Richard E. Darst

Partner | Litigation

rick.darst@pierferd.com
+1.401.637.0882 office
Boston
PDF – vCard

About
Credentials
Experience
News & Insights

About

Rick Darst is a litigation partner who concentrates his practice on representations and warranties insurance (RWI) coverage investigations, insurance litigation, and complex commercial disputes on behalf of insurers, managing general agents (MGAs), and corporate clients.

  • Rick counsels clients regarding coverage issues concerning RWI and other transactional liability policies, relating to a variety of claims including alleged breaches of representations regarding condition of assets, compliance with laws, financial statements, and material contracts. He has experience analyzing policies, creating a resolution strategy, managing all claim activity, and successfully resolving substantial claims on favorable terms.

    In addition to his insurance practice, Rick has significant experience litigating large and complex commercial claims in both state and federal courts nationwide, including post-M&A, breach of contract, fraud, fiduciary duty, and private equity-related disputes.

    Rick also maintains an active pro bono practice, representing tenants in disputes with their landlords, as well as clients seeking to seal their criminal records.

    Prior to joining Pierson Ferdinand, Rick was a senior associate at Brown Rudnick.

Practices

  • Commercial Litigation

  • Litigation and Risk Management

  • Transactional Liability Insurance

Admissions

  • Massachusetts

  • Rhode Island

Education

  • Northeastern University School of Law, J.D.

  • Providence College, B.A.

Professional Affiliations

  • Boston Bar Association

  • Rhode Island Bar Association

Awards and Honors

  • Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2021-2022

  • Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2020

Community Involvement

  • Bar Exam Coach

Experience

  • Brown Rudnick LLP

Representative Experience

  • Represented national insurer in four-day bench trial in the Southern District of New York against former underwriting broker.

  • Represented subsidiaries in dispute with parent entity over improper debt incurrence and breaches of operating agreements.

  • Represented private equity purchaser in RWI dispute related to unpaid tariffs and customs fees.

  • Represented real estate developer in portfolio of litigation matters stemming from a failed hotel renovation project in Miami. Resolved several matters prior to trial for favorable client settlements. Served as co-counsel in federal court action against insurance carrier in connection with Florida Coblentz claims, negotiated pre-trial settlement of the insurance action.

  • Represented group of commercial real estate developers asserting fraud and RICO claims against former lender and insurer on large-scale military housing projects on U.S. Army and Air Force bases.

  • Represented minority- and female-owned hedge fund bringing discrimination, retaliation, fraud, and RICO claims against the State of New Jersey and several large Wall Street firms.

In the News