Beth Olsen is a passionate litigator who provides tailored representation to corporate policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes that align with their business goals.
Beth has extensive experience handling sophisticated insurance claims and commercial litigation. She counsels clients through all stages of insurance coverage disputes, developing practical, business-focused strategies that are tailored to their objectives. Her practice is anchored by recognition that an insurer’s wrongful denial of coverage can have devastating effects on a policyholder that compound and spread beyond just that one claim if not handled properly. Prior to focusing on policyholder recovery work, Beth worked as underlying defense counsel for companies facing potentially catastrophic liabilities. This informs her ability to see how all the pieces connect to form the big picture and develop insurance coverage strategies around it. She is doggedly committed to developing the best and most creative arguments so that policyholders get the coverage they expected, and insurers cannot escape the very obligations for which they charged premiums.
Representative Experience
- Represented national telecommunications provider in litigation pursuing insurance coverage under cyber liability tower for settlement of claims asserted in bankruptcy proceedings alleging secondary copyright infringement. The litigation involved novel coverage issues concerning notice of related matters and, after prevailing on summary judgment, resulted in successful recovery toward settlement.
- Represented entertainment company in litigation pursuing D&O coverage for settlement of securities litigation related to a merger. The matter involved cutting-edge issues concerning application and interpretation of a “bump-up” exclusion in merger-related claims.
- Represented global financial services firm in litigation pursuing coverage under financial institution bond for funds transfer fraud loss, resulting in successful recovery.
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- Represented energy company in coverage dispute relating to available limits under business interruption coverage for lost capacity revenue arising out of transformer breakdown.
- Represented mobile accessory provider pursuing computer and funds transfer fraud coverage for loss arising out of fraudulently diverted wire transfers.
- Represented trust in dispute relating to available coverage under life insurance policies, resulting in highly favorable recovery.
- Represented pharmaceutical distributor pursuing insurance coverage for prescription opioid liability lawsuits filed by government entities and related settlement.
- Represented construction manufacturing company in securing coverage for defense costs and settlement of a securities class action arising out of merger.
- Defended startup and founders against trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and other federal and state law claims brought by their former employer, resulting in voluntary dismissal with prejudice.
- Represented Koninklijke Philips N.V. and affiliates in the United States, and coordinated global defense, in hundreds of consumer class actions and personal injury lawsuits, in addition to securities litigation and inquiries by regulators, in connection with medical device recall. The matter involved two MDLs in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
- Represented Volkswagen AG and affiliates in securities and consumer litigation, including MDL in the Northern District of California, in addition to regulatory investigations and litigation brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning allegations that their diesel vehicles emissions exceeded limits under U.S. law. Secured reversal of denial of Volkswagen’s summary judgment on interlocutory appeal before Ninth Circuit in private securities class action involving novel questions as to application of the Affiliated Ute presumption of reliance.
Professional Highlights
- “Agreeing in the Shadow of the Policy: How Corporate Insurance Policies Impact the Resolution of Governmental Investigations into Corporate Crime,” 23 Conn. Ins. L.J. 349 (Spring 2017)
- “Paws Up, Don’t Shoot: Preventing Officer-Involved Shootings of Companion Canines,” 23 Animal L. April 28, 2017
- “U.S. Supreme Court Grants Certiorari in Liu v. SEC,” NYU Compliance & Enforcement Blog, November 5, 2019
Education
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J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2016
cum laude, Levy ScholarB.A., English, Trinity College, 2011
with honors, Thomas Holland Scholar, English President’s Fellow, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
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New York
Courts
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York