civil litigation

• More than 10 years of litigation experience that has involved high-exposure insurance coverage cases as well as personal injury and property damage cases in both Texas and New York.

• Represented insurance companies in diverse first-party litigation involving the denial of coverage and allegations of bad faith and extra-contractual liability for both commercial and personal insurance policies.

• Substantial experience litigating residential property insurance coverage cases in Texas.

• Represented insurers in uninsured/underinsured motorist litigation.

• Defended insurance agents under their errors and omissions policy.

• Represented individuals and corporations in liability litigation involving allegations of wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage. 

• Defended individuals, retailers, commercial landlords, apartment buildings, bar/restaurant owners, and marinas in personal injury litigation concerning premises liability and negligence.   

• Provided aggressive representation to general contractors and subcontractors in property damage litigation with allegations of defective/negligent construction and breach of contract.

Joe has built a reputation as a confident and knowledgeable litigator and he currently represents insurance companies and related entities in pending lawsuits throughout the State of Texas.

insurance regulation

• Four years at the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) from June 2014 to May 2018, where he served as the Deputy Public Counsel and the Acting Executive Director of the agency from January 2017 to January 2018.

• Managed agency operations during the 85th Texas Legislative session as well as Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

• While at OPIC, he regularly interacted with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), legislators, lobbyists, consumers, and the media to advocate for consumer interests in personal lines insurance issues.

This experience created a deep knowledge of the Texas Insurance Code, and related Administrative Code sections, that Joe continues to use in his current legal practice.

general counsel services

Joe currently serves as outside general counsel to Southern Vanguard Insurance Company, a Texas-based residential property insurer.

government affairs

Joe has provided testimony and expertise to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the Texas House Insurance Committee, the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, and several other legislative committees related to important insurance issues.  He was also heavily-involved in the review, drafting, and editing of insurance-related bills in the 84th and 85th legislative sessions. 

This experience provides an understanding of how the Texas legislature works when considering insurance issues and Joe continues to use this knowledge in his current legal practice.  Please contact Joe if you are interested in discussing any legislative issue.

insurance coverage analysis

Joe has analyzed coverage and drafted coverage opinions for claims under personal and commercial auto, property, and general liability policies.  His combination of law firm and state agency experience provides unique insight into the language and structure used in auto, residential property, and CGL insurance policies in Texas.