James K. Thurston

Jim Thurston, Chair of the D&O and E&O Insurance group, is a coverage lawyer who focuses his practice on insurance and bad faith litigation in the professional liability field. Jim’s career has been distinguished by the successful litigation of a large number of complex insurance coverage cases, including those resulting in precedent-setting decisions in bankruptcy and other areas. He takes a pragmatic approach in resolving claims for his clients taking calculated risks when necessary while avoiding unnecessary litigation.

Jim’s clients include primary and excess insurers, as well as reinsurers and retrocessionaires, that issue policies for directors and officers, financial institutions, architects, accountants, insurance company E&O and miscellaneous E&O. He also has represented environmental impairment and general liability insurers. Jim’s practice extends worldwide and has involved insurance policies issued from England, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, India, Spain, Ireland, Russia, Japan, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Columbia, Argentina, the Island of Saipan, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Jim has been involved in insurance coverage matters arising from some of the largest corporate scandals, including Madoff, Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia, Global Crossing, Satyam, Dynegy and Qwest, as well as the IPO Laddering Lawsuits. In connection with such matters, Jim works on behalf of carriers to revoke coverage for corporate officers and directors found to have engaged in malfeasance and to indemnify and defend those officers not involved in any wrongdoing. He also utilizes his extensive knowledge of insurance coverage case law to counsel carriers on policy drafting and negotiation.

Jim has successfully litigated coverage disputes on behalf of his clients throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, England, South Korea, India, Norway and The Netherlands.