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L. Andrew Watson is a Partner at Butler, who joined the firm in 2000 in the Miami office and moved to the Charlotte office in 2010. Andy’s litigation practice focuses on first-party coverage and bad faith, which includes theft, fire, windstorm, and water damage claims in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. Andy is also experienced in handling third-party coverage opinions, declaratory judgment actions, and third-party liability defense matters, including automobile accidents, transportation network company defense matters, wrongful death, premises liability, construction defect, and employment discrimination. Andy is privileged to represent various syndicates in Lloyd’s insurance market in London, numerous U.S.-based insurers, and self-insured companies.

Andy received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School of Communications in 1991. He received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law in 1994. Before joining Butler, Andy served as an in-house Trial Counsel to Nationwide Insurance Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Before that, he served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Atlanta, representing the City’s Public Works and Water Departments.

Andy is certified by the State of Florida as an instructor for insurance adjuster training courses and has co-authored numerous industry publications.

Admissions

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina

Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers, 2025

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School of Communications
    Bachelor of Arts
  • Wharton School of Business
    Bachelor of Science
  • University of Florida College of Law
    Doctor of Jurisprudence

Memberships

  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA)
    North Carolina State Chair
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Association
  • North Carolina Bar, Insurance Law Council
    Member (Former Publications Co-chair)
  • Southern Loss Association (SLA)
  • Windstorm Insurance Network (WIND)

Courts

  • United States District Court – Southern District of Florida
  • United States District Court – Northern District of Georgia
  • United States District Court – Southern District of Georgia
  • United States District Court – Eastern District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court – Middle District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court – Western District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court – South Carolina District Court
  • United States District Court – Tennessee District Courts
  • United States District Court – West Virginia District Courts

Media

Best Lawyers – 2025 Edition

Join us in congratulating our attorneys who were recognized in the Best Lawyers 2025 publication! Click on their icons to learn more. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal ...

Best Lawyers – 2024 Edition

Join us in congratulating our attorneys who were recognized in the 2024 Best Lawyers publication! Click on their icons to learn more. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal ...

Hurricane Florence is aiming for the Carolinas

Hurricane Florence is rapidly intensifying into a major hurricane and is expected to make landfall later this week in North Carolina and South Carolina. The storm surge, destructive winds and rainfall flooding are expected to challenge historical records in the area. Those in Florence’s path are urged to take the necessary precautions and monitor local government resources and updates. Once F...

Handling Assignment of Benefit (“AOB”) Claims in the Wake of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey have damaged large areas of Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, as well as brought heavy rain and wind to Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. As insurers handle thousands of property damage claims in these areas, they will undoubtedly be presented with claims that have been assigned from insureds to damage-repair contractors. These are often referred to as assignment...

CTRL Your Future

For the second year in a row, Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig has spread some end of the school year cheer to seniors in eight different locations. Butler’s annual CTRL Your Future essay contest was created by the Firm’s Community Service Committee to recognize deserving high school seniors who have exhibited a commitment to their academics. The winners in each city received a brand-new laptop wi...

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Plrb Large Loss Conference

Andrew Watson spoke at the PLRB Large Loss Conference, October 28—30, 2015, in Washington DC.  Andy's topic was, “Arson Investigation Practice Pointers.”...

Through The Eyes of a Child: What DOES a Lawyer Do?

My 7-year-old daughter recently asked me, “What does a lawyer actually do?” She has been to my office many times during off-hours and gleans endless entertainment from the rotating office chairs, highlighters and binder clips. But this was her first expression of interest in the work actually going on in the office. I took the time to reflect on the best way to explain it. I try my best to be...

North Carolina Suffers Tornado Damage

The State of North Carolina suffered tornado damage on April 25 in several counties. On May 16 the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) issued two bulletins declaring a disaster in four North Carolina counties and suspending proof of loss and loss adjustment requirements in these counties. If you are an insurer impacted by these tornadoes or bulletins, or if you have other questions pe...

Navigating The Southern Bad-Faith Buffet: Extra-Contractual Liability In The Absence Of Breach Of Contract

In the Southeast, catastrophic natural disasters have become all too common, and the physical and financial consequences are borne by the entire region. Five of the top ten costliest hurricanes to hit the United States have impacted North Carolina, and with approximately $159.6 billion in insured coastal assets, North Carolina continues to have significant loss exposure. Insurance Bad Faith...

Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference

Andrew Watson spoke at Windstorm's Insurance Network Annual Conference in Orlando on January 29—30, 2013.  Andrew's topic was, "The F Word - Topical Fraud Issues in the Southeast."...

L. Andrew Watson