Attorney Profile
- Practice Areas
- Insurance and Reinsurance
- Litigation
- Products Liability, Toxic Tort and Mass Tort
- Professional Liability Defense
- Securities Litigation and Arbitration
- Areas of Emphasis
- Business & Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Litigation
- Reinsurance Arbitration
- Commercial Collections
- Professional Liability Defense
- Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- Education
- Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1997
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1994
John R. Vales
Partner
A partner in the Firm’s Litigation Department, Jack values every client he has the privilege to serve and works tirelessly to achieve his clients’ objectives in keeping with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
Jack’s practice focuses upon the litigation and arbitration of business disputes in New Jersey and New York, particularly those involving insurance related issues. He has successfully represented the interests of insurers in large-scale contract disputes, insurance coverage matters and bad faith actions. He has also handled a broad array of issues in connection with reinsurance arbitrations and has extensive experience advising insurers in run-off on litigation and arbitration related matters.
Outside the insurance context, Jack has successfully undertaken litigation related work for financial services firms, private entrepreneurs and health care benefits managers, among others. He has also developed a strong track record of defending professionals sued for malpractice, including accountants, lawyers and brokers.
Jack began his legal career in January 1998 as a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. While in the JAG Corps, Jack had the opportunity to try cases to military judges and juries on behalf of the United States, and earned convictions in several serious matters, including a contested murder trial. Along the way, Jack deployed overseas to Bosnia and Herzegovina and learned many key litigation principles that he continues to apply in his business litigation practice to the present day. In recognition of his efforts and expertise, the Army entrusted Jack with several leadership positions for the Army’s venerable Tenth Mountain Division, including Senior Trial Counsel and Chief of Client Services.
Upon the completion of his active duty service in January 2002, Jack joined the Litigation Department of Riker Danzig as an associate attorney. In just six years, Jack built an impressive record of hard work and achievement, culminating in his election to partner in January 2008.
The legal community has recognized Jack for his excellence as a litigation attorney. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell – a leading peer review rating service – has awarded Jack an AV® Rating, its highest rating. In 2008, the New Jersey Law Journal selected Jack as one of New Jersey's "40 Under Forty." The Law Journal selects annually the top 40 young lawyers in private practice whose achievements in the workplace and public service involvement distinguish them among their peers. Additionally, in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Law & Politics magazine named Jack as one of New Jersey’s "Rising Stars" in the area of business litigation.
Jack has been published on issues relevant to his practice and has undertaken pro bono legal work. He also takes an active role in the Firm, serving on the Firm’s Hiring and Diversity Committees. Outside the Firm, Jack maintains an active membership with ARIAS•U.S., the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society, as well as the John C. Lifland American Inn of Court, and the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey.
Related Articles
- Speaker and Author, “Pre-Suit Collection Strategies” and “The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act”
Aug 3, 2010 - Pennsylvania Federal District Court Vacates Arbitration Award, Finding Honorable Engagement Clause Did Not Authorize Panel to Re-Write Contract
Sep 25, 2009 - Expanding the Reach of Arbitration Agreements: A Pennsylvania Federal Court Opinion Applies Principles of Agency and Contract Law to Require A Subsidiary-Reinsurer to Arbitrate Under Parent’s Agreemen
Oct 6, 2008 - No FOIA Request? No Problem - N.J. federal court decision threatens to relax Privacy Act protections
Sep 29, 2008 - John R. Vales Named One of the State’s “40 Under Forty”
Aug 11, 2008 - Consolidated Arbitration Proceedings: A Michigan Federal Court Sets Forth A Framework For Determining Who Should Decide Whether A Consolidated Arbitration May Proceed
May 2, 2008
Related Firm News
- 27 Riker Danzig Attorneys Named Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” for 2012
Mar 26, 2012 - 31 Riker Danzig Attorneys Named Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” for 2011
Mar 22, 2011 - John R. Vales Named One of the State’s “40 Under Forty”
Aug 6, 2008 - Riker Danzig Elects New Partners and Counsel in Tax and Trusts & Estates, Insurance, Bankrupcy, Family Law, Labor and Employment and Litigation
Apr 21, 2008
