Laura (Megan) Faust

Shareholder
Akron
222 South Main Street
Suite 400
Akron, OH 44308
P 330.849.6617
F 330.376.4577
P 330.849.6617 | F 330.376.4577

Overview

Megan helps U.S. and international insurance company clients resolve complex coverage questions across the spectrum of insurance coverages: employment, environmental, asbestos, toxic torts, construction, homeowner’s, and automobile liability, life, and disability, as well as professional liability, directors’ and officers’, and insurance recovery. She analyzes policies and claims to clarify responsibilities, duty to indemnify and duty to defend. She litigates coverage disputes and bad faith claims across Ohio and the nation, including first-party and third-party matters. And she handles appellate cases – both advising trial counsel and briefing and arguing appeals – before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Clients appreciate Megan’s honest analyses and look to her common sense and logic for guidance in interpreting their policies and coverages. What’s more, they count on her steadfast advocacy to always pursue the factually correct result like, for example, in a case defending a commercial insurance carrier against bad faith and breach of contract claims that has been going on for more than five years. The client, steadfast in their belief that they did nothing wrong, continues to rely on her to present their case and defend their position in the lawsuit, now on its third appeal after Megan delivered victories in the Federal trial court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to her work assisting insurance companies, she has developed particular strengths in guiding corporate clients through a broad range of insurance coverage and risk management issues.

Megan believes that a well-informed client is the best partner. Subsequently, she regularly offers training and workshops to her clients on timely and important topics, like cybersecurity risks, insurer communications, coverage considerations, and others. She also works directly with client leadership to provide individualized coaching on trends and hot topics in insurance coverage.

Experience
  • Resolution and management of environmental insurance recovery litigation involving multiple historical primary, umbrella and excess liability insurers
  • Successful Federal Court litigation and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals representation of a commercial insurance carrier in coverage dispute arising from sexual harassment lawsuit
  • Successful representation of a professional liability insurance carrier in coverage litigation and appeal arising from alleged malpractice claims
  • Negotiation of favorable settlement in connection with environmental insurance policies
  • Litigation and resolution of multiple insurance coverage claims involving allegations of defective construction and issues relating to indemnities and additional insureds
Languages
  1. French
Services

Industries

Education

  1. Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D.
  2. The College of Wooster, B.A.

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  2. U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  3. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  4. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Recognitions

  • Named The Best Lawyers in America® Akron "Lawyer of the Year" for Insurance Law (2024)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law (2007-2024); Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants (2007-2017, 2021-2024); and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants (2024)
  • Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2009-2024)
  • Selected as one of "Top 50 Female Lawyers in Ohio" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2010 & 2011)
  • Selected as one of "Top 25 Female Lawyers in Cleveland" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2009)
  • AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Akron Bar Association
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
    • Co-Chair, Ladder Down 2019 Program Northeast Ohio – program focusing on empowering women lawyers in leadership, business development and mentoring
  • Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA)
    • Co-Chair, Insurance Committee (2013 - present)
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Ohio Women's Bar Association
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
  • USLAW Network
    • Chair, USLAW Network Insurance and Risk Management Practice Group
Community Affiliations
  • The Arthritis Foundation, Northeast Ohio Board of Directors
  • The Arthritis Foundation – Platinum Ambassador Advocate
  • The College of Wooster, W Association, Board Member

Insights

  1. Alerts
    Ohio Appellate Court Finds Virtual Contact Is Not Enough for Personal Jurisdiction (Jul 7, 2022)
    It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a … Drone? (May 4, 2021)
    COVID-19 Insurance Coverage — The Uncertainty Continues (Feb 1, 2021)
    At Least One Ohio Court Has Found That Restaurants’ COVID-19 Business Losses Are Covered (Jan 25, 2021)
    Are Violations of the FMCSRs Admissible to Show Negligence in a Trucking Case? Not According to the Sixth Circuit (Jan 12, 2021)
  2. Articles
    Defense and Coverage - Can They Co-Exist? - USLAW Spring/Summer Newsletter (May 15, 2012)
    Handling Liability and Coverage Claims: Splitting Files, the Duty to Defend, and Ethical Considerations for Lawyers - FDCC Quarterly, Volume 62, Number 1 (Apr 1, 2012)
    When Claims and Coverage Collide - Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Quarterly Newsletter (Fall 2011)
    Tender of Indemnity and Insurance Issues -- Additional Insured and Supplemental Payment Coverages (Fall 2009)
  3. Presentations
    "Is it Strategically Sound to Underinsure Yourself or Your Entity?" - USLAW Network's Worldwide Virtual Retreat (Fall 2020)
    "Mitigating Cybersecurity Risk During Your Transition Back to the Workplace" - Roetzel Webinar (May 2020)
    "Cyber Insurance Issues" - Akron Bar Association (March 2020)
    “Excess Coverage – Maximizing Your Protection” - Lockton Companies Complex Risk Symposium (2018)
    “Defense Counsel – Insurer Communications” - USLAW Network Spring Conference (2018)
  4. Firm News
    19 Roetzel Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers/Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2023)
    Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
    22 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2022)
    Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
    Twenty-Seven Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List (Dec 30, 2021)

