Troutman Pepper Locke Adds Nationally Recognized Insurance Litigation Team in Philadelphia

Partners Jason Gosselin, Kate Villanueva, and Christopher Petillo Strengthen Firm’s Capabilities in Life, Disability, AD&D, and Long-Term Care Litigation

PHILADELPHIA – Troutman Pepper Locke has expanded its Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation Practice Group with the addition of partners Jason Gosselin, Kate Villanueva, and Christopher Petillo, who bring one of the top insurance litigation practices in the country to the firm’s Philadelphia office. Their arrival further strengthens the firm’s capabilities in life, disability, AD&D, and long-term care litigation.

Gosselin, Villanueva, and Petillo join Troutman Pepper Locke from Faegre Drinker, where they advised insurers in complex insurance, commercial, class action, coverage, and regulatory disputes nationwide. The group brings over an established team that adds immediate depth and scale to the firm’s already strong Chambers-ranked insurance platform.

“Jason, Kate, and Chris are highly regarded litigators with market-leading regulatory and trial practices, and lasting client relationships that speak to the trust they have earned with top industry stakeholders,” said Steve Whitmer, chair of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Insurance and IP Department. “Insurance is one of the firm’s core industries, and their arrival signals our continued deep commitment to this key sector. They expand our presence in life, disability, AD&D, and long-term care litigation, and strengthen our ability to serve insurers and policyholders in high-stakes disputes nationally.”

Gosselin, a senior trial lawyer, has built a national practice handling complex insurance, commercial, and constitutional disputes. He serves as lead counsel in jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations nationwide, concentrating on high-exposure coverage and sales practices litigation for insurers and financial services companies across life, health, disability, and property and casualty (P&C) lines. Gosselin also routinely defends bad faith, ERISA, and class action matters.

“What stood out to us about Troutman Pepper Locke is how serious the firm is about elevating and building upon its already formidable insurance practice,” remarked Gosselin. “Given the preeminence of its practice, consistent national recognition, and focus on market growth, we are thrilled to join a firm of this caliber.”

While at Faegre Drinker, Villanueva led the firm’s life and disability insurance team. She represents insurance companies in complex individual and class actions at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, handling disputes involving annuities and life, disability, AD&D, and long-term care insurance. Additionally,

Villanueva has significant experience advising insurers on policy-administration issues, including lapse and contestability processes, underwriting, sales practices, claims handling, rescissions, and insurable interest.

“As the legal landscape continues to evolve for life and disability insurers, our team’s need for flexibility and increased resources is even greater,” said Villanueva. “Troutman Pepper Locke’s unwavering commitment to the insurance industry puts us in a stronger position to meet client needs and gives us a much bigger platform to help them navigate the full range of challenges across the insurance sector.”

Petillo counsels clients on a broad range of insurance litigation and regulatory matters in state and federal courts across the country, with a practice encompassing class action and extra-contractual disputes involving life, long-term care, annuity, and P&C policies. He focuses particularly on life insurance pricing issues such as cost of insurance, fraud and rescissions, broker misconduct, lapse and reinstatement, civil RICO, and claims disputes.

“Joining Troutman Pepper Locke gives us a real opportunity to raise our profile in the marketplace while expanding existing work across Chicago, Florida, and the West Coast, where the firm already has a strong presence. Combined with its full breadth of resources and cross-practice support across ERISA, insurance transactional, and regulatory matters, this is a natural next step for our practices,” added Petillo.

Beyond their nationally recognized trial practices, each is engaged in shaping the legal profession across the insurance industry. Gosselin is a member of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel and a former adjunct professor of Insurance Law at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Villanueva is a member of the American Council of Life Insurers, the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, and the National Association of Women Lawyers. Petillo is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

“The addition of Jason, Kate, and Chris further cements our position as a premier destination for top litigation talent,” added Joe Imperiale, Philadelphia office managing partner. “They immediately provide added depth, experience, and national reach to our insurance litigation capabilities across the U.S.”

Troutman Pepper Locke’s Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation Practice Group is dedicated to advocating for clients in disputes involving insurance and reinsurance contracts, coverage, and claims. The team represents insurers, reinsurers, policyholders, and intermediaries in high-stakes litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. With a track record of resolving complex disputes efficiently and effectively, Troutman Pepper Locke ensures the protection of clients’ interests while delivering pragmatic solutions tailored to their unique challenges.

Troutman Pepper Locke

Troutman Pepper Locke helps clients solve complex legal challenges and achieve their business goals in an ever-changing global economy. With more than 1,600 attorneys in 30+ offices, the firm serves clients in all major industry sectors, with particular depth in energy, financial services, health care and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, private equity, and real estate. Learn more at troutman.com.