Julie Van Wert

Regional Manager, Global Insurance Department – West

With nearly 30 years of experience, Julie is nationally recognized for her ability to resolve complex insurance coverage matters and experience in insurance coverage litigation. Clients also regularly seek her assistance in the defense of privacy, employment, and professional liability matters.   

Julie represents a number of insurers in multifaceted coverage disputes, with an emphasis on employment practices liability, directors' and officers' liability, professional liability, technology and media liability, and commercial general liability coverage disputes. Julie has also successfully defended corporations, nonprofits, brokers, lawyers, and others in privacy (including class actions under the California Invasion of Privacy Act and Federal Wiretap Act), employment, and professional liability matters.  

Having started her insurance practice on the policyholder side before moving to insurance coverage defense 20 years ago, Julie’s unique perspective assists in resolving the most challenging of disputes. She is also frequently called upon by her insurance industry clients to provide training on insurance law, policy interpretation, mediation and resolution strategies, and emerging trends.

Most recently, Julie was the managing partner of the Los Angeles office of a bicoastal litigation and business law firm after spending more than a decade with a leading nationwide defense litigation and insurance coverage firm. She began her legal career in the public interest arena, primarily in the areas of children's rights and advocacy for people without housing, and continues to dedicate her time to various pro bono efforts, including serving on the board of directors for the nonprofit Harbor Community Health Centers and working to obtain asylum in the United States for unaccompanied minors.

Julie earned her B.A., with high honors, from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was an executive board member of the Moot Court Honors program, a fellow with the UCLA Interdisciplinary Program in Child Abuse, and vice president of the Public Interest Law Foundation.

News

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Cozen O’Connor Further Expands its Insurance Coverage Practice, Adding Litigators in Los Angeles and Houston

October 16, 2023

Julie E. Van Wert, David M. Berke, Jerome P. Doctors, and Rangi Perera joined in Los Angeles and Christopher Tramonte joined in Houston.

Publications

Cozen O'Connor Adds Insurance Attorneys In LA, Houston

October 17, 2023

Law360 covered the recent expansion to the firm’s insurance litigation practice by adding Julie E. Van Wert, David M. Berke, Jerome P. Doctors, and Rangi Perera in Los Angeles and Christopher Tramonte in Houston.

Industry Sectors

Education

  • UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1993
  • University of California, Berkeley, B.A., high honors, 1989
  • California
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Los Angeles County Bar Association

National Association of Women Lawyers