David Wood has more than three decades of experience in insurance practice, devoting himself exclusively to advising and representing publicly and privately owned corporations in disputes with their insurance companies. David provides corporate policyholders with a keen understanding of how insurance companies work, applying his knowledge of their pressure points to achieve client objectives.
David E. Wood
Partner
David E. Wood
Partner
David Wood has more than three decades of experience in insurance practice, devoting himself exclusively to advising and representing publicly and privately owned corporations in disputes with their insurance companies. David provides corporate policyholders with a keen understanding of how insurance companies work, applying his knowledge of their pressure points to achieve client objectives.
- OVERVIEW
- EXPERIENCE
- PRESS MENTIONS
- PRESENTATIONS
- PUBLICATIONS
- INSIGHTS & EVENTS
Highly recognized in the insurance field, David represents corporate policyholders in pre-litigation and litigation matters throughout the country involving directors’ and officers’ liability, healthcare professional liability and errors and omissions liability insurance, crime coverage, commercial general liability coverage, property and business interruption insurance, and rights of additional insureds. David regularly works on high-stakes claims in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, technology, media and entertainment, construction and design, real estate and many more.
Insurance companies have armies of lawyers who specialize in helping carriers avoid paying claims, and corporate policyholders often feel outgunned. David and his team of veteran attorneys and other professionals are the force multiplier that levels the playing field. Having successfully prosecuted insurance cases throughout the United States, David understands the importance of resolving insurance coverage disputes without going to war wherever possible, as well as the fact that sometimes, insurance companies respond only to brute force.
The senior vice president of claims for a major insurance company once called David an “insurance company assassin.” His reputation for aggressive advocacy in negotiations, coupled with his team’s ability to litigate and win against insurance companies in court, underscores for carriers the risks and costs of not resolving a claim informally to his client’s satisfaction.
David is a frequent speaker on insurance topics and is often quoted in national media on significant insurance cases and issues. He has been interviewed by CNBC Television, Bloomberg Radio, USA Today, Insurance Law360, Forbes, Forbes.com and Fox Business News: America's Nightly Scoreboard. Notably, David is also the author of the Corporate Policyholders’ 50-State Guide: The Right to Independent Counsel. He has published articles for many trade and legal publications, including Risk Management Magazine, John Liner Review, CFO Magazine, CFO.com, National Underwriter, New York Times Dealbook and Risk & Insurance Magazine, to name a few.
Professional and Community Involvement
Director, past president and chair of Risk Management Committee, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families
Honors
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent
Southern California Super Lawyers, 2007, 2009 and 2015-2023
The Best Lawyers in America, 2018-2020, 2022-2023
- "Attys, Firms Must Be Careful To Secure Malpractice Coverage," Law360 (September 23, 2022)
- "Lloyd's Cyberwar Stance Puts Focus On State Attribution," Law360 (August 24, 2022)
- "War In Ukraine Raises Uncertainty For Political, Cyber Policies," Law360 (May 6, 2022)
- "Insurers May Face More Exposure In Suits After Sandy Hook," Law360 (March 18, 2022)
- “10th Circ. Split Adds Wrinkle To NY Faulty Work Coverage Law,” Law360 (February 15, 2018)
- “Hotels Navigate Loss-Of-Business Claims After Disasters,” Hotel News Now (November 21, 2017)
- “After Fires And Floods, Insurers Have Ways To Recoup,” CBS News (October 24, 2017)
- "Houston Residents Return Home To Scary Reality: No Insurance Coverage,” The Wall Street Journal (September 1, 2017)
- “California Regulation Revival Boosts Home Coverage Confidence,“ Law360 (January 25, 2017)
- “Oregon Coverage Ruling Closes Loophole For Insurers,” Law360 (September 26, 2016)
- “NJ Justices Weigh Edge For Builders in Defect Coverage Suits,” Law360 (November 6, 2015)*
- Oregon Justices Take on Construction Defect Coverage Query,” Law360 (September 4, 2015)*
- “Split Ruling on Vacancy Exclusion Burns Insurers,” Law360 (April 8, 2015)*
- “Ongoing Injury Exclusion Remains Shrouded in Uncertainty,” Law360 (April 21, 2014)*
- “Should You Consider Cyber Insurance?” Bank Safety & Soundness Advisor (November 3, 2014)*
- “California Prior-Settlement Ruling Limits Insurer Defenses,” Law360 (February 5, 2015)*
- “AIG Suit Debate Sparks Outrage,” LifeHealthPro.com (January 9, 2013)*
- “How AIG’s Meltdown in 2008 Nearly Took the Life Insurance Industry with IT,” National Underwriter Life & Health (February 1, 2012)*
- “AIG May Wait on Chartis Spinoff: Reported Move Fueled by Economic Troubles, Say Market Observers,” Business Insurance (January 3, 2010)*
- “Risk Managers Addressing Threat of Insurer Solvency,” Business Insurance (May 4, 2009)*
- “Nicholson Faces Class-Action Lawsuit,” The Journal News.Lohud.Com (March 14, 2009)*
- “Another View: Imagining an AIG Bankruptcy,” The New York Times Online Dealbook (March 2, 2009)*
*These occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.
