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TITTMANNWEIX'S CYBER PRACTICE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

August 12, 2022 | Los Angeles, Ca—TittmannWeix’s cyber insurance practice has come into prominent public focus of late.

Today, Law360 reported a significant coverage litigation filed by Zoom Video Communications, Inc. against Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, as one of the most important cyber E&O coverage litigations now pending in the U.S. Law360 reported TW’s role in representing Certain Underwriters in this matter, led by Louisa Weix, Raymond Tittmann, Patrick Laurence, and Jackson Harris.

On August 5, Bloomberg News interviewed several experts, including founding partner Louisa Weix, on emerging efforts by policyholders to secure coverage for cryptocurrency losses.  Comparing cryptocurrence coverage disputes to the insurance industry’s efforts to avoid “silent cyber” coverage, Louisa noted how some carriers have been adding “virtual currency and digital asset” exclusions to avoid inadvertent coverage for cryptocurrency theft.

On August 4, Asceris dropped Episode 7 of its “Cyber Security & Insurance Leaders” podcast, featuring Louisa Weix on cutting-edge trends in cyber insurance. Among the most interesting points, Louisa coined the phrase “silent crypto” in reference to the rise of claims trying to force cryptocurrency losses into a variety of policies. Is crypto “property,” “cash,” “security”? TW is currently handling a “silent crypto” litigation matter in San Diego under an identity theft policy, wherein the policyholder claims cryptocurrency qualifies as “cash.”

ABOUT TITTMANN|WEIX

TittmannWeix is a Chambers-rated insurance law firm with significant expertise in cyber, technology, media, privacy, and gig economy insurance products and claims. It advises insurers on a wide range of claims, from the simple to the most complex, from first notice through coverage litigation, trial, and appeal. TittmannWeix develops strategies that are effective, creative, and responsive with the goal to achieve favorable results at advantageous legal spend rates.

TITTMANNWEIX RECOGNIZED BY CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS IN THE FIELD OF INSURANCE

June 1, 2022 | Los Angeles, Ca—TittmannWeix was ranked today by Chambers and Partners in its USA 2022 Guide in the field of Insurance: Insurer in the California Legal Rankings. In addition, partners Louisa G. Weix, Christina M. Roberto, and Raymond J. Tittmann were also recognized. Ray and Louisa, as well as the firm, were recognized in Band 4 and Christina was recognized in the Up and Coming category.

Recognition at just year two from the firm’s founding is unique on the Chambers list.

As described on its Guide, “Chambers USA is the leading legal directory, ranking the top lawyers and law firms across the USA. Our legal rankings are based on unrivaled and in-depth market analysis and independent research, all of which is conducted by our dedicated team of researchers.”

“Recognition by the prestigious and detailed researchers at Chambers is a testament to our dedication to client service and depth of experience by the TW team,” said Managing Partner Ray Tittmann. “This is 100% a team effort and everyone at TW celebrates this together.”

Co-founding partner Louisa Weix expressed appreciation as well for TW’s clients: “We strive very hard to be true partners with our clients and this recognition reinforces that approach.”

ABOUT TITTMANN|WEIX

TittmannWeix is a full-service insurance law firm, advising insurers from first notice through trial and appeal. We handle a variety of insurance products, with specialties in cyber, media, and the gig economy. Our vision is to seek successful results at advantageous legal spend rates by developing strategies that are effective, creative, and responsive.

FOUR TITTMANNWEIX ATTORNEYS NAMED THOMSON REUTER’S SUPER LAWYERS

March 22, 2022 | Los Angeles, Ca—TittmannWeix is proud to announce that four of its attorneys were named by Thomson Reuters to its 2022 Super Lawyers list in the field of Insurance Coverage: founder Raymond J. Tittmann as a Super Lawyer; and three as Rising Stars: Christina M. Roberto in California, Rishabh Agny in Texas, and Jackson Harris in Georgia.    

Christina has been with TW since its inception and was named a Partner in 2021. Christina is located in our Los Angeles office and specializes in high risk and complicated coverage matters and has been instrumental in drafting policy language for cutting edge gig economy insurance. 

After graduating from the University of Washington School of Law and relocating to Texas, Rishabh joined TW in 2021 as an Associate in our Austin office, and leads coverage teams in Texas and Washington.  

