Paul L. Fields, Jr.
Partner – Atlanta
Paul L. Fields, Jr. represents domestic and international insurers, leading Fields Howell’s first-party property team as a respected attorney with over thirty years of experience. Paul does significant work in the areas of property, casualty and complex litigation.
Over the years, Paul has tried numerous jury trials, handling extensive and complicated bench trials and arbitrations. In recent years, Paul has been lead counsel in several successful multi-million dollar class-action lawsuits. Committed to his clients, he argued before appellate courts and had them reverse trial court decisions on multiple occasions, and he continues to handle various complicated matters.
Time and again, Paul has been elected by his peers for various awards and recognitions. Since 2021, Paul has been recognized by Chambers USA in the area of Insurance Law in Georgia. Additionally, Paul maintains an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell® for his high level of professional excellence and outstanding ethics. He has also been ranked among the top 5% of lawyers in Georgia by Super Lawyers® since 2011. In 2016, Paul won the Client Choice Award, presented by the International Law Office and Lexology, in the insurance category. Paul is also a fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel. Currently, Paul serves as counsel to a group dealing with property and casualty insurance issues in the London insurance market.
He received his Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Georgia in 1988.
Education
- University of Georgia, J.D., 1988
- cum laude
- Wake Forest University, B.A., 1985
Presentations and Publications
“Deposition Training,” presented virtually to various insurance professionals by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and David Walker (Walker Wilcox), (January, February 2021)
“Working from Home, Emails, and the Coronavirus,” presented virtually to London Market Syndicate by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Gregory L. Mast (March 31, 2020)
“Deposition Training,” presented to London Market Syndicate by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and David Walker (Walker Wilcox) in London, England (June 2019)
“Litigating in the U.S.,” presented to Lloyd’s Under 35 by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Colleen V. McCaffrey in London, England, (July 2015)
“Deposition Training,” presented to London Market Syndicate by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Gregory L. Mast in London, England, (February 2015)
“Deposition Training,” presented to London Market Syndicate by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Gregory L. Mast in London, England, (September 2013)
“Deposition Training,” presented to London Market Syndicate by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Caitlin M. Crist in London, England, (July 2013)
“Levels of Culpability in U.S. Tort Law and Their Effect on Issues in the Insurance Industry,” presented by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Gregory L. Mast in London, England, (December 2012)
“Diminished Value – Recoverable Under First-Party Policies? Underwriting and Adjusting Claims to Avoid Class Actions,” presented by Paul L. Fields and Gregory L. Mast in Richmond, Virginia, (December 2012)
“Diminished Value – Recoverable Under First-Party Policies? Underwriting and Adjusting Claims to Avoid Class Actions,” presented by Paul L. Fields, Jr. and Gregory L. Mast in London, (England, August 2012)
Admissions
State Bars
State Bar of Georgia, State & Superior Courts
Supreme Courts
United States Supreme Court
Georgia Supreme Court
Appellate Courts
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
District Courts
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
Memberships
American College of Coverage Counsel
Atlanta Bar Association
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Loss Executives Association
Southern Loss Association
Successfully defended a class action alleging the Syndicates in the Lloyd’s of London Insurance Market were not approved surplus lines insurers.
Obtained reversal of trial court’s refusal to allow Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s to intervene. Class counsel dismissed case in face of trial court’s summary judgement order. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v. David Bass et al., 2015 Ark. 178 Supreme Court of Arkansas No. CV-14-788
Represented the London Insurance Market in early and successful resolution of class action complaint relating to depreciation of labor in Arkansas.
Represented insurers in coverage dispute regarding several lawsuits brought by patients against insured physician’s group, including obtaining partial summary judgment regarding the coverage issues. Evanston Ins. Co. v. Watts, F.Supp.3d, 2014 WL 4954689
Obtained reversal of trial court in coverage dispute in the 11th Circuit. Atlantic Marine Florida, LLC v. Evanston Ins. Co., 775 F.3d 1268, 2014 WL 7331580
Obtained reversal of trial judge relating to anti-concurrent causation clause arising out of Hurricane Katrina. Penthouse Owners Ass’n, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, 612 F.3d 383 2010 WL 2773427
Retained summary judgment on behalf of insurer based upon classification limitation where horse riding accident resulted in rider becoming quadriplegic. Brit UW Ltd. v. Hallister Property Development, LLC 6 F.Supp3d 1321 2014 WL 988822
Achieved early resolution of class action alleging improprieties in forced-placed insurance coverage.
Obtained summary judgment from 11th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding $2 million fire claim, to the insurers based on breach of the protective safeguards endorsement. Chaucer Corporate Capital (No. 2) Ltd. v. Norman W. Paschall Co., Inc., 525 Fed. Appx. 895, 2013 WL 3963464
Obtained summary judgment in favor of carrier in suit alleging hail damage.
Obtained summary judgment from North Carolina Court of Appeals on behalf of the insurers regarding a contingency claim arising out of event cancellation holding policy did not cover lost profits and the unfair or deceptive practices statute was not violated. Defeat The Beat, Inc. v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, 194 N.C.App. 108, 669 S.E.2d 48 (2008)
Court of Appeals reversed denial of summary judgment to bar owner, in Dram Shop Act case based on the absence of evidence that establishment knew intoxicated patron was going to be driving. Becks v. Pierce, 282 Ga.App. 229, 638 S.E.2d 390 (2006)
Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment based on statute of limitations in this wrongful death/liquor liability suit seeking to recover multi-million dollar judgment. Mikell v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, 288 Ga.App. 430, 654 S.E.2d 227 (2007)
Lead counsel in arbitration against large national retailer seeking over $40 million arising out of alleged Hurricane Katrina damage.
Lead counsel for reinsurers of state insurance fund in $40 million arbitration against state parks commission for damages from Hurricane Ivan.
Obtaining summary judgment and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which affirmed a judgment for an insurer, in a large fire loss.
Defending insurers against a nationwide grocery chain’s claim for its multi-location Hurricane Katrina losses.
Advising various insurers on a $300 million factory explosion claim, which included property and time element coverage claims.
Counseling insurers regarding the handling of a $20 million business interruption claim caused by failed efforts to repair a sulfuric acid plant.