Nolan C. Burkhouse Director
As a member of the Insurance Services and Litigation teams, Nolan Burkhouse focuses on Insurance and Environmental Law, Commercial Litigation, and the First Amendment.
Nolan represents environmental insurers in coverage matters involving pollution liability, first party site remediation, financial assurance, and mortgage impairment. He also provides coverage advice with respect to other traditional commercial liability and property insurance products. Nolan has extensive experience advising personal lines carriers with respect to their claims handling practices.
His Commercial Litigation Practice focuses on matters involving defaults on debt debentures, misappropriation of IP/trade secrets, energy trading, products liability, employment contract disputes, partnership disputes, shareholder actions, and general contract disputes.
In his First Amendment practice, Nolan has represented media organizations in seeking to set aside statutes and other government actions directed at curtailing free speech rights over access to public information.
Prior to joining PF+C, Nolan was a partner in a boutique Insurance Law and Commercial Litigation firm representing clients throughout the country.
Professional + Community
American Bar Association
Chittenden County Bar Association
First Amendment Lawyers Association
New Hampshire Bar Association
New York Bar Association
Vermont Bar Association
Vermont Law School, Adjunct Professor, Insurance Law & Environmental Insurance, 2005 – Present
Honors
Benchmark Litigation, Future Star 2011 – present
Best Lawyers in America®, 2018-2019
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Rating
New England Super Lawyers, 2013-2015
Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel and Business Edition, 2014
Hobbies + Interests
Guitar, Whitewater Kayaking, Snowboarding, Telemark Skiing, Ultimate Frisbee, Mountain Biking, Swimming
Representative Matters
Island Surgical Supply, individually, and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Allstate Ins. Co., et al., Docket No 2005-04833 (2d Dep’t. 2006) Achieved dismissal of class action complaint against New York No-Fault insurers and subsequent affirmance of lower court ruling. Lead counsel on behalf of six carriers.
Uniondale Realty Associates v. The Hartford Insurance Company, et al., Index No. 585/06 (Sup. Ct., Nassau Co. 2006) Achieved summary judgment on behalf of environmental insurer in dispute arising out of failure of sanitary waste lines at shopping center.
In re ATG, Inc., Chapter 11 Case No. 01-46389 (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ca) Successfully negotiated assignment of financial assurance resulting in the avoidance of forfeiture of over $13 million in the context of an adversary proceeding on behalf of financial assurance carrier against nuclear waste processing facilities in Tennessee, Washington and South Carolina.
Greenwich Ins. Co. v. SLC Holdings, LLC, Docket No. 06 Civ. 745 (S.D.N.Y.) Environmental coverage dispute arising out of construction of major league baseball stadium.
American Bookseller’s Foundation for Free Expression et al, v. Dean, et al, 202 F. Supp. 2d 300 (D. Vt. 2002), affirmed in part, modified in part by 342 F. 3d 96 (2nd Cir. 2003) Successfully struck state law regulating content of speech on internet under First Amendment and Commerce Clause.
Green Mountain Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Jeep v. Crombie, 2007 WL 922255 (D. VT. March 23, 2007) Successfully opposed auto industry efforts to close portions of trial to public access.
Jacobina Mineracao e Comercio LTDA et al., v. Brazilian Resources, C. 98-687B (D.N.H.) Represented Canadian Exchange gold mining company in action against former partner for default on debt debentures issued for purchase of Brazilian gold mine and subsequent cross-claims challenging the feasibility studies central to the purchase and sale of mine.
Indian Harbor Ins. Co. v. Factory Mutual Ins. Co. and the George Washington University, Docket No. 02-CV-9342 (S.D.N.Y.) Action for allocation among property insurer and environmental insurer for mold damage to commercial property.
Direct Mail Production Services, Ltd. v. MBNA Corp. et al., Docket No. 99 Civ. 10550 (S.D.N.Y.) Participated in successfully quashing subpoena in copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and intentional interference with contract claims pending in the United Kingdom.