Awards & Rankings 06.04.26
Pillsbury’s Standout Performance in 2026 Chambers USA Rankings Underscores Continued Excellence Across Industries and Disciplines
Firm Earned Recognition Across 60 Practice Areas, Including 26 National Rankings
One of the most outstanding lawyers I have worked with in insurance.
Partner Tamara Bruno leads the Texas section of Pillsbury’s Insurance Recovery & Advisory practice, recently named a 2022 “Insurance Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, from Houston, though her practice spans the nation.
She advises companies and institutional policyholders on complex and cutting-edge issues involving insurance and risk and represents clients in high-stakes litigation involving insurance coverage disputes. Her experience spans a wide range of business insurance, including property and casualty coverage and a variety of liability coverages. Her primary focus is on specialized insurance coverages, including directors & officers liability, cyber, commercial crime and professional liability insurance. Bruno advises and represents policyholders in all industries, including energy, technology, hospitality, healthcare and consumer products.
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Tamara is widely recognized for her work and experience. She has been certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Insurance Law, recognized by Legal 500 U.S., Best Lawyers, Law360 and Chambers USA, for her notable successes in insurance litigation. She was named a “Next Generation Partner” by Legal 500 U.S. in 2024, Law 360 MVP in September 2021 and an Insurance Rising Star by the International Financial Law Review in their 2020 Americas Rising Star Awards. Additionally, Tamara served on Law360’s 2020 and 2024 Insurance Editorial Board and was a member of The American Lawyer’s Young Lawyer Editorial Board. She served two terms as an elected council member for the Insurance Law Section of the Texas State Bar and two terms on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Counsel section of the Houston Bar Association. She regularly writes and speaks on insurance law topics.
Representative Experience
- Representing Delek in coverage litigation arising from a $170+ million personal injury settlement following a refinery explosion. Secured substantial recoveries from property and CGL insurers, involving complex allocation, reformation and indemnity issues.
- Representing a financial services company in Delaware federal litigation and arbitration seeking D&O insurance coverage for costs arising from an SEC investigation and related shareholder lawsuits tied to accounting practices and a go-private merger. The matter involves complex, multitower coverage disputes under a run-off program, with successful recoveries under several policies and ongoing efforts to secure additional defense and settlement coverage.
- Represented CareDx in California state trial and appellate courts in coverage litigation against its D&O insurers arising from government investigations by the SEC, DOJ and state regulators into alleged securities violations. The matter involved novel coverage issues under California law concerning investigatory costs and resulted in recovery of full policy limits toward settlement of related securities class actions.
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- Representing Zayo in Delaware insurance coverage litigation seeking D&O coverage for defense and settlement costs arising from securities litigation related to a go-private merger. The matter involves cutting-edge issues concerning the application of a “bump-up” exclusion in merger-related claims.
- Representing an automotive company in insurance coverage litigation involving its cyber insurance tower, seeking coverage for response costs and potential liability arising from a ransomware attack. The matter involves complex issues relating to timing of the intrusion, policy renewals and potential gaps in coverage.
Professional Highlights
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Legal 500 U.S., Advice to Policyholders (2024–2025) as a Next Generation Partner.
- Recognized by Chambers USA in Insurance (2017–2025) and included as one of only three Star Associates Nationwide in any practice area in 2019.
- Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Insurance Law (2021–2026); Litigation – Insurance (2026).
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- Insurance MVP, Law360 (2021)
- Insurance Rising Star, International Financial Law Review (2020)
- Insurance Rising Star, Law360 (2017)
- Associations
- Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Insurance Law (2024–Present)
- Member, Insurance Recovery & Advisory practice, named by Law360 as a Practice Group of the Year (2010, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2022)
- Advisor, RIMS Houston Chapter Board – Legal (2019)
- Member, The American Lawyer Young Lawyer Editorial Board (2018)
- Member and Committee Chair, Council for the Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (2016–2020)
- Speaking Engagements
- “When Plain Meaning Meets Generative AI for Policy Interpretation,” RIMS RISKWORLD Conference, Philadelphia, PA (May 6, 2026).
- “Generative AI and Insurance,” Oregon RIMS, Portland, OR (March 19, 2026).
- “Generative AI: Managing Operational Opportunities and Risks,” Hawaii RIMS Webinar (May 29, 2025).
- “Generative AI: Managing Operational Opportunities and Risks,” Central Texas RIMS, Austin, TX (Jan. 23, 2025).
- “Understanding Potential Ways to Mitigate Exposure for PFAS Risks Through Insurance,” Panelist, ACI’s Summit on PFAS, New York City Bar Association, New York, NY (May 31, 2024).
- “Burning Questions About Burning Limits: New Legal Developments, Challenges and Opportunities," RIMS RiskWorld, San Diego, CA (May 6, 2024).
- “Covering Your Assets: Insurance Trends, Strategies and Hot Topics,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathons, Los Angeles, CA (Jan. 25, 2024).
