Professor Robert O’Sullivan is the former Associate General Counsel for Insurance and Claims of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. He joined OPIC’s legal staff in 1981 after six years as an associate at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Initially, he handled the full range of work done by staff attorneys, including project finance. Beginning in 1986, his primary responsibilities became resolving insurance claims, pursuing claim recoveries from foreign governments, providing advice on insurance contracts and new product development, and negotiating or renegotiating the Investment Incentive Agreements (“IIAs) between the United States Government and the governments of the countries where OPIC operates, which provide an agreed framework for OPIC programs. Notably, in 2010, he renegotiated the IIA with Indonesia in anticipation of President Obama’s visit there, restoring OPIC’s ability to operate after several years of disagreements arising from a major claim payment in 1999. He has written and spoken extensively on OPIC’s claims experience at conferences and meetings with OPIC counterpart agencies. In addition to his claims and insurance responsibilities, he has served as OPIC’s Acting General Counsel and Acting Deputy General Counsel. He has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown and at American University’s Washington College of Law. He retired from government service in 2013.
