Highly respected litigator William Craven has joined national law firm Akerman, the latest in a series of significant new partner announcements as the firm continues to strengthen its insurance coverage practice. Craven, who arrives as a partner in the Litigation Practice Group from Cozen O’Connor, is a veteran of the Texas legal market and will focus on representing insureds and insurers across the country.
Craven focuses his practice on complex litigation, strategy, and risk transfer matters. His clients often call on him for their toughest legal and business challenges, with Craven representing insurers and insureds in high-exposure defense litigation and claims management. His practice also includes contractual indemnity, insurance coverage, and bad faith litigation matters. Craven’s insurance practice extends to premium and audit disputes, where he works across business units to prosecute claims and maximize recovery of premiums owed to his clients.
“As the business needs of our clients become more complex, Akerman is focused on adding talented, experienced lawyers like Will,” said Litigation Practice Group Chair Larry Rochefort. “His skillset and insight into niche areas of the law will be a tremendous complement to our existing insurance and coverage litigation capabilities.”
In addition, Craven provides independent advice and counsel regarding complex coverage, regulatory, and business challenges. He regularly acts as monitoring counsel and provides practical solutions and strategies for resolving or, if appropriate, trying to verdict large cases. Craven also assists clients with policy wording and drafting, both at the program launch stage and in response to claims or underwriting concerns.
“The insurance industry is a vital and deeply interwoven component of our economy, making related risks and disputes extremely sensitive and sophisticated,” said Insurance Litigation Practice Chair Gary Guzzi. “Which is why we are very pleased to have a lawyer of Will’s experience and talent added to our already formidable national insurance litigation team.”
Craven’s regulatory experience includes legislation governing accident and health, life, workers’ compensation, and employee benefit policies and plans, as well as broker/agent licensing and surplus lines issues. Craven has experience working with InsureTech companies on claims optimization and compliance. He also assists with claims-handling issues involving ERISA, having developed internal policies and procedures for responding to claims brought by ERISA-governed health plans against private insurers.
Source: www.akerman.com
