Shapiro Sher’s Insurance Law practice group represents insurance companies, policyholders, risk-retention groups, and government agencies in complex insurance litigation matters, as well as transactional and administrative insurance matters, at the federal and state level.
Headed by Alex J. Brown, the practice group is experienced in all aspects of insurance law. Mr. Brown, a former Assistant Attorney General and Senior Counsel to the Maryland Insurance Administration, has won numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts in insurance-related matters. His experience in both the private and public sector has enabled him to defend many companies facing an array of charges under complex Maryland insurance statutes, as well as to advise government agencies, including the Maryland Insurance Administration.
Shapiro Sher’s Insurance Law group is also experienced in representing businesses in achieving optimal claim payouts from insurance providers following events such as floods, fires, or weather-related crises, as well as situations involving the sudden revocation or suspension of a license.
In addition, the group represents businesses and individuals, insurers, brokers, captive insurance companies, risk-retention groups and others in an array of transactional matters involving insurance coverage and claims assistance. The group advises companies on their insurance portfolios, performing insurance audits for businesses of all sizes and providing guidance on the amount and types of insurance that should be maintained given each client’s unique needs. The group also guides clients in drafting and instituting policies related to claim avoidance and minimization, and our attorneys assist in negotiations with insurance regulators and other government agencies.
Given the synthesis between finance and insurance, the group works closely with the Firm's Banking & Financial Services Group to ensure that clients' financial requirements and insurance needs are in alignment.
Representative Matters
- Obtained a defense ruling on behalf of a large national insurer; the insurer had been sued by a commercial insurance producer alleging that the insurer had terminated the producer "arbitrarily, capriciously, unfairly, and discriminatorily, in violation of applicable insurance law." The trial lasted four days before the judge ruled in the client's favor on all issues.
- Successfully represented a Maryland insurance producer in defending an Order revoking the client's license; client ultimately paid a small fine, with no revocation or suspension.
- Represented a company and individual licensed as insurance producers in relation to public adjusting business; successfully negotiated the payment of a fine rather than revocation or suspension.
- Has overseen the portfolio of 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.
- Lead trial counsel in obtaining a judgment of $5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages on behalf of an insurance company; the case concerned claims of tortuous interference with the insurer’s business, including theft of confidential information.
- Lead counsel in a case against UBS Financial and others, based on claims of breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, and conversion of client funds; the litigation resulted in a jury verdict of $1.4 million, plus punitive damages of $300,000.
- 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.