{"id":164236,"date":"2026-10-02T08:03:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T16:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/10\/02\/biglaw-firms-insurance-partners-decide-they-dont-need-the-biglaw-firm\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T08:03:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T16:03:32","slug":"biglaw-firms-insurance-partners-decide-they-dont-need-the-biglaw-firm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/10\/02\/biglaw-firms-insurance-partners-decide-they-dont-need-the-biglaw-firm\/","title":{"rendered":"Biglaw Firm\u2019s Insurance Partners Decide They Don\u2019t Need The Biglaw Firm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bulk of Biglaw firm Wiley Rein\u2019s insurance coverage practice has said adieu to Biglaw. On Thursday, 12 partners and nine other lawyers left the Am Law 200 firm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20261001890772\/en\/Preeminent-Insurance-Coverage-Lawyers-Launch-Tyka-a-21-Lawyer-Boutique-Law-Firm-Built-Exclusively-for-Insurers-High-Stakes-Disputes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">to launch Tyka<\/a>, a Washington, D.C. boutique that will represent insurers and only insurers in their big ticket cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The group is led by Ben Eggert, who will serve as Tyka\u2019s managing partner, and Kim Melvin, who co-chaired Wiley\u2019s insurance practice alongside him. They\u2019re bringing the carrier relationships and five practice areas: D&amp;O and financial institution liability; cyber, privacy, and technology; professional E&amp;O; general liability; and, because it is 2026 and every press release is now legally required to include it, artificial intelligence. When Eggert was named co-chair, Wiley described the group as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wiley.law\/pressrelease-Wiley-Names-Benjamin-Eggert-Co-Chair-of-Insurance-Practice\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a 35-lawyer practice<\/a>. Tyka launches with 21, from the founding partners down through counsel Elizabeth Jewell and eight associates, all of whom practiced together at Wiley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Tyka\u2019s founders would like you to know that nothing has really changed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is not a pivot or a reinvention,\u201d Melvin said. \u201cTyka is a continuation of the exceptional work we have always done together for over 20 years, now within a firm built entirely around representing insurers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which is a very gracious way of saying the work is continuing, the clients are continuing, and the lawyers are continuing\u2026 and the only thing that isn\u2019t continuing is the part where Wiley gets a cut. Melvin also offered that \u201cwe built something exceptional at Wiley, and we built it together,\u201d a line that lands differently depending on whether you\u2019re one of the people who left or one of the people who now has to explain the empty offices. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peter Shields, Wiley Managing Partner, had this to say about the departures: <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis transition will give both firms greater flexibility to pursue their respective strategies and growth opportunities. For Wiley, it will allow us to further focus our talent and investment on the work at the heart of our \u2018Wired into Washington\u2019 brand. We appreciate the contributions these partners and colleagues have made to the firm and our clients and wish them continued success. Our remaining insurance practice will continue to focus on professional liability, high-stakes insurance litigation, and cyber insurance, building on Wiley\u2019s longstanding strengths and positioning us to meet evolving client needs in these areas.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tyka, per the release, is adapted from tyche, the word ancient Greeks used for chance and its effects, because insurance \u201crests on the promise that inevitable risk can be managed.\u201d Wiley\u2019s executive committee is presumably getting a crash course in tyche today as they plan to reinvest in their insurance practice. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Earlier:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2026\/06\/the-wiley-rein-data-breach-lawsuit-yet-another-cybersecurity-wake-up-call\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Wiley Rein Data Breach Lawsuit: Yet Another Cybersecurity Wake-Up Call<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2014\/11\/biglaw-firm-bids-bye-bye-to-bankruptcy-department\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A Biglaw Firm Bids Bye-Bye To Its Bankruptcy Department<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2017\/12\/another-litigation-boutique-with-market-beating-bonuses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Another Litigation Boutique With Market-Beating Bonuses<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><em><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:kathryn@abovethelaw.com?subject=Your%20Column\">her<\/a>\u00a0with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Bluesky\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/kathryn1.bsky.social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2026\/10\/biglaw-firms-top-ranked-insurance-practice-decides-it-doesnt-need-the-biglaw-firm\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Biglaw Firm\u2019s