinating coverage counsel for a major U.S. insurer in connection with the In re MTBE MDL, and is advising U.S. and Bermudian insurers on a number of pending environmental claims.

Presentations & Publications

Mr. Novak's presentations include:

• “Shale Gas Development & Hydraulic Fracturing: The Risk & Insurance Issues,” co-presented at a private seminar for Ironshore and Iron Starr Excess Agency Ltd., (Hamilton, Bermuda; April 12, 2012).
  "Six Hot Topics for Bermuda Excess Insurers," Sedgwick’s Ninth Annual Hot Topics Seminar (Hamilton, Bermuda; October 11, 2011).
• "Farm to Boardroom Table: Food Contamination & Supply Chain Risks," London Seminar III: Emerging Trends in Casualty Risks (London, England; September 15, 2011).
• "From Main Street to Wall Street: Subprime Mortgage Woes Spread," presented before the Bermuda Insurance Institute (Hamilton, Bermuda; February 19, 2008), at office of Sedgwick client (New York, NY; November 20, 2007), and Sedgwick’s 20th Annual London Insurance Seminar (London, England, September 21, 2007).
• "Other Types of Coverage," ABA's Loan Loss Coverage Under Financial Institution Bonds conference (Orlando, FL; November 1, 2007). 
• "An Inconvenient 'Truth in Lending:' Risks to Insurers Arising Out of the Recent Mortgage Industry Meltdown," presented before the Lloyd's Market Association (London, England; April 25, 2007).

His publications include:

• “Aftershock: Japan’s Impact on US Corp. Insurers,” Law 360 (May, 2011). (coauthor).
• "N.Y. Court: Priority of Coverage in Construction Dispute Determined Solely by Policies, Not Underlying Contracts," Sedgwick’s Insurance Law Update (May 2008) (coauthor).
• "Loan Loss Claims Under E&O and D&O Policies," "Loan Loss Coverage Under Financial Institution Bonds," chapter IX (published by the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section) (November 2007) (coauthor). 
• "An Inconvenient 'Truth in Lending:' Risks to Insurers Arising Out of the Subprime Mortgage Industry," PLUS Journal , vol. XX, no. 5 (published by the Professional Liability Underwriting Society) (May 2007) (coauthor). 
• "Recent Developments in Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Law," 30 Tort and Insurance Law Journal 309 (Winter 2001) (coauthor).

Memberships & Honors

He is a member of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, the Insurance Committee of the New York County Lawyers’ Association, the Professional Liability Underwriters Society and the American Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society.

While attending law school, he served on the editorial staff of the school's Environmental Law Journal.