April T. Villaverde
April T. Villaverde
Co-Partner in Charge of Iselin Office
She/Her
"April prioritizes strategic, early resolution and diligent advocacy to help insurers navigate complex coverage disputes with efficiency and precision."

April T. Villaverde
Co-Partner in Charge of Iselin Office
She/Her
"April prioritizes strategic, early resolution and diligent advocacy to help insurers navigate complex coverage disputes with efficiency and precision."
About April
A seasoned attorney, April focuses her practice on representing insurance companies in commercial general liability disputes and bad faith litigation. Her work includes coverage issues and disputes concerning sexual abuse, product liability, environmental liability, toxic tort, construction defects, and professional liability claims.
She also advises and represents domestic and international insurers in complex coverage disputes involving general liability, environmental impairment liability (EIL), errors and omissions, professional liability, and first-party policies in state and federal courts nationwide, including the New Jersey Appellate Division. In addition, April oversees e-discovery efforts, negotiates protocols, and advises clients on vendor contracts, preservation, and collection.
Areas of Focus
Experience
- Obtained a favorable ruling for Evanston Insurance Company that the employer liability exclusion in the insured’s policy was unambiguous and fully precluded coverage for an action by its employee. Mejia v. Santana Elec. Work, LLC, No. HUD-L-2530-17, 2019 WL 11583222, at *1 (N.J. Super .L. Jan. 08, 2019)
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the New Jersey District Court’s decision barring f\the underlying plaintiff's bad faith claim under the New Jersey Entire Controversy Doctrine because. The court held that in first-party UIM litigation, plaintiffs must raise bad faith claims within the same lawsuit seeking their insurance benefits, finding that this requirement promotes judicial efficient and fairness. Reid v. Transp. Ins. Co., 502 F App'x 157, 160-161 (3d Cir 2012), aff’d Reid v CNA Ins. Co., No. 10-6246 (RBK/JS), 2011 U.S. Dist LEXIS 127182, at *2 (D.N.J. Nov. 3, 2011).
- Represented a major insurance company in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where the court dismissed claims against the claims administrator. The court held that insurance adjusters cannot be held liable for breach of contract or related claims stemming from coverage denials. It also found that claims for breach of contract and claims under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) failed as a matter of law due to the lack of privity between the adjuster and the insured.
- Secured a favorable ruling for Hinshaw client, a leading insurance company, with the court finding that the insurer had no duty to defend the insured. Applying the four-corner rule, the court held that the injured plaintiff was either an employee or subcontractor, both of which are explicitly excluded from coverage under the policy. It also considered extrinsic evidence—which is allowed in Delaware when it enhances the court’s understanding of the case—that confirmed the plaintiff was working for the insured at the time of the incident.
- Obtained a favorable ruling for an insurance company that there was no coverage available to the insured, with the court held the claims brought by the underlying plaintiff for violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) did not constitute an "occurrence" covered by the policy. The court determined that they failed to allege any "bodily injury" or "property damage" and that the policy’s TCPA exclusion explicitly barred coverage for all claims in the lawsuit, affirming the insurer’s position.
Recognition
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Credentials
Education
- Rutgers Law School, JD, 2006
- Rutgers University–New Brunswick, BA, 2001
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- US District Court for the District of New Jersey
- US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- US District Court for the Northern District of New York
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- Co-Presenter, "Attorney-Client Privilege in Insurance Disputes: Preserving Confidentiality, Meeting Legal Ethics Standards," Stafford, Webinar, April 11, 2024
- "Coverage B: Personal and Advertising Injury," In-House Client Training, April 2024
- Co-Presenter, "Landmines for Corporate Depositions of Insurance Companies, or How Not to Blow Yourself Up!," 2024 DRI Insurance Coverage and Claim Institute, Chicago, Illinois, March 13, 2024
- "The State of Bad Faith in California, Washington, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri," In-House Client Training, August 2022
- "Attorney-Client Privilege in Insurance," Stafford, Webinar, June 2022
Events
In The News
Insights for Insurers Alert
Press Releases
- April Villaverde Recognized as a 2024 Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting, Jun 5, 2024
- Ben Raindorf and April Villaverde Appointed Co-Partners-in-Charge of Hinshaw's New Jersey Office, Aug 8, 2023
- Samuel Bodurtha and April Villaverde Recognized as 2023 Client Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting, Jun 13, 2023
- Hinshaw Adds Insurance Partner in New Jersey, Jun 8, 2022
Interests
Did you know...
April enjoys reading and practicing yoga.
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- Co-Presenter, "Attorney-Client Privilege in Insurance Disputes: Preserving Confidentiality, Meeting Legal Ethics Standards," Stafford, Webinar, April 11, 2024
- "Coverage B: Personal and Advertising Injury," In-House Client Training, April 2024
- Co-Presenter, "Landmines for Corporate Depositions of Insurance Companies, or How Not to Blow Yourself Up!," 2024 DRI Insurance Coverage and Claim Institute, Chicago, Illinois, March 13, 2024
- "The State of Bad Faith in California, Washington, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri," In-House Client Training, August 2022
- "Attorney-Client Privilege in Insurance," Stafford, Webinar, June 2022
Events
In The News
Insights for Insurers Alert
Press Releases
- April Villaverde Recognized as a 2024 Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting, Jun 5, 2024
- Ben Raindorf and April Villaverde Appointed Co-Partners-in-Charge of Hinshaw's New Jersey Office, Aug 8, 2023
- Samuel Bodurtha and April Villaverde Recognized as 2023 Client Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting, Jun 13, 2023
- Hinshaw Adds Insurance Partner in New Jersey, Jun 8, 2022
April's Insights

Insights for Insurers Alert
Aug 26, 2024
NYSDFS Issues Final Circular for Insurers on Artificial Intelligence and External Data Use

Press Release
Jun 5, 2024
April Villaverde Recognized as a 2024 Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting

Press Release
Aug 8, 2023
Ben Raindorf and April Villaverde Appointed Co-Partners-in-Charge of Hinshaw's New Jersey Office

Press Release
Jun 13, 2023
Samuel Bodurtha and April Villaverde Recognized as 2023 Client Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting