David M. Spector

Partner

For more than 25 years, David M. Spector has been one of the preeminent attorneys in the insurance field.

His expertise encompasses a variety of complex matters, including:

• Reinsurance litigation and arbitration
• Insurance company insolvencies
• Business counseling
• Coverage litigation

He is a prominent member of the American Bar Association (ABA), having served as chair of several committees in the ABA's Section on Torts and Insurance Practice.

Experience

• Guarantee Trust Life Ins. Co. v. American United Life Ins. Co., 2003 WL 23518661(N.D. Ill. 2003), in which the court granted Schiff Hardin's contested motion to compel arbitration.
• Houston General Insurance Co. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19516 (S.D.N.Y. 2003), in which the court affirmed entry of a $39 million arbitration award in favor of Mr. Spector's client over respondents' vigorous objection.
• The American Bar Endowment v. Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co., 2002 WL 480960 (N.D. Ill. 2002), in which Mr. Spector's litigation team obtained a substantial judgment in favor of the American Bar Endowment in a case involving the rights and obligations of the parties to a terminated group disability insurance program.
• CNA Reins. Co., Ltd. v. Trustmark Ins. Co., 2001 WL 648948 (N.D. Ill. 2001), in which Mr. Spector successfully invoked the doctrine of forum non conveniens to obtain dismissal of a suit to compel arbitration, filed in Chicago, in favor of a suit filed in London.
• Suter v. Munich Reins. Co., 223 F.3d 150 (3d Cir. 2000), in which Mr. Spector persuaded the Third Circuit that his client did not, by including a "service of suit" clause in its reinsurance treaty, waive its right to remove a case to federal court pursuant to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
• Commissioner of Ins. v. Munich Am. Reins. Co., 429 Mass. 140, 706 N.E.2d 694 (1999), in which the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the right of Mr. Spector's client, a reinsurer, to offset amounts owed it by insolvent ceding companies.

Publications

Mr. Spector is the author of several books and numerous articles on insurance.

"Arbitration and Unauthorized Practice of Law," ARIAS Quarterly (First Quarter, 2006)

Editor: The Law and Practice of Life Insurance Company Insolvency, American Bar Association (1993)

Speeches and Presentations

Mr. Spector regularly speaks on reinsurance and insolvency issues at conferences worldwide.

"Are Reinsurers Losing the Battle Against Receivers?" Mealey's 13th Annual Insurance Insolvency and Reinsurance Roundtable, Scottsdale, Ariz. (April 7, 2006)

International Reinsurance Congress, Bermuda

Mealey's Insurance Insolvency and Reinsurance Roundtable, (Chair) Scottsdale, Ariz. (1996, 1997)

Awards and Honors

Illinois Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage

Leading Lawyer — Insurance, Insurance Coverage and Reinsurance Law; Personal Injury Defense Law, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

Leading Lawyer — Insurance: Reinsurance Litigation; Insurance: Transactional and Regulatory, Chambers USA — America's Leading Lawyers for Business

Best Lawyers in America, Insurance

Euromoney Guide to the World's Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers

Euromoney Guide to the Best of the Best

Who's Who Legal — International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Insurance & Reinsurance

Who's Who Legal — Illinois, Insurance & Reinsurance

National Law Journal Leading Insurance Regulatory and Appellate Lawyer

Law Dragon Leading Lawyers in America

AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Education

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

U.S. Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS)