Robert Kole

Practice Areas

Rob Kole helps domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers to achieve successful outcomes in some of the most significant, cutting edge issues affecting them, including opioids, mass shootings, terrorism, asbestos, environmental, food contamination, oil and gas, catastrophic property damage, and catastrophe bonds. Clients value the experience he brings in providing insurance and reinsurance advice, coverage opinions, litigation representation, arbitration guidance, and appellate work.

Rob has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Second, Fifth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits as well as the Connecticut Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeals in connection with insurance and reinsurance disputes. He has successfully litigated in the trial court, and affirmed on appeal, two of the earliest opioid coverage decisions in the U.S.: Travelers v. Anda (11th Circuit) and Travelers v. Actavis (California Court of Appeals); successfully litigated an issue of first impression in the Connecticut Supreme Court regarding insurance coverage for crumbling home foundations (Karas v. Liberty Mutual; Vera v. Liberty Mutual); successfully litigated in the trial court, and affirmed on appeal, the first dispute in the U.S. concerning coverage under catastrophe bonds (Mariah Re); and successfully arbitrated dozens of reinsurance disputes on behalf of ceding companies and reinsurers.

A number of Rob’s clients cannot be disclosed publicly due to the confidential nature of the proceedings. However, past or current clients in public matters include Liberty Mutual, Travelers, St. Paul, Swiss Re, Hartford, and American Family Insurance.

Rob is a member of Choate’s Executive Committee.

Professional Memberships

Former special prosecutor for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, where Rob successfully tried (in both jury and bench trials) or plea bargained dozens of criminal matters;

Group leader at ARIAS-US conferences on the subject of reinsurance arbitration;

Serving as counsel for the International Rescue Committee with respect to a contract dispute, which resulted in litigation;

Member of the Massachusetts Bar Association;

Member of the Boston Bar Association