McGuireWoods Insurance Recovery Practice Named Legal Team of the Year in 2026
The Bottom Line
- Rapid Scale: The practice expanded to 47 attorneys nationwide, bolstered by the addition of 11 lawyers from insurance recovery boutique Pasich in 2024.
- Corporate Synergy: Firm leadership notes that maintaining a dedicated policyholder recovery team provides strategic defensive leverage as commercial insurers increasingly file proactive declaratory relief actions.
High-Stakes Litigation Across Industries
The practice has built its reputation on complex, high-value disputes rather than routine coverage claims. Practice co-leader Kirk Pasich, based in Los Angeles, represents Wayfarer Studios and Justin Baldoni in seeking coverage for defamation and related claims brought by actress Blake Lively. Beyond the entertainment sector, Mr. Pasich represents policyholders in major commercial disputes, including leading the Huntington Ingalls v. Ace American case toward trial. That litigation centers on business interruption coverage for direct physical loss or damage arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, a notable trajectory given that thousands of similar pandemic-era suits were dismissed or resolved in favor of insurers.
Meanwhile, Atlanta-based practice co-leader Tony Tatum handles a high-value international dispute for Chevron (NYSE: CVX). Mr. Tatum represents the energy giant against 15 insurers regarding coverage for the seizure of a cargo ship carrying over $50 million in crude oil in the Gulf of Oman, a matter gaining heightened relevance amid ongoing geopolitical conflict involving Iran.
Mass-Tort Liabilities and Evolving Insurer Tactics
In the manufacturing and industrial sector, Los Angeles-based practice co-leader Shaun Crosner represents companies across four states concerning more than $1 billion in insurance coverage. These claims stem from litigation alleging lung injuries and diseases tied to exposure to silica, dusts, metals, and volatile organic compounds in stone products distributed by clients. According to Mr. Crosner, stone fabricators have filed nearly 600 lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors. “The plaintiffs attorneys that are filing these lawsuits, they’re treating this as the new asbestos,” Mr. Crosner stated.
Mr. Crosner notes that insurers are increasingly proactive, frequently filing lawsuits against policyholders for declaratory relief to secure favorable jurisdictions. Rather than issuing blanket denials, carriers are routinely contesting specific operational aspects of high-value claims. Maintaining a dedicated recovery practice creates a critical operational synergy for corporate defense firms when coverage and indemnification disputes materialize, according to firm leadership.
Industry Peers and Precedent-Setting Recognition
Barnes & Thornburg secured hundreds of millions of dollars in environmental claim recoveries alongside critical directors and officers liability rulings. Covington & Burling managed extensive coverage portfolios covering railroad derailments, cyber losses, PFAS liabilities, and mass-tort claims. Holwell Shuster & Goldberg successfully established that an insurer had no duty to defend a corporate policyholder against underlying consumer harm litigation. Additionally, Reed Smith secured billions in client recoveries over a two-year period, highlighted by major resolutions tied to winter storm losses.
| Law Firm | Primary Focus / Notable Matter |
|---|---|
| McGuireWoods | Legal Team of the Year; mass-tort silica, energy, and entertainment coverage. |
| Barnes & Thornburg | Environmental claims and D&O liability rulings. |
| Covington & Burling | Railroad derailments, cyber losses, and PFAS liabilities. |
| Holwell Shuster & Goldberg | Defense duty rulings in consumer harm litigation. |
| Reed Smith | Multi-billion dollar recoveries including winter storm losses. |
Market Position and Forward Outlook
The expansion of McGuireWoods’ policyholder-only practice underscores a broader industry shift toward dedicated, conflict-free insurance recovery representation. With complex exposures spanning artificial stone distribution, international shipping, and entertainment liability, corporate demand for specialized coverage counsel remains robust as the legal market moves through the second half of 2026.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
