Our Website Uses Cookies
We and the third parties that provide content, functionality, or business services on our website may use cookies to collect information about your browsing activities in order to provide you with more relevant content and promotional materials, on and off the website, and help us understand your interests and improve the website.
For more information, please contact us or consult our Privacy Notice.
Your binder contains too many pages, the maximum is 40.
We are unable to add this page to your binder, please try again later.
This page has been added to your binder.
William Greaney is a nationally recognized commercial litigator who concentrates on insurance and environmental dispute resolution. Chambers USA has ranked him in the highest tiers of insurance practitioners, both nationally and in the District of Columbia. He has been characterized by Chambers as “go-to lawyer” for corporate policyholders who "thinks outside the box" and has “deep expertise in a variety of insurance matters.” Mr. Greaney has represented both private and public entities in coverage disputes before federal and state courts throughout the country, including disputes over coverage for underlying asbestos, environmental, lead paint, breast implants, mass tort, product recall, intellectual property, construction defects, securities, directors and officers, and errors and omissions claims. He also has extensive experience representing policyholders in disputes arising under first-party property policies, including coverage for physical damage, extra expense, business interruption and contingent business interruption losses resulting from hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, 9/11 and other catastrophes, and disputes arising under cyber, crime/fraud and fidelity policies. He also has litigated CERCLA contribution and enforcement actions in various federal courts.
Mr. Greaney has represented numerous policyholders in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including binding arbitrations under CPR/AAA rules, proceedings under the London and Swedish Arbitration Acts and mediations. He also has served as a party-appointed arbitrator in multiple arbitrations involving insurance coverage disputes. He also has an active non-litigation and counseling practice. For example, he has negotiated coverage-in-place agreements, structured settlements and policy commutations with foreign and domestic insurers on behalf of many policyholders facing "long-tail" liabilities. He also has advised numerous corporate clients on how to structure their insurance programs to eliminate potential gaps in coverage, and has negotiated modifications to standard policy wording to conform the coverage to policyholders' specific risk profiles.
Mr. Greaney has written and spoken extensively on insurance coverage topics, has served on several ABA committees addressing environmental, insurance and litigation issues.
- Represented the State of Minnesota in seven separate actions against more than 50 insurance companies for responsible parties under the Landfill Cleanup Act, which generated substantial recoveries for the cleanup of more than 100 contaminated landfills.
- Represented Blackstone Real Estate in coverage litigation in Louisiana, Florida and Texas for property and business interruption losses related to hurricane damage to hotels.
- Represented the State of Minnesota in a natural resource damages action against a major corporation in state court.
- Special insurance counsel to Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC in a major asbestos-driven bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina.
- Represented Irving Oil in litigation in Maine and New Hampshire addressing insurance coverage for MTBE product liability claims.
- Represented Payless Rental Car Systems in successfully defending an insurer's equitable indemnity lawsuit in Arizona federal court, the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court of Arizona.
- Represent SPX Corporation in asbestos-related coverage litigation in North Carolina state court.
- Represented a national rental car company in obtaining insurance coverage for hurricane-related business interruption losses in Florida.
- Represented The ESAB Group in South Carolina litigation and Swedish arbitration addressing insurance coverage for underlying welding consumable personal injury claims.
- Represented The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in California litigation and London arbitration addressing insurance coverage for underlying product liability class action settlements.
- Represented The Procter & Gamble Company in AAA insurance arbitration for contingent business interruption losses resulting from a major earthquake in Turkey.
- Represented a major consumer products manufacturer in securing insurance coverage for significant property damage and business interruption losses from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and a tornado in Tennessee.
- Represented ExxonMobil Corporation, Textron Inc., ITT Corporation and Goodrich Corporation in successfully challenging solvent schemes of arrangement by UK-based insurers in English and Scottish courts.
- Represent a major NCAA conference in connection with insurance coverage for underlying concussion lawsuits.
- Represented Sears Holdings Corp. in California state court litigation to obtain coverage for a crime and fidelity loss.
- Represent Brooklyn Union Gas Co. and KeySpan Gas East Corporation in litigation addressing insurance coverage for government-mandated cleanup of former manufactured gas plants.
- Represented a major transnational utility provider in pursuing insurance recovery for first-party property losses and underlying lawsuits resulting from Superstorm Sandy.
- Represented Brown Shoe Company, The Gillette Company, IBM Corporation, Quantum Chemical Corp., Massachusetts Electric Company, and numerous other clients in environmental insurance litigation in California, Massachusetts, Missouri and Rhode Island courts.
