Insurance

Smith Moore Leatherwood attorneys regularly handle a broad spectrum of insurance coverage issues.  Our Insurance Team often gives insurance coverage opinions on first-party and third-party insurance matters.  We frequently represent primary and excess insurers through all phases of insurance coverage disputes, including declaratory judgment actions.  Our attorneys have particular experience in analyzing insurance coverage issues arising in a wide variety of contexts including employment, commercial and contractual disputes, advertising injuries, directors and officers liability, errors and omissions, primary/excess disputes, environmental and automobile claims.

Our insurance lawyers are active in the reinsurance and ERISA litigation arenas.  We regularly represent life and health insurers and third-party administrators in disputes involving medical and disability benefits.  The Insurance Team also has represented both cedents and reinsurers in reinsurance coverage disputes.

As a result of the firm's handling of insurance questions, our lawyers are adept at preparing and negotiating interim defense cost and indemnity funding agreements.  These funding agreements, often completed with a reservation of rights in place, provide an alternative, and often cost-effective, interim solution to complex insurance coverage disputes.  We consult with carriers during the preparation of new endorsements and exclusions to liability policies.  We also regularly analyze for our clients the impact of changes to ISO form policies and endorsements.