Miller Friel, PLLC is pleased to announce that Bernard P. (Bernie) Bell has joined the firm as a partner, serving clients from Miller Friel’s Washington, DC, and New York offices. Mr. Bell was previously a partner in the Washington, DC office of Jones Day, a top 10 AmLaw Global 100 law firm.
A nationally recognized insurance recovery practitioner, author and speaker, Mr. Bell has served as lead counsel pursing insurance recovery across a full range of disputed claims. His recent representations include engagements to recover property damage and business interruption losses caused by catastrophic events at refineries, petrochemical plants, industrial facilities, golf courses and hospitality venues. For decades, he has successfully pursued recovery under D&O and other liability policies for the costs of defending and resolving government subpoenas and investigations, and various breach-of-duty, securities and ERISA claims. He also advises clients on environmental, cyber, privacy and transactional insurance products, including tax position, representation and warranty, and environmental insurance policies.
“We hire only top tier insurance recovery lawyers like Bernie; he is a tremendous addition to Miller Friel,” said Mark Miller, co-founder of Miller Friel. “I’ve known Bernie since I first practiced with him 20 years ago,” added Brian Friel, co-founder and Managing Partner. Brian Friel commented that, “Bernie also shares our vision of how our firm’s model — focusing exclusively on corporate policyholders – can deliver better services than many big law general practice firms with insurance coverage practices.” Miller noted, “he is also highly respected among clients and within the insurance recovery bar. Bernie will play a key role in growing the firm.”
“Miller Friel’s partners each have in excess of 20 years of experience pursuing insurance recovery at some of the world’s largest and finest law firms,” Mr. Bell said, also adding:
I share Miller Friel’s belief that we can bring our experience and collective judgment, gleaned from decades ‘in the trenches,’ to assist our clients from an agile platform that is not compromised by legal or business conflicts with insurance companies. Miller Friel has demonstrated that a cohesive, highly trained team of dedicated insurance coverage lawyers delivers unsurpassed value to clients.
Mr. Bell further stated, “I look forward to working with Miller Friel to build on their record of efficiently handling the world’s most complex and difficult insurance disputes, and to further establish Miller Friel as the leading insurance recovery law firm in the country.”
Mr. Bell is a graduate of Colgate University and the Fordham University School of Law, where he was an editor of the Law Review. He is a Fellow in the American College of Contractual and Extra-Contractual Counsel.