- “Bet the Litigation,” Association of Corporate Counsel National Conference (October 15, 2017)
- “Suing an Insurance Company to Enforce Coverage: What Every In-House Lawyers Needs to Know Before Pulling the Trigger,” Association of Corporate Counsel Arizona Chapter (January 12, 2017)
- “What Every Risk Manager Needs to Know About Data Security," RIMS Sacramento Valley Chapter, Sacramento, CA (January 25, 2016) “Attorney Ethics in Insurance Coverage Matters,” Barnes & Thornburg, webinar (December 6, 2016)
- "Cyber Insurance: Are You Covered and Will Your Insurer Pay When a Breach Occurs?," Commercial Law WebAdvisor, Ventura, CA (October 15, 2015)*
- "D&O Liability Insurance," Association of Corporate Counsel Arizona Chapter, Phoenix, AZ (August 6, 2015)*
- "An Insurance Company Relationship Sometimes Feels Like a Marriage: Getting Coverage for a Complex Claim Without Getting a Divorce," Association of Corporate Counsel National Conference, New Orleans, LA (October 30, 2014)*
- "Crime Insurance Parameters & Tips on How to Get Employee Dishonesty Claims Paid," Association of Corporate Counsel - Arizona Chapter, Phoenix, AZ (August 19, 2014)*
- "Insurance 101 for Public Companies," The Clorox Company, Oakland, CA (September 17, 2013)*
- "Insurance 101 for Public Companies," International Paper, Memphis, TN (September 30, 2013)*
- "Insurance 101 for Public Entities," Office of the Portland City Attorney, Portland, OR (June 24, 2013)*
- "Insurance 101 for Public Companies," Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation, Franklin, TN (June 11, 2013)
- "Insurance 101 for Public Companies," Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA (May 9, 2013)*
- "Banking Blueprint: Architecting the Future," 2012 Executive Management Conference, San Francisco, CA (May 20, 2012)*
"Claims Handling - How to Get Claims Paid During Difficult Economic Times," Hawaii RIMS Chapter, Honolulu, Hawaii (October 21, 2010)* - "Insurance Recovery Challenges Raised by the BP Oil Spill," HospitalityLawyer.com Webinar, Ventura, CA (August 25, 2010)*
- "Outside Counsel's Ethical Duties to Non-Clients: Can Insurance Companies Exert Backdoor Influences Over Your Defense Counsel," Association of Corporate Counsel Arizona Chapter, Phoenix, AZ (June 15, 2010)*
- "Emerging Legal Issues in Insurance Risk Management," Manitoba RIMS Chapter, Manitoba, Canada (April 27, 2010)*
- "Insurance Coverage for Defective Work," 29th IRMI Construction Risk Conference - Learn and Exchange Construction Risk Management Strategies, Washington, DC (November 3, 2009)*
- "D&O and Outcome of the Financial Crisis," RIMS Western Regional Conference, Seattle, WA (September 25, 2009)*
- "Five Questions to Ask Before Switching Insurance Companies," 12th Annual Policyholder Advisor Conference, New York, NY (September 17, 2009)*
- "Contractual Risk Transfer," Los Angeles RIMS Chapter Workshop, Los Angeles, CA (June 5, 2009)*
- "Five Questions to Ask Before Switching Insurance Companies," RIMS 2009 National Conference & Exhibition, Orlando, FL (April 22, 2009)*
- "What Hospitality Lawyers Need to Know About Insurance," 2009 Hospitality Law Conference, Houston, TX (February 11, 2009)*
- "How to Evaluate and Settle an Insurance Claim," RIMS Hawaii Chapter, Honolulu, Hawaii (January 15, 2009)*
*These occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.
