Joseph G. Grasso

Contact Information:

Cell: (917) 744-4776

grasso@grassomoeller.com

Joe has advised and defended clients in a wide range of insurance, maritime, and litigation matters for over 35 years, helping underwriters and other clients avoid litigation when possible and prevail when it is unavoidable.

Experience

Wiggin and Dana LLP
New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA
Partner, April 2008 – Present

Co-chair, Insurance Practice Group; Co-chair, Art and Museum Law Practice Group

Work included:

  • Analysis of complex insurance and reinsurance coverage issues, defense and monitoring of complex claims under various types of insurance and reinsurance coverages (including aviation, marine [hull, liability, cargo, war and yacht] fine art and specie, property, energy, general liability, professional liability and political risks).

  • Drafting and revision of numerous marine insurance policy forms and clauses.

  • Trying and arbitrating maritime, insurance and other disputes in various jurisdictions including New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Iowa and New Jersey.

  • Acting as an arbitrator and a mediator.

  • Acting as outside general counsel to the American Institute of Marine Underwriters, the Inland Marine Underwriters Association, and the Water Sports Industry Association (Parasailing Committee).

Thacher Proffitt & Wood
New York, NY
Partner, 1995 – 2008; Associate, 1986 – 1995
Member of Litigation Department

Amlin Syndicate at Lloyd’s of London
London, U.K.
Secondment to General Counsel’s office, 2005 – 2006
Work included advising marine and aviation claims departments in connection with U.S. claims.

Honors & Activities

Recognized in

  • Who’s Who Legal - Transport, 2014-2025

Associations & Memberships

  • American Bar Association

  • Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada
    Chairman, 2021 to 2023; Director, 2024 - present

  • Association of Average Adjusters, United Kingdom

  • U.S. Maritime Law Association
    Proctor Member, 1994 - present
    Chair, Committee on Marine Insurance and General Average, 2010-2014
    Director, 2015-2018

  • Comité Maritime International
    Standing Committee on Marine Insurance, Chair, 2014-present; Member 2010-2014

  • International Union of Marine Insurance
    Salvage Forum, Member, 2014-present

  • NATO
    Civilian Advisor, 2020-present

  • American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
    Member, 2023-present.

Publications

  • The Handbook on Additional Insureds, Co-Editor (American Bar Association Publishing, 2013)

  • University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal – Author, Interpretation and Enforceability of Indemnity Provisions in Maritime Contracts: We Really Do Have to Ask, Is it Salty Enough? (Vol. 24, No. 2, 2012)

  • West’s Insurance Litigation Reporter – Author, What is the Law of Bad Faith in New York Two Years after Bi-Economy and Panasia – Have the Questions Been Answered? (2010)

  • West’s Insurance Litigation Reporter – Author, Gulf Oil Catastrophe Insurance Coverage Claims Update: BP’s Counterclaim against Transocean’s Excess Insurers (2010)

  • West’s Insurance Litigation Reporter – Author, Lloyd’s Syndicate Named as Defendant in U.S. Suit against BP and others (2011)

  • West’s Insurance Litigation Reporter – Author, In Re: “Deepwater Horizon” Insurance Litigation - The Fifth Circuit Reverses the District Court’s Additional Insured Decision but then Withdraws and Certifies Issues to Texas Supreme Court (2013)

  • West’s Insurance Litigation Reporter – Author, The $750 Million Comma? Texas Supreme Court Rules BP is not Entitled to Coverage for the Gulf Oil Spill as an Additional Insured under Policies Issued to Transocean (2015)

  • West’s Insurance Litigation Reporter – Author, Eight Years after Bi-Economy and Panasia, What is the Law of Bad Faith in New York? (2016)

  • Best’s Insurance News and Analysis – Navigating Cyber Risk (2015)

  • Aspatore’s Inside the Minds – Insurance Dispute Resolution Proceedings – Author, Keys to Successful Resolution of Insurance Disputes (2007)

    Aspatore’s Thought Leaderships – Insurance Law 2008 – Author, Current Issues and Trends for Insurers (2008)

EDUCATION

  • University of Virginia School of Law
    J.D., May 1986

  • Yale University
    B.A. cum laude, June 1983

COURT ADMISSIONS

  • New York

  • Pennsylvania

  • US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 

  • US District Court (Eastern District of New York)

  • US District Court (Southern District of New York)

  • US District Court (Northern District of New York)

  • US District Court (Eastern District of Pennsylvania)

  • US District Court (Western District of Pennsylvania)

  • US Supreme Court