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- Professionals
- Albert (Bert) Wells
Bert Wells is a partner in the insurance coverage and litigation practices of Covington & Burling LLP. He began representing commercial policyholders in connection with complex insurance recovery matters in 1995, and regularly represents policyholders, including Fortune 100 and 500 companies, in a wide range of insurance coverage matters. He advises policyholders on assessing and maximizing the value of claims, developing and executing insurance recovery strategies, negotiating settlements, and resolving large claims through litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has assisted his clients in recovering billions of dollars in insurance coverage over the course of his career.
Mr. Wells has handled insurance coverage matters ranging over many types of insurance and losses, including mass tort liability, natural disaster losses, cyber risks and securities litigation.
In the liability (third-party) insurance arena he has handled coverage claims arising from mass litigation for both alleged bodily injury and alleged property damage, for clean-up and other costs arising from hazardous waste disposal, environmental claims, for securities class actions and derivative claims, creditors’ committee claims, fiduciary, cyber, directors and officers, and errors and omissions and other types of liabilities.
In the domain of property (first-party) insurance, he has handled property damage, business interruption and related losses, including such claims arising from natural disasters such as Superstorm Sandy.
Mr. Wells advises policyholders in connection with policy renewal negotiations, including negotiating modifications to standard policy wording to conform the coverage to policyholders' specific risk profiles. He also advises on the assessment and structuring of insurance assets and underlying liabilities in connection with corporate transactions.
Mr. Wells holds a J.D. from the Yale Law School, a D.Phil. (Ph.D.) in mathematics from Oxford University (where he was a Marshall Scholar), and B.S. and M.S. degrees from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
- Represent a public entity in its 9-figure claims for property damage, business interruption and other loss arising from Superstorm Sandy.
- Represent a global building products company in litigation to assure availability of its general liability program to cover a potential 9-figure underlying liability for alleged property damage.
- Represented policyholder in successfully obtaining directors and officers coverage in the US and Europe for multi-billion dollar underlying breach of fiduciary duty claim.
- Represented Fortune 500 specialty equipment corporation in the successful recovery of insurance for asbestos claims, including resolution of multi-state coverage litigation through global coverage-in-place settlement.
- Resolved claims of a regional bank against its non-performing mortgage-guaranty insurance carrier respecting half-billion dollar mortgage portfolio through federal litigation and mediation.
- Represented Fortune 500 company in restructuring under-utilized insurance assets relevant to corporate divestitures resulting in substantial gains for client.
- Represented the State of Minnesota in litigation and settlement of two litigations against insurance companies under Minnesota’s Landfill Cleanup Act.
- Advised one of world’s largest retailers regarding its annual directors and officers insurance review and policy renewal negotiations.
- Advised one of the largest financial advisors and financial institutions in the US on renewal negotiations for financial/professional liability lines.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), Member
- Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Member
March 19, 2018, Covington Advisory
Cyberattacks targeting defense contractors illustrate the need for cybersecurity, for thoughtful planning—and for insurance when security and planning prove insufficient. Understanding your insurance policies before things go wrong can help ensure financial protection when they do.
September 13, 2017, Covington Alert
Hurricane Irma has battered much of Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, just days after tropical storm Harvey devastated Houston and its environs. This e-alert provides practical tips to help maximize insurance recoveries for those organizations whose property was damaged or whose business was interrupted by these catastrophic events.
June 16, 2016, Inside Privacy
Cyber insurers commonly require insureds to complete detailed applications, often including extensive technical disclosure and risk self-assessments. The complaint recently filed by the insurer in Columbia Casualty Co. v. Cottage Health System illustrates the pitfalls in these requirements. Cottage Health, an operator of a hospital network, suffered a data ...
June 16, 2016, Inside Privacy
Data breaches suffered by retailers and other businesses that handle payment cards can result in substantial assessments by card brands such as MasterCard and Visa. Retailers typically do not process payment card transactions directly with the banks that issue their customers’ cards. Instead, they contract with an intermediary—called an acquiring or servicing ...
