William F. Knauss, III

Bill counsels and represents insurers in connection with coverage issues and disputes arising under professional liability and general liability insurance policies.

In addition, Bill advises businesses and institutions on data privacy and cybersecurity matters, from initial containment and recovery to obligations under data privacy laws and responses to government inquiries.

Bill’s legal expertise is complemented by significant operational experience at a major insurance carrier, where he led teams responsible for physical damage coverages in the Mountain West and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Representative Matters

• Counsels insurers in matters involving first-party cyber insurance incidents, including claims for business interruption, data recovery, cyber extortion, and other first-party coverages.
• Represents insurers for third-party claims arising from cyber and privacy-related matters, including for technology-related professional services.
• Conducts legal research and drafts pleadings addressing a wide variety of procedural and substantive issues for insurers involved in coverage litigation.
• Assists in monitoring complex litigation in state and federal courts and counsels professional liability insurers on coverage issues with respect to such litigation.
• Provides real-time incident response guidance in connection with cybersecurity events and data privacy incidents, such as ransomware, phishing, and business email compromise.

Professional Experience

• Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO)
  • Claims Director (2015-2019)
  • Claims Manager (2012-2015)
  • Various management roles (2005-2012)

Affiliations

• Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
• American Bar Association