Disaster Assistance and Recovery Team (DART)

Disasters occur all the time. Whether it is a terrorist attack on September 11th, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Andrew, earthquakes, forest fires, mud slides, faulty construction leading to collapsed buildings and bridges, environmental casualties like the oil leak from the Exxon Valdez, mine collapses in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, or computer viruses and power outages, there is never adequate or advance notice. The one constant is that neither government nor the private sector is prepared for it or the human or economic consequences of it.

By drawing on the resources of our highly experienced lawyers in the areas of environmental, health and safety, bankruptcy, employment, insurance, telecommunications, real estate, banking and finance, energy and utilities, tax, legislation and public policy, technology and intellectual property we provide guidance to local governments and businesses in dealing with the consequences of disasters.

When a disaster occurs we quickly assemble a team of experts tailored to the challenges of the disaster, including members experienced in: federal grants, FEMA, business interruption, construction, reconstruction, hazardous waste, government contracting, insurance coverage assessment and claims management, state procurement, debris removal, risk management, OSHA compliance, compliance with emergency orders, disputes related to the disaster, workouts and bankruptcy resulting from the disaster

Representative Matters

  • Represented Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in all aspect of the recovery efforts at Ground Zero including land use, design and construction of the World Trade Center area, and environmental and historic preservation review.
  • Represented Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in connection with the fire at the Deutsche Bank building near Ground Zero.
  • Represented a building owner relating to death of construction worker on job site.
  • Advised the owner of a shopping center in Connecticut when the roof collapsed during an ice storm.
  • Represented a major Japanese company in a series of disputes, primarily resolved through the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), involving the destruction, rebuilding and insurance of a power plan in Latin America following a natural disaster.