DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Blank Rome LLP

Insurance: Policyholder

3 ranked lawyers

Band 2

California

USA 2022 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

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What the team is known for

Experienced in representing policyholders in a broad array of coverage disputes, including issues related to bankruptcy, cybersecurity and political risk. Additional expertise in issues concerning sexual abuse liability in the entertainment and sports industries. The firm has a broad client base that includes financial institutions, universities, real estate developers and manufacturers.

Strengths

"The insurance recovery team is exceptional - they know the law and arguments but are also able to think outside the box and come up with complex strategies and recommendations for winning results."

Work highlights

Blank Rome represented The Yucaipa Companies in a D&O coverage dispute with AIG and AXA XL concerning the bankruptcy of one of Yucaipa’s portfolio companies, Allied, and resulting nationwide litigation brought by some of Allied's creditors.

Notable practitioners

David Thomas is recognized for the strength of his insurance practice, which sees him acting for a diverse range of clients on coverage disputes and bad faith claims. His expertise includes business interruption and financial institutions insurance, among other policy types.
"David is outstanding in his field - he is very responsive, knows the law and brings a calm confidence to all matters."

Linda Kornfeld is vice chair of the firm's insurance recovery practice and very experienced in complex coverage matters, including those in emerging areas such as cybersecurity. She also has expertise in high-value claims concerning business interruption and construction defect losses.
"She is outstanding and a real expert in her space."

Mary Craig Calkins is a market leader in D&O and other professional liability disputes, especially those pertaining to claims of sexual abuse and harassment.
"Mary is best in class in insurance recovery matters - she is dedicated, creative, authoritative and knows how to drive results." "She's as good as they come and wonderful to work with through complicated insurance issues." "Mary is an outstanding guide and advocate - I recommend her without any reservations."

Department Information

This content is provided by Blank Rome LLP.

Overview

• Among few policyholder-dedicated CA firms
• Our trial/appellate successes recovered $8 billion+ from insurers, brokers over last decade
• For 30+ years we’ve broken ground, set precedent for insureds in specialties (bankruptcy, business-conduct and environmental liability, employment, energy, political risk, business interruption, sports) and the cutting edge (cyber/data privacy, child sex abuse, #MeToo, D&O liability, representation and warranties, credit risk)
• CA team works with Washington, D.C., NY, Houston colleagues and with government contracts and M&A practices on overlapping insurance issues
• Practice size has doubled; 70+ % of additions are women, including CA lateral partners
• Our plaintiff-style approach focuses on maximizing benefits, recoveries for clients (often tort defendants)
• Cutting-edge experience in sexual abuse liability, second to none in the U.S., has recovered $1 billion+ in insurance proceeds and multi-million recoveries for victims
• Advise on insurance aspects of billion-dollar+ transactions for corporations, private equity firms, hedge funds) including due diligence and securing representations and warranties and tax insurance
• Expanding cybersecurity/data privacy insurance representations in CA includes advising on GDPR and CCPA compliance
• CA practice part of Firm’s Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Team, which helps businesses and people across the U.S. access their insurance after devastating weather-related losses