Kevin Welsh
Counsel
Kevin Welsh is an appellate litigator with a wide-ranging practice that includes insurance, professional liability and commercial litigation. From disputes concerning insurance coverage to land rights, Kevin approaches litigation matters with an eye toward ultimate review on appeal.
Kevin routinely practices before the Louisiana Supreme Court and the state’s five intermediate courts of appeal, and his work often includes seeking appellate intervention before trial begins. In high-stakes litigation, Kevin also embeds with trial teams as appellate counsel to preserve issues for appeal and pursue emergency writ applications seeking immediate reversal of adverse rulings.
Beyond the courtroom, Kevin serves on the Appellate Subcommittee of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
Experience
- Obtained dismissal of statutory bad faith action against London market insurers filed by an owner of high-rise commercial property, reversing trial court’s refusal to dismiss.
- Obtained reversal of preliminary injunctions against a midstream energy company seeking to build a natural gas pipeline beneath a preexisting and “exclusive” servitude, defending against competitor’s ensuing civil writ applications to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- Obtained mid-trial reversal of a district court order that forbade an insurance agent from presenting evidence of third-party fault to a jury, secured through emergency civil writ practice as embedded appellate counsel.
- Defended a multimillion-dollar reduction of an excessive jury verdict in a wrongful death and survival suit as lead briefing counsel before the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- As co-counsel, secured dismissal of eight-figure claim against London market insurers by briefing and arguing successful summary judgment motion.
- Secured numerous defense rulings disposing of first-party insurance coverage suits arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including on appeal before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Prepared expert witnesses, developed cross-examination strategy for an adverse virology expert, and prepared post-trial briefing in a first-in-the-country trial involving a business seeking damages from its property insurer for losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a full defense victory.
- Obtained affirmance of dismissal of two COVID-19 business interruption suits on forum non conveniens grounds as lead briefing attorney before the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.