Eugene R. Anderson, the founding member of the law firm Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C., died Friday from complications from pneumonia. He was 82.

A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, Harvard Law School and New York University, he was a U.S. prosecutor in the office of then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Robert M. Morgenthau in the 1960s.

Mr. Anderson later founded Anderson Kill in 1969 and was integral to the firm's success over four decades.

Mr. Anderson was a member of the New York City Mayor's Task Force on Automobile Insurance, chairman of the Amicus Committee of United Policyholders, director of Citizens Against Unfair Insurance Practices and a director of the Police Athletic League.

He was dubbed "the dean of policyholder's attorneys," according to the law firm's website, and he pioneered widely influential approaches to insurance coverage litigation on behalf of policyholders, the law firm said.

According to Anderson Kill, his impact began with his 1981 victory on behalf of Keene Corp., which sought insurance coverage for millions of dollars in asbestos liabilities.

A tireless advocate on behalf of all policyholders, individual as well as corporate, Mr. Anderson took on a long succession of pro bono clients in insurance matters. Working in partnership with the nonprofit advocacy group United Policyholders, he led Anderson Kill to file over 250 amicus briefs on behalf of policyholders in key insurance coverage cases.

Many of these had a major impact on insurance law, including a brief cited in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Humana v. Forsyth (1999), which subjected the insurance industry to liability under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

Mr. Anderson authored hundreds of articles on insurance coverage matters, as well as a two-volume reference for insurance recovery attorneys, Insurance Coverage Litigation.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of a mentor whose boundless energy, creativity, tenacity and zeal on behalf of policyholders has inspired those of us now working at Anderson Kill, as well as hundreds of attorneys in practice throughout the nation," said Robert M. Horkovich, Anderson Kill's managing partner, in a statement.

"While Gene is truly irreplaceable, few attorneys have imparted what they know with as much passion and impact as Gene did," said William G. Passannante, co-chair of Anderson Kill's insurance recovery group. "He has left behind a firm strongly committed to his ideals and infused with his work ethic and methods."

Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife, Jenny Morgenthau, executive director of the Fresh Air Fund; his son, Matthew R.; and three grandsons.

Funeral services will be held on Monday at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, New York, N.Y.

Donations in lieu of flowers are requested to be made to the Police Athletic League or the Fresh Air Fund.