Direct Dial: 415.352.2716Fax: 415.352.2701andy.downs@bullivant.com
Andy Downs has been litigating and counseling clients regarding complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation, including the defense of class actions, for over 35 years. He is licensed to practice in both California and Nevada and practices throughout both states, having appeared during the course of his career in over 30 different courts. He appears regularly in the federal district courts in both California and Nevada, as well as the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. He has also handled matters pro hac vice in Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah and Guam.
Andy represents national and international insurance companies in connection with complex coverage and bad faith claims under first-party property, fidelity, inland marine and ocean marine policies and under specialized third-party policies, including Directors & Officers and Errors & Omissions policies. Andy provides counsel to those companies regarding their rights and responsibilities, and serves as trial counsel in coverage and bad faith actions. He has experience defending class actions, handling multi-district litigation, electronic discovery and managing complex disputes. Andy offers his clients timely, creative and practical advice regarding the defense and resolution of these claims in the context of the client's overall business needs.
Andy is consistently ranked in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business. In 2020, Chambers reported "‘he provides excellent practical advice and appreciates strategy,' according to his clients." In 2019, Chambers observed he "'is a highly skilled and experienced litigator who is results-oriented' says a source." In 2017, Chambers noted he is a "very good coverage attorney who takes a big-picture approach to his cases and has an economical mindset to matters he handles." In 2016, Chambers noted "Clients assert that he is 'very good at negotiations when it comes to complex matters,' and speak positively about his ability to get favorable results." In 2015, Chambers noted he uses "exceptional analytical skills, a vast understanding of state and federal procedures and strategic thinking on issues." In 2011, Chambers noted he is "a go-to lawyer when it comes to complex insurance coverage matters. Chambers researchers' sources see him as 'one of the nation's premier experts in first-party coverage matters.'" In 2010, they reported, in mediations he "'is amazing, and always on top of any situation,' interviewees say in praise."
Andy also represents businesses in connection with commercial disputes. In addition, he also has handled lawsuits involving maritime activities, including maritime lien and ship arrest actions, claims against maritime businesses, and suits involving the navigation of both pleasure and commercial vessels. He has also acted as a commercial arbitrator.
Andy has served on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, a by-invitation-only organization of attorneys who represent businesses. He was the Program Chair for the Federation's 2015 Annual Meeting. He also served as Chair of the Federation's Social Media Committee and was its voice on Twitter. He has chaired the Federation's Property Insurance Section and has instructed at the Litigation Management College and Graduate Program. In addition, he also co-chaired the Federation's 2011 Insurance Industry Institute, and the Insurance Industry Committee. Andy is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel and currently serves on its Board of Regents. He was the Co-Chair of its 2017 Insurance Law Symposium. He is also a former chair of the only national organization of property insurance attorneys. A co-editor of both the first and second editions as well as the upcoming third edition of the Property Insurance Litigator's Handbook published by the American Bar Association, he also is the author of the chapter on Concurrent Causation in the treatise Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation published by West and the ABA, co-author of a chapter in California CEB's California Property Insurance Law and Litigation and author of a chapter in the Defense Research Institute's recent Professional Liability Insurance: A Compendium of State Law. Andy also is a long time member of the editorial board of West Publishing's Insurance Litigation Reporter. A former member of the Claims Conference Committee for the Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB), Andy is a regular author, instructor and speaker on claims handing, complex litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith issues.
Outside the office, Andy is a Nationally Certified Referee, Starter, Stroke & Turn Judge and Chief Judge for USA Swimming.
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