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    Peri Alkas photograph

    Peri H. Alkas

    Partner

    Houston
    713-225-7266
    peri.alkas@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    InsuranceLitigation

    Clients do not come to Peri Alkas for a cookie-cutter approach to solving their insurance disputes. Insurers seek her out when they have stubborn problems that require creative, tailored methods to meet their needs.

    A courtroom veteran, Peri has taken more than 65 civil and criminal cases to trial. She practices primarily in insurance, with experience in first-party claims, insurance bad faith and extra-contractual litigation. She often provides insurers with complex claims-handling advice, first- and third-party coverage opinions and guidance concerning Texas insurance statutes.

    Peri has also litigated in a variety of areas of civil litigation. That breadth of experience has benefited clients ranging from Fortune 100 businesses to sole proprietors. Previously, Peri was a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where she investigated, pled or tried a range of misdemeanor and felony cases.

    Peri formerly served as the practice coordinator of Phelps’ Houston insurance group.

    Peri has also litigated in a variety of areas of civil litigation. That breadth of experience has benefited clients ranging from Fortune 100 businesses to sole proprietors. Previously, Peri was a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where she investigated, pled or tried a range of misdemeanor and felony cases.

    Peri formerly served as the practice coordinator of Phelps’ Houston insurance group.

    Experience

    • Successfully represented micro-publisher in state court in copyright dispute with planned development community over name use and related fair use and defamation issues.
    • Represented publisher in dispute with photographer over dispute concerning attributions for use of celebrity’s photograph.

    • Defended a global insurer in a large Covid case where Plaintiffs pled business income loss exceeded $50 million, and the case was dismissed with prejudice. 
    • Monitoring counsel providing coverage advice for COVID-19 business interruption claims.
    • Coverage counsel involving builders’ risk delay claim for construction of residential facility resulting in settlement favorable to the client.
    • Handled numerous property damage claims to commercial properties from Hurricane Harvey.
    • Obtained summary judgment for foreign insurer on policy exclusion in construction defect matter.
    • Handled numerous hail damage claims to residential and commercial properties.
    • Represented insurer in suit by policyholder over two, large commercial properties claimed to have suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. Adverse depositions of Plaintiff’s expert witnesses led to favorable settlement for client (Texas state court).
    • Obtained summary judgment for domestic insurer against suit brought by borrower on force-placed policy on the grounds the borrower lacked standing (U.S. District Court, Southern District, Texas).
    • Obtained favorable settlements for recovery in subrogation on construction defect matters involving masonry work to apartment complexes.
    • Lead counsel for the defense of surplus lines carrier for Hurricane Ike claim by church alleging breach of contract, bad faith and statutory violations arising from underpayment of the loss. Adverse depositions of Plaintiff’s experts caused Plaintiff to reduce its demand over $1 million (State District Court; Harris County, Texas).
    • Represented alien insurer in Hurricane Ike matters involving business interruption losses to rental property. Prepared the first motion to get ruling that Harris County Standing Orders for Residential Ike claims did not apply to residential property being used for commercial purpose (Texas state court).
    • Coverage opinions interpreting CGL policies concerning construction defects to governmental buildings, involving unique and complex negotiations with other insurers with time on the risk, claims of contribution and subrogation issues (Texas state court).
    • Coverage opinion applying Oklahoma law and federal statutes to a property loss which occurred during non-judicial HUD foreclosure proceedings but before transfer of deed to new owner including analysis of financial interest, rights of redemption and right of assignment to new owner.
    • Handled numerous property damage claims to commercial properties from Hurricane Harvey.
    • Obtained summary judgment for foreign insurer on policy exclusion in construction defect matter.
    • Handled numerous hail damage claims to residential and commercial properties.
    • Represented insurer in suit by policyholder over two, large commercial properties claimed to have suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. Adverse depositions of Plaintiff’s expert witnesses led to favorable settlement for client (Texas state court).
    • Obtained summary judgment for domestic insurer against suit brought by borrower on force-placed policy on the grounds the borrower lacked standing (U.S. District Court, Southern District, Texas).
    • Obtained favorable settlements for recovery in subrogation on construction defect matters involving masonry work to apartment complexes.
    • Lead counsel for the defense of surplus lines carrier for Hurricane Ike claim by church alleging breach of contract, bad faith and statutory violations arising from underpayment of the loss. Adverse depositions of Plaintiff’s experts caused Plaintiff to reduce its demand over $1 million (State District Court; Harris County, Texas).
    • Represented alien insurer in Hurricane Ike matters involving business interruption losses to rental property. Prepared the first motion to get ruling that Harris County Standing Orders for Residential Ike claims did not apply to residential property being used for commercial purpose (Texas state court).
    • Coverage opinions interpreting CGL policies concerning construction defects to governmental buildings, involving unique and complex negotiations with other insurers with time on the risk, claims of contribution and subrogation issues (Texas state court).
    • Coverage opinion applying Oklahoma law and federal statutes to a property loss which occurred during non-judicial HUD foreclosure proceedings but before transfer of deed to new owner including analysis of financial interest, rights of redemption and right of assignment to new owner.

    Insights

    • February 19, 2025

      Two Texas Partners Secure TBLS Insurance Law Certification…

    • October 10, 2024

      COVID Coverage Questions Linger As Challenges Wind Down…

    More +
    • September 17, 2024

      Super Lawyers Adds Three Phelps Texas Lawyers to 2024 List…

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    • September 18, 2023

      Super Lawyers Names Three Phelps Lawyers to 2023 Texas List…

    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • November 9, 2022

      AM Best Presents Generational Effects on Juries and Litigation Outcomes…

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • September 22, 2021

      Phelps Partner Celebrates a Decade on Texas Super Lawyers List…

    • March 26, 2021

      Federal Court in Texas Grants Insurer’s Motion to Dismiss COVID-19 Business Income Loss Claim…

    • October 19, 2020

      Phelps Partner Featured in 2020 Texas Super Lawyers List…

    • August 25, 2020

      Insurance Law Report: August 2020…

    • May 12, 2020

      Insurance Law Report: May 2020…

    • February 20, 2020

      Insurance Law Report: February 2020…

    • September 5, 2019

      Two Texas Attorneys Selected to 2019 Texas Super Lawyers List…

    • September 6, 2018

      Four Houston Attorneys Selected to 2018 Texas Super Lawyers List…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Board Certified, Insurance Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization
    • Insurance Law (2019-2025), Litigation - Insurance (2017-2025), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2012-2024)
    • Houston’s Top Lawyers - Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Board Certified, Insurance Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization
    • Insurance Law (2019-2025), Litigation - Insurance (2017-2025), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2012-2024)
    • Houston’s Top Lawyers - Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine

    Education

    • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1992
    • Rice University, B.A., Political Science and Managerial Studies, 1989
    • University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1992
    • Rice University, B.A., Political Science and Managerial Studies, 1989

    Credentials

    • Texas
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
    • Texas
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

    Memberships and Affiliations

    Professional

    • State Bar of Texas
    • Houston Bar Association
    • Defense Research Institute

    Civic

    • Habitat for Humanity, Houston, TX - Volunteer
    • The Seafarers Center, Galveston, TX - Benefactor

    Professional

    • State Bar of Texas
    • Houston Bar Association
    • Defense Research Institute

    Civic

    • Habitat for Humanity, Houston, TX - Volunteer
    • The Seafarers Center, Galveston, TX - Benefactor
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Insurance
    • Litigation
    • Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Liability
    • First Party Property
    • Insurance
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