Caralisa Connell
Partner
Caralisa’s practice focuses on representing insurers in coverage disputes involving most types of insurance products, with a specialty focusing on Financial Institution Bonds, Commercial Crime Policies, and Cyber Policies.
Caralisa advises insurance companies on coverage analysis and represents insurers in complex coverage disputes across the country. While handling all lines of insurance, she primarily focuses on financial institution bonds, commercial crime policies, and cyber insurance. Her practice has allowed her to advise insurers on various fidelity coverage issues including employee theft, computer fraud, and forgery and alteration. Additionally, she has represented insurers in federal and state courts across the country on complex coverage disputes. Caralisa also counsels and represents sureties on all aspects of performance and payment bond claims.
When not practicing law, Caralisa enjoys spending time with her wife and dogs.
Representative Cases
- Represented insurer in litigation in Virginia federal court in which plaintiffs sought coverage under a commercial crime policy, obtaining summary judgment on the basis a construction contract was not a security, as defined by the policy. Heartland Construction, Inc. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Case No. 2:21CV43 (RCY), 2022 WL 4016884 (E.D. Va. Aug. 30, 2022).
- Represented insurer in litigation in Arizona federal court in which plaintiffs sought coverage under a commercial crime policy, obtaining summary judgment on various issues. Discovery Land Company, LLC, et. al. v. Berkley Insurance Company, et. al., Case No. CV-20-01541-PHX-ROS (D. Ariz. Mar. 14, 2023).
- Represented insurer in litigation in Texas federal court in which plaintiffs sought coverage under a commercial crime policy, obtaining dismissal on the basis that plaintiffs loss was excluded under the policy. Kent Distributors, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, 693 F.Supp.3d 726 (W.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2023).
- Represented insurers in multiple lawsuits throughout the United States seeking millions of dollars resulting from alleged employee theft.
- Represented insurers in multiple lawsuit throughout the United States seeking millions of dollars under financial institution bonds.
Publications
- Editor, Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations (2023)
- Computer Fraud Insuring Agreement, in the Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations (2023)
- Funds Transfer Fraud Insuring Agreement, in the Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations (2023)
- Social Engineering Fraud Insuring Agreement, in the Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations (2023)
- Other Electronic Coverages, in the Financial Institution Bond and Commercial Crime Policy: Principles and Annotations (2023)
- ERISA Fidelity Bonds: ERISA Bonding Requirements and Their Potential Tension with Standard Fidelity Bonds, Fidelity Law Association Annual Conference XXVIII Fid. L. J. 137 (November 2022)
- Fidelity Law Update 2022, XXVIII Fid. L. J. 1 (November 2022)
Events & Speaking Engagements
- Crime Insurance: The Basics and a Bit More, Client CLE Program (April 2025)
- Presenter Panel – Jury Deliberations – Employee Theft, ABA Annual Mid-Winter Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (January 2025)
- Co-Chair, ABA Annual Fall Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (September 2024)
- Fidelity in the Real World: The Battle for Computer Fraud, ABA Annual Mid-Winter Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (January 2024)
- Electronic Coverages, ABA Annual Fall Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (October 2023)
- Employee Theft v. Employee Dishonesty, Client CLE Program (April 2023)
- If It Fits I Sits: The Attempt to Find Coverage for Cyber Losses, ABA Annual Mid-Winter Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (January 2023)
- ERISA Fidelity Bonds: ERISA Bonding Requirements and Their Potential Tension with Standard Fidelity Bonds, Fidelity Law Association Annual Conference (November 2022)
- Pre-Trial Litigation: Measure Twice, Cut Once, ABA Annual Mid-Winter Meeting of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee (August 2022)
- A Thief Onboard! A Map to Handling an Employee’s Theft of a Construction Contract, Gulfcoast Fidelity & Surety Institute Annual Meeting (June 2022)
- The Fight for Pirate’s Booty: The Interplay Between an Insured/Obligee’s Recovery Under a Surety Bond and Fidelity Insurance, Gulfcoast Fidelity & Surety Institute Annual Meeting (June 2022)
- Fidelity Case Law Update, Fidelity Law Association Annual Conference (November 2021)
- Misrepresentations in the Application: A Critical Consideration That You Need To Be Sure To Consider, Client CLE Program (June 2021)
Professional & Civic Activities
- Fidelity Law Association, Website Subcommittee
- Fidelity Law Association, Associate Editor of the Fidelity Law Journal
- Fidelity Law Association, Finance Committee
- Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, Co-Chair Technology and Social Media Committee
- Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, Co-Chair Young Professionals Subcommittee
- American Bar Association – Tort Trial Insurance Practice, Fidelity and Surety Law, Young Lawyers Division
- South Carolina Bar Association
Education
- J.D., Belmont University College of Law (2017), magna cum laude
- B.S. Physics, University of Louisville (2014)
Bar & Court Admissions
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- U.S. District Ct., E.D. of Tennessee
- U.S. District Ct., W.D. of Tennessee
- U.S. District Ct., M.D. of Tennessee
- U.S. District Ct., District of South Carolina
- U.S. District Ct., District of New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit