Orrie Levy brings a notable public sector background in civil and criminal trials and appeals to his national insurance recovery practice. With a focus on directors & officers liability insurance coverage issues, Orrie also handles high-stakes insurance disputes for corporate policyholders relating to property insurance and business interruption policies, professional liability coverage, and disputes arising from indemnification agreements. His results can be valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
In January 2025, Orrie secured a major win on the hot issue of “bump-up” exclusions in D&O policies, which insurers have tried to rely on to avoid covering lawsuits that commonly arise after M&A transactions. Harman International Industries settled one such lawsuit for $28 million after its merger with Samsung Electronics, and in the coverage fight that ensued Orrie won a major ruling from the Delaware Superior Court that the contested exclusion did not apply.
In another case involving a directors & officers liability coverage dispute, Orrie secured for Paramount Global (formerly Viacom Inc.) a ruling from the Superior Court of Delaware that Viacom’s insurers cannot avoid covering a $122.5 million settlement resolving a shareholder lawsuit over Viacom’s merger with CBS.
Orrie’s briefing and oral argument persuaded Delaware Superior Court Judge Mary Johnston to do something she had never done in 20 years on the bench: set aside a jury verdict. Her decision invalidated a verdict for AIG and against Orrie’s client, Conduent State Healthcare, over a $236 million Medicaid settlement. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the groundbreaking decision in February 2025. AIG had defied evidentiary rulings at trial, and the decision Orrie secured will preserve the integrity of the trial system.
In a high-profile case touching on a national crisis, Orrie is championing Walmart’s claim for billions of dollars in coverage for opioid-related liability. He recently defeated efforts by dozens of Walmart’s insurers to dismiss the action and earned a ruling establishing Walmart’s right to coverage for defense costs in thousands of opioid-related lawsuits. The court’s January 2024 decision addressed multiple issues of first impression under Arkansas law.
Orrie plays an active role in mentoring and overseeing associates and staff at Cohen Ziffer and serves as pro bono coordinator for the firm. He has earned a number of honors for his work on behalf of clients, including recognition as a 2024 Rising Star for Insurance by Law360 and 2024 Break Out Awards honoree by Business Insurance. Before joining private practice, he clerked for the Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith of the Southern District of New York.
