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Sandra Thayer

Sandra Smith Thayer Partner

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Los Angeles – Century City T +1 310 956 3444 F fax +1 310 956 3104
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Sandy is recognized as one of the nation’s top insurance recovery lawyers by Law360 and one of California’s Top 100 Women Litigators by the Daily Journal. She specializes in representing clients in high-stakes, bet-the-company litigation against insurers and insurance brokers. Sandy has first or second-chaired trials in federal and state court and arbitrations in California and London. Sandy has represented insureds across various industries and insurance matters, including claims under cast insurance, directors and officers liability, employment practices, errors and omissions, general liability, political risk, property, representations and warranties, revenue shortfall, wildfire liability, and other specialized policies.

Sandy has recovered billions of dollars for insureds in the energy industry. Sandy co-led efforts that secured more than $1.8 billion in insurance recoveries for an energy company following the 2007 San Diego Wildfires. She also co-led efforts to obtain billions of dollars in insurance recoveries for another energy company in connection with a number of major wildfires in Northern California over the past ten years.  Sandy also co-led efforts to secure more than $900 million in insurance recoveries for another energy company regarding the Aliso Canyon/Porter Ranch natural gas well leak.

In the entertainment sector, she has litigated and arbitrated claims, including a significant arbitration resulting in a $100 million recovery under a revenue shortfall policy and represented a studio in the largest cast insurance recovery in entertainment history. Sandy also co-authored the New Appleman Sports and Entertainment Insurance Law & Practice Guide.

Sandy has significant experience with political risk insurance, having handled claims for companies with losses in Argentina, China, Indonesia, and Mexico. She notably second-chaired a month-long arbitration before the London Court of International Arbitration for a major East Coast energy company. She also has advised clients on political risk insurance and drafted and negotiated political risk insurance policies.

Beyond insurance recovery, Sandy represents insureds in claims against insurance brokers for malpractice, breach of contract, and fraud. She played a pivotal role in obtaining one of the largest jury verdicts ever against a global insurance brokerage and risk management firm, amounting to $48.5 million. She also co-led efforts to secure an even larger recovery against another insurance broker arising out Hurricane Katrina.

In addition to litigation, Sandy also advises clients on various other insurance issues in connection with mergers and acquisitions,  captive insurance companies, and underwriting of terms and conditions.   Sandy also has devoted a significant amount of time representing clients pro bono, including, among others, handling well over 50 adoptions for the Alliance of Children’s Rights and representing a client on death row in a clemency appeal.

Experience

  • Representing a Fortune 500 defense contractor in litigation pending in Vermont state court involving physical loss or damage to property arising from COVID-19 under property reinsurance contracts.
  • Representing a Fortune 500 energy company in litigation pending in the Central District of California involving losses under D&O policy relating to 2015 natural gas leak as well as advising on various other claims.
  • Representing another Fortune 500 energy company in connection with coverage issues arising out of wildfire claims and proving advice on captive insurance program.
  • First-chaired arbitration under California Civil Code 2860 on behalf of a financial services company against its insurer, securing award in favor of client for full amount sought.
  • First-chaired arbitration under California Civil Code 2860 on behalf of luxury hotel company, resulting in favorable settlement after full hearing.
  • Second-chaired jury trial on behalf of Fortune 500 energy company in Central District of California, obtaining $48.5 million jury verdict in client’s favor.
  • Second-chaired bench trial in Central District of California on behalf of energy company against its insurer, obtaining favorable result.
  • Second-chaired London arbitration on behalf of energy company against political risk insurers involving losses in Indonesia.
  • Represented Fortune 500 defense contractor in litigation in Delaware state court involving losses under Representations and Warranties insurance policies, obtaining favorable settlement after Court order denying insurers’ motion for summary judgment.
  • Represented Fortune 500 defense contractor in litigation in California state court against its insurance broker and in the Central District of California against its insurers arising out of Hurricane Katrina.
  • Represented Fortune 500 energy company in London arbitration involving damages under General Liability policy arising from natural gas leak.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 defense contractor in multiple London arbitrations involving disputes under property insurance policies.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 energy company in litigation in the Northern District of California in dispute over scope of coverage as an additional insured under contractor’s insurance policy for damages arising from wildfire, obtaining favorable settlement.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 energy company in a California arbitration seeking coverage for damages arising from power shutoff, obtaining favorable award.

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