William D. Shea

William D. ‘Bill’ Shea is ranked Band 2 in Insurance Law in Louisiana by Chambers USA.

Bill advises clients on a host of insurance regulatory matters throughout the Southeast, as well as both commercial litigation and insurance litigation throughout Louisiana.  In his insurance regulatory practice, Bill advises both insurers and insurance producers. He has successfully obtained Certificates of Authority for insurers seeking to do business in Louisiana, as well as other states. He also has assisted insurance companies with other matters involving licensing and compliance, preparing contracts between insurance companies, marketing entities, claims organizations and agents, as well as responding to consumer complaints and giving guidance on market conduct matters.  Bill also routinely handles disputes between regulated entities and the Louisiana Department of Insurance, including administrative litigation with the Division of Administrative Law, encompassing matters involving Cease & Desist Orders, license revocations, fines, and the issuance of Directives, Bulletins, and other regulatory communications from the Department of Insurance. 

Additionally, Bill has assisted individual insurance producers and agencies with a wide variety of issues including licensing, compliance, contract disputes, responding to formal complaints filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and preparing employment agreements between agencies and individual agents.

In his litigation practice, Bill has represented clients in matters involving breach of contract, lease disputes, mortgage foreclosures, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, and in matters involving claims for impairment of contracts based on constitutional issues.   He has successfully defended insurance agents and agencies in matters involving errors and omissions, including claims for failure to procure.  He also represents insurers in matters including insurance coverage disputes, claims for bad faith, property insurance claims and claims for personal injury.

Bill has successfully prosecuted matters involving breaches of obligations under unfair trade and trade secret laws.  He has also defended oil and gas companies in matters involving imprudent operations and claims for damage to mineral reservoirs, and has represented banking clients in matters involving garnishments, breach of warranty and conversion.