John Wolak

For more than 25 years, John T. Wolak has litigated matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance coverage for a broad range of clients, and regularly provides strategic counseling and analysis of potential risks and exposures, policy terms and conditions, and claims resolution. Mr. Wolak also co-chairs the firm’s Privacy & Data Security Team and counsels clients on data security and privacy issues, including compliance, policies and procedures, and incident response.

A wide variety of clients – including pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing companies, educational institutions, financial services companies, telecommunications companies, professional service providers, and insurance companies – rely on Mr. Wolak’s experience and advice to achieve their objectives and resolve both insurance coverage matters and commercial disputes.

He has also been retained as an expert witness/consultant on insurance issues, and is a frequent speaker on insurance law topics and data privacy and security. Prior to joining Gibbons, Mr. Wolak served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nicholas H. Politan of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

EDUCATION:

• Fordham University School of Law (J.D.)
  • Member, Fordham Law Review
  • American Jurisprudence Award, Federal Courts
• Boston College, Carroll School of Management (B.S., cum laude)

PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS:

• State of New Jersey
• United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

• Essex County Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association
  • Insurance Law Section
  • Business and Commercial Litigation Committee
• New Jersey Business and Industry Association
  • Legal Affairs Committee
• Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
• American Bar Association
• William J. Brennan, Jr. Inn of Court Trial Program (1994-1995)

EXPERIENCE:

• As specially retained appellate counsel, obtained reversal of a multimillion-dollar summary judgment award against his clients – the policyholder and its liability insurer – because the adversary lacked standing to prosecute its claims for indemnification, both directly and under the applicable policy
• Obtained multimillion-dollar insurance recovery for a claim based on construction defects and property damage to the substructure of residential units and a parking garage, as insurance coverage counsel for condominium development owners
• Represented professional services provider in dispute with EPL insurer to maximize coverage for multiple claims arising out of former manager’s conduct
• Represented a large regional law firm in a dispute over the availability of insurance coverage and the extent of damages in connection with a business interruption claim based on direct property damage at law firm’s headquarters
• Successfully negotiated reimbursement of defense costs incurred in connection with a regulatory investigation by various state and federal agencies for a prominent New Jersey medical doctor