A graduate of The University of Georgia School of Law, Jackson joined TW in 2021 as an Associate in our Raleigh, North Carolina office, specializing in cyber, gig economy, surety bond litigation, and professional liability. 

According to the Super Lawyers Selection Process, a Rising Star must be “40 years old or younger and in practice for 10 years or less,” and no more than 2.5% of attorneys in the state are named to the Rising Stars list. Congratulations to Christina, Rishabh, and Jackson for this prestigious and well-deserved honor.  

Christina was also selected as one of three finalists for CLM’s prestigious Young Professional of the Year Award, presented at the annual conference.  Christina was also named to the Law360 Insurance Editorial Board, granted to 11 national leaders in their field each year. 

Raymond was also named to the U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers list, also in the field of insurance. 

ABOUT TITTMANN|WEIX

TittmannWeix is a full-service insurance law firm, advising insurers from first notice through trial and appeal. We handle a variety of insurance products, with specialties in cyber, media, and the gig economy. Our vision is to seek successful results at advantageous legal spend rates by developing strategies that are effective, creative, and responsive.

New Year—New Growth: TW Promotes Two New Partners and One New Associate

January 3, 2022 | Los Angeles, Ca—Happy New Year!  TittmannWeix enters the New Year with exciting news, promoting founding team members Christina Roberto and Matthew Bricker to Partner and our first summer associate Alex Nguyen to Associate after his admission to the California Bar.

Christina is a graduate of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law as a Merit Scholarship Recipient, and a summa cum laude graduate of Suffolk University in Boston, Mass.  Matt is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Order of the Coif and Texas Law Review, and a magna cum laude graduate of New York University.  Both Matt and Christina joined TW as associates on its founding, and have continued to thrive in providing excellent client service.

This news was originally announced December 11 at the TW Holiday Party, which we were excited to host in person at Redbird in Downtown Los Angeles (in full compliance with LA’s strict covid protocols).  Alex was formally admitted to the Bar at that event.  Alex is a cum laude graduate of the University of California Irvine School of Law and New York University.

ABOUT TITTMANN|WEIX

TittmannWeix is a full-service insurance law firm, advising insurers from first notice through trial and appeal. We handle a variety of insurance products, with specialties in cyber, media, and the gig economy. Our vision is to seek successful results at advantageous legal spend rates by developing strategies that are effective, creative, and responsive.

TittmannWeix Defies Downturn; Adds Partner and Associates with East Coast Expansion

August 7, 2020 | Pasadena, Ca—TittmannWeix has been busy this summer. Against pandemic headwinds, we have more than doubled in size with today’s addition of partner Monica M. Slakey, among other top tier talent, along with our entry into the East Coast.

From its founding, TittmannWeix strategically invested in mobile technology to ensure seamless client service and collaboration through travel, time zones, and – as it turned out – quarantine. The firm opened January 24, days before the pandemic exploded on our shores.

It has also enabled TittmannWeix to tap top talent across strategic markets. Monica Slakey joins us from the Royal Norwegian Consulate General’s office where she was responsible for interfacing with technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. She previously worked at Clyde & Co., handling high risk cyber claims internationally for several leading London market carriers. Monica speaks five languages – English, French, German, Italian, and Norwegian. Ms. Slakey will be working out of our San Francisco location at One Market Spear Tower.

Leading the eastward expansion is Robert D. Whitney, a 2013 cum laude graduate of Duke University School of Law.  He has spent his career in the field of insurance coverage and will open the firm’s first East Coast office in Raleigh, North Carolina, a hub of new technology.  Robert builds on the firm’s high-tech depth and will work in the areas of cyber and gig economy insurance.  Robert is licensed in California and North Carolina.

New associate Tyson A. Burns graduated in the top 1% of her class from George Mason University School of Law, class of 2013, and formerly practiced at Bryan Cave in Washington D.C. Tyson bolsters the firm’s insurance monitoring practice and will work out of the San Francisco office. Tyson has been admitted in California, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Everyone on the TittmannWeix team has worked together going back many years, and these additions culminate a reunion of prior success.

The firm is also excited to announce a new seven-year lease at its expanded Los Angeles location at the top of Bunker Hill, in 2Cal Plaza, and a new Austin, Texas location at Arboretum Plaza. Matthew J. Bricker will lead the Austin office. Matthew had previously worked at Simpson Thacher in New York, and is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, where he was an editor of the Texas Law Review and Order of the Coif.

