Panel Counsel Standards

The Hartford is one of the leading property and casualty insurers in the United States. Founded in 1810, The Hartford is recognized for its financial strength and stability, operational excellence, and superior customer service.

The Hartford is committed to provide professional, expert and responsive legal services to our customers. Establishing and maintaining effective partnered relationships with claims defense counsel is an integral part of our claims service offering. We believe that a strong collaborative relationship with our customers and claim defense counsel will lead to the best possible results for the customer in an efficient and cost conscious manner, consistent with counsel’s legal and ethical obligations.

These Standards shall not restrict counsel’s independent exercise of professional judgment in rendering legal services for the insured or otherwise interfere with any ethical directive governing the conduct of counsel.

These Standards are applicable to counsel retained by The Hartford Property and Casualty Claims, underwriting multiple lines of business through various underwriting companies. Different business units at The Hartford have created Standards in support of unique business needs. It is the responsibility of counsel to be cognizant of the business unit from which an assignment has made so that the appropriate Standards can be applied.

These Standards serve our claims defense counsel partners by ensuring consistency in claim litigation management expectations. The Standards foster a closely aligned litigation management partnership between defense counsel and our claims professionals. This enhanced level of partnership translates to a higher level of service for our customers.

It is expected that claim defense counsel fees and expenses accurately reflect the cost of the work necessary to defend and resolve the claim. Only reasonable and necessary fees and expenses allocable to a covered loss will be considered for payment or used to satisfied any self-insured retention or deductible provisions of an insured’s policy.

The Hartford Property and Claim reserves the right to review and audit all fees and disbursements submitted by claim defense counsel. This includes the right to examine and audit the corresponding legal file.