Recognized by Chambers USA and U.S. News and World Reports, Cox Smith's insurance team has a deep understanding of the insurance industry and experience in a wide variety of insurance matters. Our lawyers represent some of the nation's largest insurance carriers in sophisticated insurance and reinsurance matters of all types throughout the United States. Cox Smith also represents business policy holders in formulating comprehensive risk management and insurance programs, as well as counseling in coverage disputes. Finally, we represent brokers, agents, third-party administrators and adjustors in claims and coverage placement litigation, as well as regulatory matters before the Department of Insurance and other regulatory bodies. Because we have a practical understanding of most aspects of the industry and all sides of insurance disputes, we are able to obtain results for our clients in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Bad Faith, Sales Practices, Class Action Litigation for Insurers

We defend national insurers in a broad range of litigation matters including large exposure bad faith litigation, mass catastrophe litigation, ERISA litigation, fraudulent sales practices, and securities fraud. Our defense of insurance companies in class action lawsuits includes suits alleging misrepresentation in the sales and marketing of insurance and annuity products, as well as ERISA class actions alleging improper calculation of benefits and improper offsets of other income benefits.

Coverage Actions for Insurers

We regularly provide advice and counseling to property and casualty insurers on coverage issues arising out of primary and excess CGL, D&O, E&O, environmental and property policies in Texas and throughout the United States. Our attorneys have managed regional and national coverage programs for property and casualty insurers, handled catastrophic property and causality losses arising from disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and appeared in Courts throughout the United States to support our clients’ positions. When coverage issues rise to the level of a dispute with the insured, we help clients navigate through potential bad faith issues and work with them to find solutions through declaratory judgment actions and/or negotiated settlements.

Insureds

We counsel and represent insureds in creating and administering risk management, policy placement and coverage programs involving property and casualty, life and accident, employer liability, commercial liability, directors’ and officers’ liability and professional liability policies. We have counseled trade associations, lenders, and borrowers on numerous insurance-related issues and assisted our business clients in obtaining the most effective use of insurance proceeds when a claim arises.

Agents and Brokers

Cox Smith lawyers represent individual insurance agents, brokers and brokerage agencies in client claims resulting from the sales of life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance or annuities and other insurance products. Many of the cases that we handle involve allegations of misrepresentation, inadequate coverage or product unsuitability. In addition to claims and coverage litigation, Cox Smith defends brokers and agencies in actions by the Texas Department of Insurance, including defense against allegations that they have violated the Texas Insurance Code or other consumer protection statutes.