Insurance Partners Decide They Don\u2019t Need The Biglaw Firm<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-single__featured-image post-single__featured-image--medium alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/group-of-lawyers-leaving-lateral-raid-e1471622737281-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bulk of Biglaw firm Wiley Rein\u2019s insurance coverage practice has said adieu to Biglaw. On Thursday, 12 partners and nine other lawyers left the Am Law 200 firm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20261001890772\/en\/Preeminent-Insurance-Coverage-Lawyers-Launch-Tyka-a-21-Lawyer-Boutique-Law-Firm-Built-Exclusively-for-Insurers-High-Stakes-Disputes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">to launch Tyka<\/a>, a Washington, D.C. boutique that will represent insurers and only insurers in their big ticket cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The group is led by Ben Eggert, who will serve as Tyka\u2019s managing partner, and Kim Melvin, who co-chaired Wiley\u2019s insurance practice alongside him. They\u2019re bringing the carrier relationships and five practice areas: D&amp;O and financial institution liability; cyber, privacy, and technology; professional E&amp;O; general liability; and, because it is 2026 and every press release is now legally required to include it, artificial intelligence. When Eggert was named co-chair, Wiley described the group as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wiley.law\/pressrelease-Wiley-Names-Benjamin-Eggert-Co-Chair-of-Insurance-Practice\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a 35-lawyer practice<\/a>. Tyka launches with 21, from the founding partners down through counsel Elizabeth Jewell and eight associates, all of whom practiced together at Wiley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Tyka\u2019s founders would like you to know that nothing has really changed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is not a pivot or a reinvention,\u201d Melvin said. \u201cTyka is a continuation of the exceptional work we have always done together for over 20 years, now within a firm built entirely around representing insurers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which is a very gracious way of saying the work is continuing, the clients are continuing, and the lawyers are continuing\u2026 and the only thing that isn\u2019t continuing is the part where Wiley gets a cut. Melvin also offered that \u201cwe built something exceptional at Wiley, and we built it together,\u201d a line that lands differently depending on whether you\u2019re one of the people who left or one of the people who now has to explain the empty offices. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peter Shields, Wiley Managing Partner, had this to say about the departures: <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis transition will give both firms greater flexibility to pursue their respective strategies and growth opportunities. For Wiley, it will allow us to further focus our talent and investment on the work at the heart of our \u2018Wired into Washington\u2019 brand. We appreciate the contributions these partners and colleagues have made to the firm and our clients and wish them continued success. Our remaining insurance practice will continue to focus on professional liability, high-stakes insurance litigation, and cyber insurance, building on Wiley\u2019s longstanding strengths and positioning us to meet evolving client needs in these areas.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tyka, per the release, is adapted from tyche, the word ancient Greeks used for chance and its effects, because insurance \u201crests on the promise that inevitable risk can be managed.\u201d Wiley\u2019s executive committee is presumably getting a crash course in tyche today as they plan to reinvest in their insurance practice. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Earlier:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2026\/06\/the-wiley-rein-data-breach-lawsuit-yet-another-cybersecurity-wake-up-call\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Wiley Rein Data Breach Lawsuit: Yet Another Cybersecurity Wake-Up Call<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2014\/11\/biglaw-firm-bids-bye-bye-to-bankruptcy-department\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A Biglaw Firm Bids Bye-Bye To Its Bankruptcy Department<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2017\/12\/another-litigation-boutique-with-market-beating-bonuses\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Another Litigation Boutique With Market-Beating Bonuses<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\"><strong><em>Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#8de6ecf9e5fff4e3cdecefe2fbe8f9e5e8e1ecfaa3eee2e0b2fef8efe7e8eef9b0d4e2f8ffa8bfbdcee2e1f8e0e3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">her<\/a>\u00a0with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Bluesky\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/kathryn1.bsky.social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The bulk of Biglaw firm Wiley Rein\u2019s insurance coverage practice has said adieu to Biglaw. On Thursday, 12 partners and nine other lawyers left the Am Law 200 firm to launch Tyka, a Washington, D.C. boutique that will represent insurers and only insurers in their big ticket cases. The group is led by Ben Eggert, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":164176,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}