Laura Besvinick

Full Profile

Laura Besvinick has 40 years’ experience litigating complex commercial and insurance cases in Florida state courts and federal courts across the United States at the trial and appellate levels. Laura has particular experience litigating novel coverage issues and defending insurers in bad faith disputes and insurance class actions, in matters involving general liability insurance, property and casualty insurance, directors and officers liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and life insurance. Laura also works closely with insurers to provide claims-handling advice in real time to avoid disputes. Because Laura has experience representing accountants and attorneys in professional liability actions, directors and officers in securities actions, and Fortune 100 corporations in employment discrimination actions, she is able to bring a different strategic perspective to a wide range of insurance issues.

Laura has represented insurers in the most significant catastrophic claims, including the recent beachfront condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida. From analyzing a claims file, to serving as lead trial counsel through verdict, to briefing and arguing the appeal, Laura is able to provide her insurer clients with integrated representation from claim inception through conclusion.

Admissions

• Florida – all state courts
• US District Courts for the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida
• US Court of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits
• US Supreme Court

Education

• J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1983. Editor, Harvard Law Review.
• A.B., cum laude, Harvard-Radcliffe College, 1980

Memberships

• Board Member, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Miami-Dade County Poll Worker

Experience

• Obtained complete defense verdict in favor of insurer following two-week jury trial in Florida state court in first-party property institutional bad faith case seeking compensatory and punitive damages. 
• Represented insurer in resolution of multiple commercial general liability and professional liability claims arising out of Champlain Towers collapse. 
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurer in long-standing coverage dispute involving Chicago O’Hare Airport.
• Obtained arbitration award in favor of US subsidiary of international telecommunications manufacturer following two-week arbitration trial where alleged damages exceeded USD 300 million. Obtained confirmation of the arbitration award and dismissal of all claims against the international parent company.  Laura also successfully defended the outcome on appeal to the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals.
• Obtained favorable settlement of directors’ and officers’ liability claim following motion practice resulting in orders dismissing the insured’s defenses and limiting the scope of discovery. Laura also successfully defended the orders on appeal. 
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of commercial general liability insurer in suit by employment practices liability insurer seeking contribution to settlement.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurer in insurance coverage dispute involving attempted enforcement of Coblentz judgment valued at USD 175 million. The insurer was held to have no liability for the settlement. Laura also successfully defended the outcome on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. 
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurer in insurance coverage dispute involving attempted enforcement of USD 40 million Coblentz judgment. The insurer was held to have no liability for the settlement. Laura also successfully defended the outcome on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. 
• Obtained dismissals of putative class actions against multiple insurers for alleged violations of the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Act.
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of putative class action against insurer for alleged failure to properly pay hurricane claims.

Publications

• Co-author, “The State of Medicare Secondary Payer Act Litigation,” Law360, July 27, 2018
• Co-author, “Where They’ve Been and Where They’re Going: Secondary Payer Lawsuits Involving Medicare Advantage Organizations,” For the Defense, May 2018
• Author, “What Lawyers Can Learn from Poker Players,” Law Journal Newsletters (ALM), June 2017