Jonathan G. Hardin
- Washington, D.C.
Jonathan is an experienced insurance lawyer who has recovered more than half a billion dollars for policyholders.
Jonathan Hardin helps policyholders pursue claims under all commercial lines of coverage. He has tried multiple insurance cases to verdict and negotiated dozens of favorable settlements. Jonathan has particular experience in “long tail” claims arising from mass tort and environmental liabilities. He has litigated against and settled with most major insurers in the United States, London, Bermuda, European, and Japanese markets.
Jonathan also advises on policy renewals and insurance provisions in commercial contracts to help companies maximize coverage and minimize risk. And he serves as outside general counsel to single-parent and group captives.
With more than 15 years of experience, Jonathan has been recognized by Law360 as a “Rising Star” and by Best Lawyers as one of the top insurance litigators in the country.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., Vanderbilt Law Review, Associate Editor, 2008
- Ouachita Baptist University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2005
Bar and Court Admissions
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District of Columbia
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Arkansas
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
Related Employment
- Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, D.C., Associate, 2009-2013
Clerkships
- Hon. Bobby E. Shepherd, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Professional Recognition
Recognized for Insurance Litigation in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2025
Named a “Rising Star” in Law360, 2021
Listed in Washington D.C. Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star", 2016-2018, 2021-2022
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Insurance Recovery Litigation and Counseling
Business Interruption and Property Damage
- Obtained one of the world’s largest COVID-19 insurance recoveries for WorldStrides, an educational travel company that lost over a billion dollars in revenue during the pandemic.
- Recovered full policy limits on multiple claims for a Fortune 500 semiconductor manufacturer for losses resulting from a 2019 power outage and the 2011 Thailand floods.
CGL, Product, and Pollution Liability
- Radiator Specialty Co. v. Arrowood Indemnity Co., et al., No. 13-CVS-2271 (Mecklenburg County, N.C.) No. COA19-507 (N.C. Court of Appeals), No. 20PA21 (N.C. Supreme Court): Lead trial and appellate counsel for a manufacturer seeking product liability coverage for hundreds of benzene toxic tort claims.
- Represent a Fortune 500 manufacturer seeking coverage under commercial general liability (“CGL”) policies and Bermuda Form policies for thousands of underlying PFAS claims.
- Represent a global construction and real estate company seeking pollution liability coverage for hundreds of underlying mold claims.
- Obtained coverage for multiple religiously affiliated institutions under historic CGL policies for underlying sexual abuse claims.
- Lincoln Electric Co. v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Co., et al., No. 1:11-CV-2253 (N.D. Ohio): Represented a welding rod manufacturer seeking overage for asbestos, manganese, and welding fume claims.
- Represented a national electrical contractor in Wisconsin and Minnesota state courts seeking coverage for environmental liability associated with a former manufactured gas plant site.
Construction Claims
- Seattle Tunnel Partners, et al. v. Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC, et al., No. 15-2-15009-0 (King County, Wash.): Represented Japanese engineering and manufacturing firm Hitachi Zosen in litigation seeking builder’s risk coverage for damage to the world’s largest tunnel boring machine.
- Represented numerous contractors pursuing coverage for construction losses and claims, including under professional liability policies, OCIP and CCIP programs, builder’s risk policies, subcontractor default insurance (Subguard), and surety bonds.
Contingency and Event Cancellation
- Lead counsel for the Washington Nationals Baseball Club in litigation seeking coverage for a canceled exhibition game.
- Obtained favorable coverage settlements for event and travel companies pursuing claims for lost profits and unreimbursed expenses associated with tours and events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cyber Insurance
- Obtained favorable settlements for companies seeking social engineering fraud, computer fraud, and bank transfer fraud coverage for losses resulting from fraudulent wire transfers.
- Advised a Fortune 100 cloud services provider on policy renewals for data breach, cyber and privacy liability coverage, and technology errors and omissions (“E&O”) coverage.
- Recovered full policy limits for a Fortune 500 semiconductor manufacturer for losses resulting from a major network security breach.
Directors, Officers, and Company Liability
- Obtained summary judgment for Godiva Chocolatier in litigation seeking private-company D&O coverage for class actions alleging violations of false advertising and consumer protection laws. G-New, Inc. dba Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. v. Endurance Am. Ins. Co., 2022 WL 4128608 (Del. Super. Ct. 2022).
- Negotiated a favorable settlement for a government contractor seeking private-company D&O coverage for arbitration initiated by a competitor.
- Represented multiple financial services firms and investment banks seeking public-company D&O coverage for derivative actions, SEC investigations, and shareholder lawsuits regarding mortgage-backed securities.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for a battery manufacturer seeking D&O coverage for multiple shareholder lawsuits.
Insurer Bad Faith and Broker Negligence
- Lead trial counsel in Oregon state court for a biotech company pursuing broker negligence claims related to procurement of D&O coverage.
- Represented Extended Stay America hotels in Missouri state court seeking insurance bad faith damages for wrongful denial of coverage for property damage caused by defective windows.
Other Commercial Litigation
- United States v. County of Clark, No. 2:17-cv-02303 (D. Nev.): Lead counsel for Clark County, Nevada, in a suit brought by the Department of the Interior alleging breaches of contract and fiduciary duty in connection with the lease of former federal land on the Las Vegas Strip. After summary judgment and appellate rulings, Jonathan negotiated a favorable settlement for just 2% of alleged damages.
- Sinclair Wyo. Refining v. EPA, 2024 WL 3801747 (D.C. Cir.); Calumet Shreveport Refining v. EPA, 86 F.4th 1121 (5th Cir. 2023); Ergon-West Virginia v. EPA, 980 F.3d 403 (4th Cir. 2020); and Ergon-West Virginia v. EPA, 896 F.3d 600 (4th Cir. 2018): Successfully overturned EPA denials of more than a hundred petitions for small refinery exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard in appeals involving billions of dollars in compliance costs.
- HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining v. Renewable Fuels Assoc., 594 U.S. 382 (2021): Lead counsel for amicus brief filed on behalf of petroleum refineries concerning small refinery exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in favor of the position advocated by the amicus brief.