Zachary P. Martin

Zach is an Associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Insurance Practice Group. His practice focuses on representing clients in insurance coverage disputes, including complex insurance litigation and bad faith coverage claims. He approaches each case with precision, a strong attention to detail, and a client-centric mindset. 

Zach has significant previous experience handling nationwide class actions, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act litigation, and healthcare and pharmaceutical disputes. He has also coordinated and managed local counsel throughout all phases of civil litigation. He continues to leverage his experience across various matters to provide practical, strategic guidance to his clients. 

Zach earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as President of the Southern Law Students Society and was an active member of the Public Interest Law Center and Civil Rights Law Project. He received his B.A. from Iona University. 

Community & Professional

• American Bar Association
• Birmingham Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• First Light Shelter Junior Board Member

• Represented three Mississippi municipalities in contract disputes with several government contractors and subcontractors, including multinational corporations. Drafted complaints, discovery, responded to defendants’ discovery requests, drafted legal memoranda concerning a variety of statutory and regulatory issues relating to government contractors, drafted responses to motions to dismiss, and counseled municipal officials regarding strengths and weaknesses of claims. Drafted Mediation Statement in one of the three matters.
• Represented national insurance carrier—frequently singlehandedly—in dozens of Florida state and federal cases involving a variety of alleged regulatory violations and breaches of contract and various common law duties. Handled all aspects of discovery, pleadings, motions, hearings, expert practice, depositions, pre-trial practice, and settlement negotiations. Also handled all aspects of client communications, selection of corporate representatives, preparation of corporate representatives, and defense of corporate representatives at deposition.
• Represented national bank in a variety of federal and state actions and pre-suit demands throughout the country involving allegations of violations of the UCC, state banking regulations, and various common law claims. Drafted pleadings and dispositive motions, as well as discovery and discovery responses. Communicated directly with client, advising on litigation tactics and case strategy.
• Represented defendant chemical supplier in environmental products liability actions originally filed in state court in Alabama. Following one case’s removal to federal court and remand order to state court, drafted a Petition for Permission to Appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, as well as the ensuing Appellate Brief, while sitting second-chair at the ultimately successful Oral Argument before the Eleventh Circuit. The briefing and oral argument involved the breadth of the “local event or occurrence” exception to federal court jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act.
• Represented mortgage servicer in FDCPA class actions and individual actions in federal courts throughout the nation. Drafted successful motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, motions for judgment as a matter of law, Daubert motions, and a variety of discovery motions regarding issues related to alleged FDCPA violations, including CFPB regulations and guidance. Established strategies for global resolution. Drafted stipulations of settlement, class notices, and responses to class objectors. Deposed expert witness. Responded to state regulators’ demands and other correspondence.
• Represented city government in action brought by residents seeking injunction of city policy in Alabama state court. Researched relevant state law regarding government powers, drafted legal memoranda, formed strategy for response, and drafted responsive pleading. Obtained complete dismissal of action.
• Represented a national heat pump manufacturer in a state court action in Alabama alleging violations of the State’s regulations regarding government contractors. Directly engaged in settlement discussions with plaintiff government agency. Drafted a Motion to Dismiss and successfully argued the Motion in state court, where total dismissal was obtained for the client.
• Represented plaintiff tenant in suit against landlord alleging habitability issues, including violations of building codes as well as state and local building regulations. Conducted pre-suit fact-gathering, including interviews with client and witnesses. Drafted demand letter, complaint, and discovery requests. 
• Represented a regional trucking company in a personal injury action in Tennessee. Drafted pleadings, discovery responses, discovery to plaintiffs, and several case assessments. Successfully removed case to federal court in Tennessee. Prepared client for deposition and defended the client’s deposition. Took the deposition of plaintiff.
