Christopher J. St. Jeanos
Partner, Litigation
Christopher J. St. Jeanos is a partner in the Litigation Department and Chair of the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance: Dispute Resolution and Counseling Practice Group. Chris, an experienced trial lawyer who has tried numerous cases and arbitrations to verdict, focuses on the representation of entities in all aspects of the insurance and reinsurance industry. Chris also regularly counsels entities in the insurance industry in connection with regulatory and sanctions related issues, and provides advice relating to insurance coverage for cyber issues.
For more than two decades, he has represented insurance brokers, including the largest insurance and reinsurance brokers in the world, insurance companies, and insureds in various state, federal, and international matters, including some of the most noteworthy and complex actions in the industry. Chambers USA (2023-25) ranks Chris among the leading individuals practicing in the area of Insurance: Dispute Resolution in New York; Chambers has highlighted that clients find him “incredibly knowledgeable, with very quick uptake on the facts, and very business-friendly.” Legal 500 (2019), which includes Chris in both its General Commercial Disputes and Insurance rankings, notes that clients view him as an “[e]xcellent coverage lawyer.” Chris was also named a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation (2022-23).
Chris also has received awards for his work in connection with pro bono organizations Family Residences and Essential Enterprises and Legal Services NYC, the largest provider of legal services in the nation. Chris is currently acting as counsel to a Coalition seeking to address the need for additional housing options in New York for developmentally disabled adults.
Experience
Chris served as a law clerk to the Honorable Denny Chin while Judge Chin was a United States District Court Judge in the Southern District of New York. Judge Chin is currently a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Chris is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. In 2018 and 2019, he was selected to serve on Law360’s Insurance Editorial Advisory Board.
Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation:
- Representation of one of the world’s largest insurers in connection with litigation against multiple entities relating to Opioids Crisis
- Successful defense of national insurance brokers in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California in precedent-setting cases involving the concept of “special relationship”
- Representation of insurer in coverage dispute relating to insured’s defense and settlement of antitrust claims
- Successful defense of fiduciary duty claims against insurance brokers in states around the country
- Successful defense of $1 billion indemnity action against insurance broker brought in New York state court, relating to placements in Lloyd’s market
- Nationwide Policyholder Litigation – Counsel in cases brought throughout the United States alleging violations of federal and state law by insurance companies and brokers
- Successful defense of $50 million professional negligence claim against insurance broker in federal court in Florida, which included collection of attorneys’ fees from plaintiff
- Successful defense of $100 million arbitration against a German reinsurance company in connection with an international retrocessional reinsurance dispute
Insurance and Reinsurance Regulatory/Sanctions:
- Representation of mutual P&C insurer in connection with hearing before DFS relating to demutualization
- Advising both U.S. and U.K. insurance and reinsurance entities in connection with compliance with U.S. sanctions
- Advising both U.S. and U.K. insurance and reinsurance brokers in connection with regulatory compliance, including matters relating to the NYS DFS and ELANY
- Represented life insurer in connection with hearing before DFS relating to demutualization and subsequent merger
- Represented insurer in connection with potential hearing before Delaware Department of Insurance in connection with potential merger
Credentials
Education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1996 Boston University, BSBA, 1991
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
United States Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit United States Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit United States Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2000 United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 1997 United States Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
Clerkships
Chin, Denny, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 1996-1997