Blog Post 07.30.25
Lauren Smith is a commercial litigator with a track record of success advising and representing corporate policyholders across a variety of industries in obtaining multimillion dollar insurance recoveries.
Lauren has experience representing clients at all stages of disputes, from initial claims and negotiations, through discovery, trial and appeal. A significant portion of Lauren’s practice is focused on analyzing, litigating and resolving insurance coverage and commercial construction disputes on behalf of policyholders under commercial property, builder’s risk, commercial general liability, subcontractor default, professional, pollution, business interruption, D&O, and other insurance policies. Lauren also proactively advises clients regarding their insurance and risk management programs to prevent and resolve coverage issues outside of litigation.
Representative Experience
- Second-chaired trial team representing CBG Building Company against its pollution liability insurer in connection with a multifamily residential construction project, obtaining a nearly $6 million jury verdict (100% of requested damages).
- Represents leading producer of sustainable cement alternatives in the recovery of property damage, cleanup costs, and business interruption loss in excess of $60 million in connection with loss event at coal power plant.
- Represented general contractor in successfully recovering over $20 million from builder’s risk and professional liability insurers for property damage and delay costs due to design errors.
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- Represented project developer in arbitration against insurer to establish entitlement to coverage under subcontractor default insurance policy and provides ongoing claim preparation support.
- Analyzes insurance policies and advises clients across diverse industries regarding the scope of available coverage during the insurance procurement process.
- Assists major homebuilders in insurance recovery efforts as additional insureds under their subcontractors’ policies for numerous water intrusion and other property damage claims in Florida and New Jersey.
Professional Highlights
- Member of the Insurance Recovery & Advisory practice, named by Law360 as a Practice Group of the Year in 2022
- Online Editor, Duke Law Journal
- President, Duke Law Public Interest Law Foundation
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- Speaking Engagements
- Evolving Carrier Risk Transfer Strategies in Subcontractor Default Insurance and their Effects on Claims Recovery and Disputes Avoidance, AGC 2025 Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management Conference, 01/29/2025
- External Publications
- Contra Proferentem: Can Insureds Be Forced to Waive Its Protection?, Real Estate Finance Journal, Authors: Matthew M. Brady and Lauren N. Smith, Spring 2025
- Firm Publications
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Strength in Numbers – The Class Actions Strategy for Insurance Claims, Authors: Colin T. Kemp, Lauren N. Smith, 07/30/2025
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Education
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J.D., Duke University School of Law, 2021
cum laude; Public Interest and Public Service Law CertificateB.S.P.A., Law and Public Policy, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2018
summa cum laude
Admissions
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New York
District of Columbia
Indiana