Perkins Coie's Insurance Recovery attorneys have shaped pro-policyholder law in every jurisdiction in the United States. We are among the elite firms in the country that represent only policyholders in insurance coverage disputes.

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Overview

Experience

Resources

Welcome to Perkins Coie’s Insurance Recovery resource library, where you can find informative overviews of insurance issues and concerns relating to some of the most common types of losses and liabilities that companies face. Our attorneys have great depth of experience in helping commercial policyholders in enforcing their rights to insurance coverage in all of these areas. 

Image of Automobile Assembly Line Business Interruption When a natural or man-made disaster damages a business’ property, the most significant losses often arise from the resulting interruption of normal business operations. Business interruption insurance, which typically is part of first-party property damage coverage, is designed to protect a business from such losses. Determining the value of a loss is often the most complicated aspect of applying business interruption coverage.
   
Image related to Cyber Attacks and Data Breaches Cyber Attacks and Data Breaches: The risk of an attack or breach has become an organizational risk which all companies must be prepared for. There are policies now that may provide coverage in the event of a cyber incident, and steps that companies should immediately follow in the event an incident occurs to ensure your chances of maximizing coverage.
   

Image related to Directors' and Officers' Liability

Directors’ and Officers’ Liability:  When a company is accused of corporate malfeasance, the directors and officers are often the targets of legal action, including regulatory investigations, accusing them of various “wrongful acts.” Directors and Officers liability insurance is meant to indemnify not only the directors and officers, but the company itself, for the defense costs and liability that might result from such action.

   
Image related to Directors and Officers liability D&O Checklist: D&O insurance policies are continually evolving. Use this checklist to educate yourself about standard coverage and exclusionary provisions in today’s D&O policies and as the basis for further discussions with insurers when procuring coverage or at renewal.
   
Image related to energy Energy Practice:  Renewable energy startups, large utilities, and global oil and gas corporations are highly susceptible to a variety of claims ranging from environmental liability to commercial disputes to cyber-related losses. It is imperative that these companies have the appropriate coverage in place to protect against any claim that may arise, and that the insurance is then properly utilized to protect the company.
   
Image relating to environment (corn field) Environmental LiabilitiesWhether the claims relate to long-tail contamination based on operations from decades past or new risks relating to EPA or other agency enforcement actions that address air or water discharges, insurance coverage can be a critical asset to protect against the increasingly expensive costs of defending against or otherwise addressing those claims.
   
Image relating to fracking (oil) Fracking:  The use of hydraulic fracturing – known as “fracking” – has become an increasingly common technique for extracting natural gas from the earth. Fracking is, however, highly controversial, and is alleged by many environmental groups and others to cause a wide range of property damage. While insurance coverage for any resulting liability should be available, properly accessing such coverage could be complex.
   
Image related to Insurance and M and A Insurance and M&A: There are key issues in the way M&A transactions can impact the insurance coverage of the parties involved in the transaction. Understanding these issues is important when considering or engaging in a merger and/or acquisition.
   
Image related to international arbitration International Arbitration:  Many off-shore insurance companies try to avoid U.S. court jurisdiction by including a provision in their insurance contracts that requires all disputes to be resolved via a binding arbitration, typically in London or Bermuda. While such arbitrations may provide certain benefits, they also have unique rules and potential pitfalls that must be successfully circumvented if a policyholder is going to be successful. Perkins Coie lawyers have extensive experience in handling and winning such arbitrations.
   
Image related to litigation Litigation Defense Costs: Liability insurance policies are designed to protect a business from the full costs of defending claims against the business, its executives or its employees. Also known as "litigation insurance," this defense coverage is an important part of the insurance contract.
   
Image relating to Marine Insurance Marine Insurance:  Insurance for marine-based losses and liabilities is one of the oldest forms of insurance, dating back to the 14th century. It also is governed by many unique principles and doctrines, some of which also are centuries old.
   
Image related to Natural Disaster (Tornado) Natural and Man-Made Disasters:  From hurricanes and tsunamis to chemical plant explosions, devastating disasters are an unfortunate fact of life. While first-party property coverage is designed to protect businesses from losses arising from such events, this type of insurance is among the most complicated imposing upon the policyholder numerous affirmative obligations that must be addressed, often immediately after the disaster strikes. See Hurricane Resources
   
Image related to Policy Audit (Conference Table) Policy Audits: Preparing for a potential loss that may affect your company starts with a policy review and an understanding of your company’s risk and potential liability. It is important to do this on a regular basis – not just during a time of crisis. An in-depth review can help make sure your company is properly protected and prevent future coverage disputes.
   
Image related to Product Liability (pharmacy bottles) Product Liability:  If a company’s product damages property or causes some form of bodily injury, the company’s comprehensive general liability (CGL) insurance should provide coverage. There are, however, numerous issues that often must be addressed, ranging from such things as determining the time periods during which the damage or injury took place to overcoming exclusions relating to the company’s expectations or intent to determining how the liability should be allocated amongst multiple insurers, among others.
   
Image related to Real Estate Real Estate Transactions:  There are a variety of insurance products that could come into play during the various phases of a real estate transaction, whether an acquisition, a sale or lease, or a development project. These products are unique and must be understood at the outset of the transaction so that all insurance issues are properly addressed.
   
Image related to warranty insurance Representation & Warranty Insurance: Representation & Warranty Insurance is a type of insurance policy purchased in connection with corporate transactions, and covers the indemnification for certain breaches of the representations and warranties in the transaction agreements. It is designed to provide additional flexibility in addressing these obligations, for example, by reducing or eliminating the need for an escrow by the Seller.

 



Hurricane Resources

Publications

Checklists

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COVID-19 Resources

Checklists

Publications

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Insights

A number of publications and ranking organizations have recommended our Insurance Recovery practice:

  • Recognized in Chambers USA as a leading practice, 2014 – 2022
  • Tier 1 by U.S. News—Best Lawyers®, 2013 – 2022
  • Recommended in Benchmark Litigation, 2014 – 2022
  • "Practice of the Year" by Law360