Laura B. Dowgin

Member

Laura Dowgin focuses her practice on litigating and pursuing alternative dispute resolution of insurance coverage and commercial litigation disputes in both state and federal courts. She is an experienced coverage litigation attorney, handling declaratory judgment actions involving interpretation of commercial general liability and errors & omissions policies, as well as bad faith coverage disclaimers and additional insured disputes. Laura primarily represents insurers in complex coverage disputes arising out of general liability policies, professional liability policies, errors and omissions policies and directors and officers liability policies. Laura also regularly provides analyses and advice to insurers with respect to the availability of coverage for various types of claims, including mass toxic torts, allocation issues particular to long tail claims, construction defects, New York’s Labor Law, additional insured disputes, late notice disclaimers and bad faith issues.

Laura is co-vice-chair, office managing partner of the firm's New York office. Before joining Cozen O’Connor, Laura was an associate with a leading New York insurance law firm, focusing on commercial general liability insurance coverage. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Laura was a paralegal at a large international firm working on professional liability claims.

Laura earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, graduating in the top 4 percent. She was also the editor-in-chief of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal and was elected to the Order of the Coif honor society. She received her B.A. in history from Colgate University.

Experience

News

21 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

October 03, 2022

Super Lawyers has named 21 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Super Lawyers Recognizes 17 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys in New York

October 04, 2021

Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2021 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor Announces Changes to Firm Management

February 16, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2021 year.

Super Lawyers Recognizes 21 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys in New York

September 29, 2020

Super Lawyers has named 21 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2020 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 201 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

17 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

September 27, 2019

Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2019 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

18 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

September 21, 2018

Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. Twelve were recognized as Super Lawyers and five were named "Rising Stars."

12 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

October 19, 2017

Super Lawyers has named 12 attorneys at Cozen O’Connor to its 2017 lists of top practitioners in the New York metro area. Six were recognized as Super Lawyers and six were named “Rising Stars,” a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

19 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Recognized as New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

October 05, 2016

The 2016 New York Metro edition of Super Lawyers Magazine, published by Thomson Reuters, has named 21 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its list of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

Publications

Indiana Supreme Court Refuses to Hold Commercial Crime Policy Covers Ransomware Attack [Casualty Coverage Chronicle Blog]

June 30, 2021

Typically, comprehensive cyber insurance policies, rather than commercial crime policies, respond to claims of data breach and other cybercrimes. With the rise in hacking and ransomware attacks worldwide, businesses that may have chosen not to purchase cyber insurance may find themselves without...

When 1% Equals 100%: New York Rejects Fault Based Approach to Additional Insured Coverage [Casualty Coverage Chronicle Blog]

March 19, 2021

When a named insured is only 1% responsible for an accident, what percentage of indemnity coverage is owed to an additional insured? A recent New York federal court says 100%. In New York, additional insured coverage may very well extend to the additional insured’s own independent negligence, so...

NY Appellate Court: Liability Insurer Cannot Recover Defense Costs Absent Express Policy Provision [Alert]

January 11, 2021

Melissa Brill, Laura Dowgin, and Farrell Miller discuss the decision in American W. Home Ins. Co. v. Gjonaj Realty & Mgt. Co. and what insurers in New York need to do if they want to recover its defense fees when there is ultimately no duty to indemnify.

Risk Transfer Mechanisms [Best's Review]

September 01, 2020

Laura Dowgin contributed an article to Best's Review titled, "Risk Transfer Mechanisms" which discusses the difference between additional insured and contract indemnitee.

Paying for Both Sides of Litigation: Limitations on CGL Coverage [Casualty Coverage Chronicle Blog]

May 01, 2020

Commercial general liability policies often include additional insured endorsements that afford coverage to entities that are not named insureds, but who are covered under the policy for specific liability. For example, many general contractors in New York require their subcontractors to provide...

New York Bad Faith Update: Appellate Department Rejects Heightened Pleading Standard [Alert]

February 01, 2019

Laura Dowgin discusses the decision in D.K. Prop., Inc. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA and notes that while it resulted in a favorable outcome for the policyholder there has been no shift in New York bad faith law.

Education

  • Seton Hall University, J.D., magna cum laude, 2011
  • Colgate University, B.A., 2006

Awards & Honors

Selected to N.J. Super Lawyers. This award is conferred by Super Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Selected to N.Y. Super Lawyers Rising Stars List 2022. This award is conferred by Super Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court -- New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of New York