June 14, 2016, Covington Alert
Two recent litigation developments involving cyber insurance serve as a useful reminder to policyholders: a cyber policy purchase can be full of traps for the unwary. This alert discusses the traps that resulted in one company losing coverage for a major portion of its losses from a payment card data breach, while another company faces a lawsuit by its cyber ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by New York Super Lawyers
9/18/2013
NEW YORK, September 18, 2013 — New York Super Lawyers selected 36 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2013 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers in the state based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Twenty-three Covington lawyers were named New York Super Lawyers: • Martin ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by NY Super Lawyers
September 24, 2012
NEW YORK, September 24, 2012 — New York Super Lawyers selected 27 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2012 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. Nineteen Covington lawyers were named New York Super Lawyers: Jack Bodner, Mergers & ...
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 ...
June 22, 2012
NEW YORK, June 22, 2012 — Covington & Burling advised Ascom Holding AG in its acquisition of GE Healthcare’s nurse call medical device business. The acquisition gives Ascom access to the North American nurse call market and creates opportunities to combine GE Nurse Call systems with Ascom’s existing mobility offering. With this acquisition, Ascom further ...
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: ...
Covington Advises Microsoft in Standards-Essential Wireless Patents Portfolio Transaction with MOSAID and Nokia
September 2, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, September 2, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP represented Microsoft Corp. in a patent monetization transaction involving the acquisition by MOSAID Technologies Incorporated of Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l., a Luxembourg company that holds a portfolio of 400 patent families, consisting of approximately 2,000 wireless patents and patent ...
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 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 85 individual mentions and 23 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2010 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 ...
Covington Advises CVG in Merger with Integral Systems
March 15, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, March 15, 2010 — CVG, Incorporated (“CVG”) has announced its merger with Integral Systems, Inc. in a deal valued at $34.675 million. Covington & Burling LLP advised CVG on the transaction. CVG and its subsidiary, Avtec systems, Inc., based in Chantilly, Virginia, provide secure satellite-based communication solutions to government and commercial ...
2010, Practising Law Institute
2010, Current Developments in Insurance Law (Practising Law Institute)
Covington Advises Procter & Gamble on $3.1B Sale of Global Pharmaceuticals Business to Warner Chilcott
8/24/2009
NEW YORK, NY, August 24, 2009 — Procter & Gamble today announced the sale of its global pharmaceuticals business to Warner Chilcott Ltd. Covington & Burling LLP advised Procter & Gamble on the transaction. Procter & Gamble is a leading global branded products company, with one of the strongest portfolios of quality, leadership brands in consumer health and ...
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: ...
August 2009, Compliance Review
Covington Advises Energy Conversion Devices on Acquisition of Solar Integrated Technologies
7/22/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, July 22, 2009 — Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD), a NASDAQ-listed leading global manufacturer of thin-film flexible solar laminate products for the building integrated and commercial rooftop markets, and Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc. (SIT), an AIM-listed leading provider of building integrated photovoltaic roofing systems, today ...
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 ...
2009, Understanding Insurance Law (Practising Law Institute)
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: ...
1/2/2008
NEW YORK, NY, January 2, 2008 — Coty Inc. has completed its acquisition of DLI Holding Corp., the parent company of Del Laboratories, Inc., one of the leading manufacturers of nail care, cosmetics, personal care, and OTC products. Covington & Burling LLP advised Coty on the transaction.Coty Inc. is the world’s largest fragrance company and a recognized leader in ...
December 18, 2007
NEW YORK, NY, December 18, 2007 — BUPA today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Health Dialog. Covington and Burling LLP represented BUPA, Health Dialog’s largest shareholder, in the $775M transaction, which is expected to close in January. BUPA is a global provider of healthcare services and is the largest private health insurer in the ...
11/14/2007
WASHINGTON, DC, November 14, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP represented legendary comic book artist Jerry Robinson in arranging a creative consultancy agreement with DC Comics, the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. Mr. Robinson was a key contributor during the early years of the Batman comic book series, and played a vital role in the ...
- New York Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage (2012-2016)