Suzanne Y. Badawi

Suzanne Badawi is special counsel in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office. She is a member of the firm's Insurance Litigation Team.

Areas of Practice

Suzanne is a civil litigator focusing on insurance bad faith/coverage litigation and business litigation. She has several published decisions reflecting her successful results. She also provides consulting and training to claims handlers and managers throughout California and nationwide.

She has extensive experience litigating cases in California state and federal courts with successful results by way of attacking the pleadings, summary judgment, trial, nominal settlements, or dismissal. Her approach is to litigate cases successfully and cost effectively, with regular client communication, to ensure client objectives are met.

Suzanne is an appointed member of the California State Bar Affinity Committee and a Senior Fellow and Barrister (Order of Veritas) of the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Litigation Counsel of America.

She is also a frequent lecturer on legal ethics and professional liability law in California.

Honors

• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Barrister, Order of Veritas (The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Litigation Counsel of America)  

• Member, Diversity Law Institute

• Member, The Trial Law Institute

Articles

Insurance Law Blog Posts

• "New Insurance Law: The Extension of California’s “Genuine Dispute” Doctrine to Disputes Over the Value of General Damages In UM/UIM Claims Handling," February 15, 2023
• "Insurer Entitled to Arbitrate Disputed UIM Claim Before Insured Could Pursue Bad Faith Action," June 9, 2021
• "Auto Insurer Properly Denied Liability Coverage Where Insured Operated a “Non-Owned” Auto Furnished for Insured’s Regular Use," October 27, 2017 

Books

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• Presenter, “Professional Liability Insurance: What Your E&O Policy Does and Does Not Cover,” California Bar Association, Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, June 2, 2016
• Co-presenter with U.S. District Court Bankruptcy Judge Neil Bason, “Social Media: The Digital Highway to Hell?” California Bankruptcy Forum 2016: Ethics Panel at the annual California Bankruptcy Forum, May 21, 2016
• Presenter, California Bar Association Event, “Advertising Your Expertise and Experience: What Can You Do to Build Your Practice While Meeting Your Ethical Obligations?” Webinar, California Bar Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, December 1, 2014
• Presenter, Practicing Law Institute, “Getting The Engagement Letter Right,” Webinar Program, October 14, 2014
• Presenter, "Mistakes Lawyers Make When They're Desperate for Business," California Bar Annual Solo and Small Firm Summit, June 20, 2014
• Presenter, "Legal Ethics in a Tech World and Tips to Avoid Legal Malpractice Claims," The American Lawyer Media, Litigator Summit, San Francisco, May 27, 2014
• Book Signing for California Legal Malpractice Law, sponsored by the American Lawyer Media, San Francisco, May 27, 2014
• Solo Presenter, "Ethical Considerations for Attorneys Practicing in the Age of Technology," Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Annual Spring Conference, April 2014
• Video Interview, "Using social media in conjunction with voir dire," Daily Journal, October 12, 2013
• Panelist, "Lawyers in Transition: Practical and Ethical Considerations When Making Changes," California State Bar Convention, October 12, 2013
• Presenter, "Client Selection, Relations & Billing: Keeping Your Law Practice Ethically Compliant and Profitable," California Solo and Small Firm Summit, June 21, 2013
• Presenter, "Recent Developments Regarding the 'Genuine Dispute' Defense," Luce Forward Insurance Litigation Seminar, October 14, 2010
• Solo Presenter, "Insurance in a Climate of Change," Luce Forward Insurance Litigation Seminar, September 11, 2008

Memberships

• Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
• Appointed Member of Cal Bar Affinity that oversees and administers the State Bar of California-sponsored insurance programs pursuant to CA Bus & Prof Code §6141.3
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, Illinois Bar Association