Elizabeth A. Reidy

Elizabeth Reidy focuses her practice on insurance coverage matters, as well as on complex contract matters and other business disputes.  Over the course of her career, she has advised clients on a wide range of nationwide insurance matters, including first-party property claims, business interruption insurance, liability insurance and bad faith claims.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Reidy was a partner at a litigation boutique in Boston handling complex commercial litigation matters and an associate in the insurance coverage group in the Washington, D.C. office of a national law firm.  

Ms. Reidy attended law school at American University – Washington College of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. 

Education

• American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif (2006); Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law, Publications Editor (2005-2006)
• Wake Forest University, B.A. in English (2003)

Representative Matters

Burton Way Hotels, LLC v. Ace American Insurance Company, et al.
Represented Ironshore Specialty Insurance Company in COVID-19 matter related to the Four Seasons Beverly Hills in which the insured claimed $25 million in financial losses. The court issued a ruling granting Ironshore’s demurrer without leave to amend. 

MSD Capital LP v. ACE American Insurance Company, et al.
Secured dismissal of a matter for Ironshore Specialty Insurance Company in which MSD Capital LP filed suit for losses arising out of COVID-related closures of hotels in California and Hawaii seeking $100 million in purported losses.  The Court rejected these claims and granted our client’s demurrer without leave to amend. 

David and Lisa Lemelin v. Safeco Insurance Company of America
Defended Safeco Insurance Company of America against a claim for fire loss that occurred at the policy holders’ second home in Maine. The homeowner’s policy insured their primary residence in New Hampshire, not the Maine property. After filing a motion to dismiss, but before any opposition was filed, the matter was resolved through successful negotiation in favor of our client. 

O’Neil v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London & Thomas J. Woods Insurance Agency, Inc.
Negotiated resolution of homeowner’s dispute arising out of two water losses, which involved novel questions as to the applicability of the Massachusetts statute, Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 175, § 99, to surplus lines insurers.

Massachusetts Reference Proceeding
Obtained successful award for insurer in Massachusetts insurance Reference proceeding regarding a builder’s risk claim.

Kopman v. Thayer
Trial counsel in a case involving claims of breach of contract, breach of implied covenant, breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment in Massachusetts state court. Opposing party sought over $2.6M in damages. After a 5-day jury trial, jury awarded opposing party less than 1% of claimed damages. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

• Named a “Rising Star,” Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2015, 2016)
• Wiley A. Branton Outstanding Achievement Award, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (2009)

Articles

• Gonzalez v. United States Air Force: Should Courts Consider Rape to be Incident to Military Service?, 13 Am. U.J. Gender Soc. Pol’y & L. 635 (2005)

Media Mentions

• "Insurer Says Washington Judge Must Alter COVID Coverage Ruling," Law360 (January 19, 2024)
• "Insurer Seeks Exit From U. of Wash. COVID Coverage Suit," Law360 (November 28, 2023)