Profile
Bill counsels and represents insurers in connection with coverage issues and disputes arising under professional liability and general liability insurance policies. Bill’s legal expertise is complemented by significant operational experience at a major insurance carrier, where he served as a claims director with responsibility for physical damage coverages in the Mountain West and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Experience
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.
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
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., cum laude, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
B.S., B.A., with honors and with distinction, The Schreyer Honors College at Pennsylvania State University
Law Journals
Member, Journal of Law, Economics and Policy
Bar and Court Memberships
- District of Columbia Bar
- Virginia Bar
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Related News & Insights
- Blog PostInsured Bank’s Acceptance of Loan Payments Without Good Faith Constitutes Uninsurable LossWiley Executive SummaryWilliam F. Knauss, IIIFebruary 3, 2023
- Blog PostMultiple Claims Against Insured Related to COVID-19 Outbreak Constitute Separate ClaimsWiley Executive SummaryWilliam F. Knauss, IIIJanuary 6, 2023
- Blog PostInsurer Entitled to Rescind Policy for Insured’s Concealment of Lawsuit Filed Prior to Policy PeriodWiley Executive SummaryWilliam F. Knauss, IIINovember 29, 2022
- Blog PostDelaware Federal Court: No Coverage Under D&O Policy For Claims Based On Acts Alleged To Have Occurred Prior To Insured Entity’s FormationWiley Executive SummaryWilliam F. Knauss, IIIJune 6, 2022