“Our founding investment in top shelf remote technology has paid off more than we could have imagined,” said Managing Partner Raymond J. Tittmann, reflecting on the firm’s January start.   “We see investment in technology as an investment in our people, as we have been able to attract colleagues from around the country and assimilate with ease,” added partner Louisa G. Weix. Louisa was featured in a Law360 article in April 2020, commending the firm’s commitment to make no COVID-19-related employment cuts.  Needless to say, we have met that commitment.

ABOUT TITTMANN|WEIX

TittmannWeix is a full-service insurance law firm, advising insurers from first notice through trial and appeal. We handle a variety of insurance products, with specialties in cyber, media, and the gig economy. Our vision is to seek successful results at advantageous legal spend rates by developing strategies that are effective, creative, and responsive.

TittmannWeix Attorneys on the Speaker Circuit

July 9, 2020 | Pasadena, Ca—Coronavirus has changed the platform, but not the spread of educational opportunities for TittmannWeix attorneys. Back-to-back, founding Managing Partner Raymond Tittmann and Associate Christina Roberto both spoke this week on the changing landscape of cyber insurance and business interruption claims for covid losses, respectively.

Christina moderated a cyber panel on July 9, 2020 at CLM’s annual 2020 cyber conference, turned virtual, along with industry experts Alex Whipple (former AON broker and now cyber underwriter at Sompo), Caitlin Alpern (cyber underwriter at Chubb), and Joshua Arnold (cyber claims specialist at Hiscox). They spoke about the evolution of cyber claims and underwriting practices in the wake of a dramatic increase in working from home, and the cyber risks created thereby. The presentation is available for CLM members here.

Ray presented with Dave Shaneyfelt on July 10, 2020, in a Bridgeport educational webinar, to give an update on the Business Interruption coverage disputes for Covid-19 losses. Ray addressed recent developments in the law, including the first of its kind Zoom court ruling (published on Youtube) finding that the virus did not cause property damage. Ray also addressed the current state of pending motions and the proceedings before the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) in Washington D.C.  The presentation is available for download here.

Ray was also interviewed for expert commentary this week by Law360 Senior Insurance Reporter Jeff Sistrunk, and his remarks were published concerning the Michigan ruling in Gavrilides Management v. Michigan Insurance Company, the first substantive ruling on business interruption coverage for covid claims. The Law360 article is published here.

Partner Louisa Weix Featured in Law360 Article How Boutique Firms are Surviving COVID-19

April 30, 2020 | Pasadena, Ca—TittmannWeix partner Louisa Weix was featured today in a Law360 article entitled, “How Some Boutiques Are Avoiding BigLaw’s Virus Cuts.” Ms. Weix was quoted in the article to explain how nimble firms are able to provide more personalized and creative service to accommodate client’s changing needs as they adjust to this novel situation.  We are extremely thankful to our clients for their support and are fortunate to be in a solid position to assist them during this challenging time.

Business Interruption Claims Amid Covid-19 Closures

April 17, 2020 | Pasadena, CA—Partner Ray Tittmann presented a webinar with longtime friend and policyholder counsel David Shaneyfelt today on the subject of business interruption claims for Covid-19 closures.  The situation is evolving continually, with new lawsuits and legislation posing new and more aggressive theories daily.  The webinar was hosted by Bridgeport Continuing Education, a premiere educational institution focused on emerging legal issues of vital import to attorneys, legal experts, consultants and government enforcement agencies.  Ray discussed the new and emerging trends and theories under a variety of ISO and manuscript forms commonly in circulation and put at issue in the pending cases.  Among the leading cases discussed were those filed in California by Thomas Keller, renowned chef and restaurateur, and shoe designer Marc Fisher Footwear LLC.  The American Property Casualty Insurance Association has estimated that companies with 100 employees or fewer could see business continuity losses of as much as $431 billion a month.  The webinar was well attended by leading members of the legal and business community and Departments of Insurance.

CHRISTINA ROBERTO AND RAY TITTMANN PUBLISH ARTICLE ABOUT OPIOID COVERAGE ISSUES

August 7, 2019  |  Los Angeles, CA—Founding attorneys Christina Roberto and Raymond J. Tittmann published a noteworthy article on the coverage issues relating to opioids in Law360, entitled “5 Insurance Coverage Questions Raised by Opioid Litigation.”  The article noted three issues that have and three issues that have yet to be litigated in the young field of opioid coverage litigation.  

