PROFESSIONALS

Matthew S. Sorem

Partner
blank image Matthew S. Sorem
10 South Wacker Drive
36th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606, US

T: 312.585.1433 F: 312.585.1401
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Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Matt counsels and represents insurers litigating complex coverage issues in state and federal courts nationwide.
He helps clients to manage and successfully resolve disputes arising out of high-exposure claims across a variety of subject areas, including:
 
  • Product Defect
  • Construction Defect
  • Mass Tort
  • Transportation
  • Environmental/Toxic Tort
  • Privacy and Cyber Liability
  • Bodily Injury
  • Personal and Advertising Injury
  • Bad Faith


Matt has extensive experience navigating novel questions of law and assessing their impact on clients’ coverage positions under commercial general liability, professional liability, pollution liability, excess/umbrella, and municipal liability policies. Matt is adept at working with insurers to craft litigation strategies that efficiently yet aggressively advance their positions and yield favorable results at both the trial and appellate levels.

Awards & Rankings

  • Illinois Super Lawyers® (Insurance Coverage), 2023 – 2024
  • Rising Star, Illinois Super Lawyers®, 2020 – 2021 
  • Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network, 2015

Before Nicolaides

Matt was editor-in-chief of the Loyola Law Journal at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He also represented Loyola in the American Bar Association’s Appellate Advocacy moot court competition.

Outside Nicolaides

Matt enjoys spending his time outside the office with his wife and son. He is a rugby fan and former player, motorcycle rider, runner, and avid reader.

EXPERIENCE

    Case Study

  • Thumbnail image for SONY Playstation breach
    SONY PlayStation breach

    In 2011, hackers breached Sony Corporation’s PlayStation Network, stealing the personal information of millions of users. Sony sought coverage for multiple class actions brought by users, asserting that the resulting claims triggered the “personal and advertising injury” coverage under CGL policies.

  • Obtained judgment that CGL insurer had no duty to defend a series of sexual abuse claims pursuant to policy's sexual abuse exclusion, defeating arguments by insured and underlying claimants that exclusion was both inapplicable and unenforceable as a matter of public policy.
  • Obtained judgment finding no coverage under aviation policy for purported additional insured who was sued by named insured subcontractor's employee for personal injury damages.
  • In a case of first impression regarding coverage for cyber/hacking claims, obtained summary judgment for insurer on grounds that "personal and advertising injury" coverage was not implicated under a CGL policy where the insured sought coverage for liability regarding the theft of personal data by third-party hackers.
  • Obtained reimbursement of millions of dollars in defense costs and prejudgment interest following reversal of erroneous coverage ruling against client.
  • Assisted client with development of policy form for cyber liability and network risk coverage.
  • Resolved claim favorably to excess insurer by devising arguments concerning the proper allocation of property damage arising from faulty braided steel water-supply lines.
  • Achieved favorable resolution of a coverage claim arising out of a scrap metal company's alleged liability to the EPA for cleanup costs at a Superfund site.
  • Obtained favorable settlement for media and marketing company in lawsuit arising from website design project.
  • Achieved favorable resolution of disputed claim arising out of policyholder's alleged manufacture and supply of defective or unsuitable inks for printing on plastic packaging.
  • Assisted insurer client in defense of direct action by French shipbuilder presenting trigger and allocation issues, among others. Shipbuilder alleged that it used resins supplied by client's policyholder to build boat hulls that were not suitable for marine use, causing the hulls to prematurely blister after few seasons of use.
INSIGHTS

ADDITIONAL SPEAKING & WRITING

Matt regularly gives presentations for groups of claim adjusters and in-house counsel on a variety of topics, with recent examples including: "Advanced Exhaustion and Allocation - Coverage Issues and Practical Applications" and "Restatement of Law - Liability Insurance." Matt is also co-author of Chapter 150 of New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition, Vol. 12, on initiating coverage litigation.

NEWS