Maggie J. Burnside

Associate

202.274.2995

More ways to contact Maggie J. Burnside

Maggie provides representation in complex commercial litigation cases, with an emphasis on insurance and reinsurance related matters.

Speaking Engagements

Demystifying Reinsurance – A Basics of P/C Reinsurance
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Maggie’s practice involves litigation, arbitration, and counseling on a wide range of commercial disputes, with an emphasis on complex insurance, arbitration, and reinsurance disputes. In addition to insurance and reinsurance disputes, she has experience with general commercial business litigation, defending against class action claims, intellectual property disputes, and advising on sexual misconduct claims.

Maggie has represented clients in both domestic and international reinsurance disputes involving yearly renewable term reinsurance premiums, increase in retention and recapture provisions, policy recission, underwriting and claims-handling practices, and general coverage.

In addition to her litigation and dispute work, Maggie is also involved in a variety of pro bono immigration matters.

  • Achieved a $30 million verdict for a global energy company in a contract dispute following a bench trial the Southern District of New York.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $100+ million contract dispute following a multiweek arbitration.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $100+ million contract dispute after a multiweek arbitration.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $115+ million contract dispute after a multiweek arbitration.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $100 million dispute with its cedent about the scope of the cedent’s recapture right under a Canadian YRT reinsurance agreement.
  • Achieved a favorable settlement for an insurer in an action to rescind a product contamination and recall policy.
  • Achieved a favorable settlement on behalf of a cryo-pump manufacturer regarding various intellectual property claims including trademark and copyright infringement.
  • Assisted in the successful briefing and argument on appeal in the Connecticut Supreme Court on an issue of first impression regarding the scope of “collapse” coverage under homeowners’ policies.
  • Counseled a reinsurer on its potential liability arising from the NFL concussion settlement.
  • Counseling multiple global reinsurers regarding the scope of the recapture rights in its book of U.S. yearly renewable term business.
  • Representing multiple global reinsurers in arbitrations over whether they can raise premiums on yearly renewable term life reinsurance.
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Insurance Law (2025-2026)
  • Leadership in Pro Bono and Community Service Award, Lawyers for Civil Rights (Boston)
Overview

Maggie’s practice involves litigation, arbitration, and counseling on a wide range of commercial disputes, with an emphasis on complex insurance, arbitration, and reinsurance disputes. In addition to insurance and reinsurance disputes, she has experience with general commercial business litigation, defending against class action claims, intellectual property disputes, and advising on sexual misconduct claims.

Maggie has represented clients in both domestic and international reinsurance disputes involving yearly renewable term reinsurance premiums, increase in retention and recapture provisions, policy recission, underwriting and claims-handling practices, and general coverage.

In addition to her litigation and dispute work, Maggie is also involved in a variety of pro bono immigration matters.

Representation Matters
  • Achieved a $30 million verdict for a global energy company in a contract dispute following a bench trial the Southern District of New York.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $100+ million contract dispute following a multiweek arbitration.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $100+ million contract dispute after a multiweek arbitration.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $115+ million contract dispute after a multiweek arbitration.
  • Achieved victory for a reinsurer in a $100 million dispute with its cedent about the scope of the cedent’s recapture right under a Canadian YRT reinsurance agreement.
  • Achieved a favorable settlement for an insurer in an action to rescind a product contamination and recall policy.
  • Achieved a favorable settlement on behalf of a cryo-pump manufacturer regarding various intellectual property claims including trademark and copyright infringement.
  • Assisted in the successful briefing and argument on appeal in the Connecticut Supreme Court on an issue of first impression regarding the scope of “collapse” coverage under homeowners’ policies.
  • Counseled a reinsurer on its potential liability arising from the NFL concussion settlement.
  • Counseling multiple global reinsurers regarding the scope of the recapture rights in its book of U.S. yearly renewable term business.
  • Representing multiple global reinsurers in arbitrations over whether they can raise premiums on yearly renewable term life reinsurance.
Insights

Speaking Engagements

Demystifying Reinsurance – A Basics of P/C Reinsurance

See all insights from Maggie J. Burnside

Awards
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Insurance Law (2025-2026)
  • Leadership in Pro Bono and Community Service Award, Lawyers for Civil Rights (Boston)

Top areas of focus

  • Judicial intern, The Honorable Tommy Miller, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Norfolk, VA, 2015
  • Judicial intern, The Honorable Roderick C. Young, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Richmond, VA, 2015

Education

  • William & Mary Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2017
  • Denison University, B.A., 2012

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia (Inactive)
  • Speaker, “Hot Topic – AI Issues,” Demystifying Reinsurance – A Basics of P/C Reinsurance, Reinsurance Association of America’s (RAA) Re Basics Conference, May 8, 2024.