Partner
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-845-1944
Fax: 404-250-9355
Email: wtaylor@mfllaw.com
Wayne Taylor is an AV-rated trial lawyer who joined the firm as a partner in 1995. Mr. Taylor maintains a national practice representing insurers primarily in complex insurance coverage and bad faith matters, including commercial property and business interruption (including COVID-19), bad faith and extra-contractual litigation, excess and surplus lines coverage, builder’s risk, boiler and machinery, suspected arson and fraudulent claims, Chinese drywall, domestic intrastate and interstate motor truck carrier liability, warehouseman’s legal liability, and jewelers block. He has extensive experience in third-party liability coverage analysis and litigation, including general liability, environmental and complex torts, directors and officers, professional liability (errors and omissions), advertising injury and intellectual property, construction defects, and employment practices liability. Mr. Taylor has handled substantial property loss claims throughout the United States, including a number of claims related to major catastrophes such as September 11, 2001, the 2004 Florida hurricanes, the 2010 Oklahoma tornados, the 2011 Alabama tornados, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Matthew, Irma, Michael, Sally, Zeta and Ian.
Mr. Taylor has handled claims related to real property of virtually every scale, ranging from homeowner’s claims to claims on substantial shopping malls, high rise buildings, hotels, manufacturing facilities, and major sports venues around the country. Mr. Taylor also provides representation to insurers in subrogation matters. His clients retain him on a regional and national basis, trusting his coverage counsel in major claims. Recent engagements include a claim of more than $16 million in New York and hurricane-related claims totaling more than $500 million in Florida and Alabama. Mr. Taylor is a trained and certified mediator, specializing in insurance coverage disputes, and an umpire certified by the Windstorm Insurance Network. Mr. Taylor also has been retained as an expert witness concerning issues related to the appraisal process and allegations of bad faith claim handling.
Mr. Taylor is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel, recently serving as its President, and was the recipient of that organization’s Thomas F. Segalla Service Award in 2016. He also is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Mr. Taylor has been recognized as a Georgia “Super Lawyer” in Insurance Coverage by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2014, and he was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024. Mr. Taylor also has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America for Insurance Coverage Litigation every year since 2016. In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel and the Litigation Counsel of America, Mr. Taylor is a WIND Fellow of the Windstorm Insurance Network, currently serving as its President, and received the organization’s Presidential Recognition Award in 2018. Mr. Taylor was named an Attorney to Watch in 2018 by Attorney at Law Magazine.
Mr. Taylor is the co-author of “Unique Coverage Issues in Flood Losses,” published in the Winter 2013 issue of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, 48 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. 619 (2013). He also is the co-author of “Defective and Corrosive Drywall: Analyzing First-Party Coverage Issues,” published in the Fall 2010 issue of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, 46 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. 63 (2011). In addition, Mr. Taylor co-¬authored “Damage Occurring from Theft of Copper: Is the Damage Covered as Vandalism or Excluded as Theft?,” one of the featured articles published in September 2011 online edition of Claims Advisor.
Mr. Taylor lectures frequently to lawyers and insurance industry professionals throughout the country and internationally on a wide range of topics involving insurance coverage, bad faith, and the investigation of suspected arson and fraudulent insurance claims. Mr. Taylor also has experience in the management of his firm, previously serving on its Management Committee and chairing the Firm Development Group, the firm’s marketing committee.
Bar Admissions
Georgia, 1985
Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia
J.D. – 1985
Emory University, College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia
B.A., B.A. – 1982
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Bar Association, Member
Atlanta Bar Association, Member
Defense Research Institute, Inc., Member
American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow
- President, 2021-2022
- President-Elect, 2020-2021
- Secretary-Treasurer, 2019-2020
- Executive Board Member, 2018-2019 and 2022-2023
- Board of Regents Member, 2016-2019
- Membership Committee Co-Chair, 2015-2018
- Membership Committee Member, 2013-2015
- Annual Meeting Co-Chair, 2015
Windstorm Insurance Network, Fellow
- President, 2024 to present
- President-Elect, 2023-2024
- Vice President, 2022-2023
- Secretary, 2021-2022
- Board of Trustees Member, 2016-2020
- WIND Umpire and Appraiser Education and Review Committee Chair, 2016-2020
- WIND Umpire and Appraiser Education and Review Committee Vice-Chair, 2020 to present
- Appraisal Grievance Committee Chair, 2019 to present
- Annual WIND Conference Committee Chair, 2018
- Annual WIND Conference Committee Member, 2012-2017 and 2019
- Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
- Trial Law Institute
- Diversity Law Institute
- Order of Veritas
- Order of Certus
Honors and Awards
Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia by Super Lawyers Magazine (Atlanta Magazine), 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024
Presidential Recognition Award, Windstorm Insurance Network, 2018
Thomas F. Segalla Service Award, American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel, 2016
The Best Lawyers In America, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
Georgia Super Lawyer, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
Fellow, American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel, 2012
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2014
WIND Fellow, Windstorm Insurance Network, 2014