- Represented Coltec Industries Inc., Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC, Greene, Tweed & Co., Howden North America Inc., The Marley-Wylain Company, and numerous other clients in arbitrations and asbestos insurance coverage litigation in Indiana, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania state and federal courts.
- Represented Millennium Partners in construction defect coverage litigation against multiple insurers resulting from water infiltration and other damage at a five-star luxury hotel in Washington, DC.
- Represented a home builder in Colorado and Texas federal courts to secure coverage from multiple insurers for underlying lawsuits alleging defective home construction.
- Represented a national home builder in Texas federal court to secure insurance coverage for underlying copyright and trademark infringement lawsuits.
- Represented Titeflex Corporation in Pennsylvania litigation and New York arbitration to obtain insurance coverage for underlying product liability pollution lawsuits.
- Have filed and defended multiple CERCLA contribution lawsuits on behalf of Covington clients.
Memberships and Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
January 2021
Recapture of Excess COVID-19 Payroll Tax Credits Addressed in New Regs As the legal, regulatory, and commercial implications of coronavirus COVID-19 continue to evolve, our lawyers and advisors are helping clients navigate the complex considerations that companies around the world are facing and develop plans and strategies in response. Reach out to our ...
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 ...
Lecturer and Panelist on various issues
2016-present
Mr. Greaney has lectured and served as a panelist on insurance, environmental restructuring, toxic tort and product liability issues at various seminars sponsored by ABA Litigation Section, INSOL, Executive Enterprise Institute, Marsh & McLennan, Willis Group Holdings, HB Litigation Conferences, and Risk and Insurance Management Society.
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 ...
KeySpan Prevails In NY Plant Cleanup Coverage Battle
November 24, 2014, Law360
Covington's Jay T. Smith, Mark Gimbel, Michael Lechliter and William F. Greaney are mentioned regarding their representation of KeySpan.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by D.C. Super Lawyers
May 2, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, May 2, 2012 — D.C. Super Lawyers selected 64 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 Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Deborah Garza and Robert Long have been named among the “Top 100” for ...
February 15, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, February 15, 2012 — BTI Consulting Group named Tim Hester, chair of Covington & Burling’s management committee, as one of its 2012 “Client Service All-Stars.” The BTI “Client Service All-Stars” are North American and European lawyers who have been identified based on the unprompted, unequivocal recommendations from corporate counsel for ...
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: ...
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 ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by D.C. Super Lawyers
May 17, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, May 17, 2011 — D.C. Super Lawyers selected 55 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2011 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Deborah Garza has been named among the “Top 50 Women,” and Robert Long ...
April 15, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, April 15, 2011 — On March 14th, Scotland’s Inner House of the Court of Session (Scotland’s Court of Appeals) ruled in favor of American creditors challenging a “solvent Scheme of Arrangement” that would allow the Scottish Lion Insurance Company Limited, a solvent insurer, to cut off valuable and irreplaceable coverage rights of policyholders. The ...
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 ...
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: ...
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 ...
March 18, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, March 18, 2010 — Forty-five Covington & Burling LLP lawyers are recognized in the 2010 Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. In addition, partners Deborah Garza and Robert Long have ...
Scottish Lion Ruling Final
10/23/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, October 23, 2009 — A Scottish court has entered its final ruling in a challenge by policyholders that addressed significant issues related to solvent schemes of arrangement put forward by London Market insurance companies. On October 14th, the Scottish Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled in favor of Scheme Creditors opposing a solvent scheme of ...
9/15/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, September 15, 2009 — The Outer House of the Scottish Court of Session in Edinburgh on September 10 handed down an opinion favorable to policyholders that addressed significant issues related to solvent schemes of arrangement put forward by London Market insurance companies. The opinion followed argument on the Petition of The Scottish Lion ...
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: ...
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: ...
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 ...
10/9/2007
WASHINGTON, DC, October 9, 2007 — On October 4, 2007, the California Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed a $26.6 million judgment for Sears, Roebuck and Co. against an AIG affiliate for losses covered under a CrimeGuard insurance policy. Covington & Burling LLP has represented Sears at both the trial and appellate levels since the lawsuit was filed in 2001 to ...
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 ...
- BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star
- Best Lawyers, Washington, DC Insurance Lawyer of the Year, 2012
- Best Lawyers in America, Insurance
- Chambers Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, Band 1 Insurance
- Benchmark Litigation, National Rankings (Insurance)
- International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers - Insurance and Reinsurance
- The Practical Law Company (PLC) - Insurance and Reinsurance, The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide
- Washington DC Super Lawyers
- Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers
- Legal 500 Leading Litigation Lawyers

COVID-19: Legal and Business Toolkit
We are helping clients around the world navigate this evolving, complex situation.