McKool Smith Secures Legal Defense Costs for Ex-FIFA Official

NEW YORK, May 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McKool Smith has secured a preliminary injunction ordering insurers Lloyd's of London and Axis Specialty Europe SE to immediately reimburse and advance legal costs for Eduardo Li, a former official of the Federation Internationale de Football Association ("FIFA"), the international body that governs organized soccer, who has been charged in connection with a high-profile criminal action.

The ruling, issued on April 27, 2016 by Judge Raymond Dearie of the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of New York, who is also overseeing Mr. Li's criminal case, affirms the rights of policyholders to secure immediate insurance company payments to fund their criminal defense. Judge Dearie also denied the insurers' motion to dismiss based on jurisdictional grounds and a Swiss forum selection clause in the insurance policy finding that such clauses were unenforceable against an official who did not specifically agree to forego the protections of a U.S. court and litigate in a foreign jurisdiction that would necessarily work injustice to the official.

McKool Smith principal Robin Cohen, lead insurance counsel for Mr. Li, applauded the ruling, "Judge Dearie's decision affirms a policyholder's right to injunctive relief because it recognizes that our client would be irreparably harmed absent immediate payment of costs to fund his legal defense under the insurer's directors and officers liability policy," Ms. Cohen explained.  "The decision also recognizes the federal court's obligation to protect criminal defense counsel by ensuring they are properly compensated by insurance."

Mr. Li is represented by McKool Smith principals Robin Cohen and Burt M. Garson. The case is Eduardo Li v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London et al., case number 1:15-cv-06099, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

With more than 180 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C., McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America's leading trial firms. Since 2006, the firm has secured nine nine-figure jury verdicts, and ten eight-figure jury verdicts. The firm has also won more VerdictSearch and The National Law Journal "Top 100 Verdicts" over the last ten years than any other law firm in the country. Courtroom successes like these have earned McKool Smith critical acclaim and helped the firm become what The Wall Street Journal describes as "one of the biggest law firm success stories of the past decade." McKool Smith represents clients in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and white collar defense matters.

For additional information, please contact Michael R. Coston at 212-402-9450 or [email protected].

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