Atty. Timothy W. "Tim" Burns

Atty. Timothy W. "Tim" Burns

Timothy W. Burns is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP.

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Profile Summary

About Timothy W. "Tim" Burns at a glance

Timothy W. "Tim" Burns is a insurance attorney based in Madison, Wisconsin, practicing at Burns Bair. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association, Missouri, The Missouri Bar, and Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin. Educated at University of Missouri (J.D.) and Weber State University (B.A.). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Madison, WI and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Timothy W. Burns is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP. He is the former co-chair of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association
  • Mr. Burns has been favorably ranked nationally for 18 years in Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2006-2023)
  • According to the publication, Mr. Burns "shines brightly in the sensitive and complex area of D&O [directors' and officers'] insurance," and corporate interviewees for the publication agreed that he "is probably the best counselor in the business for the procurement of this insurance . . . and is a real client magnet in this specialized field
  • According to one client quoted, "He is smart, diligent, innovative, resourceful and practical
  • Mr. Burns is also listed in The International Who's Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers and as one of the nation's top thirty policyholder-side insurance lawyers in the Executive Counsel Shortlist
  • Mr. Burns has developed a nationally prominent D&O insurance practice
  • He advises clients on all aspects of D&O insurance, including counseling them with respect to the D&O insurance aspects of securities and derivative litigation and government investigations, initial public offerings, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcies
  • Tim's practice also includes representing corporate policyholders in their disputes and litigation with their insurance carriers
  • He has represented major policyholders in insurance coverage litigation since 1992

Practice Areas Explained

Timothy W. "Tim" Burns's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Timothy W. "Tim" Burns handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Insurance Law

Insurance attorneys for coverage disputes, bad faith claims, denied claims, and policy disputes.

Timothy W. "Tim" Burns is one of 121,912 insurance attorneys indexed nationally. Browse insurance attorneys in Wisconsin →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Wisconsin

Practicing law in Wisconsin. Legal matters in Wisconsin are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Madison are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Wisconsin state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Wisconsin brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Wisconsin courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Wisconsin attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Madison or all attorneys in Wisconsin.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Timothy W. "Tim" Burns

Where is Timothy W. "Tim" Burns's law office located?
Timothy W. "Tim" Burns's law practice is located in Madison, Wisconsin. The firm is Burns Bair. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Timothy W. "Tim" Burns handle?
Timothy W. "Tim" Burns focuses on insurance. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Wisconsin.
Where did Timothy W. "Tim" Burns go to law school?
Timothy W. "Tim" Burns earned their education at (J.D.); (B.A.).
How can I contact Timothy W. "Tim" Burns for a consultation?
You can contact Timothy W. "Tim" Burns directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Timothy W. "Tim" Burns received?
Timothy W. "Tim" Burns's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — International Arbitration - Commercial; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:.

Education

J.D.
University of Missouri
- In Progress
B.A.
Weber State University
- In Progress

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — International Arbitration - Commercial
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Coverage
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Director and Officer Liability
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fidelity
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — International Arbitration
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Professional Liability
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2023-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, 2023-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2005, 2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Ranked in Chambers USA legal guide in the area of Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder, 2023
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Listed in The International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers, Executive Counsel Shortlist
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Insurance Law (Madison)
- 2013

Bar Admissions

Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association
Missouri, The Missouri Bar
Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin

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