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Nasri H. Barakat
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Personal Information
  • Address:
    71 Arizona
    Long Beach, NEW YORK 11561 United States
  • Cell:
    214-912-9848
  • Email:
    nasrib@gmail.com
Credentials
  • Attorney:
    Yes
  • Education:
    Lebanese University of Beirut Law School (Law Degree, with
    honors-1973).
    Primer in Oil and Gas Drilling, University of Texas at Midland-Odessa (40 hours 1984)
  • Degrees:
    Law Degree
  • Designations:
    ARIAS Certified Arbitrator and Umpire
    AAA/ICDR Roaster of Neutrals since 1998
    ICC listed in the ICC database

    ACE21 Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are? 2021; ACE20 Cyber Security: A Shared
    Responsibility, 2020; AAA ACE19 Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, 2019;
    Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor. Meeting Participant Expectations, 2018; AAA Best
    Practices In Commercial Arbitration, 2017; ICDR 8th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2015;
    ICDR 7th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2014; ICDR 6th Annual Practice Moot and
    Seminar, 2013; ICDR 5th Annual Practice Moot and Seminar, 2012; AAA Arbitration Awards:
    Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards ACE01, 2009; Mediation Ethics: Objectives Standards
    and Subjective Practices, 2009; Large Complex Construction Mediation: The Dynamics of the
    Negotiation Team, 2009; AAA Arbitration Road Map: The Standard for Efficient and Cost
    Effective Arbitration, 2009; Electronic Discovery in Arbitration: What you need to know, 2009;
    AAA/ICDR Neutrals Conference, 2009; ICDR International Symposia in Advanced Case
    Management Issues, 2009; Living with the FCPA in an Era of Enhanced Enforcement, 2008;
    ARIAS, US Getting Connected Seminar, 2008; The Global Credit Crisis and the International
    Insurance Industry, 2008; Director's Round Table: Opportunities & Challenges Facing the
    Insurance Industry During the Financial Crisis, 2008; AIRROC/Cavell Communications and
    Networking Event Educational Sessions, 2008, Reinsurance Litigation & Arbitration Conference,
    2008; 2008 Run-Off Symposium, 2008; ICDR International Commercial Arbitration and
    Mediation, 2007; AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure ACE03, 2006, 2005; AAA Commercial
    Arbitrator II Training: Advanced Case Management Issues, 2004; AAA Arbitrator Update 2004;
    AAA Arbitrator I Training-Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process, 2003; ARIAS-US, Discovery:
    Too Much of a Good Thing!, 2002; ARIAS-US, The Limits of Arbitral Power: To Infinity and
    Beyond, Puerto Rico, 2002.

  • Languages:
    Reads, writes, speaks and conducts arbitration and mediation hearings in French, Arabic and Spanish
  • Other Information:
    Expertise includes underwriting primary and excess, direct, reinsurance (facultative and treaty), domestic and international business. Also acquired an extensive knowledge in the workings of the London Market, Lloyds Underwriting and Broking while on secondment at the Excess Insurance Group in London and Paris from 1984-1986.

    Public Speaking And Engagements:

    2012 Appleman on Insurance Law edition: contributed with the co-author in providing the “Arbitrator’s perspective” for the Chapter titled: “Mediating and arbitrating insurance disputes”. ICDR 2011 Fourth Annual Practice Williem C. Vis Moot: served on two panels during this event preparing candidates for the Hong Kong and Vienna International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Since that time, was invited annually to participate as arbitrator in the “Moots” and
    served as arbitrator in many of these events including 2022 when I served as arbitrator for the events organized by the AAA and Fordham School of Law. Served as Discussion Leader, Ethics
    Session at the ARIAS-US Fall Conference, November 2011. Speaker: ARIAS-US: "A Conference for Joe the Arbitrator," May 2009; Panel member for "Streamlining the Process of Arbitration" and "Current Trends in Commercial Arbitration," Reinsurance Litigation & Arbitration Conference, Philadelphia, September 8th-9th, 2008; Booklet co-author and speaker, "Insurance and Reinsurance," AIDA 10th Congress, Morocco, May 1998. Currently serve as a member of the ARIAS US technology and international committees.

