John P. McConnell

Counsel / New York

John McConnell is Counsel in the Litigation Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Mr. McConnell was Senior Counsel at Freeborn & Peters, which combined with SGR in 2023.

  • Full Bio

    Mr. McConnell has more than 20 years experience handling complex reinsurance and insurance-related disputes for reinsurers, insurers and liquidators. He has represented clients in disputes involving coverage, allocation of loss, following obligations, construction of occurrence, event and aggregation provisions, attachment, limits and exhaustion and ECO and XPL liability. Clients rely upon Mr. McConnell, and his deep knowledge of reinsurance and insurance law and practice, for legal and commercial solutions to complex reinsurance and insurance-related disputes.

    Mr. McConnell has also represented guaranty funds, state agencies, franchisors, and energy companies in a range of commercial disputes.

    Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. McConnell was a Principal at Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan, P.C., which combined with Freeborn and Peters in 2017.

    Mr. McConnell earned his B.A. from University of Virginia, with high distinction, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School.

  • Representative Experience

    • Successfully challenged New York State Department of Financial Services determination excluding surety bonds from priority under statute governing claims against insolvent insurers; secured priority classification for $20 million claim under workers compensation surety.
    • Obtained summary judgment in favor of reinsurer dismissing $40 million fraudulent conveyance claim asserted by New York State Department of Financial Services as liquidator of insolvent New York cedent.
    • Obtained multi-million dollar summary judgment award on behalf of co-generation power facility on claim for property damage and business interruption loss resulting from catastrophic failure of steam-turbine generator.

  • Bar Admissions

    New York

  • Education

    Undergraduate
    • University of Virginia

    Law School
    • University of Pennsylvania Law School