Irene M. Hecht

Irene Hecht is an experienced trial lawyer whose practice emphasizes insurance law, particularly in coverage and bad faith litigation. She also has an active appellate practice and has represented insurance companies in trial courts, the Court of Appeals, and before the Washington State Supreme Court. Ms. Hecht has over 38 years of experience in coverage analysis and representation, including both commercial and personal lines, umbrella and excess coverage, and first- and third-party coverage. She has dealt with a wide variety of coverage issues including: advertising injury, personal injury, construction defect, automobile, underinsured motorist, personal injury protection, homeowners, products-completed operations, E&O, and D&O. Ms. Hecht also actively advises and represents both insureds and insurers in bad faith litigation, with respect to both first- and third-party matters.

Articles & Presentations

•Speaker, Bifurcation in UIM Cases, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update (2017).
•Speaker, Update on the Duty to Defend and the Duty to Explore Settlement, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update (2015).
•Presentation, An Overview of Bad Faith Law In Washington (2014).
•Presentation, USAA v. Speed: Road Rage-No Coverage or Duty to Defend, Northwest Insurance Coverage Association (2014).
•Speaker, Hot Topics in UIM Coverage, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update (2012).
•Speaker, Duty to Settle, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Insurance Law Update (2011).
•Editor, Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook: 2009 Supplement, Chapter 3: Exclusions to Liability Coverage, Washington Bar Association (2009).
•National Business Institute, Inc., Challenges In Washington Insurance Coverage Litigation--Analyzing Insurance Contract Provisions & Bad Faith Litigation (2003).
•Speaker, Multiple Claims, Inadequate Limits: What is an Insurer to Do? Northwest Insurance Coverage Association (2002).
•Editor, Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook: 2d ed., Chapter 3: Liability Insurance: Exclusions, Washington State Bar Association (2001).
•National Business Institute, Inc., Insurance Law: Third-Party Coverage in Washington--Automobile Insurance & Rules of Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest (1998).
•National Business Institute, Inc., Insurance Law: Third-Party Coverage in Washington - Automobile Coverage (1996).
•Speaker, The Liability Insurance Policy - The Duties to Defend, Pay and Settle, Reservations of Rights Situations, King County Bar Association (1996).
•Speaker, Special Issues in Defending an Insured, Seattle King County Bar Association (1993).
•Speaker, Annual Nuts and Bolts of Insurance Coverage, Part II - Special Issues in Defending an Insured, Seattle King County Bar Association (1992).
•Speaker, How to Read an Insurance Policy, Seattle-King County Bar Association (1990).

Recognitions

Honors & Awards

•Named to Super Lawyers list in Super Lawyers - Washington, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010-2025