Attorney Profile

Alex J. Brown heads the Firm’s insurance law practice. He represents national insurance companies, insurance producers, and commercial policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes, including those relating to business interruption, lost income and extra expense, as well as business torts, contractual and other commercial disputes. Alex has served as primary counsel in state and federal court matters throughout the country. As a former Assistant Attorney General and Senior Counsel to the Maryland Insurance Administration, Alex also has extensive experience helping clients through administrative proceedings, market conduct exams, and other regulatory matters.

Alex also advises in transactions involving insurance coverage, including the formation and operation of insurance entities such as captives and risk retention groups. As Mr. Brown does not sell insurance, he is frequently asked to provide guidance on commercial clients’ insurance portfolios, and on corporate risk management policies and procedures.

Notable representations have included the following:

  • Lead counsel in successfully defending a large national security company against a $40M suit alleging false imprisonment, assault, battery and related torts.  Within one year after filing, obtained settlement of the entire case for a fraction of budgeted defense costs.
  • Obtained a $7M jury verdict serving as first-chair in a complex insurance subrogation matter arising from a massive fire that caused substantial damage to a four-story apartment building.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of commercial client in a suit for breach of contract and business torts, as well as a six-figure judgment on counterclaims.
  • Lead counsel in a jury trial against a large financial services provider and others, based on claims of breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, and conversion of client funds;  obtained a jury verdict of $1.4 million, plus punitive damages of $300,000.
  • Successfully defended a financial advisor in a FINRA arbitration by obtaining complete dismissal of all claims, along with a finding that expungement of the complaint from the advisor’s record was appropriate.
  • Obtained a temporary restraining order that precluded the Maryland Insurance Commissioner from enforcing an order that exceeded the Commissioner's statutory authority.
  • Obtained a defense ruling, after trial, on behalf of a large national insurer against claims that the insurer had terminated the producer "arbitrarily, capriciously, unfairly, and discriminatorily,” in violation of Maryland insurance law.
  • Obtained a six-figure judgment against a government defense contractor, as well as judgment as a matter of law on all of the defendants' breach of contract and business tort counterclaims.
  • Represents a large national insurer in a variety of complex actions pertaining to insurance coverage, claims handling, producer conduct and operations, and a wide variety of other civil and administrative matters.
  • Successfully represented multiple Maryland insurance producers whose licenses have been revoked, some clients have paid small fines, with no revocation or suspension, another had her license revocation reduced to a two-month suspension.
  • Represented commercial entity and individual licensed as insurance producers in relation to public adjusting business; successfully negotiated the payment of a fine rather than revocation or suspension.
  • Successfully represented apartment-complex owners in a claim for property damage and liability coverage arising from an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease; the case resulted in the insurer withdrawing its denial of the claim and providing coverage.
  • Led the drafting of an appellate brief on behalf of the Maryland Insurance Commissioner that was upheld by Maryland’s highest court.
  • Successfully defended the Maryland Insurance Commissioner in the determination that a large national insurer’s handling of a property-damage claim was “arbitrary and capricious,” an exceedingly difficult standard to meet under Maryland insurance statutes.
  • Successfully defended a large national insurer against a complex property-damage claim, resulting in a resolution of the claim for a fraction of the claimed amount.

Affiliations

  • Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Defense Research Institute; Insurance Committee and CGL Subcommittee

News & Publications

May 01, 2020
"Covid-19 Business Interruption Coverage Key to Saving Maryland's Economy"

Alex J. Brown and Jessica L. Swadow write for the Baltimore Business Journal​ on proposed legislation requiring insurers to pay uncovered Covid-19 business interruption claims.

April 24, 2020
Shapiro Sher Recognized as Leading Firm in Chambers USA 2020

Chambers USA, a preeminent guide to the U.S. legal industry, has released its 2020 rankings, naming five Shapiro Sher attorneys in its survey of Maryland lawyers.

March 31, 2020
Will Insurers Cover Business Interruption Claims?

If your business has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, an insurance policy review should be undertaken to determine if coverage may be available, write Alex J. Brown and Jessica L. Swadow in The Daily Record.

March 25, 2020
"Force Majeure" Provisions and the Pandemic

The Insurance Law Group examines whether business disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will trigger contractual "force majeure" provisions.

November 30, 2016
70th Annual F. Addison Fowler Fall Seminar

Alex Brown was a featured speaker at the Insurance Roundtable of Baltimore's 70th Annual F. Addison Fowler Fall Seminar in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Mr. Brown delivered a presentation on Insurance Coverage Issues in Real Estate Development and Construction.

February 22, 2016
Health Insurers Who Deny Claims in Bad Faith Must Be Penalized

Shapiro Sher Attorney Alex Brown believes Maryland should penalize health insurers for bad-faith coverage denials.

February 09, 2016
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland Reverses Denial of $160K Health Insurance Claim

Read the full article on Business Insurance Attorney Blog

May 01, 2015
Maryland Attorney Alex Brown in The Baltimore Sun and the BBJ

Maryland attorney Alex Brown discusses local businesses and insurance claims in the Freddie Gray aftermath. ​

March 24, 2015
Insurance-law attorney Alex Brown quoted in Maryland Daily Record

​Shapiro Sher's Alex J. Brown is interviewed by the Maryland Daily Record.

January 23, 2015
Maryland Super Lawyers 2015 list includes 14 Shapiro Sher attorneys

​Fourteen Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler are cited in Maryland Super Lawyers 2015, including one attorney listed as a Top 10 Maryland lawyer, two listed in the Top 100, and four “Rising Stars.”

November 21, 2014
New Shapiro Sher attorney Alex Brown featured in Maryland Daily Record

The Maryland Daily Record today features Shapiro Sher's newest attorney Alex Brown.