1. Home
  2. |Professionals
  3. |Stephen T. Raptis

Stephen T. Raptis

Partner
Partner
c3JhcHRpc0Bjcm93ZWxsLmNvbQ==
VCardLinkedIn
VCardLinkedIn

Areas of Focus

Overview

For more than 30 years, Steve has advocated for policyholder clients throughout the country, helping them recover hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance proceeds, both in and out of litigation. Recognized by Chambers USA and in The Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Law, he helps clients find strategic and creative solutions to disputed insurance claims, including focused negotiations and mediation, to maximize their recoveries while minimizing their costs. Through strategic analysis and advocacy, Steve regularly secures reversals of adverse coverage determinations without litigation. When necessary, he aggressively litigates coverage lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country. Clients describe Steve as “a first-rate counselor” with “a great combination of deep experience and practical judgment.”

Steve advises clients on coverage issues across the full spectrum of commercial insurance policies. He regularly counsels clients on claims involving directors and officers liability, professional services/errors and omissions, first-party property losses, environmental contamination, other mass tort exposures, product-liability issues, regulatory investigations, as well as emerging cyber and privacy risks. He also counsels clients on preserving the value of potential insurance claims, securing defense coverage even when damages may not be covered, and addressing insurance considerations in corporate transactions.

In addition to resolving coverage disputes, he helps clients proactively strengthen their insurance programs by reviewing existing policies, identifying potential coverage gaps, and recommending improvements during the renewal process.

A frequent author and speaker on insurance-coverage topics, Steve is regularly quoted by leading insurance and business publications. He has also been elected by his peers as a fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel, an honor recognizing the nation’s leading insurance coverage attorneys.

In addition to his insurance coverage work, Steve handles other types of commercial disputes, including complex contractual and indemnity disputes. His commitment to pro bono spans his entire career, including representing victims of domestic violence, victims of human trafficking, clients with developmental disabilities, foreign nationals seeking asylum, and African American farmers subjected to discriminatory loan practices.

Career & Education

    • West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., Executive Editor, West Virginia Law Review, 1995
    • West Virginia University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1992
    • West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., Executive Editor, West Virginia Law Review, 1995
    • West Virginia University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1992

    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
    • State Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
    • Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
    • 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 Tenth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
    • Pennsylvania (Inactive)
    • West Virginia (Inactive)
    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
    • State Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
    • Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
    • 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 Tenth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
    • Pennsylvania (Inactive)
    • West Virginia (Inactive)

    • Board Member, D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Board Member, D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
Stephen is smart, practical, responsive and understands client needs.

— Chambers USA, Insurance: Policyholder client

Stephen's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.07.26

Don’t Try to Deny It: Federal Court Holds FCA Settlement is Covered by Insurance

Guidehouse served as the prime contractor responsible for technology services used in administering New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). Under Guidehouse’s contract with the State of New York, the online ERAP portal was to undergo cybersecurity testing in its pre-production environment before it was launched to the public, and Guidehouse was required to certify that the system met the contract’s requirements. Within hours of going live, the ERAP portal exposed certain applicants’ personally identifiable information and was shut down....

View All Insights

Representative Matters

  • Representing companies seeking insurance coverage for commercial, shareholder, and other types of class actions.
  • Representing companies and nonprofits seeking coverage for governmental and internal investigations.
  • Counseling companies and nonprofits seeking coverage for commercial torts, including alleged violations of state and federal securities and unfair competition laws, false advertising, and alleged violations of the TCPA, FCRA, FDCPA, and related laws.
  • Counseling companies experiencing data breaches and claims for unauthorized disclosures of private information.
  • Representing manufacturers seeking coverage for asbestos, pharmaceutical, medical device, and other types of products liability claims.
  • Counseling service companies seeking coverage for professional liability and errors and omissions claims.
  • Representing builders and real estate developers in general liability, errors and omissions, and related claims.
  • Assisting companies and manufacturers in seeking recovery for environmental and pollution-related losses and associated toxic tort and bodily injury claims.

Stephen's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.07.26

Don’t Try to Deny It: Federal Court Holds FCA Settlement is Covered by Insurance

Guidehouse served as the prime contractor responsible for technology services used in administering New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). Under Guidehouse’s contract with the State of New York, the online ERAP portal was to undergo cybersecurity testing in its pre-production environment before it was launched to the public, and Guidehouse was required to certify that the system met the contract’s requirements. Within hours of going live, the ERAP portal exposed certain applicants’ personally identifiable information and was shut down....

View All Insights

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Insurance Law, 2021–2027
  • Chambers USA: Insurance: Policyholder, District of Columbia, 2023–2026
  • Elected as a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel

Stephen's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.07.26

Don’t Try to Deny It: Federal Court Holds FCA Settlement is Covered by Insurance

Guidehouse served as the prime contractor responsible for technology services used in administering New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). Under Guidehouse’s contract with the State of New York, the online ERAP portal was to undergo cybersecurity testing in its pre-production environment before it was launched to the public, and Guidehouse was required to certify that the system met the contract’s requirements. Within hours of going live, the ERAP portal exposed certain applicants’ personally identifiable information and was shut down....

View All Insights

Practices

Stephen's Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.07.26

Don’t Try to Deny It: Federal Court Holds FCA Settlement is Covered by Insurance

Guidehouse served as the prime contractor responsible for technology services used in administering New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). Under Guidehouse’s contract with the State of New York, the online ERAP portal was to undergo cybersecurity testing in its pre-production environment before it was launched to the public, and Guidehouse was required to certify that the system met the contract’s requirements. Within hours of going live, the ERAP portal exposed certain applicants’ personally identifiable information and was shut down....

View All Insights