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Gerald P. Dwyer, Jr. ("Kip") is co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Litigation section, and former chair of our Insurance + Reinsurance group. Kip is a nationally recognized insurance coverage counselor and litigator. He has represented major insurers in disputes pending in trial and appellate courts in more than 25 states, including federal multi-district litigation (MDL) proceedings, syndicated quota share insurance litigation and arbitration, and class action litigation.

Kip has been on the faculty of the University of Connecticut School of Law as an Adjunct Professor since 2008, and currently teaches a substantive course entitled "Property Insurance," which is an accredited class for Juris Doctorate and Insurance LL.M. degrees, as well as the certificate issued by the Center for Energy & Environmental Law.

In recognition of his knowledge and experience, Kip was retained as the testifying expert by a quota share syndicate of insurers (ACE, AIG and CNA) on the subject of United States insurance law in a high-exposure coverage dispute in Quebec Provincial Court.

Kip was selected by Appleman On Insurance to write the authoritative treatise's first chapter on claim handling. After more than two years of drafting, Chapter Four: The Claim Process, Appleman On Insurance, Liability Edition was published in 2010. He is currently working on an updated second edition.

Kip has also drafted and revised various insurance and reinsurance certificates, forms and endorsements to assist our clients in bringing new products to market and improving existing products. In addition, he is frequently called upon to advise property insurers during the investigation of significant and complicated property, builder's risk and business income claims. 

Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Kip was an in-house attorney in Travelers' law department, where he managed the litigation of coverage and claim-handling suits in various courts across the country. In that role, he developed unique insight into the real-world dynamics between corporate law departments and their internal stakeholders, and the importance of managing expectations at every stage of the case. In private practice, Kip focuses on achieving excellent litigation results and managing the file along the way to provide the client with a consistent sense that all the correct steps are being taken to achieve the best outcome. With this unique background and experience, Kip maintains a national practice where clients need representation in the most challenging, high-profile and sensitive matters, irrespective of the jurisdiction or location of the dispute.

Kip frequently writes and lectures on matters of concern to the insurance industry. In addition, he has chaired Robinson+Cole's in-house litigation and trial skills program since 2011.

  • Georgetown University Law Center (Masters, with distinction)
    • LL.M., International and Comparative Law
  • Gonzaga University School of Law (Juris Doctor, magna cum laude)
  • Colgate University (Bachelors)
    • A.B., History

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • State of Connecticut
  • State of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington

Listed in Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star for Connecticut in the areas of Insurance and Product Liability since 2017

Selected to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list from 2006 to 2011

Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2013 to 2022

Robinson+Cole Mentor of the Year Award, 2008 and 2012

American Bar Foundation
Fellow

American Bar Association
Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee
Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Law Committee, Newsletter Editor (2001 - 2005)
Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Vice Chair of Property Insurance Law Committee (2001 - present)

New York State Bar Association

Connecticut Bar Association (1998 - present)
Insurance Committee, Presenter and Moderator (2007 - 2009)
Co-chair of International Law Section of Young Lawyers Division (1999)

Connecticut Bar Foundation
James W. Cooper Fellow (2017)

Foodshare
Board of Directors (2014)

Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Board of Directors, Quality Improvement Committee (2009 - 2011)
Honorary Co-Chair, CCMC's Storybook Gala and Bids For Kids Committee (2009)
Founder and Chair, CCMC Family Advisory Board (2008 - 2011)
Member, NICU Family Advisory Board (2008 - 2012)
Founder and Organizer, Hikes For Tikes, Annual Fundraising hike up Heublein Tower (2008 - Present)

University of Connecticut School of Law
Adjunct Professor (2008 - Present)