The main items addressed included application of a policy’s self insured retention when another carrier is defending, bodily injury coverage and exclusions, and continuing act exclusions, among other items.

RAYMOND TITTMANN AND LOUISA WEIX JOIN FORCES TO FOUND TITTMANN|WEIX

April 16, 2020 | Pasadena, CA—RJT & Associates is excited to announce the addition of insurance coverage partner Louisa G. Weix and a corresponding name change to Tittmann Weix LLP.  The Los Angeles office will continue at National City Plaza downtown, and the San Francisco office will open at One Market, Spear Tower.  Their new website has been launched at www.tittmannweix.com.

At a time when so many are suffering so much, we are extremely thankful to our clients for their support during this time and throughout these many years.  The spirit of trust and partnership with our clients has made it possible to found a firm even in the midst of this historic pandemic.  In a small effort to pay it forward, we are pleased to join with other firms in a commitment to make no coronavirus-related job or pay cuts to our employees or summer associate program for the duration of this turn.  Our thoughts and prayers go to everyone affected.

Ms. Weix specializes in coverage monitoring for domestic and London clients with whom she has worked for many years.  Although Ms. Weix handles a variety of insurance products, she specializes in cyber, media, and professional liability policies, including both monitoring work and consulting on policy wording.

Louisa, a registered patent attorney, has focused on large risk software implementation and intellectual property claims, and in particular on copyright and trademark claims.  As the threat of cyber incidents grew, Louisa expanded her practice to include privacy and cyber claims, including ransomware, business interruption loss, and third party regulatory and class action claims.  The sudden shift to universal remote work necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic promises to spark a meteoric rise of cyber risk.

Raymond and Louisa started working together 20 years ago as young associates at a prestigious international law firm, working on high-profile intellectual property, professional liability, and environmental litigation.  Since then, we have spent a significant portion of our careers specializing in the field of insurance.  Raymond and Louisa are excited to join forces with a common vision of peerless client service.

Louisa and firm associate Christina Roberto are scheduled to speak at the CLM 2020 Cyber, Management & Professional Liability Conference on July 8-10, 2020.  The panel is titled, “2020 Vision: Keep Your Eyes Trained on Emerging Cyber Insurance Trends,” and includes other cyber industry leaders from Chubb, Hiscox, and Aon with specialties in underwriting and claims.

About TittmannWeix

TittmannWeix is a full-service insurance law firm advising insurers on a wide range of claims from the simple to the most complex, from first notice and monitoring to dispute resolution, through coverage litigation, trial, and appeal.  We handle a variety of insurance products with specialties in cyber, media, and gig economy related insurance products.  Our vision is to seek successful results at advantageous legal spend rates by developing strategies that are effective, creative, and responsive.

CHRISTINA M. ROBERTO TO SPEAK AT THE CLM 2020 CYBER CONFERENCE

February 19, 2020 | Los Angeles, CARJT & Associates is happy to announce that Christina M. Roberto has been selected to speak on a cyber panel at the CLM 2020 Cyber, Management & Professional Liability Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 8-10, 2020.

The panel also includes Mr. Joshua Arnold, Cyber Claims Examiner, Hiscox; Ms. Alexandra Whipple, Broker, Aon Global Risk Consulting; Caitlin M. Alpern, Executive Underwriter, E&O/Cyber, Chubb; and Louisa G. Weix, insurance cyber specialist, of The Benson Firm.

This diverse panel, entitled “2020 Vision: Keep Your Eyes Trained on Emerging Cyber Insurance Trends,” will discuss recent developments and forecast new trends from all perspectives: claims, underwriting, legal.

The panel will also discuss recent court decisions on ransomware and how the war exclusion applies to state sponsored cyber-terrorism, relative to two pending billion-dollar cases: Merck v. Ace and Modelez v. Zurich.  Recent market reports show cyber insurance claims grew 39% in 2018. Increased remote working brought on by the Covid-19 coronavirus has escalated the surge of cyber insurance claims.

