David E. Wood

David E. Wood


Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2018

Los Angeles, California

Practice Areas

Insurance Law

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David Wood has more than three decades of experience in insurance practice, devoting himself exclusively to advising and representing publicly and privately owned corporations in disputes with their insurance companies. David provides corporate policyholders with a keen understanding of how insurance companies work, applying his knowledge of their pressure points to achieve client objectives.

Highly recognized in the insurance field, David represents corporate policyholders in pre-litigation and litigation matters throughout the country involving directors’ and officers’ liability, professional liability and errors and omissions liability insurance, crime coverage, commercial general liability coverage, property and business interruption insurance, and rights of additional insureds. David regularly works on high-stakes claims in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, technology, media and entertainment, construction and design, real estate and many more.

Insurance companies have armies of lawyers who specialize in helping carriers avoid paying claims, and corporate policyholders often feel outgunned. David and his team of veteran attorneys and other professionals are the force multiplier that levels the playing field. Having successfully prosecuted insurance cases throughout the United States, David understands the importance of resolving insurance coverage disputes without going to war wherever possible, as well as the fact that sometimes, insurance companies respond only to brute force.

The senior vice president of claims for a major insurance company once called David an “insurance company assassin.” His reputation for aggressive advocacy in negotiations, coupled with his team’s ability to litigate and win against insurance companies in court, underscores for carriers the risks and costs of not resolving a claim informally to his client’s satisfaction.

David is a frequent speaker on insurance topics and is often quoted in national media on significant insurance cases and issues. He has been interviewed by CNBC Television, Bloomberg Radio, USA Today, Insurance Law360, Forbes, Forbes.com and Fox Business News: America's Nightly Scoreboard. Notably, David is also the author of the Corporate Policyholders’ 50-State Guide: The Right to Independent Counsel. He has published articles for many trade and legal publications, including Risk Management Magazine, John Liner Review, CFO Magazine, CFO.com, National Underwriter, New York Times Dealbook and Risk & Insurance Magazine, to name a few.

Location
  • 2029 Century Park East, Suite 300
    Los Angeles, CA 90067
Education
  • University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1985
  • Williams College, A.B., graduated 1979
Bar Admissions
  • California, California State Bar Association
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Los Angeles, California

255 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

87 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Insurance Law
Special Focus:
  • Government Relations
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Litigation - Insurance

Publications

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