Chambers USA, a preeminent guide to the U.S. legal industry, has cited Shapiro Sher in an exclusive list of leading law firms practicing insurance law in the state of Maryland. The guide identifies Shapiro Sher's Insurance Law Practice Group chair Alex J. Brown as a leading practitioner. Quoting an industry source, Chambers USA describes the group as a “well-regarded team that has an excellent understanding of our business needs and crafts practical solutions[.]”

We represent insurance policyholders, insurance companies, and insurance professionals in complex insurance litigation at the federal and state levels, as well as in regulatory investigations and administrative litigation. We also assist commercial policyholders in preparing complex insurance claims and in pursuing recoveries through litigation. Paradoxically, early attorney involvement in insurance claim preparation can reduce the likelihood of litigation arising from a claim.

Mr. Brown is a former Assistant Attorney General and Senior Counsel to the Maryland Insurance Administration who has also won numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts in private sector insurance-related civil lawsuits. His combination of regulatory and trial experience positions the firm to defend insurance companies, producers, and other insurance professionals facing administrative investigations, including market conduct examinations, conducted by state insurance regulators. Mr. Brown frequently defends insurance professionals confronting the sudden revocation or suspension of a professional license.

Our extensive litigation experience and regulatory background are beneficial to commercial policyholders in achieving optimal recoveries on insurance claims. We provide valuable assistance in preparing and pursuing commercial insurance claims arising from, by way of example, fires, floods, or other weather-related crises, cyberattacks, and employee misconduct. Because insurance companies are typically represented by claims counsel from the outset on large commercial claims, it is critical for policyholders to prepare their claims under the guidance of counsel. 

We also guide clients in drafting and instituting procedures related to claim avoidance and minimization. Proactive avoidance of insurance claims is a worthy goal for all entities.

Finally, we represent businesses and individuals, insurers, brokers, captive insurance companies, risk-retention groups and others in an array of transactional matters. We provide advice on insurance portfolios, performing insurance audits for businesses of all sizes and providing guidance on the amount and types of insurance that should be maintained given each client’s unique needs.

Given the synthesis between finance and insurance, we work closely with Shapiro Sher's Banking & Financial Services Group to ensure that clients' financial requirements and insurance needs are in alignment.

Representative Matters

• Successfully defended a large national security company against a suit for $40M in claimed damages, which exceeded the client’s liability insurance limits, based on claims of false imprisonment, assault, battery and related torts. Within one year after filing, obtained settlement of the entire case for a fraction of budgeted defense costs.
• Awarded a $7M jury verdict in a complex insurance subrogation matter arising from a massive fire that caused substantial damage to a four-story apartment building.
• Obtained a defense ruling, after trial, on behalf of a large national insurer against claims that the insurer had terminated the producer "arbitrarily, capriciously, unfairly, and discriminatorily,” in violation of Maryland insurance law.
• Awarded a $1.4M jury verdict, plus $300,000 in punitive damages on claims of breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, and conversion of client funds against a large financial services provider. 
• Successfully defended a large national insurer against a complex property-damage claim, resulting in a resolution of the claim for a fraction of the claimed amount.
• Awarded a temporary restraining order that precluded the Maryland Insurance Commissioner from enforcing an order that exceeded the Commissioner's statutory authority.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of commercial client in a suit for breach of contract and business torts, as well as a six-figure judgment on counterclaims.
• Successfully defended a financial advisor in a FINRA arbitration by obtaining complete dismissal of all claims, along with a finding that expungement of the complaint from the advisor’s record was appropriate.
• Represents a large national insurer in a variety of complex actions pertaining to insurance coverage, claims handling, producer conduct and operations, and a wide variety of other civil and administrative matters.
• Successfully represented numerous Maryland insurance producers whose licenses have been revoked. Some clients have paid small fines, with no revocation or suspension. Others have seen revocations withdrawn and substantial reductions in related penalties.
• Successfully represented apartment-complex owners in a claim for property damage and liability coverage arising from an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease; the case resulted in the insurer withdrawing its denial of the claim and providing coverage.
• Led the drafting of an appellate brief on behalf of the Maryland Insurance Commissioner that was upheld by Maryland’s highest court.
• Successfully defended the Maryland Insurance Commissioner in the determination that a large national insurer’s handling of a property-damage claim was “arbitrary and capricious.”