Commercial
Regional experience
Full Profile
Thomas Peyton has 15 years of experience in insurance coverage and litigation, representing domestic and international insurers in state and federal courts across multiple jurisdictions. Thomas analyzes policy language, prepares coverage opinions, and litigates coverage disputes, including serving on the trial team that secured the first COVID-19 business interruption defense verdict in the United States.
Thomas counsels clients, manages disputes, and tries cases involving bad faith, construction defects, third-party liability, first-party property, professional liability, transportation, environmental, toxic tort, advertising, copyright and trademark claims, multiple-year trigger and allocation issues, catastrophic property losses, business interruption, and Louisiana direct action claims. He also develops policy language and litigation prevention strategies, while overseeing coverage matters from initial analysis through resolution.
Thomas prepares reservation of rights letters, coverage position letters, and defense strategies for high-exposure matters. He advises carriers on regulatory compliance, claims handling protocols, and emerging risks across multiple insurance lines including homeowners, commercial property, excess, and umbrella policies.
Admissions
- Texas
- Louisiana
- US District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
- US District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- US District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Loyola University College of Law, 2009. Managing Editor, Loyola Journal.
Memberships
- Texas State Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- New Orleans Bar Association
- CASA Jefferson Parish (Former Board of Directors Member)
- New Orleans 2nd District Police-Community Advisory Board (24-month appointment)
Experience
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a CGL insurer in a Louisiana direct-action suit, defeating both liability and coverage claims. (concluded 2025)
- Secured dismissal of extra-contractual claims against liability insurer in construction defect litigation. (concluded 2024)
- Obtained defense verdicts for insurers in bad faith and coverage litigation in state and federal courts. (2022-24)
- Won verdict for CGL insurer in direct action and successfully defended verdict on appeal. (concluded 2023)
- Counseled and guided international insurers in regulatory compliance matters on policy wording and application. (2023)
- Successfully defended domestic and international insurers in hundreds of first-party disputes involving high-exposure property losses arising from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta, and Ida. (2021-2025)
- Served on the trial team that obtained the first COVID-19 business-interruption defense verdict in the United States. (concluded 2021)
Presentations
- “Law Practice Management: A Guide for Louisiana Attorneys,” 2024
- “Advanced Strategies for Negotiating Claims With Insurance Companies,” 2024
- “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law – Made Simple,” 2023
- “Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit,” 2023
- “First-Party Claims Best Practices and Bad Faith,” 2022