Tancred Schiavoni, Co-Chair of the firm’s Insurance Practice, represents insurance and reinsurance companies in a variety of disputes, including bad faith claims and environmental coverage litigation. Tanc has represented carriers in cases in a number of states, including New Jersey, New York, and New Hampshire. He has also conducted and assisted in mediations and provided coverage advice to clients to assist them in avoiding disputes without the need for litigation. Tanc participated at trial in the defense of a major environmental coverage action involving multiple parties and claims for coverage exceeding US$500 million. Tanc also was involved in the trial of another major multiparty coverage dispute involving coverage claims in a dozen states and Canada.
Chambers USA notes that Tanc is “known as a go-to lawyer on high-stakes mass tort and insurance bad faith litigation.” The firm's Insurance Practice has received the distinguished "Practice Group of the Year" recognition from Law360 from 2020-2022.
Apart from his work for insurance companies, Tanc has been active in a broad range of complex commercial litigation and appeals in both federal and state court, involving such issues as accountants liability, fraudulent conveyance, securities, and employment litigation. Tanc has represented lenders and borrowers in actions involving securities transactions and loans. He has also been involved in a variety of adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- US District Court, District of Connecticut, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of New York
- US Court of Appeals, Second, Third, Ninth, and Federal Circuits
- US Supreme Court
Education
- Georgetown University, J.D., 1988: Member, Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics
- Georgetown University, B.S., 1984
Honors & Awards
- Named a Local Litigation Star (2020-2023), National Practice Area Star (2020-2024), and Litigation Star (2024) in Insurance by Benchmark Litigation (2020-2024)
- Ranked by Chambers USA in the New York and Nationwide “Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer” categories (2012, 2014-2023)
- Listed in The Legal 500 US as a Leading Lawyer (2013-2019) and Hall of Fame (2018, 2020-2023) for Insurance
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate (2023)
- Named National Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys (2013)
- Named Client Choice 2013 in the New York Insurance & Reinsurance category by International Law Office and Lexology
- Preeminent AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell (2013-2023)
- Recipient of Law360’s 2012 MVP award in Insurance honoring achievements in major litigation that have set a new standard for accomplishment
Professional Activities
Member
- New York City Bar Association
Speaker
- “Responding to Extreme Losses in the New Normal,” ARIAS US Spring Conference (May 2018)
- “Recent Trends and Developments in Allocation Issues – Which Policies Apply and in What Order,” Perrin Conferences: Insurance Coverage and Allocation Issues Conference (April 2018)
- “Changing Politics of Asbestos Bankruptcies,” HB Asbestos Bankruptcy Current Trends & Future Outlook (October 2010)
- “Ethics in Asbestos Litigation,” Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference (September 2010)
- “The Intersection Between Bankruptcy and Insurance Coverage: What Every Coverage Practitioner Should Know,” ABA Section of Litigation—Insurance Coverage Annual Conference (March 2010)
- “Claim Trends & Update—What is the Forecast?,” Mealey’s Asbestos Insurance Conference (September 2006)
- “Investigations Into Fraudulent Asbestos & Silica Claims,” Mealey’s teleconference (August 2006)
- “Asbestos Bankruptcy,” Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference (June 2006)
- “Changing Landscape in Asbestos Claims Filings and Emerging Trends,” Mealey’s Asbestos Insurance Litigation (December 2005)
- “Asbestos: The Times They Are Changing,” Tillinghast Asbestos Litigation Conference (September 2005)
Author
- “Congress Must Set up an Insurance Fund to Deal with the Pandemic,” Crain's New York Business (April 7, 2020 co-authored with Gary Svirsky)
- “The Problems With Insurance for COVID-19 Victims and How To Fix Them,” The New York Law Journal (March 30, 2020)
- "A Classic Case of Regulatory Overreach," Crain's New York Business (October 16, 2018 co-authored with Janine Panchok-Berry and Gary Svirsky)
- "Supreme Court Annuls Agency Overreach In Title Insurance Regulations," New York Law Journal (August 2018 co-authored with Gary Svirsky)
- "No Harm, No Foul: Jury Rejects Reinsurer’s Late-Notice Defense," Arias US Quarterly (August 2018 co-authored with Vincent Weisband)
- “A Field Guide to Channeling Injunctions and Litigation Trusts,” New York Law Journal (July 13, 2018)
- “Victory for Insurers in Skinner Engine May Change Landscape for Asbestos Bankruptcies,” Bloomberg Law Reports: Bankruptcy Law (June 29, 2009 co-authored with Gary Svirsky and Allen Schwartz)
- “No Final Answer,” Best’s Review (May 2008)
- “The Fourth Circuit Re-Installs Limits on Coverage for Asbestos Personal Injuries,” Mealey’s Litigation Report (November 3, 2004)
Participant
- Emerging Insurance Coverage & Allocation Issues Conference (January 2011)