    Professional Associations:


    ARIAS-US (Member since 1998 and Certified Arbitrator and Umpire); AIDA (Association Internationale des Droits des Assurances); Reinsurance Association of America (Listed in the
    Arbitrators' Directory as Arbitrator and Umpire); ICC (Roster of Neutrals); AIRROC (Certified Arbitrator and Umpire); listed in the Roaster of Neutrals of the American Arbitration Association and the International Center for Dispute Resolution since 1998.


Work Experience
  • Insurance Company: 18 years.
    Underwriting Department: 8 years. Various underwriting positions including primary, excess, surplus lines, treaty and facultative, domestic and International busniess.
    Executive Officer (CEO, COO, CFO, Chief Actuary): 1 year. Preident, VP Reinsurance underwriting
    Claim Department: 3 years. large claims committee member for large property and casualty business as well as reinsurance
    Ceded Reinsurance Department: 2 years. run-off operations including incoming audit coordination work
    Assumed Reinsurance Department: 4 years. run-off operations including auditing cedent business
  • Reinsurance Company: 6 years.
    Underwriting Department: 3 years. VP Reinsurance Underwriting
    Executive Officer (CEO, COO, CFO, Chief Actuary): 1 year. VP Reinsurance Underwriting
    Claim Department: 2 years. run-off operations including auditing reinsured business, managing litigations and arbitrations
  • Insurance-related Firms: 12 years.
    Run-off Manager: 4 years. VP , Run-off
    Run-off Manager: 4 years. VP , Run-off
    Run-off Manager: 4 years. VP , Run-off
  • Independent/Other Relevant Experience: 26 years.
    Independent/Unaffiliated Arbitrator, Umpire and/or Mediator: 26 years. Arbitrator mediator and umpire
Breakdown of Experience
  • Workers' Compensation
    50%
  • Commercial Liability
    50%
  • Product Liability
    50%
  • Automobile Liability/Property
    50%
  • Insolvencies
    45%
  • Life
    25%
  • Healthcare
    25%
  • Environmental/Pollution
    25%
  • Excess/Surplus Lines
    20%
  • Commercial Property
    10%
  • Accident & Health
    7%
  • MGA/MGU
    6%
  • Personal Lines
    5%
  • Professional Liability/Errors &, Omissions
    5%
  • Architects &, Engineers
    5%
  • Captives/Risk Retention Groups
    5%
  • Construction Defects
    2%
By Market
  • U.S. Market:
    45%
  • U.K. Market:
    25%
  • Bermuda/Off-shore Market:
    20%
  • European Market:
    5%
  • Global Market:
    5%

Insurance vs. Reinsurance: 50/50%
Treaty vs. Facultative Reinsurance: 50/50%
Former Insurance or Reinsurance Company Officer

Mediation Experience
  • Number of Mediations
    As Mediator: 26
ARIAS Experience

