Maryland attorney Alex Brown is a commercial insurance litigator who focuses on all types of insurance and financial services related matters. As a former Senior Counsel to the Maryland Insurance Administration, he handles a wide variety of regulatory and administrative issues, in addition to insurance coverage and insurance-related breach of contract and tort suits.
How did you get started in insurance law practice?
I chose to focus my legal career on insurance matters because they are essential to nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Whereas some people may find this area of law dry, I actually find insurance disputes to be fascinating and resolving those complex issues to be extremely meaningful.
Can you tell us what services you provide?
I always view my role as finding and fighting for the best and most efficient solutions for my clients. Specifically, that leads to my guiding insurance professionals, and on occasion insurance policyholders, through high-stakes litigation regarding different aspects of the insurance business. This may include fights over the amount of insurance proceeds insurers are required (or not required) to pay under insurance policies, or large claims for damages to insurance businesses. Due to my experience representing Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner as a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland, I am also consistently asked to assist insurance companies, insurance agents and brokers, and sometimes businesses or individuals with regulatory issues.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I love what I do, and I never want to turn down any case. The hardest decisions are always the decision to turn down a case for whatever reason, particularly if I truly believe in the client’s position. I have recently been forced to turn down several matters that I know I truly would have enjoyed handling.
What has been the most satisfying moment in your career?
Without question, my jury trial wins are the most satisfying moments in my career. I am personally invested in my clients’ success. Due to the complexity of the cases I handle, it takes years to get to trial. It is an incredible feeling to walk into a room of twelve strangers and convince them that my client is entitled to a certain outcome, particularly when very smart lawyers are on the other side, arguing the opposite. I really enjoy the challenge of earning a jury’s trust and convincing them of a just result.
What do you think the future holds for your area of law?
One of the most interesting challenges for the insurance industry is, and will continue to be, effectively utilizing data to determine the appropriate prices of insurance policies. This is particularly difficult with relatively new and ever-changing risks, such as catastrophic weather events, cyberattacks, and, as we have seen over the past two years, viral pandemics. It has been fascinating to watch the vital role that technology is playing in predicting these weather events and preventing cyberattacks, in particular. Insurance professionals are in an ongoing race to stay up-to-date on the technology relating to these and other risks so that insurance can be fairly priced for everyone.
