Alex J. Brown

Practice Areas

Alex J Brown heads Shapiro Sher's insurance law practice. He represents national insurance companies, insurance producers, and commercial policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes, including those relating to business interruption, lost income and extra expense, as well as business torts, contractual and other commercial disputes. Alex has served as primary counsel in state and federal court matters throughout the country. As a former Assistant Attorney General and Senior Counsel to the Maryland Insurance Administration, Alex also has extensive experience helping clients through administrative proceedings, market conduct exams, and other regulatory matters.

Alex also advises in transactions involving insurance coverage, including the formation and operation of insurance entities such as captives and risk retention groups. As he does not sell insurance, he is frequently asked to provide guidance on commercial clients’ insurance portfolios, and on corporate risk management policies and procedures.

Professional Memberships

Member, International Association of Defense Counsel

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Defense Research Institute; Insurance Committee and CGL Subcommittee

Work Highlights

Lead counsel in successfully defending a large national security company against a $40M suit alleging false imprisonment, assault, battery and related torts. Within one year after filing, obtained settlement of the entire case for a fraction of budgeted defense costs.

Obtained a $7M jury verdict serving as first-chair in a complex insurance subrogation matter arising from a massive fire that caused substantial damage to a four-story apartment building.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of commercial client in a suit for breach of contract and business torts, as well as a six-figure judgment on counterclaims.

Lead counsel in a jury trial against a large financial services provider and others, based on claims of breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, and conversion of client funds; obtained a jury verdict of $1.4 million, plus punitive damages of $300,000.

Successfully defended a financial advisor in a FINRA arbitration by obtaining complete dismissal of all claims, along with a finding that expungement of the complaint from the advisor’s record was appropriate.

Obtained a temporary restraining order that precluded the Maryland Insurance Commissioner from enforcing an order that exceeded the Commissioner's statutory authority.

Obtained a defense ruling, after trial, on behalf of a large national insurer against claims that the insurer had terminated the producer "arbitrarily, capriciously, unfairly, and discriminatorily,” in violation of Maryland insurance law.

Obtained a six-figure judgment against a government defense contractor, as well as judgment as a matter of law on all of the defendants' breach of contract and business tort counterclaims.

Represents a large national insurer in a variety of complex actions pertaining to insurance coverage, claims handling, producer conduct and operations, and a wide variety of other civil and administrative matters.

Successfully represented multiple Maryland insurance producers whose licenses have been revoked, some clients have paid small fines, with no revocation or suspension, another had her license revocation reduced to a two-month suspension.

Represented commercial entity and individual licensed as insurance producers in relation to public adjusting business; successfully negotiated the payment of a fine rather than revocation or suspension.

Successfully represented apartment-complex owners in a claim for property damage and liability coverage arising from an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease; the case resulted in the insurer withdrawing its denial of the claim and providing coverage.

Led the drafting of an appellate brief on behalf of the Maryland Insurance Commissioner that was upheld by Maryland’s highest court.

Successfully defended the Maryland Insurance Commissioner in the determination that a large national insurer’s handling of a property-damage claim was “arbitrary and capricious,” an exceedingly difficult standard to meet under Maryland insurance statutes.

Successfully defended a large national insurer against a complex property-damage claim, resulting in a resolution of the claim for a fraction of the claimed amount.

Education