Insurance policies and programs increasingly are considered integral components of a business’ portfolio of assets. A company’s insurance program is critical to conducting important business functions ranging from defense and indemnification when claims are asserted to transactions involving valuation of assets or stock purchases.

Bryan Cave’s Insurance Practice includes lawyers in both domestic and international offices. Lawyers in the group have the experience and skill necessary to provide clients with cutting-edge representation both in resolving claims and negotiating policies.

We have represented clients in all types of complex insurance claims including:

• Environmental liability and pollution
• Mass torts
• Toxic tort liability
• Directors and officers liability
• Product liability
• Construction defects and related matters
• Commercial general liability and casualty
• Excess and reinsurance claims
• Surety and fidelity
• Market conduct and regulatory investigations
• Errors and omissions
• Professional Liability
• Employment practices liability
• Insurance insolvency
• Loss mitigation
• Property and casualty
• Business interruption
• Crime and theft 
• Title
• Aviation
• Intellectual property
• Special risk lines

A substantial part of our insurance practice is devoted to counseling and advising clients in order to avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation. We regularly provide counsel regarding mass and toxic torts, product and environmental liability, insurance insolvencies, self-insured retentions, captive insurance issues, directors and officers lines and errors and omissions policies. We frequently appear before corporate boards of directors to advise them on director protection, including D&O insurance and indemnification.

Our Approach

Because every client's claim requires an individualized approach, we tailor our action plans to each client's particular needs and issues. However, our strategy always focuses on quick resolution, thereby minimizing the risk of protracted litigation, through proven procedures that combine project organization, information exchange and negotiation. That strategy specifically includes:

• Assessing the underlying loss, available coverage and legal and factual issues bearing on potential recovery.
• When necessary, conducting a thorough historical review and reconstruction of the coverage program to maximize potential recovery.
• Notifying coverage providers as early as possible.
• Creating and presenting a persuasive, multimedia claim description to provide carriers the information they need to resolve claims favorable and expeditiously.
• Preparing settlement demands where claims are disputed.
• Representation in any civil coverage actions, including all phases of discovery, motion practice, trial and appeal.
• Focus on information exchange and settlement demands.
• Orchestrating and conducting Alternative Dispute Resolution proceedings.
• Providing objective and practical coverage analysis
• Negotiating policy terms and identification of coverage gaps.
• Assisting clients with insolvent insurance carriers, both in liquidation proceedings and Guaranty Fund recoveries.

For more information contact:

Troy B. Froderman
   

Bruce C. Oetter