Joel T. Wiegert

Partner

Minneapolis, MN

"I have been very fortunate to work with knowledgeable clients facing novel claims and first-of-their-kind issues. I enjoy helping them to distill complex matters down to their core and achieve the right resolution."

612-334-2528

Email andpZWdlcnRAaGluc2hhd2xhdy5jb20=

Joel T. Wiegert

Partner

Minneapolis, MN

612-334-2528

Email andpZWdlcnRAaGluc2hhd2xhdy5jb20=

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About Joel

Joel handles all aspects of first- and third-party commercial insurance coverage disputes, with a particular focus on fidelity coverage, including commercial crime and financial institution bonds. He also advises on errors and omissions, directors and officers, bonds, cyber, reinsurance, and commercial property matters.

In addition, Joel manages general coverage issues involving primary, umbrella, and excess policies and defends clients in complex coverage litigation. He also represents insurance agents and brokers on liability claims and disputes.

Joel is an associate editor of The Fidelity Law Journal and a regular author and speaker at FSLC conferences. He has authored numerous articles for journals and contributed chapters to ABA-published books on various fidelity law topics.

Areas of Focus

Industries:

Services:

- Insurance Coverage Litigation & Counseling

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®, Insurance Law, 2024 – 2026
Minnesota Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2004, 2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2015
Drake University Law School, Morris A. Haft Award; Order of the Coif

Credentials

Education

Drake University Law School, JD, with high honors, 2000
Concordia College, BA, 1997

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Court Admissions

US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
US District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
US District Court for the District of Minnesota
US District Court for the District of North Dakota
US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Thought Leadership

Presentations

Joel speaks extensively on coverage and liability issues confronting the insurance industry. His recent presentations include:

Conference Co-Chair, 31st Annual Conference, Fidelity Law Association, Chicago, Illinois, October 8, 2025
Co-Presenter, "Theft vs. Dishonest Conduct – What’s the Difference?" 2025 ABA Fidelity and Surety Law Midwinter Conference, Austin, Texas, January 16, 2025

Co-Presenter, "Contractual and Evidentiary Requirements to Demonstrate Coverage," 30th Annual Conference, Fidelity Law Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 25, 2024
Moderator, "Underwriting Roundtable," 2024 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference, January 25, 2024
Co-Chair, "The Next Frontier of Fidelity Coverage," 2023 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference, Washington, D.C., January 19-20, 2023

"The Claim Handler's Initial Analysis and Response to the Claim," 2019 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Fall Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, November 7, 2019
Panelist, "Framework of a Cyber Breach," MMA Cyber Seminar 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 25, 2018
"Social Engineering Insuring Agreements: Development Limits and Exclusions," 2018 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference, Washington, D.C., January 26, 2018
Co-Chair, ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Fall Meeting, November 10 – 11, 2016, Chicago, Illinois
"The Ownership Condition in the Crime Policy," CE Presentation, Hartford, Connecticut, March 18, 2015
"The Economic Loss Doctrine," CLE Presentation, St. Paul, MN
"Exhaustion of Coverage: Practical, Legal and Ethical Issues Arising in Claims Involving Multiple Insureds," Surety & Fidelity Claims Institute, Galloway, New Jersey
"Claims Processing Guidelines for Insureds and Insurers," HB Fidelity Bond & Crime Coverage Conference, New York, New York

Publications

Joel writes extensively on a variety of insurance-related topics. He is a regular contributor to a number of publications authored by the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS). His recent publications include:

Chapter Author, "Loss When It Occurs, Valuation, and Deductible," The Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations, American Bar Association, 2023

Chapter Author, "The Claim Handler's Initial Analysis and Response to the Claim," ABA TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee's Handling Fidelity Bond Claims Third Edition, October 29, 2019
Chapter Author, "Notice, Proof of Loss, and Legal Proceedings Against the Insurer—The Financial Institution Bond’s Procedural Conditions for Coverage," ABA TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee's Financial Institution Bonds Fourth Edition, November 14, 2016
"The Worthless-Collateral Rule," The Fidelity Law Journal, 2015
Chapter Author, "Compensability of Third-Party Losses," ABA TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee's Commercial Crime Insurance Coverage, December 19, 2014

Event

Joel Wiegert Serves as Conference Chair and Michael Adams Presents at Firm-Sponsored Fidelity Law Association 31st Annual Conference, Oct 8, 2025

In The News

Joel Wiegert Examines Contractual and Evidentiary Requirements to Demonstrate Insurance Coverage under Commercial Crime Policies via Fidelity Law Journal, Oct 16, 2024

Insights for Insurers Alert

$6 Million Phishing Loss Does not Trigger Coverage Under Crime Policies, Mar 1, 2021

Press Releases

Interests

Did you know...

If Joel were not a lawyer, he’d be a blimp pilot, spending his free time writing books and music.

Thought Leadership

Presentations

Joel speaks extensively on coverage and liability issues confronting the insurance industry. His recent presentations include:

Conference Co-Chair, 31st Annual Conference, Fidelity Law Association, Chicago, Illinois, October 8, 2025
Co-Presenter, "Theft vs. Dishonest Conduct – What’s the Difference?" 2025 ABA Fidelity and Surety Law Midwinter Conference, Austin, Texas, January 16, 2025

Co-Presenter, "Contractual and Evidentiary Requirements to Demonstrate Coverage," 30th Annual Conference, Fidelity Law Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 25, 2024
Moderator, "Underwriting Roundtable," 2024 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference, January 25, 2024
Co-Chair, "The Next Frontier of Fidelity Coverage," 2023 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference, Washington, D.C., January 19-20, 2023

"The Claim Handler's Initial Analysis and Response to the Claim," 2019 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Fall Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, November 7, 2019
Panelist, "Framework of a Cyber Breach," MMA Cyber Seminar 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 25, 2018
"Social Engineering Insuring Agreements: Development Limits and Exclusions," 2018 ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference, Washington, D.C., January 26, 2018
Co-Chair, ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Fall Meeting, November 10 – 11, 2016, Chicago, Illinois
"The Ownership Condition in the Crime Policy," CE Presentation, Hartford, Connecticut, March 18, 2015
"The Economic Loss Doctrine," CLE Presentation, St. Paul, MN
"Exhaustion of Coverage: Practical, Legal and Ethical Issues Arising in Claims Involving Multiple Insureds," Surety & Fidelity Claims Institute, Galloway, New Jersey
"Claims Processing Guidelines for Insureds and Insurers," HB Fidelity Bond & Crime Coverage Conference, New York, New York

Publications

Chapter Author, "Loss When It Occurs, Valuation, and Deductible," The Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations, American Bar Association, 2023

Chapter Author, "The Claim Handler's Initial Analysis and Response to the Claim," ABA TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee's Handling Fidelity Bond Claims Third Edition, October 29, 2019
Chapter Author, "Notice, Proof of Loss, and Legal Proceedings Against the Insurer—The Financial Institution Bond’s Procedural Conditions for Coverage," ABA TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee's Financial Institution Bonds Fourth Edition, November 14, 2016
"The Worthless-Collateral Rule," The Fidelity Law Journal, 2015
Chapter Author, "Compensability of Third-Party Losses," ABA TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Committee's Commercial Crime Insurance Coverage, December 19, 2014