Member Bio
Dan chairs Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP's Insurance Solutions Practice Group, as well as chair of its Professional Liability Practice Group. He is co-chair of the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Practice Group. He has 20-plus year’s accumulated knowledge handling “bet the company” insurance difficulties, complex commercial matters and high-exposure loss. CBS’s 60 Minutes undertook two exposés on separate matters Dan directed. His experience ranges from litigating billion-dollar insurance and reinsurance disputes; breaking down misunderstood wording and policy issues; resolving regulatory quagmires; and providing proactive guidance to clients. Dan oversaw a team that resolved over 1,500 Superstorm Sandy claims — acting as national coordinating counsel for several insurers. He has immense understanding of all facets of international insurance markets from London to Bermuda. During the Greek financial crisis, he coordinated with the Greek government on insurance solutions. In this regard, Dan brings unique cross-border transactional and regulatory expertise in portfolio transfers and insurance structural arrangements. He is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales. In conjunction with being a US ARIAS certified arbitrator, Dan acts as an arbitrator, umpire and mediator of insurance and reinsurance disputes. He also offers expert testimony in complex insurance and extra-contractual matters. He has assisted in the passage of insurance legislation – having advised the key parties supporting Vermont’s Insurance Legacy Management Act. Dan has over 2,500 followers on his daily insurance-related Twitter feed @GerberCianoLLP. He prides himself on proactive and economical conduct of client matters. He achieves this through highly coordinated workflow, quality control, strategy planning, and candid communication. Dan believes that successful conclusions require visualizing the “end game” at the onset, and anticipating key variables to reach desired results.
While his practice primarily focuses on insurance solutions, Dan’s extensive experience includes successfully litigating matters that include: catastrophic loss; professional liability; intellectual property; construction defect; transportation; product liability; and, commercial disputes. Dan also maintains a distinct practice counseling clients on social media and disruptive technology exposures. In this vein, he develops claims/underwriting guidelines and provides in-house training on social media issues for several clients in the insurance sphere. Additionally, Dan has unique experience in crisis response and management. He has advised clients through high-profile legal crises and challenges. Today’s 24-hour news cycle and social media require a rapid, coordinated response during a crisis. Legal risks are often inextricably intertwined with reputational exposures. Dan’s experience with these issues assist clients in shielding their reputation while aligning with desired legal outcome.
Dan’s comprehensive experience in the insurance arena extends to life, health and disability (ERISA and non-ERISA) issues. He previously chaired the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Life Health and Disability Committee. He has spoken and authored extensively on these subjects. His regulatory experience is extensive. He has guided clients through various regulatory issues surrounding portfolio transfers and insurer mergers and acquisitions. This includes various levels of due diligence, risk strategy, structural advice, approvals and filings.
Dan was named the Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyer of the Year (United States) by Lawyer’s Monthly Magazine. He is consistently listed as one of the top insurance and reinsurance lawyers in the world by the prestigious Who’s Who Legal (Insurance and Reinsurance). He possesses an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell; a Super Lawyer designation from Law & Politics Magazine; and, has been named by his peers to Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Law. He currently serves as a National Director for the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and is also a Board Member for the Defense Association of New York (DANY). Dan is an author for multiple chapters of Appleman on Insurance (Third Edition) and New Appleman’s Insurance Law Practice Guide, as well as being an editor of the Reinsurance Professional’s Deskbook.
Dan previously served two years as chair of the Insurance and Reinsurance Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). He is also the past Chair of the 3,000 member Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law (TICL) Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and also served two non-consecutive terms in the NYSBA House of Delegates.
Dan is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, as well as all federal and state courts in New York and Pennsylvania. He is admitted to the First and Second Circuit United States Court of Appeals. He has received numerous awards and honors for his professional and community service.
Dan ran his prior firm’s Global Insurance Services Practice Group for over 10 years. In this role, he handled significant aspects of management. He also navigated and addressed all issues of establishing a completely “new” law firm in a foreign country.
Dan grew up in Eden, New York outside of Buffalo. Every year, the Eden Corn Festival acts as a High School reunion for him. He is a long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. He enjoys international travel as much as he enjoys “binge-watching” the latest and greatest series on Netflix or Amazon Prime from his living room recliner. Dan’s passion for history is only exceeded by his passion for his family. He began his career as a plaintiff’s personal injury and policyholder lawyer. He tried many of these cases to verdict and gained valuable perspective that allows him to view both sides of any matter. Dan is an annual pass holder to Walt Disney World. He enjoys going there as much as possible and considers it his ‘happy place.”