John D. Shugrue

Partner

Chicago

John is a partner in the Insurance Recovery Group and an affiliate member of the Energy and Natural Resources Group in Reed Smith’s Chicago office. His practice focuses on representing policyholders in complex insurance coverage matters involving general and excess liability, OEE/energy package, D&O, product recall, first party property and business interruption, pollution liability, E&O, cargo/inland transit, and crime/fidelity coverage. In addition to wide experience with all major U.S. insurers, he has handled litigation, arbitration, and mediation with Lloyd’s syndicates and other London, European, and Bermuda market insurers. His significant representations have included major U.S. policyholders such as Smithfield Foods, Anadarko Petroleum, Otis Elevator, Castleton Commodities International, International Game Technology, Tribune Company, Kraft Foods, and Republic Services, and have involved claims throughout the United States and in Canada, the UK, Italy, China, Brazil, Nicaragua, Japan, and West Africa. He has pursued coverage for his clients relating to some of the largest catastrophic events in history, including the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. civil unrest in 2020, Deepwater Horizon, Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, and a massive dam collapse in Brazil.

Experience

Representative matters

Represented minority owner of well involved in Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, obtaining favorable ruling on defense costs liability insurance coverage from Texas Supreme Court and recovery of substantial defense costs incurred by insured defending third-party liability claims.
Represented commodities company in obtaining insurance for loss of cargo stored in facility in Shanghai, China, including obtaining favorable summary judgment ruling on coverage from U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Represented major U.S. manufacturer in foreign arbitration seeking recovery of business interruption losses under global property insurance program. Handled weeklong evidentiary hearing in foreign venue and subsequently settled claim on favorable terms.

Recognitions

  • Ranked in Chambers USA for Illinois Insurance: Dispute Resolution (Band 1 in 2022), 2003-2025, and Nationwide Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder, 2003-2024
  • Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Insurance Law, 2006-2025
  • Listed in the Hall of Fame in The Legal 500 US for Insurance: Advice to Policyholders, 2010-2025

Credentials

Education

  • University of North Carolina School of Law, 1987, J.D., with honors
  • University of Denver, 1984, B.A., with honors

Professional admissions & qualifications

  • Illinois

Court admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    • Co-Chair, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, Section of Litigation, 1997-2000
    • Co-Chair, Manual for Complex Insurance Coverage Litigation Task Force Section of Litigation
    • Annual Meeting Program Co-Chair, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, Section of Litigation, 1995 and 1996
    • Member, Federal Practice Task Force of Section of Litigation, 2000-2002
  • American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow, 2018-present
  • AIDA U.S. Board of Advisors, 2025
  • Federalist Society, 2023-present

News

Events