Michael Savett
Partner | Philadelphia
Michael Savett, a Partner based in the Philadelphia office, represents domestic and London market insurers in property and casualty coverage and bad faith matters.
Having served as claims counsel for a major excess-and-surplus lines insurer, Mike offers insurance company clients a unique perspective. He also draws on 25 years of private-practice experience to advise insurers on issues involving commercial liability, property, auto, transportation, homeowners and renters coverage. He provides clients with first- and third-party coverage analysis, litigates coverage disputes, develops and implements cost-sharing agreements, and guides insurers on methods of bad faith and coverage dispute avoidance.
Mike is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Temple University Beasley School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Arizona.
He is frequently quoted in legal publications such as Law360 and Bloomberg Law about emerging insurance coverage issues.
Mike maintains an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been frequently named as a Pennsylvania and New Jersey “Super Lawyer” in the area of Insurance Coverage by Thomson Reuters. Mike is a member of the DRI’s Insurance Law Committee, the Philadelphia Loss Conference, and ClaimsXchange.
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Arizona
Education
- University of Delaware
Bachelor of Arts
- Temple University Beasley School of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Courts
- United States District Court – Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court – Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court – Southern District of New York
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United States District Court – District of New Jersey
Experiences
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Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Mt. Hawley Ins. Co., 213 A.D.3d 442 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dept. 2023) (circuity of the action doctrine applicable to intra-insurer coverage dispute over defense and indemnity payments)
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Shields v. Ramslee Motors, 240 N.J. 479 (2020) (landlord had no duty to maintain driveway because lease delegated duty to maintain property to tenant as if it were “de facto owner”)
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Pennsylvania National Ins. Co. v. Parkshore Development Corp., 403 Fed. Appx. 770 (3rd Cir. 2010) (faulty workmanship by subcontractors at a condominium project not “occurrence”)
Media
Michael Savett Quoted in Business Insurance Article – DOJ whistleblower program puts investigation coverage in focus
Philadelphia Partner Michael Savett was recently quoted in a Business Insurance article discussing the implications of the U.S. Department of Justice’s new whistleblower rewards program. The article highlights how this program could lead to an increase in investigations and emphasizes the need for companies to review their directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance policies for adequat...
Partner Michael Savett Quoted in Law360 Article – Growth In Captives Gives Insureds More Control, Experts Say
Philadelphia Partner Michael Savett was quoted in a recent article discussing the rising interest in captive insurance as a solution for commercial policyholders seeking more control over their risk management. Michael highlights that traditional markets are increasingly reluctant to cover unpredictable risks such as natural catastrophes and wildfires, pushing companies towards captive insurance. ...
New Jersey Supreme Court Doesn’t Show a Whole Lot-ta Love for Commercial Property Owners
Insurers of commercial property owners take note: in a 4-3 decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court significantly expanded sidewalk liability law. Owners of vacant commercial lots in the Garden State now have a duty to maintain the public sidewalks abutting their lots in reasonably good condition and are liable to pedestrians injured as a result of their negligent failure to do so. Under the facts ...
Risk Transfer Allocation Issues
Join Partner Michael Savett and co-presenters Gary Kull (Kennedys), Rejo Matthews (Arcina Risk Group), and Alexa Schmidt (Selective Insurance Company of America) for the Insurance Coverages and Allocation Issues Conference hosted by Perrin Conferences on May 8, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. This presentation will cover: How defense costs and indemnity payments are allocated in the context of con...
Partner Michael Savett Quoted in Business Insurance Article – Bridge collapse could spur waves of coverage litigation
In a recent Business Insurance article, Philadelphia-based Partner Michael Savett shared insights into the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. As the reconstruction unfolds, he highlighted the anticipated surge in subrogation claims as insurers seek to recover costs from liable parties. With complexities surrounding liability limitation acts and the magnitude of losses...
