Stephen P. Pate

Co-Chair, Property Insurance Group

Recent News:

Cozen O’Connor’s Stephen Pate Named Secretary-Treasurer of the American College of Coverage Counsel

CHICAGO, May 11, 2023 — Stephen P. Pate, member of the Global Insurance Department, has been named secretary-treasurer of the prestigious American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Stephen Pate focuses his litigation practice on property insurance matters, Directors and Officers insurance matters, business interruption issues, CGL insurance matters, builders risk matters, commercial general liability insurance disputes, fraud, and various other extracontractual litigation matters. Over a 30 year career in coverage work, he has tried more than 45 first-party extracontractual cases to verdict. Prior to joining the firm, Stephen had been partner in the Houston office of an international law firm since 1994.

A Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel, in May 2017 Stephen was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Regents and was re-elected to a second three-year term in 2020. ACCC was established in 2012 and is composed of preeminent lawyers representing both insurers and policyholders involved in coverage and extracontractual matters. Since 2006 he has also been recognized by Chambers and Partners USA in Insurance-Texas. The Texas Supreme Court Historical Society presented Stephen with the 2021 President's Award, which honors the members who has made outstanding service contributions to the Society. Stephen is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Law Institute, the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, and Law360's Editorial Advisory Boards: Insurance.

Stephen received his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University. Stephen earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. While in law school, he was research editor for the Vanderbilt Journal and he is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

News

Cozen O’Connor’s Stephen Pate Named Secretary-Treasurer of the American College of Coverage Counsel

May 11, 2023

CHICAGO, May 11, 2023 — Stephen P. Pate, member of the Global Insurance Department, has been named secretary-treasurer of the prestigious American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

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.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

In A Hail Mary, Virus Coverage Suits Flood State Courts

March 24, 2022

Alycen Moss and Stephen Pate were quoted in a Law360 article discussing the new wave of COVID-19 coverage lawsuits that have hit state and federal courts.

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.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Stephen Pate Named Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates

October 22, 2020

Stephen Pate, member of the firm’s Global Insurance Department, has been named an advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Four Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as 2020 Texas Super Lawyers

September 24, 2020

Cozen O’Connor attorneys David L. Barron, Stephen P. Pate, A. Martin Wickliff, Jr., and Joseph A. Ziemianski were named 2020 Texas Super Lawyers.

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).

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

Three Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as 2019 Texas Super Lawyers

September 19, 2019

Cozen O’Connor attorneys Stephen P. Pate, A. Martin Wickliff, Jr., and Joseph A. Ziemianski were named 2019 Texas Super Lawyers

138 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 28, 2019

Best Lawyers selected 138 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 21 of the firm’s national offices for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Stephen Pate Receives Prestigious Andrew C. Hecker Award from the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel

August 05, 2019

Stephen Pate received the prestigious Andrew C. Hecker Award from the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), which is presented annually to the federation member who authors the year's most outstanding article in a federation publication.

Stephen Pate Appointed to Member of the State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Charges—Business, Consumer, Insurance & Employment Committee

May 23, 2019

Stephen Pate has been appointed by the State Bar of Texas as a member of the State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Charges—Business, Consumer, Insurance & Employment Committee. As a member, Stephen will represent the State Bar and lawyers across the state of Texas.

Stephen Pate Named to Law360’s 2019 Insurance Editorial Advisory Board

April 30, 2019

Stephen Pate, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance Department, has been named one of Law360’s 2019 Editorial Advisory Board members.

57 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2019 Guide

April 25, 2019

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the USA, has ranked 57 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the Guide’s 2019 edition.

Insurance Cases To Watch In 2019

January 01, 2019

Stephen Pate, a member in the firm's Global Insurance Department, was quoted in Law360's article, "Insurance Cases To Watch In 2019."

The Biggest Property & Casualty Insurance Decisions Of 2018

December 14, 2018

Stephen Pate, a member in the firm Global Insurance Department, was quoted in Law360's feature "The Biggest Property & Casualty Insurance Decisions of 2018."

There's A Storm Brewing For Some Texas Contractors

November 29, 2018

Stephen Pate, a member in the firm's Global Insurance Practice, was quoted in Law360's article, "There's A Storm Brewing For Some Texas Contractors."

Agents Get Upper Hand In Negligence Suits With Ill. Ruling

October 22, 2018

Stephen Pate, of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance department, was quoted in Law360 discussing a split Illinois Supreme Court recently held that the two-year statute of limitations for negligence claims against insurance agents.

