Two Cooper & Scully Attorneys Receive Certification in Insurance Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Congratulations to Rob Witmeyer and Summer Frederick for receiving their Board Certification in Insurance Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS)!

They are now among the first group of 52 lawyers in Texas to achieve this distinction after sitting for the bar exam in October of 2023. This is the first time that the specialty area of Insurance Law was offered and the first class to become certified.  The Texas Supreme Court approved the creation of aviation law and insurance law at the end of 2022.

The TBLS describes Insurance Law as the practice of law dealing with the determination and regulation of issues arising in respect to various policies of insurance, including commercial general liability, or CGL; casualty; directors’ and officers’ liability; excess/umbrella; extra-contractual liability; employment practices; advertising injury; life, health, and disability; professional liability; environmental impairment liability; property; personal lines; title; marine; cyber; and reinsurance. Potential issues include coverage, regulatory, oversight, public policy, the sale of policies of insurance, what qualifies as an insurance indemnity agreement, and consumer protection. The practice can include dispute resolution, transactional work, counseling and advice, and regulatory work, among other areas.

In order to become board certified, an attorney must:

• Practice law full-time for at least 5 years as an active member of the State Bar of Texas
• Have at least 3 years of Insurance Law experience with a yearly minimum of 30% substantial involvement in Insurance Law matters
• Submit qualified vetted references from lawyers in the area
• Complete 60 hours of TBLS approved continuing legal education in Insurance Law
• Meet all of the TBLS Standards for Attorney Certification
• Pass a comprehensive 6-hour examination in Insurance Law