- “Generative AI – Emerging Risks and Insurance Coverage,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathons, San Diego, CA (Jan. 23, 2024).
- “Generative AI – Emerging Risks and Insurance Coverage,” myLawCLE Webinar, New York, NY (Dec. 18, 2023).
- “What Risk Professionals Should Know About D&O Bump-Up Exclusions: How They Apply and When to Push Back,” RIMS RiskWorld Conference, Atlanta, GA (April 30, 2023).
- “Cyber Coverage Trends for 2023,” The Institutes CPCU Society, Houston, TX Chapter (Feb. 28, 2023).
- “Insurance Coverage for Trafficking Claims and Liability,” State Bar of Texas’ 19th Annual Advanced Insurance Law, San Antonio, TX (June 2, 2022).
- “Update on Cyber Risks and Insurance,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathons, Virginia (Oct. 20, 2021).
- “Executive Luncheon: Latest Trends in D&O Insurance,” AON (Oct. 26, 2021).
- “Insurance Issues from the Texas Winter Storms,” Panelist, Houston Bar Association Webinar (March 8, 2021).
- “Mediating Insurance Coverage Disputes,” Panelist, Dallas Bar Association Webinar (March 2, 2021).
- “ADR Section & Insurance Law State Bar Section Joint Remote CLE,” Austin Bar Association Webinar (Jan. 26, 2021).
- “Oil & Gas Industry Cyber Table Top Breach,” 74th PLIMC, Scottsdale, AZ (Nov. 15, 2018).
- “Policyholder Legal Update,” 74th PLIMC, Scottsdale, AZ (Nov. 14, 2018).
- “A Roadmap for Young Insurance Litigators,” ABA Women in Insurance Network Conference (Nov. 8, 2018).
- “Insurance Through the Eyes of Coverage Counsel,” Marsh EnergyU Lunch and Learn (Oct. 29, 2018).
- “Cyber Risk in Operations,” RIMS Houston Fall Conference (Oct. 23, 2018).
- “Coverage for Sexual Harassment Claims and Other Bad Conduct,” Texas Bar Advanced Insurance Law Conference, San Antonio, TX (June 29, 2018).
- “Insurance Law Lessons from Popular Culture,” RIMS Luncheon, Houston, TX (June 20, 2018).
- “Protecting Our Pastimes: Risk Management and Insurance for Sports and Other Entertainment Events,” National RIMS Conference, San Antonio, TX (April 18, 2018).
- “The Storm After the Storm: What Counsel Should Know About Preparing for and Handling Insurance Claims,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathon, Houston, TX (2017).
- “The Storm After the Storm – Preparing for and Handling Hurricane and Other Property Claims,” 73rd PLIMC, Tulsa, OK, (Nov. 7, 2017).
- “Total Recall: The Ins and Outs of Coverage for Product Recalls and Chipotle-Like Incidents,” 21st Annual University of Texas Insurance Law Institute, Houston, TX (Nov. 2016).
- “Policyholder Legal Update,” Pipeline Risk Managers Conference, The Woodlands, TX (Nov. 1, 2016).
- “Through the Eyes of an Insurance Lawyer: What They See in Your Policies That You Need to Know,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathon, Houston and Austin, TX (Oct. 18, 2016).
- “Attorney’s Eye-View: How Coverage Counsel Evaluates Issues Raised by Insurance Policy Provisions,” RIMS Houston, TX Chapter, (July 20, 2016).
- “Developments in Energy Insurance,” 20th Annual University of Texas Insurance Law Institute, Dallas, TX (Nov. 2015).
- Firm Publications
- Delaware Supreme Court Rejects Application of the “Bump-Up” Exclusion in Harman Decision, March 25, 2026. Coauthor.
- SDNY Rejects Insurer’s Attempt to Stretch D&O Policy’s “Subsequent Acts” Exclusion, March 18, 2026. Coauthor.
- AI and Insurance Policy Interpretation After Snell v. United Specialty: What Policyholders Need to Know, Feb. 25, 2026. Coauthor.
- The Latest on PFAS: What Policyholders Need to Know Now, April 21, 2025. Coauthor.
- How Trump’s DEI Rollback Affects Nonprofits and How to Protect Your Organization, March 26, 2025. Coauthor.
- Recent Illinois Supreme Court Decision on Construction Defect Claim Is a Perfect Holiday Gift for Policyholders, Dec. 21, 2023. Coauthor.
- Say What You Mean: Delaware Court Finds Bump-Up Exclusion Ambiguous as Applied to Mergers Versus Acquisitions, Sept. 13, 2023. Coauthor.
- Generative AI’s Impact on Insurance Coverage: An Interview with ChatGPT-4 and Coverage Counsel on What Policyholders Should Be Doing Now, July 5, 2023. Coauthor.
Education
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J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 2009
B.F.A., New York University, 2005
Admissions
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New York
Texas