Insurance & Reinsurance

Jim’s 40-year practice has been heavily focused in the business of insurance and insurance law.  He has gained expertise in these areas, particularly in complex coverage, claims handling and bad faith matters.  Jim has been involved in all types of claims involving property & casualty (e.g., environmental, catastrophes (including wildfires, mudslides, earthquake, hurricanes, and storms), earth movement, business interruption, professional liability, fidelity/surety, life insurance, class actions, cedant/reinsurer disputes, and cyber claims.  Insurers have also sought Jim’s assistance in internal investigations and prosecution of claims against managing general agents, insureds and third parties for fraud, embezzlement, and breach of fiduciary duty.   He has also advised and assisted U.S. and London brokers in the creation and editing of insurance policy wordings and select underwriting risks, as well as advising corporate clients on placement of coverages (especially D&O) and presentation of claims to insurers for all types of coverage.

Through his representation of all types of insurers/reinsurers in disputes, Jim has gained the experience and know how of how insurers approach issues through their underwriting policies and dealing with coverage issues. He understands the business of insurance, not just the legal aspects. In his career, Jim has also represented and sued all types of insurance brokers and agents, and therefore understands that component and the driving forces behind it to understand the full insurance transaction between insurer and insured. That base of knowledge and experience allows Jim to relate to each of the players and understand their issues in an insurance transaction or claim. That translates to Jim being a most effective mediator and to preside over arbitrations.

• Property & Casualty

• First Party & Third Party

• Primary, Excess, Umbrella

• Homeowners

• Commercial Business

• Catastrophe Claims (Wildfires, Earthquake, Earth Movement, Storms)

• Pandemic, Business Interruption/Civil Authority

• Molestation, Abuse

• Environmental

• Employment Practices Liability (EPL)

• Fidelity Bonds, Surety Bonds, Payment and Performance Bonds

• Representations & Warranties (M&A)

• Automobile (including UM/UIM)

• Excess Verdict, Failure to Settle

• Life

• Disability

• Fraud

• Bad Faith

• Punitive Damages

• Managing Agents, Underwriting Disputes

• Agents-Broker Disputes

• Intra-Insurer Disputes, Allocation Disputes

• Cedant, Reinsurer, Retrocessionaire Disputes