James R. Murray

Biography

CO-CHAIR, INSURANCE RECOVERY PRACTICE GROUP

Jim Murray leads Blank Rome’s policyholder-only insurance recovery practice, formerly the insurance practice of Dickstein Shapiro LLP. Jim is the only policyholder trial lawyer in the country who is a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers (“ACTL”) and the American College of Coverage Counsel (“ACCC”). He has litigated cases in 24 states for top-tier corporate clients and has represented individuals and an array of religious institutions and government entities.

Jim’s industry recognitions span more than 20 years. Recent client commentary includes:

  • Chambers 2023: “The best policyholder lawyer in the world when it comes to actually trying a case” and “… has pretty much seen it all and has a deep well of knowledge.”
  • Legal 500 2022: “…one of the real senior statemen in the practice area, a Rhodes Scholar who lived up to the promise that suggests and probably the very best policyholder lawyer in the world when it comes to trying a case to a jury…”.
  • Lexology 2024 Client Choice (client comment): “You would be hard pressed to find a better trial lawyer in this field than Jim.”
  • Chambers 2021: “…has a brilliant mind and a high level of creativity…skilled not just in litigation but settlements and dealing with clients too.” 
  • Benchmark Litigation (2021): “Serving as chair of the insurance recovery practice … in addition to playing the role of being one of the firm’s most vital leaders, among the nation’s most skilled insurance litigators…[.]” 

Jim is ranked nationally in insurance by Chambers USA as well as in Band 1 in Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers named him its 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” for Insurance Litigation in Washington, D.C. BTI Consulting Group designated him a 2019 “Client Service All-Star.” The National Law Journal named Jim a “D.C. Trailblazer” in 2020 and, in 2017, a “Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazer” (one of 15 nationally in all practices areas). In both 2020 and 2017, the National Law Journal named Blank Rome as the D.C. Litigation Department of the Year for Insurance. Law360 has twice named him an MVP in Insurance Coverage. For 2022 through 2024, Lexology, Inc. named him the “Exclusive Winner of the Client Choice Award for Insurance & Reinsurance for the USA” (finalists can only be nominated by corporate counsel).

Jim served on the District of Columbia State Committee of the ACTL for five years. Membership in the ACTL is extended only by invitation, after extensive investigation, to those trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. He is also listed in the National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for the District of Columbia (Civil) and was selected as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (“NADC”) in 2022.

Jim was formerly a leader of the insurance coverage practice at an Am Law 200 firm and a partner in the litigation and insurance practices of an Am Law 100 firm where he served on the firm’s Partnership Evaluation and Business Development Committees. From 1996 to 2007, he was a founding and managing partner of a trial practice boutique in Seattle, Washington.

He clerked for the Honorable James Hunter III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1981 to 1982 and was special assistant to William H. Webster, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from 1983 to 1985. He is a Rhodes Scholar.

Industry Recognition

Jim’s work in high-profile and exceptionally challenging cases across the country has earned him consistent praise from clients and opposing counsel alike:

  • A Delaware Superior Court approved a $123.1 million class action settlement involving underlying claims of sexual abuse, noting in its published opinion that “…the Court must commend Beebe and its nationally renowned coverage counsel, James R. Murray, Esquire, for their tireless efforts in overcoming many obstacles to obtaining insurance coverage […].”
  • In a Law360 interview, a former adversary representing AIG singled out Jim as a litigator he feared facing in court, telling the publication, “Jim is a savvy trial lawyer capable of quickly and effectively adjusting his presentation during trial.”
  • An opposing counsel on behalf of London insurers told U.S. News, “My view is that Jim provides the highest level of advocacy on behalf of his clients. He is a formidable though professional and fair adversary.”
  • Of all his accolades, he is most proud of juror feedback, such as these unsolicited comments from a Jury Forewoman: “Mr. Murray, I wanted to convey to you what a comprehensive and methodical case you presented to the jurors over these past weeks. There was hardly a juror in that room who didn’t at one time voice that of all the attorneys present, any one of them would hope for your representation. Your demeanor was professional, non-judgmental, non-condescending and sans ‘smoke and mirrors’ tactics. Thank you for an eye-opening experience.”

Outside the Firm

Jim is married to Lynne Bivona and has a son and daughter. He was raised on a farm and ranch on the Fort Peck Reservation in Eastern Montana. He plays folk and country music when he has time, and for many years has caught the occasional gig with his brother in their Northwest band, Smoke Creek.

