Policyholders’ Heaviest Hitters | Attorneys | New York

Orrie A. Levy
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My Approach

I’ve earned a reputation as a highly persuasive trial and appellate lawyer who values integrity, credibility, and commitment to my clients above all else. Whether I’m interacting with clients or opposing counsel, I inspire trust and confidence in people very quickly. My clients don’t like surprises, so they appreciate that I always strive to keep them accurately informed and comfortable with the path we’re taking.

Overview

Orrie has represented policyholders in high-stakes insurance disputes for more than ten years. His approach is defined by a deep analytical rigor and a commitment to staying “on offense” for his clients. Orrie is known for his “no surprises” philosophy, precision brief-writing, and persuasive oral advocacy. He views every case as a complex puzzle, maintaining a relentless focus on securing maximum recovery. This mix of tenacious advocacy and strategic thinking has led to Orrie’s recovery of nearly $1 billion in coverage for his clients.

Before entering private practice, Orrie honed his litigation skills as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx, where he briefed and argued more than 40 appeals and tried numerous cases to verdict. He also served as a federal law clerk in the Southern District of New York, where he was heavily invovled in alternative dispute resolution. These formative experiences in the public sector inform Orrie’s ability to cut to the heart of a matter, resolve disputes outside of litigation and, as necessary, persuade judges and juries in high-impact cases.

Experience Highlights

  • As a member of a litigation team representing Givaudan Fragrances Corporation, Orrie was instrumental in gaining a victory that affirmed the company’s ability to access more than $500 million in insurance coverage in claims stemming from environmental damage to New Jersey’s Passaic River and Newark Bay.

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  • Orrie represented Harman, a Samsung subsidiary, in its pursuit of insurance coverage for the settlement of an underlying securities class action. After leading Harman to victory in the Delaware Superior Court, Orrie was instrumental in defending that victory on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, securing more than $30 million in D&O insurance coverage for Harman.

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Relevant Experience

  • Secured more than $30 million in D&O insurance coverage for Harman International Industries’ settlement of an underlying securities class action. After prevailing in the Delaware Superior Court, Orrie was instrumental in defending that victory on appeal. In a matter of first impression, the Delaware Supreme Court found in Illinois Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Harman Int'l Indus., Inc., No. 47, 2025, 2026 WL 204209, at *2 (Del. Jan. 27, 2026), that a  “bump-up” exclusion did not bar coverage for the settlement.
  • Orrie serves as counsel to Walmart Inc. in seeking insurance coverage for hundreds of millions in defense costs incurred in defense against thousands of opioid-related lawsuits and for more than $3.1 billion in settlements of certain of those lawsuits.
  • Secured tens of millions in coverage for Frontier Communications, a subsidiary of Verizon, in connection with its settlement of underlying litigation.  After securing a critical win on summary judgment in the Delaware Superior Court in Frontier Commc'ns Holdings, Inc. v. Indian Harbor Ins. Co., No. N24C-01-131 SKR CCLD, 2025 WL 2530543, at *1 (Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 14, 2025), Orrie was able to resolve the case on favorable terms for Frontier.
  • Counsel to Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (“MSGE”) in seeking insurance coverage for the settlement of derivative and class-action lawsuits brought by various stockholders of MSGE and MSG Networks, Inc. (“MSGN”) who alleged wrongful acts and millions of dollars in damages resulting from a transaction in which MSGN merged with a subsidiary of MSGE in July 2021.
  • Counsel to Conduent Inc., a Xerox subsidiary, in securing a rare reversal of a jury verdict due to insurer’s counsel’s violation of evidentiary rulings, which confused the jury and resulted in a verdict that was manifestly unjust. In addition, the firm secured tens of millions of dollars in coverage for Conduent’s defense and settlement of a Medicaid investigation and related civil lawsuits by the Texas Attorney General, which was affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court.
  • Counsel to AR Capital and its directors and officers in securing rulings ordering that insurers must pay in excess of $70 million incurred in defending and resolving securities matters.
  • Represented Superior Silica Sands, LLC in connection with its pursuit of coverage for property damage and business interruption losses stemming from a 2019 berm breach at Superior’s sand mining facility in San Antonio, Texas. After aggressively litigating Superior’s right to coverage in the Northern District of Texas against numerous insurers, Orrie secured a highly favorable settlement for Superior.
  • Secured access to more than $500 million in insurance coverage for Givadaun Fragrances Corporation for claims stemming from environmental damage to New Jersey’s Passaic River and Newark Bay.
  • Secured access to more than $40 million in insurance coverage for directors and officers of major financial firm in connection with an underlying lawsuit alleging breaches of fiduciary duty. After obtaining a favorable ruling on summary judgment, Orrie successfully defended the ruling on appeal. The decision, Westchester Fire Ins. Co. v. Schorsch, 186 A.D.3d 132, 147 (1st Dep’t 2020), reaffirmed an insurers’ broad defense obligation under New York law.
  • Obtained favorable settlements for major real estate investment company totaling more than $30 million in insurance coverage in connection with underlying securities class actions, derivative lawsuits, and an SEC investigation.
  • Represented Oracle Corporation in the Southern District of New York in its pursuit of coverage under a technology “E&O” policy for an underlying lawsuit arising from services performed by Oracle for the State or Oregon. After briefing a motion for judgment on the pleadings, Orrie and the Oracle team leveraged that motion into a favorable settlement.
  • Secured a significant victory for individual directors who had been denied coverage for defense costs in an underlying action. The decision, captioned Spicer et al.v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, P.A., No. 1:20-CV-3784-GHW, 2021 WL 2809601, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. July 3, 2021), reaffirmed an insurer’s broad defense obligation under New York law.

Clerkships

  • Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Recognition and Rankings

  • Selected for Profiles in Leadership Journal’s Emerging Leaders award, 2025
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers as One to Watch for Commercial Litigation, 2021-2026
  • Winner of Business Insurance’s “Break Out Award,” 2024
  • Named to Law360's 2024 Top Attorneys Under 40 List
  • Named to Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under List, 2023 - 2025
  • New York Metro Super Lawyers “Rising Star”- Business Litigation, 2018-2025
  • Recognized by Euromoney as a Rising Star for the Insurance & Reinsurance Category, 2022
  • Ranked a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers (2018-2021)

Articles

  • The New Frontier of Advanced Reproductive Technology: Reevaluating Modern Legal Parenthood, 37 Harv. J. L. & Gender 107 (2014)
  • Due Process and the Post-Padilla Landscape: Balancing the Severity of Deportation As A Collateral Consequence with A Court's Traditionally Narrow Obligation in Accepting A Plea, 11 Cardozo Pub. L. Pol'y & Ethics J. 41 (2012)
  • Understanding the Law of Mandatory Surcharges Imposed Pursuant to New York Penal Law § 60.35, Empire State Prosecutor, New York Prosecutors Training Institute (Fall 2012) (on file with author)

Community and Professional Activities

  • Law360, Insurance Authority Specialty Lines Editorial Advisory Board, 2024

News/Insights