Insurance Recovery Group at Blank Rome Continues to Drive Firmwide Growth 10 Years After Establishment

Insurance defense and personal injury practices are typically considered distinctive sectors within the legal industry. However, for insurance recovery teams focused on advocating for corporate policyholders seeking to utilize their insurance policies, the work spans a wide variety of industries and client demographics highly valued by major law firms. This expansive approach has been instrumental in the success of Blank Rome’s insurance recovery team, which was initially established as a 14-lawyer arm of a 100-attorney acquisition in 2016 following the closure of the formerly prominent Dickstein Shapiro firm. Over the years, the insurance recovery group at Blank Rome has expanded its team to include 46 attorneys, emerging as a significant revenue source for the firm.

Grant Palmer, the chair and managing partner of Blank Rome, attributed a considerable portion of the firm’s accomplishments to the integration of the insurance recovery group a decade ago. He emphasized the invaluable expertise that the team brings to clients across diverse industries, enhancing the firm’s ability to deliver outstanding legal services. James Murray, co-chair of the insurance recovery practice at Blank Rome, highlighted that only a handful of firms exclusively focus on assisting policyholders with insurance recovery matters, underscoring the unique position of their team within the legal landscape.

Many major law firms traditionally represented insurance companies, leading to limited options for policyholder advocacy. Murray noted the conflicts that arose due to ongoing representations of insurance carriers, constraining the choices of potential merger partners for his team at Dickstein Shapiro. The eventual decision to align with Blank Rome proved to be a pivotal step, enabling the insurance recovery practice group to grow substantially and attract top legal talent. The team’s expansion primarily consisted of lateral hires with whom they had existing relationships, underscoring the interconnected nature of the insurance recovery legal market.

A defining feature of the insurance recovery group at Blank Rome is its ability to collaborate across various legal practices seamlessly. This strategic alignment has equipped the team to address a wide range of insurance recovery disputes cutting across industries such as asbestos, environmental issues, product liability, and entertainment. Linda Kornfeld, another co-chair of the insurance recovery practice, emphasized the group’s growing involvement in emerging areas like data security, sex abuse coverage, and bankruptcy, illustrating their adaptability to evolving legal trends.

Despite the diverse nature of their clientele and the industries they serve, Blank Rome’s insurance recovery team maintains a consistent approach rooted in a deep understanding of the insurance business. John Gibbons, an insurance recovery co-chair, highlighted the team’s ability to swiftly adapt to new industry trends by leveraging their expertise and analyzing key players in the insurance market. This proactive approach allows them to anticipate potential challenges and effectively navigate complex insurance coverage issues.

Furthermore, the team’s familiarity with standardized insurance policies and common claim exclusions enables them to navigate evolving trends and provide tailored legal solutions to clients. By closely monitoring industry developments and staying abreast of legal precedents, Blank Rome’s insurance recovery group remains well-positioned to deliver exceptional legal services and drive firmwide growth.