Experience

  • Insurance counsel to Beebe Medical Institute, Inc. in Lewes, Delaware.
  • Trial counsel for the policyholder in Boeing v. Aetna Casualty & Sur., et al., in Seattle, Washington, one of first favorable jury verdicts in an environmental case. Underlying liabilities exceeded $100 million.
  • Trial counsel in Primary Health, Inc. v. Hudson in Boise, Idaho, obtaining bad faith verdict against an insurance company, including $9.7 million in punitive damages, $700,000 more than Jim asked for in closing argument.
  • Appointed Special Insurance Coverage Counsel for the Debtors in the Northwest Province of Jesuits (Oregon) ($115 million recovery), the Diocese of Helena (Montana) ($15 million recovery), and the Diocese of Duluth and New Ulm (Minnesota) (pending). The Chief Financial Officer of the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, summarized his views in commenting to Best Lawyers: “I cannot imagine anyone as able to calmly represent what we stand for in the midst of the storm as Jim.”
  • Lead counsel for the policyholder in Voicestream Wireless Corp. v. Federal Ins. Co., et al., in securing a unanimous Ninth Circuit decision finding defense coverage for lawsuits alleging bodily injury from using cell phones.
  • Trial counsel in bench trial against London Market Insurers in IMO Industries v. Transamerica Corporation, et al., regarding excess insurance issues (New Jersey).
  • Lead counsel for the FDIC, as conservator for IndyMac Federal Bank, F.S.B., in a mortgage insurance lawsuit in federal court in California. The case settled with the reinstatement of more than $100 million in mortgage insurance.
  • Argued for Immunex in National Surety Corp. v. Immunex Corp. (no insurer right to reimbursement of defense costs) and for amici Costco, Puget Sound Energy, and Weyerhaeuser in Fluke Corp. v. Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. (choice of law and coverage for punitive damages) in the Washington Supreme Court.
  • Argued for Warren Pumps in Viking Pump, Inc. v. Century Indemnity Co. (choice of law and allocation) in Delaware Chancery Court.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2022–2024, Exclusive Winner of the Client Choice Award for Insurance & Reinsurance USA, by Lexology
  • 2022–2024, “Top 500 Leading Litigators in America,” listed in Lawdragon
  • 2009–2024, “Litigation Star,” listed in Benchmark Litigation
  • 2020–2024, “National Practice Area Star,” listed in Benchmark Litigation
  • 2011–2024, Insurance Law in Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2018–2021, 2023–2024, Litigation – Insurance in Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2022, “Nation’s Top One Percent,” listed by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel
  • 2020, “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Insurance, Washington, D.C., listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2020, Washington, D.C. Trailblazer, listed in The National Law Journal
  • 2009–2023, Washington, D.C., “Super Lawyer” in Insurance Coverage, listed in Super Lawyers
  • 2007–2023, Insurance: Policyholder Law (D.C.), listed in Chambers USA
  • 2019–2023, Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder Law, listed in Chambers USA
  • 2020–2022, listed in Euromoney’s Best of the Best USA Expert Guide
  • 2019, “Client Service All-Star,” listed by BTI Consulting Group
  • 2014–2021, “Top 100 Trial Lawyer,” listed by National Trial Lawyers
  • 2009–2023, listed in Who’s Who Legal – Insurance & Reinsurance
  • 2019–2022, Global Leader in Insurance & Reinsurance, listed in Who’s Who Legal
  • 2019–2023, Thought Leader in Insurance & Reinsurance, listed in Who’s Who Legal
  • 2014–2015, 2017–2023, listed in The Legal 500 United States
  • 2018–2021, listed in Euromoney’s Insurance and Reinsurance Expert Guide
  • 2017, “Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazer,” listed in The National Law Journal
  • 2017–2019, listed in Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
  • 2009–2017, Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder Law (DC), listed in Chambers USA
  • 2011 and 2013, “MVP in Insurance Coverage,” listed in Law360
  • 2007, Civil Litigation (Washington State), listed in Chambers USA

Affiliations

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy
  • The National Trial Lawyers
  • American College of Coverage Counsel
Professional Activities

Jim is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel, an invitation-only organization of preeminent lawyers representing the interests of both policyholders and insurers dedicated to improving the quality of the practice of insurance law and to increase civility and professionalism in the field.

He was an adjunct professor in trial advocacy at the University of Washington School of Law for many years and serves on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (both trial and deposition programs).

He has served as secretary of the Montana State Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee and was on that committee for more than a decade. He currently serves on the advisory board of the University of Montana College of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the Board of the UM Alumni Foundation.

Credentials

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Washington
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • Washington

Education

  • The University of Montana, BA
  • Harvard Law School, JD
  • University of Oxford, BA (Law)
  • University of Oxford, BCL (Law), (Rhodes Scholarship Extended)