Wesley R. Payne, IV Partner

Wesley Payne, IV has over 23 years of experience representing insurance carriers and insureds in first and third-party litigation matters. His ten years as a trial and managing attorney for a major insurance carrier provides him with additional insight with respect to evaluating and seeking creative and cost-effective solutions to complex litigation issues, particularly asbestos, general litigation and coverage matters. 

Wes currently defends clients in product and premise liability asbestos personal injury litigation and serves as the coordinator for the defense medical expert preparation program which is responsible for the selection and retention of medical experts in all of the asbestos personal injury litigation cases tried in the Philadelphia area.

He has tried over 50 major jury trials in various state and federal courts and received defense verdicts in a number of wrongful death, product liability and negligence actions. Wes has successfully defended insurance bad faith, extra-contractual damages, disability, ERISA,  general negligence, intellectual property and copyright, asbestos, product liability, toxic tort, mass tort, environmental, construction, commercial auto, wrongful death and coverage cases.

Wes has also has litigated a number of high exposure cases in various jurisdictions throughout the country. Whether the case involves catastrophic injuries, significant damages, multiple plaintiffs or complex legal or factual scenarios, he provides clients with the best options and advice to resolve the dispute in the most favorable manner.

In addition to his third-party litigation practice, Wes has a proven track record of achieving significant results for his insurance clients in insurance coverage and bad faith disputes. He has also represented insurers in disputes relating to agent agreements. Wes works with clients to provide excellent results and to limit their potential exposure. He also counsels clients on coverage issues arising primarily out of commercial general insurance policies in an effort to prevent the need for extended and expensive litigation. Whether the case involves catastrophic injuries, significant damages, multiple plaintiffs or complex legal or factual scenarios, Wes provides clients with the best options and advice to resolve the dispute in the most favorable manner.

Wes is Chair of the firm's Diversity Committee and Chair of the firm's Homeless Advocacy Group, a former member of the Operations, Budget and Executive Committees, and a former coordinator of the litigation associates luncheon training program. 

He also serves on several pro bono and civil boards and as a Judge Pro Tem for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He is active in several legal organizations, holding leadership positions with many of them.

Philadelphia Diversity Law Program

• Vice President
  
• Member of Executive Counsel

Homeless Advocacy Project

• Board Member

Pennsylvania Bar Association

• Member, House of Delegates
• Co-chair, Minority Bar Committee
• Co-chair, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee
• Statewide Mock Trial Competition Panelist

Philadelphia Bar Association

• Assistant Treasurer
• Member, Board of Governors
• Co-chair, Insurance Committee
• Chair, Military Affairs Committee
• Team Leader, Access to Civil Education (A.C.E.)

Pennsylvania Defense Institute

• Co-chair, Civil Procedure Section

Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel

• Vice President

Defense Research Institute

• Chair, Life, Health and Disability Subcommittee on Diversity

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network

• President-elect

Representative Matters

• Roberts, et al v. Francis, et. al.; representing insured in negligence action and punitive damage action brought on behalf of 34 Plaintiffs and successfully resolved
• Fine Line Homes, Inc. et. al. v. Kornerstone Custom Builders, LLC et al., Civil Action No. 4:10-CV-01163 (M.D.Pa., September 10, 2010, Calldwell, J.); represented defendant in an architectural copyright infringement matter in which multiple violations were alleged and the matter was amicably mediated prior to the initiation of discovery
• Purcell v. PPL Electric Utility Co., et al, B.C.C.P. Docket No. 0500794-13-2, (January, 2008, Mellon, J.); tried catastrophic injury case to verdict on behalf of self-insured utility company

Recognition & Involvement

Wes is an AV® rated attorney by the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating system. In 2012, he was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer as an "Unsung Hero" for his dedication and service to the pro bono community.