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Ellen MacDonald Farrell

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[email protected]

+1.202.434.7331

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Ellen has a 20-year track record of providing smart, cost-effective litigation strategies to US and international clients. She has achieved favorable settlements for companies and educational institutions in high-stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes involving asbestos, environmental, financial lines, sexual assault and employment-related claims. 

In addition to litigating complex cases, Ellen provides advice on insurance and reinsurance coverage issues and advises clients on insurance policy language and mitigation of risk. Ellen’s practice also includes a focus on insurance coverage issues relating to data privacy and security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Ellen brings an in-house perspective to her practice, as she was seconded for more than two years to the reinsurance department of a large US property casualty insurance company, and later served as an in-house coverage counsel for a national insurance carrier group.

Ellen is frequently invited to share her insights on insurance and reinsurance best practices at conferences and other events, and contributes articles to leading insurance industry and law publications.

Ellen has a 20-year track record of providing smart, cost-effective litigation strategies to US and international clients. She has achieved favorable settlements for companies and educational institutions in high-stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes involving asbestos, environmental, financial lines, sexual assault and employment-related claims. 

Experience

  • Represents insurers in Kentucky state court against a policyholder’s claim for insurance coverage for alleged asbestos liabilities.
  • Represents a carrier in connection with coverage claims involving alleged methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) contamination.
  • Represents a group of carriers in connection with coverage of nationwide anti-trust class actions.
  • Represents a carrier group in connection with the rehabilitation of a Delaware reinsurer.
  • Successfully defended insurers against bad faith claims in California state court involving an employment practices liability insurance policy.
  • Successfully defended an insurance carrier group in New York state court against a Fortune 100 company’s coverage claims for alleged asbestos liabilities.
  • Represented an insurance carrier group in liquidation proceedings involving an insolvent New Hampshire insurer.
  • Negotiated settlements of a tire manufacturer’s claim for insurance coverage for alleged asbestos liabilities on an expedited basis
  • Resolved a California-based valve manufacturer’s claim for insurance coverage for the company’s alleged asbestos liabilities through a creative settlement.
  • Negotiated the settlement of a manufacturer’s claim for insurance coverage for pollution liabilities in New Jersey.
  • Represented an insurer with respect to a college’s claims for insurance coverage for liabilities arising out of an employment dispute.
  • Represented an insurer with respect to a secondary school’s claim for insurance coverage for liabilities arising out of molestation claims.
  • Represented an insurer with respect to a university’s claim for insurance coverage for alleged liabilities arising out of a failed dorm construction project.
  • Represented an insurer with respect to a university’s claim for insurance coverage for alleged liabilities arising out of sexual assault and Title IX claims.
  • Successfully capped an insurer’s coverage obligations with respect to claims against a New York contractor.
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News & Press

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
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BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.
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Law360 highlighted the arrival of a team of five leading litigators to Mintz's nationally renowned Insurance and Reinsurance Practice. 
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Group of Five Attorneys Bring Extensive Experience Handling Insurance and Reinsurance Matters
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An article published by The American Lawyer highlighted the arrival of a team of five leading litigators to Mintz's nationally renowned Insurance and Reinsurance Practice. 
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Ellen has a 20-year track record of providing smart, cost-effective litigation strategies to US and international clients. She has achieved favorable settlements for companies and educational institutions in high-stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes involving asbestos, environmental, financial lines, sexual assault and employment-related claims. 

Recognition & Awards

  • Chambers USA: District of Columbia — Insurance: Insurer (2022 - 2023)
  • Best Lawyers in America: Insurance Law (2024)
  • Order of the Coif
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Ellen has a 20-year track record of providing smart, cost-effective litigation strategies to US and international clients. She has achieved favorable settlements for companies and educational institutions in high-stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes involving asbestos, environmental, financial lines, sexual assault and employment-related claims. 

Involvement

  • Member, ARIAS-US
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