Steve Raptis, a partner in the Insurance Recovery Group, has handled complex insurance claims on behalf of commercial policyholders for more than 25 years. Insurers often deny valid claims, and when they do, Steve emphasizes strategic, creative solutions -- including focused negotiations and mediation – designed to maximize recoveries for clients while seeking to minimize their costs. Through thorough claim analysis and advocacy, Steve has helped policyholder clients successfully obtain reversals of scores of adverse coverage determinations without the need for litigation. But where necessary, he aggressively litigates coverage disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Steve advises clients on coverage issues involving all types of commercial insurance policies, including directors and officers, errors and omissions, cyber/privacy liability, general liability, pollution liability, and first-party/property policies. He regularly handles cases involving professional liability/errors and omissions claims, governmental investigation and shareholder claims, environmental contamination and other mass tort claims, products-related claims, cutting-edge cyber/privacy claims, and construction-related claims, among others, and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars of insurance proceeds for his clients.
To prevent coverage disputes proactively, Steve regularly reviews clients’ insurance programs, identifies potential coverage gaps and recommends areas of possible improvement. He also counsels clients on assessing and preserving the value of potential insurance claims, and obtaining a defense, even if damages may not be covered. He advises companies on insurance issues in mergers and acquisitions and other types of transactions, and addresses competing rights in shared coverage. Steve regularly publishes articles and speaks on insurance coverage-related issues, and is regularly quoted by leading insurance publications.
In addition to his insurance work, Steve handles other commercial disputes, including complex contractual and indemnity disputes, and business-related contract and tort claims.
Steve has a long-standing commitment to pro bono work, and has represented victims of domestic violence for his entire career, as well as victims of human trafficking, clients with developmental disabilities, and African-American farmers subject to discriminatory loan practices. Steve currently serves as a board member for the DC Volunteer Law Project.