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Donald Brown’s trial, arbitration, and appellate practice focuses on representing policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes.
Mr. Brown has served as lead counsel in lawsuits involving substantial claims under directors and officers insurance policies; financial, media, software, and other errors and omissions policies (including coverage for false advertising and unfair business practices claims); general liability policies (including coverage for mass tort and environmental liabilities); construction policies; fidelity and other financial guaranty policies; and first-party property damage policies (including major damage and business interruption losses resulting from hurricane, tornado and other catastrophic events).
Mr. Brown was the lead trial lawyer for ExxonMobil in its lawsuit against more than 100 insurers over more than $2 billion of coverage for environmental cleanup liabilities associated with some 5,000 sites. He also was the lead lawyer for Fibreboard in the trial of key phases of the landmark California Asbestos Insurance Coverage Cases, which led to insurance recoveries in excess of $2 billion.
Mr. Brown also serves as the Managing Partner of the San Francisco office.
- Representing ExxonMobil in New York lawsuit over coverage for asbestos-related liabilities.
- Representing Vulcan Materials in Los Angeles lawsuit over coverage for environmental liabilities.
- Representing InterMune in arbitration over D&O coverage for defense costs incurred by former CEO.
- Representing a major New York financial institution with respect to its claim for business interruption losses arising out of superstorm Sandy.
- Served as party-appointed arbitrator in several complex insurance coverage disputes, including arbitrations over claims by Boeing, Dow Corning, and PG&E Corporation.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Fellow, The American Bar Foundation
- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, Member
- California State Bar, Committee on Administration of Justice, Member
June 5, 2018
WASHINGTON—Covington’s Insurance Recovery practice has received the 2018 Chambers USA "Award for Excellence" in Insurance, marking the seventh time the firm has received this honor in the 12 years it has been awarded. The "Award for Excellence" is given to one U.S. firm representing policyholders in the insurance coverage field. In addition to the award, ...
June 14, 2017
WASHINGTON—Covington’s Insurance Recovery practice has received the 2017 Chambers USA "Award for Excellence" in Insurance, marking the sixth time the firm has received this honor in the 11 years it has been awarded. The "Award for Excellence" is given to one U.S. firm representing policyholders in the insurance coverage field. In addition to the award, Covington ...
February 10, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO - After a week-long bench trial, a Covington trial team won a $34 million judgment on behalf of clients Draper Esprit, Scottish Equity Partners, and a class of former Zeus Technology investors, prevailing in a lawsuit initiated by San Francisco-based Riverbed Technology. The case, tried in San Francisco Superior Court, lay at the intersection of ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Rankings from Legal 500 U.S.
June 9, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, June 9, 2015 — The Legal 500 U.S. has ranked Covington as a top tier firm in nine practice areas and recognized 25 individual attorneys as “Leading Lawyers” in the directory’s 2015 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 recommended 36 Covington practice areas and 156 Covington lawyers. Top tier rankings include: Antitrust - Cartel Antitrust ...
May 21, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, May 21, 2015 — Covington’s insurance recovery practice won the 2015 Chambers USA Award for Excellence in Insurance, marking the fifth time the firm has received this honor in the nine years it has been awarded. The Award for Excellence, presented at Chambers USA’s annual awards dinner in New York City on May 19, was given to only one U.S. firm ...
August 18, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, August 18, 2014 — Best Lawyers named Covington & Burling’s Stuart Eizenstat and Gregg Levy each a 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in international trade and sports law, respectively, citing their “abilities, professionalism and integrity.” Overall, Covington lawyers received 217 individual mentions in 58 areas of law in the newly released annual survey ...
August 8, 2014
SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2014 — Northern California Super Lawyers named Tammy Albarrán one of Northern California’s “Top 50 Women” lawyers and Robert Haslam one of the region’s “Top 100” lawyers. The publication selected 33 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2014 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Nods in Legal 500 U.S.
June 26, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, June 26, 2014 — The Legal 500 U.S. has ranked Covington & Burling in its top tier in eight practice areas and recognized 23 individual attorneys as “Leading Lawyers” in the directory’s 2014 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 “recommended” 42 Covington practice areas and 153 Covington lawyers. The eight Covington practices given the top tier ranking ...
5/5/2014
SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2014 — Covington & Burling is pleased to announce that Martin H. (Marty) Myers has joined the firm’s insurance recovery practice representing corporate policyholders in complex coverage disputes with their insurers. Mr. Myers joins the firm as a partner, resident in its San Francisco office. A nationally recognized insurance recovery ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Nods in Legal 500 U.S.
June 7, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, June 7, 2013 — The Legal 500 U.S. has ranked Covington & Burling as a top tier firm in six practice areas and recognized 21 individual attorneys as “Leading Lawyers” in the directory’s 2013 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 “recommended” 38 Covington practice areas and 148 Covington lawyers. The six Covington practices given the top tier ranking ...
August 27, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 27, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 196 individual mentions in 57 areas of law in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top U.S. lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as ...
8/23/2012
SAN FRANCISCO, August 23, 2012 — Northern California Super Lawyers selected 24 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2012 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Northern California based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Robert Fram and Robert Haslam were named among ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Nods in Legal 500 US
August 14, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 14, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP has received a top tier ranking in six practice areas and 18 individual attorneys are named “Leading Lawyers” in the recently released Legal 500 US 2012 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 US also “recommended” 36 Covington practice areas and 123 Covington lawyers. The six Covington practices given the top ...
