Frederick Reif maintains a broad practice focused on national work for European clients. He counsels and represents of a wide range of entities with respect to litigation and arbitration in the United States. Integral to his strategy, Fred taps into Wilson Elser’s close relationships with high-quality European law firms, gaining specific insight into the laws and regulatory regimes of their respective countries. Adding depth whether a matter involves a trial, arbitration or a commercial transaction, Fred contributes to the prowess of the firm’s European team.
Fred’s clients include insurers, reinsurers, manufacturers, financial services providers and other entities. He has handled a wide variety of matters with international aspects over the course of his 25 years of practice and, due to his fluency in the German language, is a frequent contributor to German legal and industry publications.
Representative Matters
Represented six North American insurers before the United States Supreme Court in a successful challenge to the constitutionality of a California state insurance statute.
Represented a major European insurer in a $2 billion property insurance dispute arising from the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001.
Represented a German private equity management firm in a Lanham Act case arising out of an unsuccessful U.S. joint venture.
Represented an Austrian manufacturer of the funicular train in three class action lawsuits brought in the United States regarding wrongful death.
Represented a number of German life insurance companies in a class action litigation initiated by Holocaust survivors and their heirs. The litigation ended in an Executive Agreement signed by then-U .S. President William J. Clinton and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, creating a foundation to distribute billions of dollars to survivors and their families.