Panel Counsel shall represent the interests of The Hartford and/or its insureds in a manner that upholds the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.
Panel Counsel shall abide by all federal and state laws, court rules, ethical directives and insurance commission memoranda in the handling of matters on behalf of The Hartford or for its insureds.
All attorneys in the Firm should be admitted members of the Bar, with no adverse disciplinary action.
The Hartford reserves the right to terminate Panel Counsel relationships based on circumstances that may impact the reputation of counsel, The Hartford, or its insureds. Panel Counsel must promptly self-report circumstances in which the ethics or reputation of the Panel Counsel Firm or any of its employees is called into question. By example, reportable issues include but are not limited to:
- Formal ethics complaint against any employee of the law firm with a court or licensing board with jurisdictional oversight of the law firm.
- Public reprimand, censure or other adverse decision in response to an ethics complaint.
- Criminal charges brought against any employee of the law firm.
- Criminal conviction of any employee of the law firm.
- Publication of any opinion or order that raises ethical issues unfavorable to the law firm.
Any report shall be made in writing to the Vice President, Claim Legal Operations with sufficient detail to allow The Hartford to assess the potential impact on reputation and/or effectiveness of Panel Counsel in its representations and future assignments.