Areas of Focus

Commercial & Contracts Litigation

Rob represents diverse businesses in domestic and international litigation and arbitration involving a variety of commercial disputes, such as alleged unfair business practices, intellectual property infringement, sale of goods (UCC), consequential damages, non-compete agreements, supply contracts, distributorship and various other contractual disputes. He also represents clients in connection with complex fraud claims. Rob’s clients range from large multinational manufacturers to small and mid-sized domestic businesses.

Benefits and Insurance Litigation (Life, Health, Disability & ERISA)

Rob served as a co-chair of the Life, Health, Disability & ERISA practice of a leading AmLaw 100 law firm before joining Pierson Ferdinand. Rob represents employers, insurers, fraternal benefits societies, employee benefit plans, plan fiduciaries and third-party administrators in connection with disputes relating to employee benefits (life, health and disability, pension and others) arising under both common law and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Rob’s extensive litigation experience includes representing the insurance industry in connection with the prosecution of fraud and STOLI schemes and the defense of sales practices litigation throughout the country. He also represents the industry in employment and agency contract disputes. Based on this experience, Rob serves by appointment as a member of the Board of Directors – Concordia Plan Services and Board of Trustees – Concordia Plans (including a defined benefit plan, defined contribution plan, health plan and life and disability plans). Concordia is the employee benefits provider for more than 6,000 Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod congregations, schools, universities and other organizations in the United States and in mission fields worldwide.

Employment

Rob has represented employers and management in connection with all manner of employment-related disputes under federal, state and municipal laws, including alleged adverse employment actions based on disability, gender, age and other protected classifications; whistleblower/retaliation claims; wage-and-hour claims; and contractual disputes such as non-compete and confidentiality agreements, among others.

Consumer Securities Litigation

Rob has extensive experience representing issuers, broker-dealers and registered representatives in litigation concerning the sale and performance of retail consumer financial products, including mutual funds, variable life insurance and annuity products and brokerage accounts, before courts and regulatory boards such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He has served successfully as lead counsel in numerous arbitrations involving the sale and administration of variable insurance products and mutual funds from New York to California.

Stop Loss & Catastrophe Health Insurance Litigation

Stop loss and catastrophe health insurance products are unique in their function and often not well understood in the legal community. Rob has litigated numerous claims under catastrophe and stop loss policies and has a thorough understanding of these products and the legal and regulatory schemes under which they operate.

Warranty Litigation

Rob represents specialty underwriters and warranty providers, including claims asserted in connection with credit card benefits programs and consumer warranties.