RJT & ASSOCIATES OPENS IN THE CITY NATIONAL PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

January 27, 2020 | Pasadena, CA—Raymond J. Tittmann, freshly recognized by the premiere legal news source Law360 as a 2019 MVP in the field of insurance, opened the law firm of RJT & Associates.  Mr.­­ Tittmann was also recently recognized by Thompson Reuters as a leading Southern California lawyer under their “Super Lawyer” designation, given to the top 5% of lawyers under their criteria.  

Joining Mr. Tittmann are associate Christina Roberto, of counsel Ed Valdespino, and claims manager and EUO expert Michael Walsh.  The team specializes in insurance coverage and works closely with both domestic and London market carriers.  The firm will be located at City National Plaza, 515 South Flower Street, in downtown Los Angeles, California.

RJT & Associates has adopted the motto “Effective.  Creative.  Responsive.”  Mr. Tittmann believes the industry can do better: “Law firms cost too much because they ignore — or lack the creativity to find — solutions to their clients’ problems that achieve not only success, but success at a better price.”  He and his team are excited to work smarter for their clients.

In 2014, Mr. Tittmann and a long-time client published an article in CLM Magazine defining the importance of effectiveness in legal representation. The article explained, The key, therefore, is not just the efficiency of the lawyers (i.e., completing a particular task in a reasonable amount of time), but the effectiveness of the lawyers (i.e., deciding what tasks actually justify the cost, and more importantly resolving a matter before the tasks ned to be performed).

Six years later, Mr. Tittmann and his team have realized this vision. They are excited about this new venture and the opportunity to provide superior service to their clients that is effective, creative, and responsive. Mr. Tittmann is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and Thomas Aquinas College. Christina Roberto graduated from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and Suffolk University summa cum laude. Ed Valdespino is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, cum laude, and the University of Texas at Austin. Michael Walsh is a graduate of San Francisco Law School and San Francisco State University.

The firm’s website will be www.RJTlawyers.com.

RAY TITTMANN NAMED THOMPSON REUTER’S PREMIER LIST OF “SUPER LAWYERS”

January 16, 2020 | Los Angeles, CA—Thompson Reuters released their premier list of Southern California lawyers dubbed “Super Lawyers,” including founding partner Raymond J. Tittmann in the field of insurance. Mr. Tittmann has been recognized in this category every year for the last three years.

The Super Lawyers list recognizes no more than 5 percent of attorneys in each state.

RAY TITTMANN NAMED LAW360 MVP IN THE FIELD OF INSURANCE

December 11, 2019  |  Los Angeles, CA—Law360, the premier legal news source, named our founding partner, Raymond J. Tittmann, an MVP for the year in the field of insurance.

Of the thousands of lawyers practicing in this field, Mr. Tittmann was one of only five receiving this recognition. The legal journal noted two prominent cases handled by Mr. Tittmann.

First, the journal recognized the work Mr. Tittmann performed for a division of The Home Depot to resolve a glut of product liability litigation that had been going on for a decade. Individual actions, mass “bundled” actions, and a class action had tied up courts and legal departments with no end in sight. This required a creative effort to work with the various stakeholders to achieve a global, class-wide release in the best interest of all parties.

Law360 also recognized Mr. Tittmann’s work for the London market on a complicated matter before Judge Stephen Wilson of the United States District Court, Scottsdale v. Dickstein Shapiro et al. Mr. Tittmann represented Defendants Brit Underwriting UW, Beazley, SwissRe, RenRe, Lexington, and Amlin. The parties agreed to file cross-motions for summary judgment on the key legal issues in that case. Following the grant of summary judgment, Plaintiff Scottsdale appealed. The matter is currently pending before the Ninth Circuit court of appeals.

RAY TITTMANN, DAVID COHEN, AND LISA WEIX SPEAK FOR DRI ON STATUS OF OPIOID COVERAGE ISSUES

October 10, 2019  | Los Angeles, CA—Founding partner Raymond J. Tittmann spoke on the pressing and timely topic of opioid litigation and its impacts on insurance, along with special master of the main MDL opioid litigation David Cohen and recognized insurance specialist Louisa Weix of the Benson Law Firm.  

The panel reported breaking news of that day on the failure of efforts by defendants to remove U.S. District Judge Dan Polster, and then discussed the main coverage issues, including application of a policy’s self insured retention when another carrier is defending, bodily injury coverage and exclusions, and continuing act exclusions, among other items.

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