Allen Burton is managing partner of O’Melveny’s New York office, chair of the firm’s Insurance Practice, and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee, its firmwide governing body. His practice focuses on complex litigation and arbitration matters, where he regularly acts as lead counsel in high-profile disputes with billions of dollars at stake.
Allen has succeeded at every stage of litigation and arbitration (both domestic and international)—winning front-page insurance disputes and bet-the-company contract cases at the pleading stage and trial, or negotiating favorable settlements for commercial clients in a wide range of industries. In addition to some of the nation's leading insurance companies, Allen regularly counsels businesses in the financial services, aviation, healthcare, and software industries. He has been recognized as a BTI Client Service All Star, in Super Lawyers, and by The Legal 500 US in securities litigation, product liability, and insurance. Under Allen’s leadership, O’Melveny’s Insurance Practice has been recognized as “Practice Group of the Year” by Law360 four times.
Allen also regularly represents pro bono clients, in matters ranging from education and domestic violence to civil rights and immigration. He also serves on the Board of NYC Outward Bound, a non-profit organization working to improve New York City public schools, and he is active in community service in his hometown of Chatham, New Jersey.
Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation and Arbitration
- Winning US$300 million fidelity bond arbitration on behalf of a tower of insurers arising from failure of broker-dealer
Financial Services Litigation
- Won dismissal with prejudice of claims against bank alleging aiding and abetting arising from US$40 million Ponzi scheme
Additional International and Domestic Arbitration and Litigation
- Representing asphalt supplier in investment treaty arbitration against Dominican Republic
Mass Tort Defense
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of airport authority in wrongful death suit arising from the 9/11 terrorist attacks
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- US District Court, District of New Jersey, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
Education
- Fordham Law School, J.D., 2001, Associate Editor, Fordham Law Review
- Georgetown University, B.A., 1996, American Studies
Honors & Awards
- Recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” by The Legal 500 US for Insurance: Advice to Insurers (2024)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Insurance: Advice to Insurers (2022-2023)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Securities Litigation: Defense
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for General Commercial Disputes (2023)
Professional Activities
Clerkships
- Honorable Federico A. Moreno, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (2001-2002)
Speaker
- ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar (2023)
Author
- Co-Author, "The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation Continues to Soar," O'Melveny Client Alert (September 26, 2023)
Leadership
- Managing Partner, New York Office