Paul Janaskie

Of Counsel

• pjanaskie@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Paul Janaskie is of counsel in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Practice Group.  Mr. Janaskie has 15 years experience representing clients in the insurance industry in insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes.

He has handled high-exposure coverage litigation involving a diverse range of underlying claims, including fraudulent subprime lending practices, negligent marketing of investment products, defective products, sexual abuse, unconstitutional prison search policies, nursing home injuries, mold, asbestos, and pollution.  He has litigated coverage matters throughout the nation in trial courts, bankruptcy courts, and appellate courts.

In addition to court litigation, Mr. Janaskie has arbitrated disputes regarding reinsurance agreements and program administrator contracts.  He also counsels insurers on extra-contractual liabilities, claims handling procedures, duty to defend issues, the tripartite relationship, and e-Business risks.

Mr. Janaskie has spoken to US and overseas audiences about tort reform, reinsurance arbitrations, the attorney-client privilege, arbitration ethics, cyber insurance, and careers in insurance law.

Select News & Events

• Latest Developments in Sexual Misconduct Claims, Presentation for the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Tucson, AZ (February 17, 2007).
• Careers in Insurance Law: The Tripartite Relationship, Presentation for the University of Arizona Law School, Tucson, AZ (February 15, 2007).
• Presentation by ARIAS Ethics Committee at the 2006 Spring Conference of the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS US), Palm Beach, FL (May 20, 2006).
• Are Insurance Defense Counsel the New Malpractice Targets? Presentation for the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Marina Del Ray, CA (February 18, 2006).
• The Attorney-Client Privilege: Is It Being Eroded in the World of Insurance? Presentation for the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Phoenix, AZ (February 18, 2005).
• Cyber Risks, Cyber Insurance, Presentation for International Conference of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), San Diego, CA (November 4, 2004).

Publications

• When Does an Arbitrator’s Failure to Disclose a Prior Relationship Constitute “Evident Partiality” Under the Federal Arbitration Act?
  August 17, 2006, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Reinsurance
• Asbestos Coverage Litigation: Recent Legislative and Case Developments
  November 2004, Construction Litigation Reporter
• Asbestos Coverage Litigation: Recent Legislative and Case Developments
  March 15, 2004, Insurance Litigation Reporter

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
• AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS US)