Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, L.L.P.
Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 214-871-8200
- Fax: 214-871-8209
- Website: www.thompsoncoe.com
Established: 1951
Practice Areas
- Insurance Defense
- Property
- Casualty
- Accident and Health
- Reinsurance
- Labor and Employment
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Insurance Coverage
- Mass Tort
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Regulatory and Compliance
- Appellate Practice
- Business Transactions
About Us
Since its inception, Thompson Coe has dedicated itself to being a national authority on insurance law and sophisticated insurance coverage issues. With offices in Texas, California, Louisiana, and Minnesota, our insurance practice is national in scope, with many of our attorneys serving insurers as national or regional counsel for regulatory, coverage and litigation matters. Our insurance business and regulatory attorneys have decades of experience handling mergers, acquisitions and formations of insurance entities and agencies, representing clients before insurance regulators, representing insurance organizations with their legislative initiatives, and handling insurance-related transactions. Clients hire our insurance coverage lawyers on a nationwide basis to handle complex coverage issues and disputes as well as bad faith and other extra-contractual litigation. And our insurance defense trial attorneys represent carriers and their insureds in many diverse areas, including professional liability, employment, products liability, construction, transportation, personal injury, class action and appellate matters.
Group Highlights: Insurance Industry Attorneys
- Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Recognized by the profession for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America
- Extensive national visibility through speaking and writing on the latest insurance coverage and litigation issues for the benefit of clients and peers.
Catastrophes
When natural and man-made catastrophes strike, clients turn to Thompson Coe. From Hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Ike, the Texas A&M bonfire accident and the failure of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility, to major trucking and transportation accidents, Thompson Coe is called upon to provide an immediate response to protect its clients' interests. Thompson Coe has demonstrated it has the resources to handle large-scale catastrophes on a national level, having represented numerous carriers on thousands of claims arising from recent hurricanes and storms.
Reinsurance
Thompson Coe attorneys are involved in the formation and capitalization of reinsurance companies and captives and understand the complex relationships between reinsurers and ceding companies. We provide a wide range of services from drafting agreements to arbitrating disputes. We have also been involved in handling the difficult issues that arise out of insolvencies and commutations.
Legislative and Administrative Advocacy
The firm's attorneys help clients achieve legislative initiatives and resolve regulatory issues. Their involvement and experience in legislative and governmental processes enables them to effectively represent clients and advocate client positions before the legislature and other governmental agencies.
The combined strength of Thompson Coe's Insurance Regulatory and Transactions and Insurance Litigation and Coverage groups provide it with unparalleled depth in representing insurers in enforcement proceedings, regulation disputes, market conduct exams, and related litigation.
Insurance Litigation and Coverage
Thompson Coe's Insurance Litigation and Coverage group is one of the largest in the southern United States, with more than 50 attorneys whose primary practice is devoted to advising and defending insurers. Our coverage litigators defend insurers in lawsuits arising out of first- and third-party claims involving virtually every area of insurance, including coverage disputes, "bad faith claims," and other extra-contractual liabilities litigation. We advise clients and handle lawsuits involving a multitude of insurance coverages, including:
- Environmental
- General Liability
- Commercial Property
- Personal Lines
- Automobile and Trucking
- Builders Risk
- Director and Officer
- Professional Liability E&O
- Fiduciary
- Media
- Ocean Marine Surplus Lines
- Employment Practices/EPLI
- Fraud and Arson
- Excess and Umbrella
- Life, Health and Disability
- Jeweler’s Block
- Technology, Internet and E-Commerce.
Insurance Defense
We are national coordinating counsel for a number of insurance carriers, and regularly handle matters that can range from employment defense claims to toxic tort claims in state and federal courts throughout the country. Our insurance defense practice includes representing insureds in cases involving, among others:
- Professional Liability
- Employment Practices Litigation/EPLI
- General Liability
- Products Liability
- Personal Injury
- Construction
- Transportation.
Workers' Compensation/ Non-Subscriber
Thompson Coe has substantial experience handling issues and disputes involving workers' compensation issues and non-subscriber litigation, including litigating workers' compensation bad faith claims and representing workers' compensation insurers in regulatory matters.
Life, Health, Disability and ERISA
Thompson Coe has extensive experience handling life, health, disability and ERISA matters. We have handled matters involving claim disputes, denials, and bad faith allegations, coverage issues, policy rescissions, prompt pay claims, agent issues, premium and commission disputes, and regulatory and compliance matters.
Class Action Defense
Thompson Coe attorneys have defended numerous high-profile insurance class action cases in Texas and throughout the nation. We have represented insurance clients in the trial and appellate courts in areas, including:
- Policy interpretation
- Diminished value
- Workers’ compensation rating and premiums
- Personal lines rating and premiums
- Discrimination in underwriting and pricing
- Financial stability rating and credit scoring
- Bill review systems
- Wage/Hour Disputes
- D&O Lawsuits
- Manual Rule compliance.
