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    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

    • Apr 08, 2021

Gretchen Hoff Varner

Partner

San Francisco +1 415 591 7056

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    An accomplished trial lawyer recently named as one of the Daily Journal's 2017 Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers in California, Gretchen Hoff Varner represents a wide range of companies in high-stakes coverage litigation and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars from insurers on behalf of her clients. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to family-owned businesses, with a particular focus on claims related to the agriculture industry. She has successfully handled cyber-liability, first-party property damage and business interruption, product liability, professional liability, general liability, automobile insurance, and bad faith claims, as well as a range of other coverage disputes.

    Gretchen has first-chaired bench and jury trials and, notably, led the Covington trial team that successfully overturned New York City's racially discriminatory stop-and-frisk policy after a three-month trial in the Southern District of New York.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • First-chaired a jury trial on behalf of major agricultural company resulting in favorable judgment, and ultimate resolution of related coverage and bad faith claims.
    • Second-chaired an insurance coverage trial on behalf of major corporation that resulted in a highly favorable ruling and ultimate resolution of coverage and bad faith claims.
    • Successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars in insurance coverage on behalf of major retailer after a highly publicized data breach.
    • Successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of oil and gas company related to product-related losses.
    • Representing several products manufacturers in obtaining coverage for highly-publicized underlying product defect litigations.

    • Representing major oil and gas company in seeking coverage for liabilities stemming from groundwater contamination.
    • Representing major utility seeking insurance coverage for legacy environmental liabilities.
    • Representing a hospital system seeking coverage for multiple antitrust lawsuits.
    • Representing a major corporation seeking insurance pursuant to a D&O policy based on post-acquisition shareholder litigation.
    • Advising several companies in pursuing insurance recovery for data and privacy breaches.
    • Representing major corporation in obtaining insurance for Mexico trademark liabilities and U.S. trademark/trade dress litigation.
    • Represented several agricultural clients for losses related to property damage, crop loss, contingent business interruption, and other agricultural issues.
    • Representing major corporation in seeking coverage for first party property loss and business interruption resulting from collapse of manufacturing facility, and related litigation in the Eastern District of California.
    • Representing major corporation in litigation against insurance agent for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and professional negligence in procuring insurance policies.
    • Representing major industrial manufacturer in seeking marine cargo coverage for losses resulting from marine transport.
    • Representing major corporation in seeking coverage under D&O policies.
    • Successfully obtained dismissal of complaint alleging violations of the False Claims Act on behalf of Gilead Sciences, Inc., in United States ex rel. Campie v. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (N.D. Ca).
    • Achieved a highly favorable settlement for the New York Stock Exchange in a widely reported SEC action involving the exchange’s dissemination of market data

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Yale Law School, J.D., 2006
        • Yale Law Journal, Projects Editor
        • Yale Journal of International Law, Editor in Chief
    • Harvard University, A.B., 2000
        • magna cum laude
        • Phi Beta Kappa
        • Harry S. Truman Scholarship
    Bar Admissions
    • California
    • New York
    Judicial Clerkship
    • Hon. Richard J. Sullivan, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2007 - 2008
    • Hon. Reena Raggi, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2006 - 2007
    Pro Bono
    • Lead Covington trial counsel in Floyd v. City of New York, a landmark federal class action that successfully challenged the constitutionality of the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policies and practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
    • Representing prisoners at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility in a class action lawsuit alleging Eighth Amendment violations against the State of Mississippi.
    • Successfully obtained asylum and prosecutorial discretion on behalf of two unaccompanied minors from Guatemala.
    • Represented plaintiffs in Harris et al. v. Atlanta Independent School System, a class action lawsuit that successfully challenged the Atlanta Independent School System’s practice of placing students in privately-run, taxpayer-funded alternative schools.
    Accolades
    • Daily Journal, "Top 40 Under 40" (2017)  
    • Legal 500 US, Insurance - Advice to Policyholders (2017)
    • Northern California Super Lawyers, Insurance Litigation Super Lawyer (2020)
    • Northern California Super Lawyers, Insurance Litigation "Rising Star" (2015-2018)
    • Charles C. Ruff Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year (2013)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Federal Bar Council
    Previous Experience
    • The World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, Program Coordinator (2000-2003)

    Areas of Expertise

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