June 11, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, June 11, 2012 — Covington & Burling’s insurance practice won the 2012 Chambers USA Award for Excellence in Insurance, marking the fourth time the firm has received this honor in the six years it has been awarded. The Award for Excellence, presented at Chambers USA’s annual awards dinner in New York City on June 7, was given to only one U.S. ...
Eight Covington Lawyers Named ‘2012 Lawyer of the Year’
October 5, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, October 5, 2011 — Best Lawyers named eight Covington & Burling lawyers as the “2012 Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas and cities. According to Best Lawyers, the selected lawyers have received particularly strong ratings in the Best Lawyers' survey by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their “abilities, ...
September 7, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, September 7, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 184 individual mentions in 56 areas of law in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: ...
July 13, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, July 13, 2011 — Twenty-two Covington & Burling LLP lawyers are recognized in the 2011 edition of Northern California Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. Fourteen Covington lawyers were named Northern ...
June 10, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 123 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2011. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
June 9, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 92 individual mentions and 32 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2011 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
March 18, 2011, Covington E-Alert
February 15, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, February 15, 2011 — For the seventh time, Practical Law Company has awarded Covington & Burling LLP its worldwide first place ranking in the Life Sciences Regulatory Super League category. PLC also singled out Covington’s Antitrust/Competition, Corporate, and Insurance practices, along with lawyers from each group, in its practice-specific ...
September 2, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, September 2, 2010 — Insurance Law360 has named Covington & Burling LLP partner Donald Brown one of the “Most Admired Insurance Attorneys.” The list of ten attorneys from all over the U.S., including some representing insurance companies and others representing policy holders, was selected by a board comprised of lawyers and the editors of Law360 ...
August 6, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, August 6, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 138 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
July 16, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, July 16, 2010 — Eighteen Covington & Burling LLP lawyers are recognized in the 2010 Northern California Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. Eleven Covington lawyers were named Northern California Super ...
June 16, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 112 individual mentions and 44 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2010. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
June 11, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 11, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP’s insurance practice has received the Chambers USA Award for Excellence in Insurance, becoming the only firm representing corporate policyholders to win the award two years in a row. Covington was presented with the award at a gala celebration in New York last night held in conjunction with the release of ...
9/23/2009
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 23, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP partner Donald W. Brown has been named one of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in California. In naming Mr. Brown to the “Top 100” list, the editors observed that he is “considered one of the best insurance policyholder lawyers in California.” Among the recent ...
August 7, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, August 7, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 131 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
7/15/2009
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, July 15, 2009 — Eleven Covington & Burling LLP partners are recognized in the 2009 Northern California Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. In addition, seven lawyers have been named Northern California ...
June 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, June 12, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 100 individual mentions and 40 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2009. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
September 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, September 29, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 124 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
9/4/2008
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 4, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to welcome two more lawyers to its recently expanded policyholder insurance coverage practice. Michael Greenberg, of counsel, and Esta Brand, special counsel, follow the recent arrival of Covington partners David Goodwin and Lawrence Hobel. All four are resident in the firm’s San Francisco ...
8/27/2008
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 27, 2008 — Eleven Covington & Burling LLP partners are recognized in the 2008 Northern California Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. In addition, San Francisco partners Anita Stork and Donald Brown ...
Covington Adds David Goodwin and Lawrence Hobel to its Premier Policyholder Coverage Practice
7/1/2008
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, July 1, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce that David Goodwin and Lawrence Hobel have joined the firm’s policyholder insurance coverage practice as partners. Both will be resident in Covington’s San Francisco office. Mr. Goodwin is one of the nation’s leading insurance coverage practitioners, placed in the first rank by ...
June 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 81 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in the newly released 2008 Chambers USA. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington ...
September 6, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 115 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The recipients are as follows: Administrative: E. Edward Bruce and ...
June 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, June 18, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 44 practice mentions and 74 individual mentions in the newly released 2007 Chambers USA guidebook. The 2007 edition of Chambers USA attempts to identify the most skilled legal practitioners throughout the country based on the qualities most valued by clients. Covington attorneys have been ...
March 5, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 5, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP announced today that David Bayless has joined the firm as partner. He will be resident in the firm’s San Francisco office.Mr. Bayless was the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s San Francisco office from 1994 to 1999, during which time he was responsible for all enforcement and regulatory ...
March 1986, Practising Law Inst. Commercial Law and Prac. Course Handbook Series
- Insurance Law360, "Most Admired Attorneys" (2010)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, ranked as an “individual star” among the leading policy holder lawyers in California (a ranking above the "first tier") and in the “first tier” of leading policy holder lawyers nationally (2013-2017).
- Best Lawyers in America in two separate categories: Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (2003-2018)
- Best Lawyers in America - Lawyer of the Year; Insurance Law, San Francisco (2012)
- Legal 500 US, Insurance: Advice to Policyholders (2013-2017)
- Northern California Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage (2004-2018)
- Benchmark California, "Litigation Star" (2018)
- Law & Politics “Top 100” Lawyers in Northern California (2011)
- Benchmark: Litigation, National Star - Insurance Litigation; California Star (2012-2014)
- Legal 500 US, “Leading Lawyer” - Insurance: Advice to Policyholders (2014)
- The Practical Law Company (PLC) - Insurance and Reinsurance, The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide (2011)
- Best of the Best USA, Insurance and Reinsurance (2011)
- The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (2012-2013)
- The Legal Media Group Guide to the World's Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers (2013)