Suzanne Y. Badawi

Suzanne Badawi is special counsel in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office. She is a member of the firm's Insurance Litigation Team.

Areas of Practice

Suzanne is an insurance attorney who litigates disputes in state and federal courts and provides insurance companies with coverage advice. She primarily focuses on insurance law, including bad faith litigation and coverage in both the first- and third-party contexts.

Suzanne manages cases from inception of litigation through trial or other disposition. She has achieved successful results in numerous lawsuits involving claims of insurance bad faith, breach of contract, fraud and negligence. In addition, she advises insurance companies regarding coverage, policy interpretation and policy drafting. Suzanne's approach is to litigate cases successfully and cost effectively, with regular communication, to ensure that client objectives are met.

Suzanne is an appointed member of the California State Bar's Cal Bar Affinity Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, which administers the bar-sponsored lawyers Errors & Omissions insurance program. She was selected for Fellowship in the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society whose membership is limited to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation.

Suzanne also frequently lectures on legal ethics, professional liability law and insurance law in California.

Honors

• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Member, The Trial Law Institute

Articles

Insurance Law Blog Posts

• "Auto Insurer Properly Denied Liability Coverage Where Insured Operated a “Non-Owned” Auto Furnished for Insured’s Regular Use," October 27, 2017 

Books

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• Presenter, “Professional Liability Insurance: What Your E&O Policy Does and Does Not Cover,” California Bar Association, Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, June 2, 2016
• Co-presenter with U.S. District Court Bankruptcy Judge Neil Bason, “Social Media: The Digital Highway to Hell?” California Bankruptcy Forum 2016: Ethics Panel at the annual California Bankruptcy Forum, May 21, 2016
• Presenter, California Bar Association Event, “Advertising Your Expertise and Experience: What Can You Do to Build Your Practice While Meeting Your Ethical Obligations?” Webinar, California Bar Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, December 1, 2014
• Presenter, Practicing Law Institute, “Getting The Engagement Letter Right,” Webinar Program, October 14, 2014
• Presenter, "Mistakes Lawyers Make When They're Desperate for Business," California Bar Annual Solo and Small Firm Summit, June 20, 2014
• Presenter, "Legal Ethics in a Tech World and Tips to Avoid Legal Malpractice Claims," The American Lawyer Media, Litigator Summit, San Francisco, May 27, 2014
• Book Signing for California Legal Malpractice Law, sponsored by the American Lawyer Media, San Francisco, May 27, 2014
• Solo Presenter, "Ethical Considerations for Attorneys Practicing in the Age of Technology," Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Annual Spring Conference, April 2014
• Video Interview, "Using social media in conjunction with voir dire," Daily Journal, October 12, 2013
• Panelist, "Lawyers in Transition: Practical and Ethical Considerations When Making Changes," California State Bar Convention, October 12, 2013
• Presenter, "Client Selection, Relations & Billing: Keeping Your Law Practice Ethically Compliant and Profitable," California Solo and Small Firm Summit, June 21, 2013
• Presenter, "Recent Developments Regarding the 'Genuine Dispute' Defense," Luce Forward Insurance Litigation Seminar, October 14, 2010
• Solo Presenter, "Insurance in a Climate of Change," Luce Forward Insurance Litigation Seminar, September 11, 2008

Memberships

• Appointed Member, California State Bar Committee on Professional Liability Insurance (COPLI)
• Member, Litigation Section and the Law Practice Management and Technology Section of the California Bar Association
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, Illinois Bar Association