Honorable Mention, Attorneys to Watch in 2014, Attorney at Law Magazine, 2014
Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award, 2013 to present
Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance Law, 2012 to present
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Attorney Rating, 2000 to present
AVVO Superb 10.0 Attorney Rating
Georgia’s Top Rated Lawyers, 2012 to present
Marquis Who’s Who in American Law, 1998 to present
Worldwide Registry of Who’s Who, 2011 to present
Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide, 2011 to present
Top Rated Lawyers in Litigation, 2014 to present
Top Ranked U.S. Executive, National Council of American Executives, 2014
Cambridge Who’s Who among Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs, 2011 to present
Marquis Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1999 to present
Community Involvement
American Jewish Committee
- Southeast Atlanta Region Executive Board Member, 2021 to present
- Southeast Atlanta Region Vice President, 2017-2021
- Southeast Atlanta Region Board of Trustees Member, 2015–2017
- Southeast Diplomatic Marathon Co-Chair, 2016
- Southeast Atlanta Regional Board Development Committee Member, 2017 to present
- Southeast Atlanta at 75: Bylaws Task Force Member, 2016 to present
Temple Sinai
- Board of Trustees Member, 1992–1994
- Scholar in Residence Weekend Co-Chair, 2014
- Leadership (Atidaynu) Training Program Co-Chair, 2012–2014
- Endowment Committee Treasurer, 2019 to present
- Endowment Committee Member, 2018-2019
Pope High School Roller Hockey Program Director and Coach, 2003–2007
Marietta Mayhem Roller Hockey Travel Team Manager and Coach, 2001–2004
Hightower Trail Middle School Roller Hockey Program Director and Coach, 2001–2003
JCC Maccabi Games Team Atlanta Roller Hockey Coach, 2004
Glenbrooke Homeowners Association Treasurer, 1996–1998
East Cobb Civic Association Representative, 1998–1999
Congregation Etz Chaim
- Board of Trustees Member, 1994–1996
- Pre-School Board Chairman, 1995–1997
- Fundraising Chairman, 1995
Atlanta Reform Synagogue Council Representative, 1993-1994
Metro Atlanta Conservative Synagogue Council Board Member, 1999–2000
Presentations/Seminars
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2024
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2024
- Co-Presenter, 2023 Property Case Law Developments: Commercial Lines, Property & Liability Research Bureau 2023 Claims Conference, Orlando, FL, March 2023
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2023
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2023
- Co-Instructor, Procedures and Pitfalls of the Appraisal Process Under a First-Party Property Insurance Policy, Engle Martin & Associates, Inc. Appraisal Practice Group, Dallas TX, August 2022
- Co-Presenter, Property Insurance Case Law Update, RSUI Group Property Claims Seminar, Atlanta, GA, May 2022
- Co-Presenter, Property Case Law Developments: Commercial Lines, Property & Liability Research Bureau 2022 Claims Conference, San Antonio, TX, April 2022
- Co-Presenter, 2022 Property Case Law Developments: Commercial Lines, Property & Liability Research Bureau 2022 Claims Conference, San Antonio, TX, April 2022
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2022
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Appraiser Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL January 2022
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2022
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraiser Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January2022
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network WIND Symposium, Orlando, FL, May 2021
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network WIND Symposium, Orlando, FL, May 2021
- Co-Presenter, Navigating Together Expert Panel, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group JM Summit, Virtual, April 2021
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Virtual, February 2021
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network Annual WIND Conference, Virtual, February 2021
- Co-Presenter, Impartiality in the Appraisal Process, American College of Coverage Counsel Annual Conference, Virtual, September 2020
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 21st Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2020
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 21st Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2020
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network WIND Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 2019
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Appraiser Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network WIND Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 2019
- Faculty Member, Emory University School of Law Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Atlanta, GA, May 2019
- Co-Presenter, “Legal Trends: “What’s New,” Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group JM Summit, Milwaukie, WI, April 2019
- Co-Presenter, Property Case Law Developments: Commercial Lines, Property & Liability Research Bureau 2019 Claims Conference, Indianapolis, IN, April 2019
- Co-Presenter, Property Case Law Developments: Personal Lines, Property & Liability Research Bureau 2019 Claims Conference, Indianapolis, IN, April 2019
- Co-Instructor, The Appraisal Process and its Potential Pitfalls, State Auto Insurance Companies Property Claims Group, Indianapolis, IN, April 2019
- Co-Instructor, Appraisal Process Under a First-Party Property Insurance Policy Workshop, Engle Martin & Associates, Inc. Appraisal Practice Group, Atlanta, GA, March 2019
- Presenter, Appropriate Topics for an Underwriter’s Deposition, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group Commercial Underwriting Department, Neenah, WI, March 2019
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 20th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2019
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 20th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2019
- Co-Presenter, The Appraisal Process and its Potential Pitfalls, Property Loss Appraisal Network, Canton, GA, October 2018
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Georgia State University School of Law, Atlanta, GA, September 2018
- Faculty Member, Emory University School of Law Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Atlanta, GA, May 2018
