Andrea Defield

Andrea is a partner in the firm’s top-ranked insurance coverage practice where she helps clients manage risk and maximize insurance recovery. In 2021, she was one of two insurance coverage lawyers in the country to be named a “Rising Star” by The Legal 500 for Insurance: Advice to Policyholders. Andrea has been ranked by Chambers & Partners in Florida: Insurance for the last three years. Chambers USA quotes clients who say “[h]er approach is highly strategic and her execution is flawless. Her capacity for detail is amazing and her communication is timely and crystal-clear," that she “is technically astute and highly impressive,” “very attentive to detail and very smart,” and that they “have a lot of confidence in her abilities.”

Andrea counsels clients on all types of insurance policies and coverage issues, with particular experience in cyber insurance (including ransomware, large scale data breach, and social engineering claims); directors and officers liability and professional liability insurance issues; hurricane claims; and commercial general liability insurance disputes, including those arising out of construction defect claims, wrongful death, and pollution incidents.

When a loss has occurred or a claim made, Andrea helps clients maximize insurance recovery by advising them through the claims process. If insurers fail to pay, Andrea represents clients in litigation, mediation, and arbitration. She has tried coverage and insurance bad faith cases to jury verdict and has handled appeals in several state and federal courts across the country.

Andrea also helps clients proactively manage risk. She is a firm leader in policy reviews and audits, particularly cyber and management liability policies, and has conducted full-scale insurance program audits for some of the nation’s largest companies. She also advises clients on insurance due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and counsels clients on contractual risk transfer in vendor contracts. She has provided insurance coverage advice on multibillion-dollar energy deals and numerous private equity transactions. And, when leading insurance brokerages want advice on what a new policy form or provision means for their clients, they turn to Andrea to identify coverage gaps, sources of potential coverage disputes, and to find solutions for corporate policyholders.

Andrea is a prolific author and lecturer on insurance and risk management topics. She has presented at continuing education seminars, bar association conferences, and industry and client events throughout the country.