February 13, 2015
Law360 honors firm for overall excellence in Insurance Litigation in 2014.
National legal news source Law360 has recognized Willkie as an “Insurance Group of the Year” for 2014 – one of only five major firms to receive this honor. On January 30, Law360 published an in-depth profile of Willkie’s Insurance Litigation practice, highlighting some of its significant accomplishments in 2014. The article included an interview with Mitchell Auslander, Chair of the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Practice Group.
Law360 reported that “topping the list of important victories over the last year was an October verdict from a Florida federal jury that decided Marsh USA Inc. was not obligated to pay nearly $35 million to residents who claimed the broker failed to insure a high-rise condominium that suffered extensive hurricane damage.” The matter was the first case to go to trial involving the concept of a “special relationship," between a broker and client, an emerging area of potential broker liability.
Other noteworthy work included a big win for Cameron International Corp. which manufactured the blowout preventer on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. After recovering almost $200 million in settlements from Cameron’s insurance companies, Willkie won a $57 million judgment from the one insurance company holdout.
The article also cited an arbitration win for global security and transportation client The Brink’s Co, as well as work for Marsh in connection with two high-profile litigations involving the National Football League.