McKool Smith has been named an “Insurance Practice Group of the Year” by Law360. The firm was selected as a result of its success and courtroom achievements in a number of high-profile insurance recovery disputes from Oct. 1, 2015, to Oct. 1, 2016.
The firm’s victories include serving as lead counsel for Warren Pumps in securing landmark decisions from the New York Court of Appeals on the allocation of long-tail claims and the Delaware Supreme Court on critical issues, including assignment of policy rights and the trigger of coverage, which have allowed Warren to access more than $500 million dollars in asbestos insurance coverage limits. The Court of Appeals victory topped Law360’s listing of the “Biggest insurance Rulings of 2016.” McKool Smith also represented Eduardo Li, a former FIFA official, in securing a preliminary injunction which ordered insurers to provide immediate reimbursement and advancement of defense costs incurred by Mr. Li in connection with a criminal action.
Most recently, the firm represented Givaudan Fragrances Corporation in securing a victory before the New Jersey Supreme Court, which affirmed Givaudan’s right to seek more than $500 million in insurance coverage for claims related to environmental damage. The unanimous decision, announced on February 1, 2017, is a resounding victory for corporate policyholders with far reaching implications in protecting a corporate insured’s right to reorganize its business as it sees fit, without fear of risking the forfeiture of its historic insurance coverage.
With more than 25 trial lawyers across offices in New York, Texas, and California, McKool Smith’s insurance recovery practice has built an impressive national profile by handling and trying many of the country’s largest coverage disputes. To date, the group has obtained more than $8 billion in insurance-related recoveries for a wide range of corporate policyholders.
Click here to read Law360’s feature profile on the firm.
