Irene M. Hecht
Seattle
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3200
Seattle, WA 98101
Irene Hecht is currently of counsel with the firm.
Irene Hecht is an experienced trial lawyer whose practice emphasizes insurance law, particularly in coverage and bad faith litigation. She also has an active appellate practice and has represented insurance companies in trial courts, the Court of Appeals, and before the Washington State Supreme Court. Ms. Hecht has over 38 years of experience in coverage analysis and representation, including both commercial and personal lines, umbrella and excess coverage, and first- and third-party coverage. She has dealt with a wide variety of coverage issues including: advertising injury, personal injury, construction defect, automobile, underinsured motorist, personal injury protection, homeowner's, products-completed operations, E&O, and D&O. Ms. Hecht also actively advises and represents both insureds and insurers in bad faith litigation, with respect to both first- and third-party matters.
Professional and Civic Involvement
King County Bar Association, Member
Washington State Bar Association, Member
American Bar Association, Member; Tort and Insurance sections
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Northwest Insurance Coverage Association, Member
International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
Honors & Awards
Named to Super Lawyers list in Super Lawyers - Washington, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010-2023.
Articles & Presentations
Speaker, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update, Bifurcation in UIM Cases, 2017
Speaker, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update, Update on the Duty to Defend and the Duty to Explore Settlement, 2015
Presentation, An Overview of Bad Faith Law In Washington, 2014
Presentation, Northwest Insurance Coverage Association, USAA v. Speed: Road Rage—No Coverage or Duty to Defend, 2014
Speaker, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update, Hot Topics in UIM Coverage, 2012.
Speaker, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update, Duty to Settle, 2011.
Editor, Washington Bar Association, Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook, 2009 Supplement, Chapter 3: Exclusions to Liability Coverage, 2009.
National Business Institute, Inc., Challenges In Washington Insurance Coverage Litigation--Analyzing Insurance Contract Provisions & Bad Faith Litigation, 2003.
Speaker, Northwest Insurance Coverage Association, Multiple Claims, Inadequate Limits: What is an Insurer to Do?, 2002.
Washington State Bar Association – Editor, Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook, 2d ed., Chapter 3: Liability Insurance: Exclusions, 2001.
National Business Institute, Inc., Insurance Law: Third-Party Coverage in Washington--Automobile Insurance & Rules of Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest, 1998.
National Business Institute, Inc., Insurance Law: Third-Party Coverage in Washington - Automobile Coverage, 1996.
Speaker, King County Bar Association, The Liability Insurance Policy - The Duties to Defend, Pay and Settle, Reservations of Rights Situations, 1996.
Speaker, Seattle King County Bar Association, Special Issues in Defending an Insured, 1993.
Seattle King County Bar Association, Annual Nuts and Bolts of Insurance Coverage, Part II - Special Issues in Defending an Insured, 1992.
Speaker, Seattle-King County Bar Association, How to Read an Insurance Policy, 1990.
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