Robert B. “Chip” Delano, Jr.

Shareholder

P: (804) 783-7268

F: (804) 783-7291

Download PDF

Download vCard

Experience

Practices

Industries

About

Biography

Chip Delano concentrates his practice in the areas of tort, insurance, and appellate litigation. He devotes a considerable portion of his practice to life, health, and disability insurance/ERISA litigation pending in state and federal courts. His life and health litigation experience includes matters involving:

  • ERISA
  • Coverage
  • Lapse for nonpayment of premiums
  • Suicide
  • Total and/or partial disability
  • Accidental death or bodily injury
  • Overseas death claims
  • Material misrepresentations by the insured
  • Conditional receipts / temporary insurance applications and agreements
  • Bad faith
  • Stop loss
  • Interpleader
  • Application of Virginia’s slayer statute and its related common law rule
  • Claims of waiver and/or estoppel against the agent and/or insurer

Chip has extensive appellate experience before Virginia’s highest appellate court, the Supreme Court of Virginia. After having served there as a law clerk, in private practice he has personally handled over 40 appeals before that Court, fourteen of which were full appeals with oral argument, and thirteen of which resulted in published opinions. Chip is a certified appellate mediator for the Supreme Court of Virginia. He has also represented clients in numerous federal appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Chip has significant experience in advising and representing insurance companies and their insureds in insurance coverage, tort, and/or bad faith claims.

Community Service Highlights


Recognition

  • Virginia Lawyers Weekly "Leaders in the Law",
    2018
  • AV by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible designation
  • "Best Lawyers in America©"
    in Appellate Practice, ERISA Litigation, and Insurance Law
  • Virginia Business magazine "Legal Elite" in Appellate Law
    2008 – 2020
  • "Super Lawyers®"
    2011- 2021

Background

Education

  • College of William & Mary
    J.D., Order of the Coif, 1981
  • College of William & Mary
    B.A., 1978

Admissions

  • Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association - Tort and Insurance Practice and Litigation Section; Life Insurance Law Committee; Health and Disability Insurance Law Committee
  • The Association of Life Insurance Counsel - Board of Governors & ABA Delegate, 2008 - 2011
  • Bar Association of the City of Richmond
  • Defense Research Institute - Past Board Liaison to the DRI Life, Health & Disability Committee, 2007 – present; Board of Directors, 2004 – 2007; Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, 2004 – 2007; Virginia State Representative, 1998 – 2002; Community Service Award, 2008; Life, Health and Disability Committee; Insurance Law Committee; Appellate Advocacy Committee
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
  • Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys - President 2002-2003, President-Elect 2001-2002, Treasurer 2000-2001, Secretary 1999-2000, Board of Directors 1995-2004, Appellate Advocacy Section, Policy Coverage Section, Auto and Transportation Liability Section
  • Virginia Bar Association - Appellate Practice Section Council, Civil Litigation Section
  • Virginia State Bar - Appellate Practice Committee, Litigation Section

Community Service

  • Boy Scouts of America
    50 year Veteran award
  • DRI Community Service Award
  • Recognized for community service with Boy Scouts by Virginia State Bar's "Virginia is for Good Lawyers" program, 2009

Publications

Publications by Robert B. “Chip” Delano, Jr.

Robert B. “Chip” Delano, Jr. In The Media

News by Robert B. “Chip” Delano, Jr.

News About Robert B. “Chip” Delano, Jr.