Insurance & Reinsurance

Steptoe’s coverage attorneys have represented their insurance and reinsurance clients in over 30 different domestic and foreign jurisdictions.

In one of the largest insurance, reinsurance, and surety practices in the nation, we litigate and counsel clients on a broad array of issues ranging from hazardous product and environmental insurance coverage issues to reinsurance fraud.  Steptoe attorneys have been involved in many of the cutting-edge developments in these areas of the law.  Our practice involves litigation at both the trial and appellate levels, arbitration, and client counseling and advice regarding a broad spectrum of coverage and reinsurance issues.  In addition, our London and Brussels offices have experience in contentious, transactional, and regulatory insurance matters.

We have extensive experience in representing insurers in many large, complex declaratory judgment actions regarding asbestos and other product claims, and environmental and hazardous waste claims.  Our reinsurance practice has also involved large, complex cases and a variety of issues including coverage, good faith, fraud, RICO and breach of fiduciary duty. 

Representative Matters

• Hager v. Allstate Insurance Company, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Fayette Circuit Court, Eighth Division, Case No. 98-C1-2482.  Plaintiff sought $1.425 billion in damages ($475 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages) on a third party bad faith claim against Allstate under Kentucky's Unfair Claim Settlement Practices Act.  Plaintiff challenged Allstate's Claim Core Process Redesign casualty claim handling program, including the Minor Impact Soft Tissue and Colossus claim handling processes, and alleged that plaintiffs' claim against Allstate's insured was delayed for more than 2 1/2 years, before it was settled, in an effort to extort a more favorable settlement.  On October 10, 2007, after a two-week trial, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict for Allstate.

Noteworthy

• Chambers USA 2008, America's Leading Business Lawyers: Insurance: Insurer Firms (District of Columbia)Toni Ianniello, Harry Lee, James Rocap, Roger Warin; Insurance: Insurer Firms (National)James Rocap, Roger Warin
• Chambers UK (2008): Insurance: General Claims (London) and Angus Rodger (Insurance: General Claims)
• UK Legal 500 (2008): Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation, Insurance: corporate and regulatory
• Legal Times 2008 Almanac of Leading Lawyers: Roger Warin
• BTI Client Service All Star Team (2008): Toni Ianniello
• Euromoney Expert Guide (2007): Stephen Fennell, Toni Ianniello, Harry Lee, James Rocap, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, Roger Warin, Frank Winston, and Philip Woolfson
• Best Lawyers in America (2006): Roger Warin
• Scott Sinder Wins Influential Countersignature Case

Select News & Events

• Philip Woolfson and Guy Soussan address Luxembourg life insurance sector on cross-border insurance issues
• Falconbury's Reinsurance Contract Wordings and Disputes Conference, London
• 39 Steptoe Lawyers and 17 Practice Areas Named Among Best in the US by Chambers USA 2008
• Prominent Reinsurance Partner joins the London Office
• New Dawn, New Day
• Buying Strategies Roundtable, Trends for 2009
• Presentation to the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR): the EU Regulatory Framework for Third Country Insurers and Reinsurers
• Presentation to the Bermuda Insurance Management Association (BIMA): EU Tax and Regulatory Developments of Interest to Captives

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More Seminars & Events »

Publications

• Hunting the Gorilla, Credit Crunch Survival Guide
  November 2008, Global Reinsurance
• Insurance sector needs to take care over sanctions
  November 21, 2008, Insurance Day
• Reinsurance Buying Strategies - Trends for 2009
  October 2008, Global Reinsurance
• How can insurers keep control of credit derivative exposures?
  September 26, 2008, Insurance Day

More Publications »