Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
For more than 40 years, Covington has ensured that corporate policyholders maximize their available insurance coverage—including through successful negotiation, litigation and arbitration. All of the major insurers know Covington well, and they know Covington’s long track record of regularly defeating insurers in courts, arbitration tribunals and negotiation. For this reason, having Covington on your side often means that insurers will be more reasonable at the settlement table (whenever they arrive): the result is that most of our coverage matters settle successfully and without resort to court or arbitration.
All major evaluators recognize Covington as having the nation’s preeminent policyholder-side insurance coverage practice. We are grateful that Chambers USA assigned us sole Band-1 ranking nationally and elsewhere, and describes us as “the gold standard” in policyholder representation.
We have recovered well in excess of $30 billion for our clients on all variety of claims, including:
mass tort and long-tail (e.g., asbestos, environmental) liabilities;
PFAS and other “forever chemicals” claims;
sexual abuse and misconduct claims;
media liability, defamation and entertainment/production insurance claims;
business interruption and property insurance claims;
errors & omissions, management and professional liability claims;
transportation – marine, cargo, aviation and stock throughput claims;
cybersecurity, kidnap and ransom and other data breach claims;
insurance claims in bankruptcy court, including adversary proceedings;
and many, many more of virtually every description.
Conflict free against all insurers
Unlike many firms that represent both insurers and policyholders on coverage matters, Covington represents only policyholders.
Covington’s commitment to insurance policyholders ensures that we have no conflicts in aggressively pursuing insurers for the proceeds due to our clients. Covington doesn’t need to preserve business relationships with insurers to remain on panels in other practice areas (e.g., securities litigation). This ensures that Covington can represent our policyholder clients without doubt in all aspects of their insurance recoveries.
Experienced trial lawyers with a deep bench
Covington’s insurance recovery practice handles litigation and arbitration around the world, with more than 100 coverage lawyers (including more than 20 partners) operating from six offices in the United States and in London. We regularly partner with the right firms where necessary in jurisdictions where we do not have qualified lawyers.
Clients and peers agree that Covington has “the deepest bench of any firm in insurance,” according to Chambers. This ensures that even the largest insurance recovery matters can be staffed with the dozens of partners, counsel, and associates whose practice focuses exclusively on insurance recovery.
Covington has litigated insurance coverage disputes in virtually every U.S. jurisdiction, both state and federal courts, and we have a wealth of experience in arbitrations seated in London, Bermuda and Canada.
Our insurance coverage lawyers take cases to trial and arbitration—and win. Among Covington’s more recent trial victories is a jury verdict after a five-week New York state court jury trial establishing insurance coverage for decades of environmental contamination—one of the biggest general liability insurance coverage rulings of 2022, which also earned the Covington team The American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week” title.Covington also defends its insurance coverage victories on appeal. Among Covington’s summary judgment and appellate victories is its win for Merck, which the Wall Street Journal summarized as leaving “Merck’s Insurers On the Hook in $1.4 Billion NotPetya Attack.”
But Covington’s practice is not limited to litigation and arbitration. Our leading coverage negotiation and mediation practice helps policyholders reach business resolutions with their insurers without the need for litigation or arbitration. We advise clients every day as to how best to position themselves to avoid coverage disputes, including comprehensive insurance policy reviews, and placement/enhancement advice on insurance renewals.
A recognized leader
According to Chambers, Benchmark Litigation, Business Insurance, and Law360, Covington has the top-ranked policyholder practice in the United States, the District of Columbia, and California. Chambers describes Covington “the pinnacle of policyholder representation.”
For nearly two decades, Covington has been the only law firm ranked “Band 1” by Chambers USA in its policyholder category. Covington been awarded the “Chambers Award for Excellence” in policyholder-side insurance numerous times over since the awards’ inception. We have also been awarded Law360’s “Practice Group of the Year” and Business Insurance’s“Legal Team of the Year” awards.
Our practitioners are the nation's finest. Chambers USA identifies 18 of our lawyers as among the best in the field—far more than any other policyholder firm. Ten of our senior lawyers are fellows of the American College of Coverage Counsel, the preeminent association of attorney representing insurance policyholders. A large number of our partners are Law360 Insurance Law MVPs.
Only policyholder-side firm ranked in the insurance category
Chambers USA (2010-2024)
Exclusive top-tier ranking, with 18 individual lawyers recognized, including nine in the national category
Chambers UK (2012-2020)
UK national ranking for our practice group, with one individual lawyer recognized
Chambers USA Award for Excellence in Insurance
Sole recipient of Chambers USA’s national award to a policyholder coverage practice seven times during the last 12 years, and shortlisted every other year
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