Insurance Agents and Brokers
Insurance agents and brokers from small independents to national carriers may face client claims resulting from the sales of life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, or annuities and other insurance products. Thompson Coe has some of the top insurance malpractice lawyers in Texas, who are unsurpassed in their ability to defend individual insurance agents, brokers, or brokerage agencies in litigation as well as in actions by the Texas Department of Insurance.
Additionally, our experienced insurance regulatory and transactions lawyer represent insurance agencies, brokerages, and agents with respect to their business, administrative, and regulatory needs, including the formation, licensing, acquisition and dissolution of insurance entities and assisting them with compliance issues.
Additional Locations
- Austin, Texas
- 701 Brazos
- Suite 1500
- Austin, Texas 78701
- Telephone: 512-708-8200
- Fax: 512-708-8777
- Houston, Texas
- One Riverway, Suite 1400
- Houston, Texas 77056
- Telephone: 713-403-8210
- Fax: 713-403-8299
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- 601 Poydras Street, Suite 1851
- New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
- Telephone: 504-526-4350
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- 408 St. Peter Street, Suite 510
- St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
- Telephone: 651-389-5000
- Fax: 651-389-5099
- San Antonio, Texas
- 9901 W. I.H. 10, Suite 800
- San Antonio, Texas 78230
- Telephone: 830-252-5100
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- Allstate Insurance Company
- Association of Fire and Casualty Companies in Texas
- Chartis Insurance
- CNA Insurance Companies
- Crum & Forster
- Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Company*
- Nationwide Insurance
- The Republic Group
- RSUI Group, Inc.
- Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation
- Texas Association of Life & Health Insurers (TALHI)
- Texas Heritage Insurance Company*
- Travelers
- Zurich North America
*Principal outside law firm as designated by insurance companies
Personnel Information
Partners
Christopher Avery
Dallas, TX
Admitted
- Texas, 2009
Education:
- South Texas College of Law, J.D., 2009
Daniel P. Buechler
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 214-871-8262
Admitted
- Texas, 2005
- Oklahoma, 2016
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Memberships:
- American and Dallas Bar Associations
Education:
- The University of Texas, B.A., History, 1999
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 2005
Darrell S. Cockcroft
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 512-703-5094
Admitted
- Texas, 1998
- New York, 2013
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships:
- New York State and Austin Bar Associations
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- University of Richmond, B.A. (cum laude), 1993
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 1998
Wade C. Crosnoe
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 512-703-5078
Admitted
- Texas, 1992
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth and Tenth Circuits
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- Austin Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1989
- Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, J.D., 1992
Christina Culver
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Insurance Coverage & Defense
Admitted
- Texas, 2011
Education:
- South Texas College of Law, J.D., 2011
Rodrigo (Diego) Garcia Jr.
Dallas, TX
Admitted
- Texas, 1995
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 1995
Chris Goodman
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 651-389-5000
Admitted
- Minnesota, 1998
- California, 2007
- Wisconsin, 2010
- North Dakota
Memberships:
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Education:
- Hamline University, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1995
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1998
Cy Haralson
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 713-403-8211
Admitted
- Texas, 2008
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas
Memberships:
- Federal Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
Education:
- Southern Methodist University, B.A., 2004
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D. (with honors), 2008
J. Richard Harmon
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 214-871-8227
Admitted
- Texas, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Defense Research Institute
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
Education:
- The University of Texas at Arlington, B.S., 1987
- Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude, Order of the Coif), 1991
Brian D. Hensley
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 512-703-5083
Admitted
- Texas, 2002
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Travis County Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1998
- University of Houston Law Center, J.D. (cum laude), 2002
Roger D. Higgins
Dallas, TX
Admitted
- Illinois, 1982
- Texas, 1983
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Memberships:
- American, Illinois State and Dallas Bar Associations
- State Bar of Texas
Certifications:
- Board Certified, Civil Trial Law and Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Education:
- University of Illinois, B.A. (with honors), 1979
- University of Illinois, J.D., 1982
Marne A. Jones
Dallas, TX
Admitted
- Arizona, 2007
- Louisiana, 2009
Education:
- Tulane University Law School, J.D., 2007
Jennifer Kearns
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 512-703-5032
Admitted
- California, 1998
- Texas, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Education:
- Our Lady of the Lake University, B.A., 1994
- Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D., 1998
Mary-Ellen King
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 512-827-2305
Admitted
- Alabama, 2002
- Louisiana, 2006
- Texas, 2009
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
Education:
- The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2002
Rhonda J. Thompson
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 214-871-8273
Admitted
- Texas, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- Oklahoma State University, B.S., 1989
- University of North Texas, M.Ed., 1993
- Baylor Law School, J.D., 2001
Harrison H. Yoss
Dallas, TX
- Telephone: 214-871-8259
Admitted
- Texas, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Tenth Circuits
Memberships:
- American and Dallas Bar Associations
- State Bar of Texas
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A., 1987
- Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, J.D., 1990
Additional Links
(Revisors of the Texas Insurance Law Digest for this Publication)
(This firm also appears in the Regulatory and Compliance section of this publication)
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