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919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
United States of America
P: +1 212.756.2596
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Howard B. Epstein is a partner in the New York office, chair of the Environmental Group and a member of the Litigation Group. Howard’s environmental practice has transactional, compliance counseling and litigation aspects, including assisting with documentation and due diligence in M&A, financing and other transactions; advising on regulatory and compliance issues; counseling on litigation avoidance; and defending clients against criminal, civil and regulatory actions. In the insurance area, he counsels clients on the adequacy of their coverage, recommends coverage enhancements, and litigates coverage disputes across a range of insurance products. He also advises regarding land use issues, specialized financial insurance products, the use of insurance products to resolve legacy liability concerns in business transactions, and insurance issues specific to investment fund managers and corporate directors and officers. A court-certified mediator, Howard has successfully mediated many complex insurance and environmental matters.
Co-author of the New York Law Journal’s corporate insurance law column, Howard brings to all his representations an in-depth understanding of the business needs of lenders, fiduciaries, buyers and sellers and, particularly, how those needs relate to environmental liability. Also, his expertise at drafting and negotiating environmental insurance products benefit from insights gained as a legal counsel to a number of insurance companies whose environmental products he helped draft. In addition, prior to joining SRZ, Howard served in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, first as counsel to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and later as Deputy Attorney General and Counsel to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Selected Representations
Selected Current Matters
Defense of a private company against alleged legacy groundwater contamination by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
United States v. Westvaco, et al. Defense of a multinational paper company in a Clean Air Act, New Source Review enforcement action pending in the Federal District Court, Eastern District of Maryland.
Representation of a confidential entity in claims against British Petroleum arising out of the Deepwater Horizon, Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Selected Reported Decisions
New York State Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, IV, et al. v. City of New York, et al., Index No. 108220/2006 (New York County). On appeal to the First Department.
In re Lenox. Representation of Lenox Inc. in bankruptcy regarding legacy environmental liabilities.
Cinergy Corporation, Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. and Duke Energy of Ohio, Inc. v. Associated Electric Gas Insurance Services, LTD, Indiana Supreme Court, 915 N.E.2d 524 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009); 873 N.E.2d 105 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007); 865 N.E.2d 571 (Ind. 2007).
Friends of Van Cortlandt Park et.al. vs. The City of New York, 95 NY 2nd. 623, Feb. 8, 2001.
United States v. Pitney Bowes, Inc. et al., 25 F. 3d 66 (2nd Cir. 1994).
Olin Corp. v. INA et al., 762 F. Supp 548 (N.Y. Dist. 1991).
In 1990, was certified by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to act as a mediator. Since then, has successfully mediated a number of cases and is regularly called upon to mediate complex insurance and environmental matters.
Kessler v. Tarrats, 194 N.J. Super 136 (1984).
Springfield v. Lewis et al., 702 F. 2d. 426 (2nd Cir. 1983).
Gloucester County Concerned Citizens v. Goldschmidt et al., 533 F. Supp. 222 (N.J. Dist. 1982).
Significant Business Transactions
Representing Purchasers
- Steward Health Care
- Chrysler Corporation from DaimlerChrysler
- GMAC from General Motors
- NewPage Corporation from MeadWestvaco
- BlueLinx from Georgia Pacific
- Albertsons
- National Car Rental
- Ames True Temper
- Americast Technologies
- Formica
- DynCorp
General environmental counsel to a number of large real estate lenders specializing in commercial mortgage backed securities.
Environmental Insurance
After entering private practice in 1985, Howard acted as a legal counsel to a number of insurance companies under-writing pollution liability insurance, advised on the drafting of the policies, pollution risk and new environmental products. Virtually all environmental products trace their origins to the forms developed in 1985.
In addition to specific expertise drafting and negotiating environmental insurance products, Howard has represented lenders and other financial institutions in hundreds of transactions, including being responsible for documentation and environmental due diligence. He has represented purchasers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions and has an in-depth, working familiarity with the business needs of lenders and fiduciaries as they relate to environmental liability.