- “Is Employed Lawyers Insurance Worth the Paper It’s Printed On?,” Corporate Policyholder (January 14, 2019)
- “Insuring Directors’ and Officers’ Liability in Shareholder Derivative Litigation,” Corporate Policyholder (December 15, 2017)
- “Yates’ Grates D&O Value,” Insurance Advocate (October 17, 2016)
- "Cyber Insurance: One Key Step to Maximizing Recovery Under Your Insurance Tower," Arizona ACC Chapter, Focus Newsletter (March 31, 2016)*
- "Cyber Claims Insurance Protection Is Tricky Business," Enforce (November 20, 2015)*
- "National Union v. Cambridge Revisited - Six Years On, The Insurance Industry's Silver Bullet Has Yet to Strike Third-Party Administrators Again," Enforce (November 20, 2015)*
- "Cyber Insurance: Buyer Beware - 10 Tips For Upping Recovery Odds From Cyber And D&O Policies," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (July 21, 2015)* "Are Insurers Underestimating The Cyber Threat?," Risk Management (March 2, 2015)*
- "When the Earth Moved, Cracks Appeared," Construction Executive's Risk Management Newsletter (August 18, 2014)*
- "Cyberattack – Are Companies Ready For The Big One?," Advisen's Cyber Risk Network (September 23, 2014)*
- "Opinion: Cyberattack – Are Companies Ready For The Big One? Insurers, Especially, Are Underestimating the Devastation of a Crippling Hacking Scheme," MarketWatch (August 28, 2014)*
- "How To Admit And Deny Coverage At The Same Time: The Multiple SIR Problem," Association of Corporate Counsel (September 19, 2014)*
- "How Insurance Companies Admit and Deny Coverage at the Same Time: The Multiple SIR Problem," Enforce (August 8, 2014)*
- "When a Big Cyberattack Comes, Will Banks Be Covered?," American Banker (June 4, 2014)*
- "The Unthinkable Risks of the Cloud?," CFO.com (August 27, 2013)* "Allocation Clauses: Hidden Exclusions," Enforce (April 1, 2013)*
- "Must Every Service Company Have Both E&O and D&O Programs?," Enforce (August 31, 2012)*
- 'Why Tech Companies Buy E&O Insurance," Law360 (November 29, 2011)*
- "Understanding D&O Policy Allocation," Law360 (November 21, 2011)*
- "Understanding Crime Insurance For 'Rogue Employee' Losses?," Pacific Coast Business Times (September 30, 2011)*
- "Don’t Get Robbed of Your Fidelity Coverage," Enforce (May 26, 2011)*
- "Third Party Administrators: The New Target for Insurer Claims?," Enforce (May 1, 2011)*
"Construction Defect Claims Are Covered Under CGL Policies - But Watch Out For The Loopholes," Western Real Estate News (December 17, 2010)* - "Whither the FDIC: It Might Become the 800-Pound Gorilla of Corporate Insurance Recovery," Enforce (April 1, 2010)*
- "A Primer For Builders: How to Handle A Construction Insurance Claim," Enforce (April 1, 2010)*
- "Another View: Imagining an A.I.G. Bankruptcy?," The New York Times Deal Book (April 1, 2009)*
- "Risking It All," Enforce (February 1, 2009)*
- "Keeping an Eye on the Ball: Advocating and Protecting the Scope of Coverage in a Sensitive Market," Enforce (January 1, 2009)*
These occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.