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..
Colin Watson is a partner in Covington’s market-leading insurance recovery practice, where he litigates insurance coverage disputes for policyholders and counsels clients on insurance-related issues.
Colin has acted in state and federal courts around the country, as well as in confidential arbitrations, and has pursued coverage for a range of underlying liabilities, including mass tort, pollution, product defect, consumer protection, antitrust, and shareholder claims. He also has significant experience with first-party property and business interruption losses. Colin has handled disputes arising under a variety of coverages, including CGL, D&O, commercial property, BPL, technology E&O, pollution, event cancellation, fiduciary liability, and the Bermuda Form. He has helped obtain hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in multiple industries, including energy, asset management, custodian and investment banking, consumer finance, financial technology, real estate, healthcare services, and sports.
Colin has been recognized by Business Insurance as a leader in the insurance and risk management sectors and has served as a member of the editorial advisory board for Law360’s Insurance Authority: Specialty Lines.
Earlier in his career, Colin litigated a broad range of commercial and non-commercial disputes involving, among other things, securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, anti-competitive conduct, false advertising, trademark infringement, and employer negligence.
Colin also maintains an active pro bono practice, representing individuals, including veterans, in a variety of unpaid matters. As part of his pro bono practice, Colin regularly supervises client intake reviews for the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project. Previously, Colin was one of only ten recipients of the New York State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Award, for his contributions to public service. Colin's pro bono work also earned the firm the Hon. J. Clarence Herlihy Award from Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York.
Colin is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Council for Court Excellence, a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization that works to enhance the justice system in the District of Columbia.
Within the firm, Colin has served as the summer associate program’s litigation assignments coordinator, been active in new attorney integration efforts, and presented CLE on a number of litigation topics. Before relocating to Washington, Colin practiced in the firm’s New York office for several years.
Secured $250 million settlement for leading real estate investment trust in property coverage litigation concerning hurricane-related losses.
Secured favorable settlements for leading physical therapy provider in D&O coverage litigation concerning de-SPAC transaction.
Secured favorable settlements for real estate finance company in D&O coverage litigation concerning subprime-related claims.
Secured favorable settlements for leading real estate investment trust in D&O coverage litigation concerning bankruptcy adversary proceeding.
Secured favorable settlements for global asset management firm in D&O coverage litigation concerning corporate reorganization.
Secured favorable settlement for financial technology company in E&O coverage litigation concerning underlying FACTA liabilities.
Secured favorable settlement for privately held energy company in MTBE coverage litigation.
Secured favorable settlements for leading integrated oil company in asbestos coverage litigation.
Representation of leading midstream energy company in multiple London arbitrations concerning coverage for liabilities arising out of oil spill under Bermuda Form policies.
Representation of professional sports league in insurance coverage litigation concerning concussion-related claims.
Representation of multiple professional sports organizations and hotel owners seeking commercial property coverage for Covid-19 related losses.
Advise global investment bank with respect to D&O coverage in connection with criminal antitrust prosecution of former FX trader.
Advise bank holding company with respect to D&O coverage in connection with Dodd-Frank Act resolution planning activities.
Advise consumer finance company with respect to D&O and E&O coverage for various public and private litigations.
Secured favorable settlements for leading business and technology services firm in tort litigation arising out of workplace mass shooting.
Won pre-trial dismissal of all claims against biotechnology firm in antitrust and false advertising litigation concerning its branded spasticity-management drug.
Won motion to dismiss all claims against collateral manager in CDO litigation involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy.
Won Second Circuit appeal for oil and gas firm, enforcing arbitration agreement and confirming $75 million ICDR award.
Representation of traders and other professionals in multiple disputes concerning the mortgage securitization businesses of several major investment banks.
Representation of SLC in derivative litigation alleging breach of fiduciary duty by the majority shareholder of media technology firm.
Secured favorable settlement for leading manufacturer of outdoor products, asserting claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition.
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