Representative Experience

  • Secured $54 million jury verdict on behalf of CITGO Petroleum Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against a marine cargo insurer under the Institute War Clauses for losses arising from the seizure of a cargo of Venezuelan crude oil by a regime not recognized by the United States. After a week-long jury trial, the jury returned a verdict for our client.
  • Served as lead counsel for utilities in North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia over first-ever coal combustion residual insurance litigations for closure costs under federal and state statutes for impacts to groundwater by coal ash. The underlying environmental claims well exceeded $5 billion in value. After aggressive multi-year litigation by Pillsbury lawyers in lawsuits in North Carolina and Ohio, all insurers settled before trial.
  • Represented aerospace and defense contractor Northrop Grumman in coverage litigation seeking D&O coverage for the defense and settlement of securities class action. Reached successful settlements after the Delaware Superior Court ruled in our client’s favor on every key issue and established new precedent on the scope of the “bump-up” exclusion.

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  • Conducted policy reviews of all major lines of coverage for dozens of policyholders, with particular emphasis on D&O, cyber, property and construction programs.
  • Assisted Fortune 500 utility company to effect transfer of historic insurance policy rights in connection with the purchase of assets from another utility.
  • Prevailed in only known successful defeat of an insurance regulator’s rehabilitation plan on grounds that it discriminated against corporate policyholders.
  • Helped create cutting-edge, proprietary cyber insurance program for one of the Big Four accounting firms.
  • Worked with broker to formulate top-of-market D&O policy to cover high-profile company after its Initial Public Offering.
  • Defeated insurance commissioner’s effort to void nearly $2 billion in annuities at trial and on appeal in Executive Life Insurance Company’s insolvency.
  • Obtained numerous language enhancements to the D&O and cyber programs for one of the major international credit card companies.
  • Guided real estate clients in transactions requiring pollution liability insurance, including comparative coverage evaluation and negotiations on terms.
  • Conducted evaluation of target company insurance programs and claims in both public and private M&A transactions.
  • Persuaded court to force insurance regulator to arbitrate contractual disputes In Superior National Insurance Company’s Bank & Trust Company’s insolvency in the face of a statute providing for exclusive state court jurisdiction.
  • Through trial, 9th Circuit appeal, and related federal bankruptcy, succeeded in requiring insurer Fremont Indemnity’s parent holding company to repay funds it had improperly diverted in violation of its custodial agreements.

Practice Area Highlights

  • Best LawyersBest Law Firms 2025 National Tier 1 Insurance Law ranking.
  • Pillsbury is recognized as among the most feared law firms for litigation by BTI Consulting Group.
  • Nationally ranked by Chambers USA: Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder (2018–2024), Insurance in Texas (2014, 2019–2024) and Insurance: Policyholder in Washington, DC (2015–2024).

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  • Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S.(2017–2024).
  • Five-time Law360 Insurance Practice Group of the Year (2022, 2020, 2016, 2015, 2010).