• Represented national building materials manufacturing corporation in automotive personal injury action in Georgia state court. Researched law and established case strategy in direct communication with client and drafted responsive pleading, discovery, and discovery responses. Prepared client for deposition and conducted witness interviews. Drafted successful motion for summary judgment leading to dismissal of client from case.
• Represented a multinational energy corporation in dozens of mass tort actions in federal court in the Southern District of Alabama. Took ten plaintiffs’ depositions, drafted several successful motions to dismiss, and organized uniform client response to the many diverse claims asserted against client.
• Represented apartment complex and hospital, both denied insurance coverage in separate wrongful death actions in Alabama state courts. Analyzed relevant insurance policies and drafted memoranda regarding facts, policies, and law. Drafted correspondence to insurance carriers and communicated with carriers’ counsel. Obtained coverage for client in both cases.
• Represented plaintiff multinational food processing corporation in complex business dispute action asserting fraud against several companies in Delaware Superior Court. Drafted briefing in response to defendants’ motions to dismiss, prepared for hearing on motions to dismiss, and sat second chair at hearing in which judge denied defendants’ motions.
• Represented a wheelchair manufacturer in state court product liability action in Florida. Took witness deposition and interviewed other witnesses. Attended inspection of subject wheelchair and conducted discovery.
• Represented a regional aggregate manufacturer in arbitration in a contract dispute against a financial services provider. Drafted the arbitration statement and counseled client on eventual settlement during arbitration.
• Represented a multinational conglomerate in a contract dispute with a commercial buyer. Drafted responsive pleadings, responded to discovery, drafted discovery, and engaged directly with plaintiff’s counsel in settlement negotiations.
• Represented a regional trucking company in a personal injury action. Drafted pleadings, discovery responses, discovery to plaintiffs, and case assessments. Conducted settlement discussions with plaintiff’s counsel, discussed case strategy with client, prepared client for deposition, and interviewed witnesses.
• Represented a national automaker in a product defect action. Drafted pleadings, discovery responses, discovery requests to plaintiff, and attended vehicle inspection with in-house experts.
• Represented power tool manufacturers in a variety of state and federal court product defect actions throughout the Southeast. Organized discovery, drafted discovery, drafted discovery responses, and drafted several successful Notices of Removal.
• Represented a pharmacy chain in a contract dispute with a former employee in Florida. Counseled client on case strategy, drafted legal memoranda outlining issues, and conducted factual investigation into underlying contract. Led settlement negotiations for client.
• Represented a pump manufacturer in state court asbestos actions in Alabama and Florida. Obtained dismissals of both actions after drafting answers, discovery, and discovery responses and conducting factual investigation. Drafted several legal memoranda outlining potential exposure.
• Represented defendant railroad in state court wrongful death action in Florida. Drafted discovery, discovery responses, and responded to discovery deficiency notices. Drafted legal memoranda assessing factual and legal issues in case. 
• Represented multinational pharmaceutical corporation in pharmaceutical products liability action in federal court. Managed several aspects of discovery, including the selection, vetting, and interviewing of expert witnesses as well as the preparation of company witnesses. Researched and drafted legal memoranda regarding several legal and factual aspects of the case, including approval of product by FDA and foreign regulators. 
• Represented regional healthcare corporation in its acquisition of another regional healthcare corporation. Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda regarding possible DOJ actions.
• Represented director and officer of a company in shareholder suit in Texas state court. Prepared several key witnesses for depositions and managed discovery relating to those witnesses. Drafted memoranda regarding facts of case and pertinent legal issues.
• Represented financial service company in domestication of foreign judgments in Georgia and the issuance of writs of fieri facias in order to collect on out-of-state judgments.
• Represented plaintiff financial services company in ongoing shareholder action brought against national financial services company in Georgia state court. Directly advised client of general case strategy and drafted pleadings and record requests.
• Represented national life insurance carrier in several actions throughout the nation in which plaintiffs alleged a variety of regulatory, contractual, and common law duty breaches. Handled all aspects of litigation, including strategy communications with client. 
• Represented national bank in a variety of regulatory and tort claims, as well as a defamation claim. Obtained dismissal of one action on motion to dismiss and handled all stages of litigation in others.