William R. Reed

Will dedicates himself to solving problems and achieving client goals, especially when it comes to standing up to insurance companies.

Will is experienced in resolving a wide variety of commercial matters both at trial and on appeal. He is a litigator who focuses his practice on insurance recovery and helping policyholders obtain the coverage and benefits provided in their insurance contracts.

He has obtained more than $10,000,000 in insurance proceeds for clients across many industries. Coverages include cyber, commercial general liability, builder’s risk, commercial property, Directors & Officers, commercial auto, and health reinsurance. In addition, he uses his claims and litigation experience to help clients assess risks, plan, and analyze their insurance programs before renewals or major projects. This forward thinking enables clients to eliminate potential issues before they happen.

• Obtained $4.5 million in insurance settlements for resort developer who suffered a landslide during construction, from builder’s risk and general liability carriers.
• Obtained $1.5 million insurance settlement on cyber policy following ransomware attack on client’s business network.
• Defended national homebuilder from insurer reimbursement lawsuit on underlying construction defect claims, and achieved dismissal of claims as well as additional $675,000 in insurance proceeds through counterclaims.
• As appellate counsel, achieved reversal of trial court before the Colorado Court of Appeals and dismissal of employment claim against hospital client.
• Secured trial verdict and judgment exceeding $1,750,000 for asphalt maker after defendants breached warranties in a purchase agreement.
• Represented a national beer maker in insurance recovery litigation against a state insurance guaranty association, resulting in a settlement payment from the insurance guaranty association.
• Represented a utility company in litigation stemming from a 50-year dispute with a municipal electric utility. Successfully negotiated a deal enabling the client to purchase the municipal utility after navigating a public election and regulatory approval.

Speaking Engagements

• HUB International Event, Construction Defects Litigation, Feb. 2, 2024.
• Construction Law Seminar: Builder’s Risk: Timing is Everything, Feb. 28, 2024.
• MIHCR: Insurance 201, November 2023 and March 27, 2024.
• Insurance Coverage Disputes for Firearms and Shooting Claims: CGL, Homeowners, Auto, Concealed Carry Policies, Strafford Live Webinar, July 15, 2020.
• Assigning Liability for Collisions of Autonomous Vehicles, 28th Annual Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Mid-Year Conference, Phoenix, Feb. 21, 2020.
• Media Relations in a Crisis, Annual Colorado Construction Seminar, March 2019.
• Money Talk$: Collecting Insurance Money from Commercial Defendants, CTLA Commercial Litigation Committee, June 13, 2018.
• Crisis: It Happens, Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference, May 2018.
• Media Melee: Keep Your Shield Up, but Your Sword Sheathed, Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference, May 2017.

Publications

• Subpoena Colada: Federal Court Decision on Subpoena Defense Costs Blends Up a New Recipe on the Scope of the Duty to Advance Defense Costs, American Bar Association, Jan. 10, 2022.
• COVID-19 and Construction Insurance, Webinar, WPL Publishing and Construction Claims Advisory, May 27, 2020.
• Co-Author, Mass Shootings and Insurance Coverage, IRMI Insurance Law Essentials Deep Dives, May 2019.