Shareholder
Mr. Waitzman’s experience spans the range of the litigation process, including pre-suit claim investigation, analysis, extensive fact and expert discovery, dispositive motion practice and trial. He has significant experience representing insurers in coverage disputes nationwide involving long-tail exposure, including bodily injury and property damage related to asbestos, environmental, mass tort and product liability claims.
Mr. Waitzman regularly counsels clients with respect to claims involving insurance coverage issues, including the nature and extent of the duty to defend; trigger of coverage; allocation; potential bad faith claims; responding to settlement demands; and policyholder and insurer insolvencies. He has also represented individuals in breach of contract and consumer fraud actions.
Prior to working at HSPRD, Mr. Waitzman served as a judicial extern for Judge Lee Preston, then Supervising Judge of the Commercial Section of the Cook County Law Division.
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D. 2006) — with honors — Recipient, Allen H. Schwartz Merit Scholarship (2003) — Recipient, Edward D. Rosenberg Memorial Scholarship (2004) — Recipient, Chicago-Kent Merit Scholarship.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.S. 2000)
Illinois (2006)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel, an invitation-only organization of leading insurance coverage attorneys.
Named to the Super Lawyers list in Illinois by Super Lawyers® (2015 – 2025)
Named to the Rising Stars list in Illinois by Super Lawyers® (2012 – 2014)
AV® Preeminent™ Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
Member, Illinois State Bar Association
Member, Chicago Bar Association
Member, DRI
English
Lead trial counsel in six-week jury and bench trials in inter-insurer contribution litigation seeking recovery for thousands of asbestos claims and significant Superfund liabilities.
Directed joint defense group site team for a phase 1 trial site in an insurance coverage suit concerning environmental liabilities at sites throughout the United States.
In a multi-million dollar asbestos bodily injury insurance coverage suit, served as trial counsel during a several month trial resulting in a ruling that the insured had failed to demonstrate primary exhaustion.
Obtained a favorable ruling on motion for summary judgment regarding an insurer’s duty to defend under a vendor’s endorsement.
Served as co-liaison counsel for communication with the Court and Discovery Master on behalf of joint defense group in an insurance coverage suit concerning environmental liabilities at sites throughout the United States.
