William D. Shea

Practice Areas

Insurance, Insurance Regulatory, Litigation, Commercial Litigation

Career

Adams and Reese Partner William D. ‘Bill’ Shea advises clients on a host of insurance regulatory matters throughout the Southeast, as well as both commercial litigation and insurance litigation throughout Louisiana. In his insurance regulatory practice, Bill advises both insurers and insurance producers. He has successfully obtained Certificates of Authority for insurers seeking to do business in Louisiana, as well as other states. He also has assisted insurance companies with other matters involving licensing and compliance, preparing contracts between insurance companies, marketing entities, claims organizations and agents, as well as responding to consumer complaints and giving guidance on market conduct matters. Bill also routinely handles disputes between regulated entities and the Louisiana Department of Insurance, including administrative litigation with the Division of Administrative Law, encompassing matters involving Cease & Desist Orders, license revocations, fines, and the issuance of Directives, Bulletins, and other regulatory communications from the Department of Insurance.

Additionally, Bill has assisted individual insurance producers and agencies with a wide variety of issues including licensing, compliance, contract disputes, responding to formal complaints filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and preparing employment agreements between agencies and individual agents.

In his litigation practice, Bill has represented clients in matters involving breach of contract, lease disputes, mortgage foreclosures, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, and in matters involving claims for impairment of contracts based on constitutional issues. He has successfully defended insurance agents and agencies in matters involving errors and omissions, including claims for failure to procure. He also represents insurers in matters including insurance coverage disputes, claims for bad faith, property insurance claims and claims for personal injury.

Professional Memberships

Louisiana State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Baton Rouge Bar Association; Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors; Country Club of Louisiana, Board of Directors; Louisiana Appleseed, Board President; Leadership Louisiana, Class of 2015

Personal

Bill is active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and previously served as BRAC’s general counsel. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Louisiana Appleseed. Bill previously served on the Board of Directors of the Baton Rouge Symphony and the Country Club of Louisiana. He is a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Church.