Subrogation

COVID-19 CONTINUITY

As we continue to monitor the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to confirm that White and Williams LLP has implemented a business continuity plan that enables our subrogation attorneys and designated staff to work remotely to continue to provide our clients with uninterrupted service. Consistent with our ability to work remotely, we want to assure you that our attorneys remain available to you by telephone, email or video conferencing. We also want to reassure you that while promoting social distancing and working in conjunction with our nationwide network of experts – who we can call on to work locally, as needed – we remain available to handle new loss investigations and to continue pursuing recoveries in existing matters.

White and Williams LLP has the oldest and one of the largest subrogation practices in the nation, with 27 lawyers and 9 law clerks/paralegals. Lawyers in the subrogation department practice throughout the United States and provide 24/7 access for assignments. The department offers an aggressive early intervention program, utilizing a vast network of screened experts and consultants and covering a wide variety of subrogation-related disciplines. 2018 marked the first year where the subrogation department received new referrals in all fifty states. 

The subrogation department handles, among other things, high-profile commercial property, inland marine, cargo and construction defect losses as well as losses associated with high net worth residential homes. From case referral through the end of each case, our lawyers work with our insurance and self-insured clients to develop cost-effective strategies for identifying and pursuing subrogation targets. Our lawyers provide timely and thoughtful reports and pride themselves on being responsive to our clients’ inquiries.

In addition to handling large-dollar losses, the department has experienced lawyers focusing on mid-level and arbitration losses involving appliance, chimney and electrical malfunctions as well as pipe failures and other failures common in both commercial and personal lines cases. The department also has a special program for smaller water loss cases, offering our customers reduced expert rates and a cost-effective way to handle cases that qualify for the program.

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

VALUE-ADDED SERVICES

Most subrogation cases are handled on a contingent-fee basis. As an added-value service, we offer our clients closed file reviews and in-house training seminars upon request. We also maintain a policy of providing courtesy “brain storming” teleconferences on matters that are not likely to turn into assignments but are of importance to our clients. In addition, we maintain a blog – Subrogation Strategist – that discusses current subrogation trends and, because we monitor issues that arise around the country, we are able to quickly identify new trends and advise our clients accordingly.

As part of our effort to provide outstanding customer service, the subrogation department provides a quarterly report summarizing each client’s pending cases. The department also offers periodic, comprehensive, in-person reviews of each client's pending cases at the client’s locale or in our offices. In addition, in recognition of our clients’ concerns for securing cost-effective subrogation returns, we track and periodically review expenses for each file to provide a cost-benefit analysis for each case.

As part of our value-added services, we also maintain State-by-State Research Charts on Subrogation-Related Topics.

The subrogation department has the advantage of access to many other professionals within our 200+ lawyer firm. Our lawyers practice in areas such as environmental law, construction defect litigation, bankruptcy, financing, legal malpractice, class action litigation and other fields. When needed, lawyers from other practice areas 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.