Legal 500 USA Recognizes Chaffetz Lindsey as the Premier Boutique for Insurance Disputes and International Arbitration

June 2021 – The Legal 500 USA 2021 Rankings are out and Chaffetz Lindsey was again recognized as the premier boutique firm for International Arbitration and Insurance disputes.

Referees noted that Chaffetz Lindsey “has the agility of a boutique outfit with the intellectual heft of a legal leviathan.” The firm was further recognized as having a “[s]mall, highly dynamic and extremely knowledgeable team, specializing in the conduct of complex commercial litigation and insurance/reinsurance disputes and US domestic as well as international arbitration.”

The firm’s Insurance practice was promoted to Tier 2 in the Insurance: Advice to Insurers ranking.  Among the 26 firms ranked in the practice area, Chaffetz Lindsey is the only boutique. Referees said that Chaffetz Lindsey provides “a tremendous group of dedicated professionals, masters in the practice of insurance and reinsurance law, who provide superior legal advice and professional judgment to their clients.”

Peter Chaffetz and Steven Schwartz are individually ranked in the “Hall of Fame” category. Referees call Steven Schwartz “one of the top reinsurance lawyers in the world,” also noting that Steve is “an outstanding trial lawyer and elegant writer. Triers of fact like and respect him because he eschews histrionics and is always well prepared to argue thoughtfully based on the facts and the law.”

Charles Scibetta and Cecilia Moss are also recognized as “Recommended Lawyers.” Referees noted that “Charles Scibetta, in particular, is intelligent, composed, pays attention to detail, and responsive. He is a pleasure to work with. I value an attorney that considers all potential options in litigation and then provides a recommendation on his own.”

Referees had the following to say about the firm’s Insurance team:

• “The firm is incredibly responsive and thorough in their work, and they meet deadlines when requested. In researching and reviewing issues, they consider each matter on a case-by-case basis and from an industry-impact perspective. They are also pleasant people to work with.”
• “I have worked with many of the firm’s professionals – their unique presence in a relatively small field of firms dedicated to this practice is the depth of knowledge and experience the firm brings to the fore.”
• “The partners and associates alike are incredibly industrious and very knowledgeable about reinsurance and arbitration.”
• “This boutique is largely dedicated to handling reinsurance disputes in arbitration and litigation, and has exceptionally talented lawyers with extensive experience in that area.”

Legal 500 recognized Chaffetz Lindsey’s International Arbitration team as “highly experienced in delivering a wide array of both investment and commercial arbitration services across borders.” The firm was promoted to Tier 2 in the Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration category – recognizing it as one of only 11 firms in the top two bands. Referees noted, “This practice brings big firm reputation to a boutique.”

In addition, six of the firm’s International Arbitration partners were individually ranked, receiving the following recognition:

• “Department leader James Hosking is also highly experienced, with over 100 arbitrations under his belt; his recent practice stands out in the energy industry.” James is ranked as a Leading Lawyer.
• “David Lindsey brings credibility to the group’s work due to his experience spanning over three decades; his recent work places an emphasis on acting for Brazilian clients in the construction sector.” David is ranked in the Hall of Fame.
• Yasmine Lahlou is “qualified in multiple jurisdictions,” and has “dual qualifications in New York and France.” Yasmine is ranked as a Next Generation Partner.
• “Caline Mouawad is an excellent, steady hand in arbitration. Her knowledge of the players, issues, and the ICC, means that there are no surprises and we go into any dispute prepared.” Caline is ranked as a Leading Lawyer.
• “Aníbal Sabater is an extraordinary well-qualified lawyer and an excellent team leader. He personally is on top of the matters he handles.” Referees also note that Aníbal is “fully dedicated to international arbitration and very much respected by its peers.” Aníbal is ranked as a Leading Lawyer.
• “Andreas Frischknecht is a key contact for German-speaking clients and arbitration enforcement mandates.” Andreas is listed as a Recommended Lawyer.

To view the firm’s profile and the rankings tables in their entirety, visit the Legal 500 website. Legal 500, an independent guide on legal practices around the world, conducts research based on interviews with clients and peer lawyers.