Laura Besvinick

Laura Besvinick has more than 30 years’ experience litigating complex cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She regularly represents insurers in complex coverage disputes with respect to general liability insurance, property and casualty insurance, directors and officers liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and life insurance.  Laura also regularly represents insurers in bad-faith actions and consumer class actions.

Laura advises insurers on claims-handling with a particular focus on claims-handling issues unique to the Florida market.  Laura also serves as monitoring counsel, often in connection with professional liability matters. She also represents accountants and attorneys in malpractice actions, securities class actions and before the Securities and Exchange Commission.  In addition to representing insurers, Laura regularly represents companies in complex, multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes in court and arbitration.

Laura’s accolades have included recognition by The Legal 500 United States, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal. She also has been listed among Florida Trend Legal Elite.

• Financial Services Litigation, Regulation and Enforcement
• Insurance / Reinsurance
• Litigation

Laura has been involved in the following matters:

• Obtained defense award in favor of international telecommunications manufacturer following multi-week arbitration trial where alleged damages exceeded $300 million. Laura also successfully represented the manufacturer in proceedings to confirm the award and on appeal from the award confirmation.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurer in insurance coverage dispute involving attempted enforcement of Coblentz judgment valued at $175 million. The insurer was held to have no liability for the settlement. Laura also represented the insurer on appeal and obtained an affirmance of the judgment.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurer in insurance coverage dispute involving attempted enforcement of $40 million Coblentz judgment. The insurer was held to have no liability for the settlement.  Laura also represented the insurer on appeal and obtained an affirmance of the judgment.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of insurer in coverage dispute involving alleged breach of duty to defend.
• Obtained dismissals of putative class actions against insurers for alleged violations of Medicare Secondary Payer Act.
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of putative class action against insurer for alleged failure to properly pay hurricane claims.

• The Legal 500 United States
• Best Lawyers in America: Appellate Law, Commercial Litigation, First Amendment Law and Professional Malpractice Law
• The Burton Awards: Distinguished Legal Writing Award
• Florida Super Lawyers: Insurance Coverage
• Super Lawyers: Corporate Counsel: Insurance Coverage
• South Florida Legal Guide: Top Lawyers in South Florida
• Florida Trend Legal Elite: Insurance

• Board of Trustees, Miami City Ballet
• Board Member, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

• 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

Florida

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Supreme Court of Florida

U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1983; Phi Beta Kappa; Editor, Harvard Law Review

A.B., cum laude, Harvard-Radcliffe College, 1980