Insurance issues are complex, and skilled legal analysis of coverage, disputes, and related matters can be helpful. But this doesn’t mean existing litigation counsel must relinquish the case to another lawyer or firm. Instead, counsel can work with attorneys experienced in analyzing insurance coverage and addressing the insurance issues that frequently arise in litigation.
I work with other attorneys as co-counsel on insurance matters. My role is to provide focused insurance guidance while allowing primary counsel to continue managing the underlying litigation.
Working Alongside Existing Legal Counsel
I worked as a claims examiner and handled insurance coverage at a global firm before moving to the policyholder side. I now handle coverage and bad faith matters for plaintiffs and policyholders. Depending on the needs of counsel and the basic facts of the case, I can provide such services as:
- Analyzing insurance policies and providing original and second opinions
- Evaluating potential positions and arguments from the insurers
- Addressing disputes over coverage, defense, indemnity, and related matters
- Advising counsel as to how insurance coverage may affect litigation and trial strategy
Where These Arrangements Commonly Arise
A few situations come up often enough to name:
- Failure to settle and excess judgment.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.
- Institutional abuse and other long-tail matters, where the question is what coverage existed across decades and whether it can still be established.
- A defended case where a reservation of rights has raised the question of independent counsel.
Insurance Coverage Support
Every insurance policy is unique, and some policies are more complicated than others. There may be multiple policies and insurers that could be relevant to the claims, defenses, settlement, and potential liability in your case. Moreover, there may be questions of additional insureds, primary and excess coverage, reservations of rights, exclusions, and more.
These are not simple matters, but they could quickly become distractions as you try to focus on the underlying litigation. I can work with you to evaluate potential coverage, communicate with insurers, resolve coverage disputes, and develop effective strategies to pursue benefits.
A Collaborative Approach
As co-counsel, my objective is to complement rather than replace existing litigation counsel. I work collaboratively with attorneys to enhance their work while guiding them on fundamental insurance issues that could affect the outcome of the case. To learn more about how I can benefit your case, get in touch with me today.