Jim Murray is the deputy leader of Dickstein Shapiro's Insurance Coverage Group. A nationally-recognized trial lawyer with more than 25 years of courtroom experience, he has represented corporate policyholders on matters involving nearly every line of insurance. In 2011, Law360 named him one of only three national MVPs in Insurance Coverage.
Mr. Murray's work in high-profile and exceptionally challenging cases across the country has earned him consistent praise from clients and opposing counsel alike. In Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, commentators have credited Mr. Murray as "a tremendous asset to his clients." He is lauded as "a great trial lawyer" with "as much start-to-finish trial experience as any coverage lawyer out there." The 2010 edition of the guide noted how Mr. Murray's cross-examinations in a recent case led directly to several "high value settlements" for the client and the 2012 edition reported "particular praise for his calm and common-sense approach to cross-examining." As one source explained to Chambers, Mr. Murray is "very polished and intellectually strong" and he "understands the issues and where the bottom line is, and he makes the winning argument based on reason." The 2012 Benchmark Plaintiff edition ranked Mr. Murray as a national "Litigation Star," noting that he is "well known in the insurance sector as a thoughtful and passionate advocate." According to the 2012 edition of Legal 500, Mr. Murray "knows the insurance industry and how to maximize claims."
In a June 2011 Law360 interview, meanwhile, a former adversary representing AIG singled out Mr. Murray as a litigator he feared facing in court, telling the publication, "Jim is a savvy trial lawyer capable of quickly and effectively adjusting his presentation during trial." Another former opposing counsel on behalf of London insurers recently told U.S. News "my view is that Jim Murray provides the highest level of advocacy on behalf of his clients. He is a formidable though professional and fair adversary."
Mr. Murray served as lead counsel for the FDIC, as conservator for IndyMac Federal Bank, F.S.B., in a mortgage insurance lawsuit in federal court in California. The case ultimately settled, with the reinstatement of more than $100 million in mortgage insurance. In 2009, Mr. Murray was appointed by the federal bankruptcy court in Portland, Oregon as special insurance coverage counsel to the Oregon Province of Jesuits, as debtor, relating to liabilities for underlying allegations of clergy abuse. In 2011, the bankruptcy court approved settlements of almost $120 million between the debtor and its historical insurance companies. This case was one of three firm matters featured in The National Law Journal 2011 Plaintiffs' Hot List. He also recently served as trial counsel in several complex coverage lawsuits relating to very substantial underlying asbestos liabilities, including arguing a motion to the Delaware Chancery Court that resulted in an unprecedented ruling applying an "all sums" allocation methodology under New York law. In 2010, he was co-trial counsel in the first bad faith case to go to a jury in New Jersey in ten years. Later in the year, he was trial counsel in a securities fraud case in Seattle that settled favorably in the third week of a jury trial, a few days before closing arguments.
Mr. Murray's trial experience ranges from environmental contribution cases to bank fraud, trademark infringement, securities fraud, and professional liability.
Mr. Murray also chairs the firm's Pro Bono Committee.
