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Jane M. Byrne focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation on behalf of insurers and reinsurers. She has been recognized as one of the top litigators in New York by several  leading publications, such as Chambers USA, Law360 and Super Lawyers.  Chambers USA (2011) describes Ms. Byrne as  "very sharp, very bright and an excellent tactician."   Chambers USA (2010) reported that her "experience in insurance disputes and reinsurance work is widely praised in the market."  She has litigated and provided counseling regarding a wide array of issues involving insurance and reinsurance, including subrogation claims involving  defective products, litigation surrounding the settlement of a $150 million claim for rescission, litigation and arbitration resolving challenges to the reinsurance allocation of a settlement that was, at the time, the largest settlement ever in a pollution case, litigation and the eventual receivership of a reinsurance broker accused of improperly converting fiduciary funds, and countless insurance and reinsurance disputes involving allocation,  follow the fortunes, cut through clauses, underwriting, captives, brokers, managing general agents, and finite reinsurance. 

Representation of certain reinsurers in USF&G v. American Re-Insurance Co.,  2010 NY Slip Op 32441(U), Index No. 604517/02 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Aug. 20, 2010), challenging  the allocation of a $1 billion asbestos settlement. 

Representation of bond insurer in Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. v. JPMorgan Chase NA and JPMorgan Securities Inc. (NY. Sup. Ct.), involving municipal bond insurance policies allegedly procured by fraud in one of the largest municipal bribery schemes in the nation’s history

Representation of AIG in AXA Versicherung AG v. New Hampshire Insurance Co., (2d Cir. 2010), taking the case over on appeal and obtaining reversal of a $35 million jury verdict against AIG in a reinsurance dispute.

Representation of Chartis in Horowitz v. American International Group Inc., (S.D.N.Y. 2010), No. 10-4408 (2d Cir. 2011), obtaining dismissal of class action litigation involving alleged losses from the Madoff Ponzi scheme.

Representation of Chartis in In re Chinese Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2047, in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Representation of CNA in Park Terrace LLC. v. Transportation Insurance Co., 2010AP2432 (WI Ct. App. 2011), appealing significant jury verdict involving business interruption insurance.   

Representation of AIG in America Home Assurance Co. v. Nausch, Hogan & Murray, Inc. (1st Dept. NY App. Div. 2010), addressing liability of reinsurance broker for rescissionary damages. 

Representing a ceding insurer in arbitration with its reinsurer over the indemnity obligations for losses arising under portfolios of mortgage insurance.