Reed Smith announced that Andrew Roman and Richard Ejzak – both esteemed insurance lawyers who are authorities in handling policyholder disputes – have joined the firm as partners in the firm’s Insurance Recovery Group.
Formerly partners of Cohen & Grigsby, Roman and Ejzak further bolster the litigation side of Reed Smith’s recognized insurance recovery capabilities in the United States.
“Richard and Andrew have deep roots in Pittsburgh, and we are thrilled to welcome these highly skilled senior litigators to the Insurance Recovery team,” said Doug Cameron, Reed Smith’s Managing Partner of Americas. “They are well known for their successful representation of policyholders, and their practices align perfectly with ours; it’s a great fit for both our clients and theirs.”
Roman has represented policyholders in insurance coverage and insurance law matters for nearly four decades, with a practice focus on business interruption claims and insurance coverage matters under various forms of property, liability and fidelity insurance. He has been counsel in numerous precedent-setting decisions for policyholders in trial and appellate courts across the U.S.
“I have known many Reed Smith attorneys throughout my career and have always had the highest regard for this skilled and talented group. In considering our move, Reed Smith was our first choice,” Roman said. “With the planned combination of our former firm with Dentons and that firm’s priority for representing insurance companies, we knew there was a need to move our insurance recovery practice, and since that has been completely amicable, we fully expect referral work from Cohen & Grigsby on policyholder matters that they cannot handle.”
Ejzak has represented policyholders for more than three decades, maximizing clients’ recoveries under a broad range of policies, including property insurance, crime insurance, directors & officers, and general liability insurance. He is an experienced appellate lawyer who has worked on landmark decisions on behalf of parties and as an amicus curiae in federal and state courts. His arrival provides additional opportunity for Ejzak to also engage with Reed Smith’s leading national appellate practice.
“This transition is seamless and will allow us to continue serving our clients with the same commitment to excellence they have come to expect,” Ejzak said. “We are looking forward to having new colleagues around the world and taking on new coverage matters from across the firm’s international client base.”
Roman is a 1976 cum laude graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. He has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer annually since 2012 and has served as Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh since 2008.
Ejzak is a 1989 graduate of Duke University School of Law. He is a Trustee of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and a tenor in the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
“We are pleased to welcome Andy and Rich as colleagues,” said Ron Francis, Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh Managing Partner. “They are both well known to us as lawyers and as community leaders. We expect they will help us continue to attract additional top talent in insurance recovery and other key practices.”