Amber LaFevers focuses her practice on representing insurers in complex insurance coverage litigation arising under professional liability, general liability, errors and omissions, director and officer and financial services policies. She also handles matters involving claims of bad faith and provides strategic counseling to clients regarding potential liability and strategies for handling underlying liability matters.

In addition to her coverage practice, Amber has also represented corporate clients in commercial disputes and corporate governance matters involving derivative liability claims, complex contract disputes and breach of fiduciary duty issues.

She has represented clients in state and federal courts across the country and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS AND EXPERIENCE

• Successfully litigated a declaratory judgment action for a financial institutions errors and omissions insurer resulting in the court declaring that the insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify the insured bank against a $7 million lawsuit arising out of alleged misrepresentations made to investors.

• Handled complex insurance coverage dispute in federal court involving publicly traded corporations competing for rights to alleged predecessors’ liability policies

• Handled environmental liability coverage action involving multiple contamination sites

• Assisted in the defense against third-party coverage actions involving allegations of bodily injury and property damage in hundreds of consolidated underlying actions arising out of water contamination allegedly caused by coal mining operations

• Successfully obtained favorable summary judgment ruling, which was affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court, regarding a complex insurance coverage matter involving allegations of bad faith and premium credits

• Representation of insurers as coverage counsel and in coverage litigation in connection with claims arising out of corporate scandals, financial disruptions and civil litigation

• Representation of insurers in high-stakes coverage litigation in federal and state courts nationwide and in the mediation of large, complex insurance coverage disputes

• Counsel professional liability and general liability insurers on both coverage issues and strategies for handling underlying liability matters

• Representation of corporate clients in complex business disputes and corporate governance matters involving derivative liability claims, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty issues

• Drafting litigation documents, including dispositive motions, such as motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment, memoranda of law, trial preparation materials, and engaging in substantial research tasks

PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Amber is a regular contributor to Aronberg Goldgehn's Insurance Coverage Update, including:

• "Illinois Appellate Court Finds Coverage for BIPA Lawsuit Under General Liability Policy," Insurance Coverage Update, May 8, 2020.

• “’Fee Exclusion’ in Bankers’ Liability Policy Bars Coverage for Settlement Related to Overdraft Fees,” Insurance Coverage Update, Oct. 31, 2017.

• “Second Circuit Affirms Policy Rescission Based on Misrepresentations and Rejects Ratification Arguments,” Insurance Coverage Update, Aug. 8, 2017.

• “Illinois Appellate Court Rejects Insurer’s Cooperation Clause Defense Absent Due Diligence and Substantial Prejudice,” Insurance Coverage Update, Aug. 5, 2015.

She has also published:

• "Fidelity Bonds: Evolution of the Trading Loss Exclusion." For The Defense, March 2014; 52-59.

• "A New Twist on the Birds and the Bees: Adolescent Female Sexuality and the Debates Surrounding Access to Birth Control, Comprehensive Sex Education and the HPV Vaccine," 28 Children’s Legal Rights Journal  13 (2008).

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Amber joined Aronberg Goldgehn as an associate in October 2012. She was promoted to a member of the firm in January 2018.

From 2015-2019, she has been recognized annually as an Emerging Lawyer in Insurance Coverage and Commercial Litigation by Illinois Leading Lawyers, a designation awarded to less than 2 percent of Illinois attorneys 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 or fewer years. Since 2014 she has been named annually a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers, a designation awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of Illinois attorneys 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.

A Los Angeles native, Amber attended the University of Southern California prior to law school and earned her degree, cum laude, in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. While at USC, she was a news reporter for Annenberg TV News and ran cross country for the Trojans. During law school, Amber served as a senior editor for the Children’s Legal Rights Journal.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Ounce of Prevention Fund’s Affiliates Board Member

 

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