Brian Bassett

Practice Areas

Brian dedicates his practice to representing insurers in coverage disputes involving all types of policies, including professional liability, CGL, D&O, cyber, commercial auto and commercial property. His practice is nationwide and includes a significant amount of litigated coverage disputes of high exposure claims, including extra contractual exposure.

Brian has provided guidance to clients facing challenging coverage disputes for his entire legal career. He acts as a trusted counselor on the coverage laws of almost every jurisdiction nationwide, litigated complex coverage disputes in 19 different states, and successfully argued in state and federal courts of appeals in numerous jurisdictions. His dealings with policyholders in every geographic region provide Brian with the background to provide clients with timely and accurate advice when they are in need of zealous advocacy. Brian’s experience touches almost every type of primary and excess commercial lines policy, including CGL, E&O/Professional Liability, Cyber, D&O, and EPL.

Brian has been handling cyber coverage disputes for more than five years. He provides clients with a wide range of services, from policy form drafting to complex coverage litigation involving multi-million claims. Brian’s clients count on him to provide guidance on cyber coverage issues nationwide.

Professional Memberships

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Co-Chair, Insurance Coverage Committee

Defense Research Institute (DRI), Vice Chair, Professional Liability Insurance Substantive Law Group

Professional Liability Underwriters Society (PLUS)

Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)

American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow

Chicago Bar Association

Publications

• Co-Author, The Future of Insurance: Navigating Risks in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (DRI The Brief Case, June 2024)

• Co-Author, Insurance And Information Security Culture: Professional Liability Insurance Coverage Lacking for Social Engineering Attacks Committed by Third Parties (DRI The Brief Case, May 2023)

• Co-Author, Relationships Matter: An Update on Related-Claims Issues Under D&O Policies (CLM Magazine, March 2023)

• Co-Author, Coverage Defenses for Disgorgement and Restitution Are Alive and Well, But Challenges Persist (DRI The Brief Case, May 2022)

• Co-Author, “Preserving Privilege” (CLM Magazine, March 2021)

• Co-Author, “Where Do We Draw the Line? Liability Coverage for Economic Losses” (In-House Defense Quarterly., Spring 2019)

• Co-Author, “Is Any Body Safe?” (CLM Magazine, March 2019)

• Ill. Courts Should Not Conflate Insurers And Defense Counsel (Law360, October 30, 2018)

• If You Don’t Reach Conclusion, Forget The Exclusion (CLM Magazine, December 2017)

• Dueling Loyalties: The Right to Independent Counsel (ABA Section of Litigation, August 2016)

• Gaps in Security: The Increasing Need for Cyber Coverage (CLM Magazine, Winter 2015)

• When Is Your Work Really “Your Work?” Construction Defect Claims In The GC Context (ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Newsletter, Fall 2013)

• Co-Author, Sandy: The Second Wave. Business Interruption Claims Approach Landfall (IACP-Declarations, Fall 2013)

• Avoiding Broken Promises: Recent ISO Revisions to Additional Insured Endorsements, Litigation Management (Fall 2013)

• How to Keep the Lights On: An Exploration of the Abrogation of Wholesale Energy Contracts, 38 John Marshall L. Rev. 303 (Fall 2004)

Education