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 19th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2018
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Appraiser Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 19th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2018
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 19th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2018
- Co-Presenter, When Worlds Collide – Recent Battles Over Appraisal, Property and Liability Resource Bureau 2017 Large Loss Conference, Fort Worth, TX, November 2017
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under a First-Party Property Insurance Policy, Georgia State University School of Law, Atlanta, GA, September 2017
- Co-Instructor, Appraisal Process Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy Workshop, Engle Martin & Associates, Inc. Appraisal Practice Group, Atlanta, GA, May 2017
- Faculty Member, Emory University School of Law Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Atlanta, GA, May 2017
- Co-Presenter, Property Case Law Developments, Property & Liability Resource Bureau 2017 Claims Conference, Boston, MA, March 2017
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 18th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL February 2017
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 18th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, February 2017
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Atlanta, GA, February 2017
- Presenter, Recovery of Diminution in Value for Real Property Damage, Hurricane Matthew Stemming the Tide General Reinsurance Corporation Webinar, November 2016
- Guest Lecturer, Insurable Interest Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Georgia State University School of Law, Atlanta, GA September 2016
- Faculty Member, Emory University School of Law Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Atlanta, GA, May 2016
- Co-Instructor, Appraisal Process Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy Workshop, Engle Martin & Associates, Inc. Appraisal Practice Group, Dallas, TX, April 2016
- Co-Presenter, Property Case Law Developments, Property & Liability Resource Bureau 2016 Claims Conference, San Antonio, TX, April 2016
- Co-Presenter, First Party Property Insurance Issues, The Seminar Group Insurance Law Symposium, Atlanta, GA, March 2016
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 17th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL 2016
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 17th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, February 2016
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under and a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Georgia State University’s School of Law, Atlanta, GA, February 2016.
- Co-Presenter, Recent Developments in Property Case Law, RSUI Group Annual Property Claims Seminar, Atlanta, GA, January 2016
- Co-Presenter, Trials, Tribulations and Pitfalls of the Appraisal Process, Arch Insurance Group, Jersey City, NJ, December 2015
- Co-Presenter, First Party Property Insurance Issues Arising from Catastrophic Losses, Lloyd’s Marketing Association, London, UK, June 2015
- Co-Presenter, Point/Counter Point – Update on Appraisal and Insurable Interest Principals of Property Insurance Procedures for Public Adjuster, Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters’ Spring Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 2015
- Faculty Member, Emory University School of Law Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Atlanta, GA, May 2015
- Co-Presenter, Property Insurance Case Law Developments, Property & Liability Resource Bureau 2015 Claims Conference, Anaheim, CA 2015
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Georgia State University School of Law, Atlanta, GA, February 2015
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Re-Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 16th Annual WIND Conference, New Orleans, LA, January 2015
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 16th Annual WIND Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2015
- Co-Presenter, First Party Property Insurance Coverage Issues Arising from Catastrophic Losses, Property Insurance Industry, Chicago, IL, December 2014
- Presenter, Appraisal Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, RSUI Group Annual Property Claims Seminar, Atlanta, GA, November 2014
- Presenter, The Appraisal Process Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, ACE North American Claims, Alpharetta, GA, November 2014
- Co-Presenter, The Perils, Pitfalls & Successes of the Insurance Appraisal Process, Property & Liability Resource Bureau 2014 Large Loss Conference, Scottsdale, AZ, October 2014
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Atlanta, GA, September 2014
- Co-Presenter, First Party Property Insurance Coverage Issues from Catastrophic Losses, ACE North American Claims, Wilmington, DE, June 2014
- Faculty Member, Emory University School of Law Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Atlanta, GA, May 2014
- Co-Presenter, The Government Comes Knocking: Do You Know Where Your D&O Coverage Is?, American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel 2014 Insurance Law Symposium, University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, MS, March 2014
- Co-Presenter, Water Exclusions: Property Coverage, Property & Liability Resource Bureau 2014 Claims Conference, Indianapolis, IN, March 2014
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 15th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL, January 2014
- Co-Instructor, Insurance Appraisal Umpire Certification Course, Windstorm Insurance Network 14th Annual WIND Conference, Orlando, FL 2013
- Co-Presenter, Effect of Multiple Windstorm Events on the Insured’s Damage Claim, Property & Liability Research Bureau 2013 Large Loss Conference, Boston, MA, October 2013
- Co-Presenter, Water Exclusions Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, RSUI Group Annual Property Claims Seminar, Atlanta, GA, August 2013
- Co-Instructor, First Party Property Insurance Coverage Issues Arising from Major Storm Losses, Property Insurance Industry Seminar, Stamford, CT, August 2013
- Guest Professor, Insurable Interest Under a First Party Property Insurance Policy, Atlanta’s John Marshall School of Law, Atlanta, GA, August 2013