David J. Altschuler brings over 20 years of experience to the firm’s Professional Liability Coverage Group, advising insurers on complex coverage issues and disputes.

His experience includes helping clients evaluate high-stakes exposures and navigate complex coverage issues, as well as assisting in the drafting and development of professional liability policy language. His coverage counseling and litigation experience includes directors and officers (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), and employment practices liability (EPL) coverage and related lines of insurance.

Throughout his career, David has handled coverage counseling and litigation across a broad range of insurance lines, including professional liability, CGL, aviation, mass torts, environmental, and transportation. On the professional liability side, he handles claims involving architects and engineers on major infrastructure and construction projects, including large scale rail projects and professional sports stadiums. His work also extends to bad faith claims, coverage-related class actions, and commercial disputes.

Prior to joining BatesCarey, David served as counsel at a Chicago business and insurance law firm, representing domestic and London market insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation. He previously worked at a national law firm in Chicago, advising insurers nationwide on complex coverage issues.

  • Selected for Law Bulletin Media’s Illinois Leading Lawyers in Insurance, Insurance Coverage, Reinsurance, and Professional Malpractice Defense (2022)

  • AEP Generation Resources, Inc., et al. v. AG Insurance SA/NV, et al., Case No. 18CV004317, Franklin County, Ohio. Represented London market insurers in complex environmental coverage litigation in Ohio involving pre-1986 policies and claims related to coal ash disposal regulations.
  • Whitlock Air Service, Inc. v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, Case No. 25-cv-0230 (JSR) (S.D.N.Y.) Obtained summary judgment after oral argument in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, establishing that neither an aviation general liability policy nor an aerial applicator aircraft policy covered damages from herbicide spraying.
  • Aviation Coverage Disputes Handled coverage matters for aviation insurers stemming from aircraft crashes and related liability claims throughout the country, including National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA v. Triumvirate, LLC, et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00146 (D. Alaska), a coverage dispute that arose out of a heli-skiing accident.
  • Opioid and Chemical Hair-Relaxer Litigation Worked on high-stakes coverage matters involving opioid claims, including Walgreen Co. v. ACE American Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 2022 CH 04283 (Cook County, Illinois), and the multidistrict litigation over chemical hair relaxer exposure, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, 1:23-cv-00818 (N.D. Ill.).
  • Aircraft Stranded in Russia Represented aviation insurers in coverage disputes involving aircraft stranded in Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including BBAM US LP, et al. v. KLN 510 Tokio Marine Kiln, Case No. CGC-22-603451 (San Francisco Superior Court), and Aviation Capital Group LLC, et al. v. Chubb European Group SE, et al., Case No. 23-cv-680 (Los Angeles Superior Court).

  • Helped draft course materials for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education addressing construction litigation discovery.

  • Developed client presentations on conflicts of interest, the role of independent counsel, and key Illinois insurance coverage issues.