Vanessa D. Durante

Vanessa represents U.S. and London-based insurers in coverage disputes, including extra-contractual litigation. Based in Houston, Vanessa is board certified in insurance law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her work spans the full range of issues that arise when coverage is contested — loss allocation, long-tail liabilities, priority of coverage, and bad faith claims — and she litigates those disputes at the primary, excess, and umbrella layers in state and federal court.

Vanessa’s practice covers commercial general liability, directors and officers, pollution, professional liability and errors and omissions, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, employment practices liability, and commercial property policies. Notable litigation victories include summary judgment, upheld on appeal, for an insurer sued by an oil company seeking to recover a $30 million self-insured retention it paid to settle claims from a refinery fire; she separately obtained summary judgment for a carrier in a declaratory judgment action brought by a co-insurer over priority of coverage and the duty to defend.

• Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch – Insurance Law (2022-2025)