Overview

Megan helps U.S. and international insurance company clients resolve complex coverage questions across the spectrum of insurance coverages: employment, environmental, asbestos, toxic torts, construction, homeowner’s, and automobile liability, life, and disability, as well as professional liability, directors’ and officers’, and insurance recovery. She analyzes policies and claims to clarify responsibilities, duty to indemnify and duty to defend. She litigates coverage disputes and bad faith claims across Ohio and the nation, including first-party and third-party matters. And she handles appellate cases – both advising trial counsel and briefing and arguing appeals – before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Clients appreciate Megan’s honest analyses and look to her common sense and logic for guidance in interpreting their policies and coverages. What’s more, they count on her steadfast advocacy to always pursue the factually correct result like, for example, in a case defending a commercial insurance carrier against bad faith and breach of contract claims that has been going on for more than five years. The client, steadfast in their belief that they did nothing wrong, continues to rely on her to present their case and defend their position in the lawsuit, now on its third appeal after Megan delivered victories in the Federal trial court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to her work assisting insurance companies, she has developed particular strengths in guiding corporate clients through a broad range of insurance coverage and risk management issues.

Megan believes that a well-informed client is the best partner. Subsequently, she regularly offers training and workshops to her clients on timely and important topics, like cybersecurity risks, insurer communications, coverage considerations, and others. She also works directly with client leadership to provide individualized coaching on trends and hot topics in insurance coverage.

Experience
  • Resolution and management of environmental insurance recovery litigation involving multiple historical primary, umbrella and excess liability insurers
  • Successful Federal Court litigation and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals representation of a commercial insurance carrier in coverage dispute arising from sexual harassment lawsuit
  • Successful representation of a professional liability insurance carrier in coverage litigation and appeal arising from alleged malpractice claims
  • Negotiation of favorable settlement in connection with environmental insurance policies
  • Litigation and resolution of multiple insurance coverage claims involving allegations of defective construction and issues relating to indemnities and additional insureds
Languages
  1. French

Education

  1. Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D.
  2. The College of Wooster, B.A.

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  2. U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  3. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  4. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Recognitions

  • Named The Best Lawyers in America® Akron "Lawyer of the Year" for Insurance Law (2024)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law (2007-2024); Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants (2007-2017, 2021-2024); and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants (2024)
  • Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2009-2024)
  • Selected as one of "Top 50 Female Lawyers in Ohio" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2010 & 2011)
  • Selected as one of "Top 25 Female Lawyers in Cleveland" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2009)
  • AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Akron Bar Association
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
    • Co-Chair, Ladder Down 2019 Program Northeast Ohio – program focusing on empowering women lawyers in leadership, business development and mentoring
  • Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA)
    • Co-Chair, Insurance Committee (2013 - present)
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Ohio Women's Bar Association
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
  • USLAW Network
    • Chair, USLAW Network Insurance and Risk Management Practice Group
Community Affiliations
  • The Arthritis Foundation, Northeast Ohio Board of Directors
  • The Arthritis Foundation – Platinum Ambassador Advocate
  • The College of Wooster, W Association, Board Member

Insights

  1. Alerts
    Ohio Appellate Court Finds Virtual Contact Is Not Enough for Personal Jurisdiction (Jul 7, 2022)
    It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a … Drone? (May 4, 2021)
    COVID-19 Insurance Coverage — The Uncertainty Continues (Feb 1, 2021)
    At Least One Ohio Court Has Found That Restaurants’ COVID-19 Business Losses Are Covered (Jan 25, 2021)
    Are Violations of the FMCSRs Admissible to Show Negligence in a Trucking Case? Not According to the Sixth Circuit (Jan 12, 2021)
  2. Articles
    Defense and Coverage - Can They Co-Exist? - USLAW Spring/Summer Newsletter (May 15, 2012)
    Handling Liability and Coverage Claims: Splitting Files, the Duty to Defend, and Ethical Considerations for Lawyers - FDCC Quarterly, Volume 62, Number 1 (Apr 1, 2012)
    When Claims and Coverage Collide - Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Quarterly Newsletter (Fall 2011)
    Tender of Indemnity and Insurance Issues -- Additional Insured and Supplemental Payment Coverages (Fall 2009)
  3. Presentations
    "Is it Strategically Sound to Underinsure Yourself or Your Entity?" - USLAW Network's Worldwide Virtual Retreat (Fall 2020)
    "Mitigating Cybersecurity Risk During Your Transition Back to the Workplace" - Roetzel Webinar (May 2020)
    "Cyber Insurance Issues" - Akron Bar Association (March 2020)
    “Excess Coverage – Maximizing Your Protection” - Lockton Companies Complex Risk Symposium (2018)
    “Defense Counsel – Insurer Communications” - USLAW Network Spring Conference (2018)
  4. Firm News
    19 Roetzel Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers/Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2023)
    Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
    22 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars (Dec 29, 2022)
    Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
    Twenty-Seven Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List (Dec 30, 2021)