WASHINGTON, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- James Sottile, well-known insurance litigator, has joined the Washington office of premier litigation firm Zuckerman Spaeder LLP. The move comes on the heels of Sottile's representation of the Lloyd's Underwriters reinsured by Equitas in a $575 million settlement of Halliburton Company's asbestos-related insurance claims. The agreement resolved the largest single direct liability of any kind faced by Equitas. With this settlement, Equitas has resolved 5 of its 10 largest asbestos exposures. Sottile represented the Lloyd's Underwriters reinsured by Equitas in all 5 settlements.

"Insurers face major challenges today. As some experts predict that asbestos exposure may reach beyond $200 billion, more and more asbestos defendants file for bankruptcy putting insurers on the front lines. The plaintiff's bar is also continuing its efforts to find 'the next asbestos.' Insurers today must develop and implement effective legal strategies for dealing with these major exposures. Zuckerman Spaeder offers a deep bench of legal talent for clients faced with complex litigation problems and gives me the platform to serve my clients well," Sottile said.

Sottile is expected to continue to represent Equitas and the Lloyd's Underwriters it reinsures, as well as various London Market and European insurers in litigating and resolving asbestos and other large programmatic exposures.