Amanda M. Leffler

Akron Managing Partner, Manufacturing Business Sector Co-Chair

Shumaker Professionals Amanda M. Leffler
Amanda M. Leffler
Amanda M. Leffler

Contact

Direct

Education
  • J.D., summa cum laude, The University of Akron School of Law, 2002
  • B.A., The University of Toledo, 1999
Service Lines
Business Sectors

Amanda is Managing Partner of Shumaker's Akron office. Certified as a Specialist in Insurance Coverage Law by the Ohio State Bar Association, she is a  member of Shumaker’s Litigation and Disputes Service Line, where she focuses on insurance recovery. Amanda is routinely successful in compelling insurers to honor their coverage obligations. She has helped her clients recover amounts ranging from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars and has assisted in critical amicus efforts to develop and protect the law for the benefit of policyholders. Amanda’s claim and litigation approach is designed to help clients efficiently obtain favorable results in all aspects of the process—from claim submission through the resolution of disputes in litigation. She has extensive experience in numerous types of coverage disputes, including general liability, property and business interruption, construction, directors and officers, cyber, professional liability, crime, public officials liability, maritime, and long-tail products and environmental liability. Amanda also frequently assists her clients in developing contractual risk-shifting strategies and selecting appropriate insurance coverage to manage risk.

Renowned as a leader in insurance law, Amanda is skilled and excels at giving sound, practical advice on any type of insurance issue, whether advising on the scope of coverage or asserting a claim against a carrier. Amanda’s clients have described her as "extremely talented and a force to be reckoned with—this is a lawyer that you want in your corner on any policyholder-side coverage matter" and is "a very knowledgeable coverage lawyer" - Chambers USA 2022 (Insurance: Ohio).

Amanda also has substantial experience representing companies of all sizes in their business disputes. Her experience is diverse and includes employment litigation, construction disputes, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, business torts, and zoning issues. Amanda takes a business-minded approach to commercial litigation so that companies can minimize their litigation costs and the time they must dedicate to resolving them.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys traveling with her daughters and husband, hiking and skiing, reading historical fiction, and socializing with friends.

Media Mentions:

  • Obtained verdict in virtual jury trial for trucking company seeking insurance coverage for damages arising from injuries to temporary employee and successfully argued appeal before Sixth Circuit Court Appeals.
  • Secured primary and excess insurer contributions to settlement of significant securities derivative class action lawsuit;
  • Successfully resolved maritime insurance disputes, including disputes regarding protection and indemnity, stock through-put, and cargo coverages;
  • Obtained judgment in favor of additional insured for defense coverage from contractor’s insurer for multiple wrongful death and personal injury claims;
  • Negotiated settlement of tens of millions of dollars in connection with substantial property damage fire claim for energy generator;
  • Successfully represented insured in connection with significant property damage claim arising from failure of a hydroelectric plant where root cause of the loss was disputed;
  • Jury trial and appeal in environmental insurance recovery litigation, in which client recovered tens of millions of dollars, including its coverage case attorneys' fees; 
  • Resolution of environmental insurance recovery litigation involving multiple historical primary, umbrella, and excess liability insurers; 
  • Resolution of asbestos insurance recovery cases for corporate policyholders involving multiple historical primary, umbrella, and excess liability insurers; 
  • Negotiation of insurance coverage for significant international crime losses; 
  • Litigation and resolution of multiple insurance coverage claims involving allegations of defective construction and issues relating to indemnities and additional insureds; 
  • Negotiation and resolution of first-party property claims, including claims involving substantial wind damage, hurricane, and damage to property in transit; 
  • Negotiation of payment of defense costs and contribution to settlement by insurers in connection with bodily injury and wrongful death claims asserted against various corporate policyholders; 
  • Litigation and successful resolution of insurance coverage claims for fracking incident, involving contractors pollution liability and general liability insurance policies; 
  • Business Sectors
  • Service Lines
  • Education
    • J.D., summa cum laude, The University of Akron School of Law, 2002
    • B.A., The University of Toledo, 1999
  • Bar and Court Admissions
    • Ohio, 2002
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2003
    • Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit Ohio, 2005
    • Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Ohio, 2007
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2015
  • Professional and community affiliations
    • Leadership Akron Board of Directors, Chair 
    • Greater Akron Chamber Board of Directors 
    • Sisler McFawn Foundation Distribution Committee 
    • St. Sebastian Parish Foundation, Board Member 
    • Akron Bar Association Foundation, Fellow 
    • Ohio State Bar Foundation, Fellow 
    • Akron Bar Association, Member and Past Vice President of Membership and Secretary 
    • American Bar Association, Member and CGL Sub-committee, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, Co-Chair 
    • Leadership Akron Class 31, Member 
    • Ohio State Bar Association, Past Member of Board of Governors 
    • United Disability Services, Past Chair and Member of Board of Directors
    • Akron Children's Museum Board of Directors, Past Member
    • Torchbearers Board of Directors, Past President and Board Member 
    • Scanlon Inn of Court, Barrister Member, 2002-2011 
    • Ohio State Bar Association Leadership Academy, Class of 2011 
    • Ohio State Bar Association’s Insurance Law Committee, Chair, Annual CLE program, 2011-2012 
    • Mobile Meals Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors, Past Member 
    • Child Guidance & Family Solutions Board of Directors, Past Member 
    • University of Akron School of Law Alumni Board of Directors, Past Member 
  • Honors
    • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated 
    • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2022-2024; Insurance Law and Litigation, 2021-2024
    • Chambers USA, 2020-2023, Insurance (Ohio), Band 1
    • Ohio Super Lawyers, 2014-2024
      • Top 50 Women, 2015-2024
      • Top 100, 2020-2024
      • Rising Star, 2009-2013
    • Cleveland Super Lawyers
      • Top Five, 2023
      • Top 25 Women, 2015-2024
      • Top 50 Cleveland , 2020-2024
      Leadership Akron's Read Family Difference Maker Award, 2018
    • “Notable Women in Law” by Crain’s Cleveland Business, May 2018
    • Torchbearers Distinguished Alumni Award, February 2016
    • Ohio State Bar Foundation Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 and Under, April 2014
    • Cleveland’s Legal Leaders™ Top Rated Lawyer in General Practice, Insurance Law, and Labor and Employment, 2013
    • American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law and Labor and Employment,  2013
    • Northeast Ohio Top 25 Under 35 Mover and Shaker, 2013
    • Featured as one of 15 up-and-coming Northeast Ohio attorneys under the age of 40 by Inside Business, 2009
    • Recognized as a '30 for the Future' Young Professional by the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, 2009
  • Certifications
    • Certified as a Specialist in Insurance Coverage Law by the Ohio State Bar Association

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