Subrogation

It has been our long standing policy to provide clients with intensive services not only on large commercial property losses but also on moderate-sized personal property losses, as well as cargo, inland marine, marine, fidelity and workmen's compensation subrogation matters. We are proud of the fact that we have achieved recoveries on major losses which were closed or rejected by other subrogation firms. Indeed, our clients include carriers who established favored status for White and Williams LLP after determining that the lawyers in the subrogation department work diligently not only on the "lower hanging fruit" but the more challenging cases that demand time, extensive analysis and a willingness to work hard. Our objective has been to establish and maintain credibility and loyalty that will translate into long-term relationships with clients.

The lawyers in the department have extensive experience handling a wide array of subrogation cases. Examples of large, complex losses, on which we have achieved successful recoveries, including the recent multi-party Riverwalk apartment complex fire where we recovered $27,187,500.00 (approximately 78% of our claim) out of a $36,000,000.00 settlement pot for all plaintiffs, are listed in the "Representative Cases" section.

Apart from these high profile large-dollar losses, the department has always had several experienced lawyers focusing on mid-level and arbitration level losses involving such things as appliance malfunctions, electrical malfunctions, pipe failures, chimney malfunctions and other issues common in the personal lines area and also encountered in commercial lines. Cargo, fidelity, inland marine, marine and workmen's compensation losses represent a smaller but significant percentage of the practice.  Additionally, we have established a special program for smaller waterloss cases, offering our customers cost-effective handling of those losses, with reduced expert service rates on the cases qualifying for that program.

The subrogation department enjoys the advantage of access to many other specialists within our 200+ lawyer firm. These lawyers are experts in other areas such as environmental law, construction defects, bankruptcy, accounting, legal malpractice, class action litigation and other fields. When needed, they are enlisted to assist on subrogation cases as part of the litigation team, or on a consulting basis. Their services, when necessary, are typically included in the services covered under the contingent fee agreement applicable to the case.

Partners of the subrogation department are members of the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP), Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) and Loss Executives Association (LEA) and are also frequent speakers at national conferences on subrogation and litigation related topics.

Subrogation clients are offered closed file reviews free of charge, and in-house training seminars upon request, also at no cost. Additionally, we provide, periodically, reference charts and other educational materials of practical value to clients. We also maintain a policy of courtesy "brainstorming" teleconferences to clients on matters that are not likely to turn into assignments but are of importance to the clients.

As well as regular case reporting, we provide a summary quarterly overview of each client's pending cases as a regular part of our practice. We also track and periodically review expenses for each file as we recognize that an ongoing "cost-benefit" analysis must be applied to expense generating activities for each case. In addition, periodic comprehensive in-person reviews of client's pending cases at the client's locale or at the offices of White and Williams LLP are offered and encouraged.