The Breakdown with Toni Waterman - Oct 18th 2018

October 18, 2018

Stephen Pate, of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance department, interviewed with ZBM 9 News of the Bermuda Broadcasting Company about the impact of that the legalization of cannabis has on the insurance industry.

Ohio Top Court Nixes Easy Path On Building Defect Coverage [Law360]

October 15, 2018

Stephen Pate, of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance department, was quoted in the Law360 article, Ohio Top Court Nixes Easy Path On Building Defect Coverage.

126 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 22, 2018

One hundred twenty-six Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 20 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Post-Harvey Coverage Suits Fall, But Causation Rows Linger [Law360]

August 20, 2018

Stephen Pate, of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance department, was quoted in an article for Law360 discussing coverage suits following Hurrican Harvey.

Pa. Shooting Case Will Test Bounds of 'Accident' Coverage [Law360]

July 17, 2018

Stephen Pate, of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance department, was quoted in the article Pa. Shooting Case Will Test Bounds of 'Accident' Coverage from Law360.

Publications

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Recent Developments and Special Situations Impacting Removal in Insurance Cases

May 10, 2023

Stephen P. Pate co-authored the article, “Should I Stay or Should I Go? Recent Developments and Special Situations Impacting Removal in Insurance Cases” for the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) May issue of For The Defense.

Ten from '21 — The Top Ten Property Insurance Decisions from 2021

April 21, 2022

Alycen Moss and Stephen Pate wrote the article, "Ten from '21 — The top ten property insurance decisions from 2021," published by Westlaw Today.

Hurricane Laura: What Can Insurers Expect with Claims in Texas and Louisiana? [Alert]

September 02, 2020

Joseph A. Ziemianski, Melissa Brill, Alycen A. Moss, Stephen P. Pate, and Paul C. Ferland discuss what insurers can expect based on prior hurricanes.

Texas Supreme Court Follows Through on Barbara Technologies and Ortiz With Three Important New Decisions [Alert]

April 22, 2020

Karl A. Schulz and Stephen P. Pate discuss three recent cases decided by the Texas Suprme Court that revived policyholder suits that were in limbo when Barbara Technologies and Ortiz were decided.

Law in a Time of Pandemic: How Texas Courts and Lawyers Responded to the Pandemic of 1918-1920 [Texas Bar Blog]

April 20, 2020

Stephen Pate contributed an article to Texas Bar Blog titled, "Law in a Time of Pandemic: How Texas Courts and Lawyers Responded to the Pandemic of 1918-1920." In this article, Stephen discusses the coronavirus pandemic and how courts responded in a similar way during the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic in 1918-1920.

Property Insurance Coverage Issues Associated with COVID-19 [Alert]

March 16, 2020

Joe Ziemianski, Melissa Brill, Alycen Moss, Stephen Pate, and Paul Ferland discuss how courts have analyzed and applied first-party property policies for these types of non-physical losses, potential coverage under a civil authority provision, and pollution/contamination exclusions.

Texas Supreme Court Identifies Claims that Survive the Payment of an Insurance Appraisal Award [Alert]

July 17, 2019

Donnie M. Apodaca, II, Stephen Pate, and Alicia G. Curran discuss two recent the Supreme Court of Texas’s decisions and considerations for insurers before they invoke appraisal and pay the appraisal awards.

The ALI’s Restatement of the Law on Liability Insurance [Law.com]

May 29, 2019

Stephen Pate discusses why there is a controversy and how Texas—and some other states—are likely to deal with the ALI’s Restatement of the Law on Liability Insurance.

The Imperfect Storm: Harvey Litigation Will Be Fought Under Hailstorm Bill's Rules, While 'Menchaca' Looms in the Background [Texas Lawyer]

June 01, 2018

Stephen Pate, of Cozen O'Connor's Global Insurance Department, authored an article on his predictions on the course of Hurricane Harvey litigation entitled, "The Imperfect Storm: Harvey Litigation Will Be Governed by Hailstorm Bill's Rules, While 'Menchaca' Looms in the Background."

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1983
  • Vanderbilt University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1980

Awards & Honors

Chambers and Partners USA: Texas: Insurance 2006-2022

Best Lawyers in America 2018-2023

2017-2019 Irish Legal 100

Expert Guides: Insurance & Reinsurance

Texas Super Lawyers 2019-2020

Texas Supreme Court Historical Society: President's Award, 2021

  • Texas
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Texas
  • Board of Regents, American College of Coverage Counsel
  • American Bar Foundation
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
  • Law360's Editorial Advisory Boards: Insurance
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Texas State Bar Pattern Jury Charges - Business, Consumer, Insurance & Employment Committee - Member