Insurance

When it comes to representing insurance companies, industry knowledge is paramount. Winston & Strawn's insurance practice lawyers have the vast knowledge of the insurance sector required to successfully navigate the industry's most intricate business issues in a wide variety of complex litigation and transactional matters. 

One of the most experienced group of insurance class action defense practices in the country, Winston & Strawn lawyers have a deep understanding of the unique tactics and strategies for defending insurance companies in high-stakes matters. They have defended insurance companies in life, health, long-term care, annuity, automotive, property, casualty, accident, and disability class actions for decades, including many of the watershed cases that helped to shape the contours of insurance law today. The issues in these cases have run the gamut—from the interpretation of allegedly ambiguous insurance policies, sales practices claims under different states' consumer protection statutes, denial of benefits, suitability of annuities, claims payment practices, modal premiums, class arbitration, and changes in non-guaranteed elements of universal life policies, among others.

Winston & Strawn attorneys have substantial experience representing insurance companies in connection with a wide range of other adversarial matters beyond class action defense, including commercial and coverage litigation to employment and intellectual property disputes. Winston & Strawn attorneys have been deeply involved in insurance sector corporate governance issues such as securities disclosure and board governance. They have also been involved in claims litigation, regulatory affairs, compliance, employment disputes, wage and hour litigation, privacy issues, intellectual property matters, sales practices and commissions matters, and new product and pricing regulatory approvals. They have also represented major insurance companies in connection with internal investigations and grand jury investigations.

Additionally, Winston & Strawn has significant experience in representing insurance companies in a wide variety of other legal matters on the transactional and government relations and legislative sides. They have represented insurance companies in connection with corporate lending, lease finance, acquisition, and restructuring matters, as well as with all aspects of private equity funds and financial products. Firm attorneys have also been involved in legislative initiatives affecting the insurance industry, particularly in connection with the Optional Federal Charter initiatives before the U.S. Congress. The firm also serves as corporate and legislative counsel to an insurer concerning TARP and other government-sponsored programs. They also represent a major insurance broker in a variety of corporate, employment, and employee benefit matters. Clients in this sector include Aon, Alstom, UBS Group, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, General Electric, The Travelers, Northwestern Mutual Life, John Hancock Life Insurance Company, and Hagerty Insurance Companies.