Andrew (Andy) Downs has been representing insurers in complex insurance coverage disputes for more than 40 years. Andy is a go-to advocate for national and international insurance companies in connection with coverage and bad faith claims under first-party property and fidelity policies, and specialized third-party management liability, D&O, and professional liability policies.
In each case, Andy takes a big-picture approach with the client’s overall business needs at the forefront. As a result, he has been named as one of California’s top insurance lawyers by Chambers USA (2010-2025) – Insurance: Insurer. Clients count on Andy’s timely, accurate, and practical advice and guidance. His strong intuition and ability to see the human dynamics of an issue help him prepare clients for what may happen next and lay out likely scenarios to avoid surprises down the road.
Admissions
California
Nevada
US District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
US District Court for the District of Nevada
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
US Supreme Court
Education
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1983
B.A., The Johns Hopkins University, 1980
Memberships
Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (2000-2025)
Member, Board of Directors (2012-2015)
Annual Meeting Program Chair (2015)
Insurance Industry Institute Co-Chair (2011)
American College of Coverage Counsel (2013-2025)
Member, Board of Regents (2018-2024)
Defense Research Institute
American Bar Association, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Chair Property Insurance Law Committee (2002-2003)
Expérience
Successful representation of marine insurers in connection with sinking of 825-foot dry dock in Guam.
Representation of market insurers in connection with major property insurance losses (multiple matters).
Presentations
Panelist, “The Face of Your Case: Presenting the Claim Professional for Deposition,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Insurance Industry Institute, 2025
Panelist, “Training Lawyers to Battle the Ultimate Adversary: The Disciplinary Board,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, 2025
Panelist, “ESG Lands in America,” Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) and Canadian Defence Lawyers, 2024
Moderator, “Insurance Market Leaders Overview: How AI Adoption & Cyber Risks Are Transforming Insurance Claims,” Insuralex, 2024
Speaker, “How to Make Insurance Companies Acceptable to Juries,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, 2023
Speaker, “Property Case Law Developments: Personal Lines,” Property Loss Research Bureau Claims Conference (PLRB), 2022
Panelist, “Business Development in a Post-COVID World,” Masters in Marketing, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), 2022
Panelist, “COVID-19: Challenges for Litigators and Underwriters,” Property Insurance Law Committee, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 2021
Speaker, “We’re Here to Help: The Influence of Insurance Regulators on Coverage Disputes,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), 2021
Panelist, “COVID-19 and the Global (Re)Insurance Industry: Thinking Ahead,” Insuralex Global Insurance Lawyers Group, Annual General Meeting, 2020
Publications
Co-Executive Editor, “Property Insurance Litigator’s Handbook, Third Edition,” American Bar Association, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), 2022
Author, “Wildfire Insurance Problems are Economic, not Legal,” The Daily Journal, January 7, 2020
