Michael Levine is a partner in Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP's Washington, DC office and a leader of the Firm's Insurance Recovery Practice. He offers insights into the legal side of the risk management space and the important role that attorneys play in creating a system of checks and balances in the insurance space and offers insights from his experience to young professionals considering a career at the intersection of insurance and law.

Key Takeaways:

Michael shares insights into his work at Hunton Andrews Kurth.
Being an attorney who practiced in insurance was not a childhood dream of Michael's.
After becoming an attorney, the decision to specialize in insurance coverage was an easy one.
Michael has practiced both in favor of the policyholder as well as on the carrier side.
What were Michael's reasons for switching back and forth between the policyholder and carrier sides multiple times?
The biggest misconceptions about the motives and actions of attorneys in the insurance space.
What does it really mean if a lawyer gets involved in a claims case?
The real reason Michael uses the term "policyholder" instead of "insured."
Attorneys are in place to provide a healthy system of checks and balances within the insurance industry.
Maximizing insurance recoveries means giving policyholders everything they're entitled to.
When is the right time to get an attorney involved in insurance policies?
Once counsel gets involved, whether the broker has done their job makes all the difference in the outcome of the claim.
Michael's opinion on the high percentage of insurance payouts that ends up in attorney's pockets.
Acquiring new clients through marketing and networking, because repeat business is not good business in policyholder litigation.
Michael reveals the biggest lessons learned from his years of practicing law in the insurance space.
Tips for picking up the technical language of the insurance world.
It's all meaningful; Michael's advice for finding the issues that mean something to you and righting a wrong.

Mentioned in This Episode:

RIMS — San Diego Event

Michael on LinkedIn

Hunton Andrews Kurth

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: August 29, 2025