Insurance Defense
Defending insurance companies and their insureds across all policy types — auto, CGL, homeowners, and D&O.
Overview
Insurance defense is the cornerstone of our practice and the area where Ennis, Baynard, Morton, Medlin & Brown has built its strongest reputation. We represent and defend insurance companies and their insureds in all types of lawsuits pertaining to insurance policies, including personal auto, commercial auto, garage liability, homeowners, commercial general liability (CGL), and directors and officers (D&O) policies.
Our firm is listed in Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys — a distinction that insurance companies rely on when selecting defense counsel. This listing reflects our track record of delivering effective, cost-efficient defense outcomes across thousands of claims over more than two decades. Representative clients include Allstate Insurance Co., American Empire, Arbitration Forums Inc., and Bankers Insurance, among others.
When an individual or business is sued and their insurance policy provides coverage for the alleged harm, the insurance company retains defense counsel to represent the insured party in court. Insurance defense attorneys must understand both courtroom trial dynamics and the contractual complexities of insurance policies. Our attorneys bring that dual expertise to every case.
What sets our approach apart is our commitment to early, accurate case evaluation. Insurance companies value defense counsel who can realistically assess exposure from the outset, develop a sound litigation strategy, manage discovery costs, and — when the facts and law support it — take a case to verdict. Our attorneys have that trial experience, and it informs how we handle every matter from initial assignment through final resolution.
The experience that comes with trying cases — not just settling them — is what allows our attorneys to better predict and influence outcomes. More often than not, cases are best evaluated by predicting how a jury would rule, and our decades of actual trial experience give us an edge that benefits every client we represent.
Our attorneys are active members of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and the Defense Research Institute, and our Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating reflects the confidence our peers place in our defense practice.
Types of Cases We Handle
Auto Liability Defense
Defense of personal and commercial auto claims including bodily injury, property damage, and UM/UIM disputes.
Premises Liability
Defense of property owners against slip-and-fall, negligent maintenance, and inadequate security claims.
Commercial General Liability (CGL)
Defense under CGL policies for bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, and advertising injury claims.
Construction Defect Claims
Defense of contractors and insurers against defective workmanship and project-related property damage allegations.
Products Liability Defense
Defense of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers against design defect and failure-to-warn claims.
Directors & Officers (D&O)
Defense of corporate officers against breach of fiduciary duty, mismanagement, and regulatory violation claims.
Why Ennis, Baynard, Morton, Medlin & Brown
Our listing in Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys is the credential carriers recognize when selecting defense counsel. Combined with Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ratings, active NCADA leadership including Board positions and Amicus Brief authorship, and representative clients including Allstate and American Empire, our firm offers the credibility and courtroom experience that insurance defense demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Insurance defense is the practice of representing insurance companies and their policyholders when lawsuits are filed against them. The insurance company retains defense counsel to manage the legal defense on behalf of the insured party.
Insurance defense attorneys are retained by insurance carriers, self-insured corporations, and third-party administrators (TPAs). Our firm has earned its place on numerous carrier panels through decades of consistent results and our listing in Best's Directory.
Insurance defense involves a three-party relationship between the insured, the insurance carrier, and defense counsel. Defense attorneys must balance the interests of both the insured and the carrier while managing litigation costs and maintaining clear communication with adjusters throughout the process.
Need Aggressive Representation?
Contact our Wilmington office to discuss your case. We'll be where you need us.