Wiley Names Benjamin Eggert Co-Chair of Insurance Practice

December 4, 2023

Washington, DC – Wiley Rein LLP, a preeminent DC law firm, is pleased to announce that partner Benjamin C. Eggert has been named co-chair of the Insurance Practice alongside Kimberly M. Melvin. Eggert succeeds Daniel J. Standish, who led the top-ranked team for 14 years and also serves on the firm's Executive and Management Committees.

“Under Dan and Kim’s guidance Wiley’s Insurance Practice has grown into a 35-lawyer-strong, ‘go-to’ practice for the largest and most high-profile insurance and reinsurance companies in the United States. We are thankful for Dan’s many years of leadership,” said Managing Partner Peter D. Shields. “With Ben’s enthusiasm and collaborative approach, I know that he and Kim will further propel the team’s growth for years to come.”

Since joining Wiley 15 years ago, Eggert has been at the forefront of high-stakes matters that insurance and reinsurance companies face across a range of coverage contexts, including public entity and officials liability, professional liability, cyber liability, general liability, and bad faith matters. Ben helps his clients pinpoint business goals and develop a strategic approach to creatively and collaboratively resolve disputes, or to aggressively litigate when necessary. He has represented insurers in federal and state courts nationwide.

“I’m very excited that Ben has joined me as Insurance Practice co-chair. Ben has a keen eye for newsworthy events that could expose our clients to potential risk and has sought strategic ways to address evolving policies and changes that could impact the industry,” said Melvin. “His thought leadership is a great asset. Not only is he a great mentor to many attorneys in our practice, but his dedication also inspires cross-practice collaboration, which is important as industry trends evolve.”

“Throughout the years, Ben has been an invaluable player in helping strategically enhance our team so that we can provide our clients with top-notch service,” said Standish. “With Ben as co-chair, I look forward to continuing to develop new business and focusing on our key client relationships.”

Eggert is widely known for representing commercial property insurers in some of the first coverage disputes relating to COVID-19 business interruption. On top of that, Ben routinely represents insurers in disputes relating to claims against governmental entities. He also represents professional liability insurers in coverage disputes involving claims against multiple parties, and general liability carriers in coverage disputes involving construction, hazardous waste, asbestos, and product liability claims. He has secured published appellate decisions favorable to insurers on key issues.

“I am honored to co-chair this outstanding team along with Kim,” said Eggert. “I am very proud of the capabilities our Insurance Practice has built throughout the years, and I look forward to working more closely with all of our clients while also promoting our firm’s deep bench in my new role.”

Wiley is trusted counsel to the largest insurance companies in the United States, advising insurers on claims and handling significant precedential issues in courts across the country. The firm is regularly involved in the industry’s most complex and high-severity cases. Insurance carriers facing high-profile disputes and novel legal challenges have turned to Wiley for successful results in some of the most important insurance matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars in exposure for insurers and the insurance industry.

Our Insurance team keeps clients and those in the industry updated on important matters through its Executive Summary blog and newsletter. Our attorneys are also involved and have leadership roles with many industry organizations, such as the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, which has over 35,000 members. The firm’s involvement contributes to a heightened sensitivity to client needs, increased depth of experience, sharpened legal abilities, and the development of well-rounded attorneys.