John I. Malone Jr.
Partner
John I. Malone Jr. is a leader within the firm’s Global Insurance Services North Carolina and South Carolina teams, and is a partner in the Environmental, Toxic Tort, Construction, Life Sciences, and Product Liability Practice Groups. John focuses his practice on complex insurance coverage and liability matters with a particular emphasis on construction. He represents carriers in a variety of first- and third-party coverage disputes regarding the defense of general contractors and subcontractors on large multi-family construction projects involving defective components and products as well as installation errors.
John’s extensive experience includes matters involving breach of contract, bad faith, and unfair claims-handling. He defends insurers and insurance agents against extra-contractual and E&O claims and also defends architects and engineers against professional liability claims. In the areas of property damage and third-party liability, he handles disputes related to toxic torts, including chemical exposures, lead paint poisoning, mold, and property site contaminations, spills, and remediation. In addition to his construction and environmental work, John advises clients on reinsurance, the drafting and implementation of new policy forms, and representation of insurers on coverage claims for trademarks, copyrights, and other personal and advertising matters.
In addition to his construction and environmental work, John advises clients on reinsurance, the drafting and implementation of new policy forms, and representation of insurers on coverage claims for trademarks, copyrights, and other personal and advertising matters. In the areas of property damage and third-party liability, John handles disputes related to toxic torts, including chemical exposures, lead-paint poisoning, mold and property-site contaminations, spills, and remediation.
Industries
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law, 2023
Business North Carolina, “Legal Elite Young Guns (Best Under 40),” 2007
Certified Litigation Management Professional, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Certified Claims Professional, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Admissions
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia
- U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 1995
- Wake Forest University, B.A., 1990
Professional Affiliations
- Georgia Bar Association
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- CLM Claims College School of Property, Level I and II: Executive Committee and Faculty
Publications & Events
- “Surprising Trends in 2021,” CLM Magazine, May 5, 2021
- “State of Affairs: Weighing Choice of Law Questions When Assessing a Claim or Loss,” CLM Magazine, June 2017
An authority on emerging legal issues in the insurance industry, John frequently presents on a broad range of issues including construction defect, UM/UIM claims, and bad faith, and draws on this knowledge to counsel clients on a wide range of complex and pressing matters, as well as to advise carriers on innovative strategies to help clients achieve desired results. His presentations include:
- “Posturing Your Case to Tackle Insurance Coverage Issues” (Co-Presenter), North Carolina Bar Association Construction Section Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC, September 28, 2018
- “Additional Insured Claims” (Co-Presenter), Builders Mutual Lunch and Learn, Charlotte, NC, June 21, 2018
- “Subrogation,” CLM Claims College School of Property, 2016–18
- “Resolving Property Claims,” CLM Claims College School of Property, 2014–18
- “Getting the Party Started: Pleading Considerations,” North Carolina Bar Association’s Construction Section Annual Meeting, September 30, 2016
- “Resolving Property Claims,” CLM Claims Conference, 2014
- “Why Do We Call it Bad Faith? Carolina Claim Practice Trends,” Joint North Carolina/South Carolina Bar Associations CLE, April 10, 2013
- “Navigating the Carolinas’ Court System,” February 27, 2013
- “Next Level Construction Defect Coverage Issues” (Co-Presenter), GIS Webinar, September 17, 2019
- “Construction Defect Coverage Issues” (Co-Presenter), GS Construction Webinar, February 20, 2018
- “Hurricane Season — Preparing the Insurance Industry for What to Expect in the Aftermaths of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria” (Co-Presenter), GIS Webinar, October 25, 2017