Ethics Training, as Trainee: 1; May 2009

ARIAS Conference Faculty: 4; Spring 2006, Spring 2009, Fall 2011, Fall 2013

Arbitration Experience

Number of Arbitrations

As an Arbitrator: 138

As an Umpire: 48

As Corporate Representative: 35

Arbitrator Experience
Number of Arbitrations
15
Appointed as an arbitrator.
13
Acted as an arbitrator through the organizational meeting or the arbitration has only reached this stage.
27
Acted as an arbitrator through the organizational meeting or the arbitration has only reached this stage and the resolution of significant pre-hearing motions.
22
Acted as an arbitrator through an evidentiary hearing of at least one full day and less than three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
18
Acted as an arbitrator through an evidentiary hearing of at least three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
20
Acted as an arbitrator through to final award after completion of an evidentiary hearing of at least one full day and less than three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
23
Acted as an arbitrator through to final award after completion of an evidentiary hearing of at least three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
Umpire Experience
Number of Arbitrations
7
Appointed as an umpire.
2
Acted as an umpire through the organizational meeting or the arbitration has only reached this stage.
3
Acted as an umpire through the organizational meeting or the arbitration has only reached this stage and the resolution of significant pre-hearing motions.
3
Acted as an umpire through an evidentiary hearing of at least one full day and less than three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
4
Acted as an umpire through an evidentiary hearing of at least three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
10
Acted as an umpire through to final award after completion of an evidentiary hearing of at least one full day and less than three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
19
Acted as an umpire through to final award after completion of an evidentiary hearing of at least three full days regarding the substantive merits of the parties' dispute.
Company Representative Experience
Number of Arbitrations
35
Not available or unwilling to provide. ARIAS recognizes that in an effort to protect the respective company(ies) that you work(ed) for, you may not be able to divulge the status of the arbitrations that you participated in. Indicate such arbitrations here.
Biography

In 1994, Nasri H. Barakat established his practice as a full-time commercial, insurance and reinsurance arbitrator, umpire and mediator. As president of IIRCS, Inc, International Consultants, he continues to provide arbitration and litigation support for complex international disputes, expert testimony, run-off and liquidation services to the insurance and reinsurance industry.

Mr. Barakat has more than 50 years of insurance and reinsurance experience in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. He has participated as arbitrator, umpire and mediator in a large number of arbitrations involving commercial, insurance and reinsurance disputes.

Mr. Barakat is an ARIAS-US certified arbitrator and umpire. He is also listed on the “Roster of Neutrals” of the American Arbitration Association’s commercial domestic (AAA) and International (ICDR) panels, the USCIB, AIRROC and CPR panels. His extensive exposure to international commercial business includes major industry privatization of several Middle Eastern countries applying for admittance in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

His keen knowledge of the Islamic Sharia Law and abilities to fluently read, speak and write French, Arabic, Spanish and English put him in a unique position to serve on certain international panels.

Prior to founding IIRCS, Inc., Mr. Barakat served as president of National American Insurance Company, vice-president of Chandler Insurance Company Limited (an Offshore Reinsurance Company) and vice-president of Old American Insurance Services, Inc. of Dallas, Texas. He also held executive and other positions with Republic Insurance Company of Dallas, Texas and ITT Hartford.

Mr. Barakat is a non-practicing attorney.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience:

Since 1994, developed a practice as a full time domestic and international commercial,
insurance and reinsurance arbitrator. Primary area of expertise includes commercial, insurance
and reinsurance disputes, arbitration and mediation. Served as Chairman in over 45 insurance
and reinsurance disputes. Also served as party appointed co-arbitrator, neutral or sole
arbitrator in over one hundred and fifty arbitrations. These arbitrations varied in size up to
$250 million. They involved issues including, but not limited to: summary judgment, rescission
due to misrepresentations and mishandling of claims, asbestos and environmental liability,
pollution, fraud, life insurance and life reinsurance , individual and group health insurance and
reinsurance, bad faith and extra-contractual obligations, underwriting and claims disputes,
financial risk underwriting, professional liability, directors and officers liability, captive
insurance and reinsurance, builders risks, London Market business, aggregate allocations
disputes, number of occurrences, international shipping, Crop and flood insurance, attorney
fees disputes, public relations, workers compensation, product liability, general liability, long
haul trucking, surplus lines and other general commerce, commercial property and casualty
disputes.

Was also involved in other international business areas including, but not limited to: estate
management, banking, family and business trusts, real estate holdings, litigation support and
management to public relations and asset recovery and collections. During this period, worked
diligently with international law firms, bankers, real estate agents, notaries public and estate
administrators. Successfully assisted clients in the recovery, collections, liquidation of these
assets and their distribution to the rightful owners. This work involved several continents and a
large number of countries and jurisdictions.