Selected Publications
“New York Courts May Be Wavering on ‘Zeig,’” New York Law Journal, Dec. 8, 2011 (co-author)
“Second Circuit Upholds Coverage for Investigation-Related Costs,” New York Law Journal, Sept. 21, 2011 (co-author)
“‘Zeig’ Still Governs Exhaustion of Underlying Policy Limits in New York,” New York Law Journal, June 30, 2011 (co-author)
“Dispute Resolved over Overlapping GL and D&O Insurance Policies,” New York Law Journal, March 30, 2011 (co-author)
“Revisiting ‘Bi-Economy’ and Consequential Damages,” New York Law Journal, Jan. 31, 2011 (co-author)
“Courts Differ on Insurer’s Right to Recoupment of Defense Costs,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 2, 2010 (co-author)
“BP Oil Spill: An Insurance Perspective,” New York Law Journal, Aug. 18, 2010 (co-author)
“Green Building and Insurance,” New York Law Journal, June 2, 2010 (co-author)
“Things to Know About Your D&O Insurance Before Investigation Begins,” New York Law Journal, March 16, 2010 (co-author)
“Continuing Influence of Repealed Statutory Pollution Exclusion,” New York Law Journal, Jan. 5, 2010 (co-author)
“Scope of Prior Knowledge Exclusions in Professional Liability Policies,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 9, 2009 (co-author)
“Allocation of Defense Costs Among Overlapping Insurance,” New York Law Journal, Sept. 4, 2009 (co-author)
“Court Finds Laches Defense Bars Coverage for Asbestos Claimants,” New York Law Journal, July 1, 2009 (co-author)
“Agency Opinion Seeks to Oppose Duty to Defend on D&O Insurer,” New York Law Journal, March 6, 2009 (co-author)
“New Late Notice Law Requires Insurers to Show Prejudice,” New York Law Journal, Jan. 2, 2009 (co-author)
“Narrow View of Prior Knowledge Exclusion Adopted,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 3, 2008 (co-author)
“Consequential Damages: Only if Foreseen at Time of Pact,” New York Law Journal, May 8, 2008 (co-author)
“World Trade Center Debris: Meaning of ‘Contamination’,” New York Law Journal, March 6, 2008 (co-author)
“Choice of Law Can Be the Key to an Insurance Case,” New York Law Journal, Jan. 4, 2008 (co-author)
“Repudiation vs. Ordinary Breach: Insured’s Policy Duties,” New York Law Journal, July 2, 2007 (co-author)
“Duty to Defend: Four Corners Rule, Duty to Look Beyond,” New York Law Journal, May 9, 2007 (co-author)
“NFL Goes Back to Basics to Win ‘Clarett’ on Extra Point,” New York Law Journal, Jan. 5, 2007 (co-author)
“Late Notice: Insured’s Implied Waiver of Privilege,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 29, 2006 (co-author)
“Contra Proferentum: Sophisticated Entities Negotiating,” New York Law Journal, Aug. 30, 2006 (co-author)
“Insurers, Tort Declaratory Judgment Actions, Bad Faith Liability,” New York Law Journal, July 10, 2006 (co-author)
“Identifying Late Notice as Defense in Specific Reservation of Rights,” New York Law Journal, April 17, 2006 (co-author)
“State and Federal Courts of Appeal Enforce Noncumulation Clauses,” New York Law Journal, Feb. 28, 2006 (co-author)
“Wind vs. Water: Insurance Coverage for Storm Damage,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 29, 2005 (co-author)
“Public Policy Ruled Not a Mandate for Extended Reporting Periods,” New York Law Journal, Aug. 24, 2005 (co-author)
“Misrepresentations in Insurance Application Can Void the Policy,” New York Law Journal, June 30, 2005 (co-author)
“Late Notice Law: Does the Insurer Need to Show Prejudice?,” New York Law Journal, Feb. 22, 2005 (co-author)
“Beware of Deemer Clauses Treating Related Claims as Single Claim,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 8, 2004 (co-author)
“Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance: Allocation of Defense Costs,” New York Law Journal, Aug. 24, 2004 (co-author)
“New Transactional and Government Investigation Insurance,” New York Law Journal, July 1, 2004 (co-author)
“Pollution Insurance in Business and Real Estate,” New York Law Journal, April 21, 2004 (co-author)
“Late Notice Law: Does the Insurer Need to Show Prejudice?,” New York Law Journal, Feb. 20, 2004 (co-author)
“Proceeds of D&O Liability Insurance Property of Debtor’s Estate?,” New York Law Journal, Nov. 12, 2003 (co-author)
“The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002: Analysis and Review,” New York Law Journal, Sept. 8, 2003 (co-author)
“Limits of No-Assignment Clause: Assigning Rights in Asset Purchase,“ New York Law Journal, July 9, 2003 (co-author)
“Environmental Claims Management,” Lloyds Environmental Risk International, 1993
“A Guide to EPA’s Lender Liability Regulations,” The Review of Banking and Financial Services, June 1992
“Hazardous Loans: Lender Liability under Superfund,” The Environmental Claims Journal, 1989
“Negotiating Settlements in Hazardous Waste Cases,” DRI, 1986
“Environmental Coverage under the Claims-Made-and-Reported Form,” Executive Enterprises, Insurance Claims for Environmental Damages, 1984
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Selected Speaking Engagements
“Trends in D&O Coverage,” SRZ Public Company Hot Topics, January 2012
Things to Know About Your D&O Insurance Before an SEC Investigation Begins Webinar, May 2010
“Litigation and Regulatory Implications of Environmental, Economic, Life, Health and Casualty Exposures,” The 17th Annual Insurance Insolvency & Reinsurance Roundtable, Scottsdale, AZ, March 2010
Recent Developments in New York Corporate Insurance Law Webcast, New York, December 2009
Moderator, “Green Building Laws and Investment Opportunities,” SRZ Green Building: New Requirements and Incentives Seminar, New York, January 2009
“Vapor Intrusion,” AEGIS Insurance Services Forums, 2006
“Environmental Diligence in Business Acquisitions and Divestitures,” ITT, 2004
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Memberships
American Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
New York Conversation Education Fund (NYCEF)
Board of Directors
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey 1977
- New York 1977
- Pennsylvania 1977
Education
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Loyola University School of Law, J.D.
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American University, B.S.
Prior Experience
Assistant County Prosecutor, Somerset County, New Jersey
Deputy Attorney General, New Jersey
Counsel to New Jersey Department of Transportation
Prosecuted over 50 eminent domain matters. Tried two
cases to verdict.
Environmental - Environmental Counsel
Counsel to New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection
CERCLA, RCRA, TSCA, Spill Act, NRPA
Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith
Partner