One of the most outstanding lawyers I have worked with in insurance.
Chambers USA

Partner Tamara Bruno leads the Texas section of Pillsbury’s Insurance Recovery & Advisory practice, recently named a 2022 “Insurance Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, from Houston, though her practice spans the nation.

She advises companies and institutional policyholders on complex and cutting-edge issues involving insurance and risk and represents clients in high-stakes litigation involving insurance coverage disputes. Her experience spans a wide range of business insurance, including property and casualty coverage and a variety of liability coverages. Her primary focus is on specialized insurance coverages, including directors & officers liability, cyber, commercial crime and professional liability insurance. Bruno advises and represents policyholders in all industries, including energy, technology, hospitality and consumer products. 

View More

Tamara is widely recognized for her work and experience. She has been recognized by Chambers USA, Legal 500 U.S. and Best Lawyers, Law360 for her notable successes in insurance litigation. She was named a Law 360 MVP in September 2021 and an Insurance Rising Star by the International Financial Law Review in their 2020 Americas Rising Star Awards. Additionally, Tamara served on Law360’s 2020 and 2024 Insurance Editorial Board and was a member of The American Lawyer’s Young Lawyer Editorial Board. She served two terms as an elected council member for the Insurance Law Section of the Texas State Bar and is currently serving her second term on the board of directors for the Corporate Counsel section of the Houston Bar Association. She regularly writes and speaks on insurance law topics.

Professional Highlights

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized by Legal 500 U.S., Advice to Policyholders (2024) as a Next Generation Partner.
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Insurance Law (2021 – 2025); Litigation – Insurance (2025).
  • Recognized by Chambers USA in Insurance (2017 – 2024), and included as one of only three Star Associates Nationwide in any practice area in 2019.

View More

  • Insurance MVP, Law360 (2021)
  • Insurance Rising Star, International Financial Law Review (2020)
  • Insurance Rising Star, Law360 (2017)
  • Associations
    • Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Insurance Law (2024)
    • Member, Insurance Recovery & Advisory practice, named by Law360 as a Practice Group of the Year (2010, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2022)
    • Advisor, RIMS Houston Chapter Board – Legal (2019)
    • Member, The American Lawyer Young Lawyer Editorial Board (2018)
    • Member and Committee Chair, Council for the Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (2016-2020)
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Understanding Potential Ways to Mitigate Exposure for PFAS Risks Through Insurance,” Panelist, ACI’s Summit on PFAS, New York City Bar Association, New York, NY (May 31, 2024).
    • “Burning Questions About Burning Limits: New Legal Developments, Challenges and Opportunities," RIMS RiskWorld, San Diego, CA (May 6, 2024).
    • “Covering Your Assets: Insurance Trends, Strategies and Hot Topics,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathons, Los Angeles, CA (January 25, 2024).
    • “Generative AI – Emerging Risks and Insurance Coverage,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathons, San Diego, CA (January 23, 2024).
    • “Generative AI – Emerging Risks and Insurance Coverage,” myLawCLE Webinar, New York, NY (December 18, 2023).
    • “What Risk Professionals Should Know About D&O Bump-Up Exclusions: How They Apply and When to Push Back,” RIMS RiskWorld Conference, Atlanta, GA (April 30, 2023).
    • “Cyber Coverage Trends for 2023,” The Institutes CPCU Society, Houston, TX Chapter (February 28, 2023).
    • “Insurance Coverage for Trafficking Claims and Liability,” State Bar of Texas’ 19th Annual Advanced Insurance Law, San Antonio, TX (June 2, 2022).
    • “Update on Cyber Risks and Insurance,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathons, Virginia (October 20, 2021).
    • “Executive Luncheon: Latest Trends in D&O Insurance,” AON (October 26, 2021).
    • “Insurance Issues from the Texas Winter Storms,” Panelist, Houston Bar Association Webinar (March 8, 2021). 
    • “Mediating Insurance Coverage Disputes,” Panelist, Dallas Bar Association Webinar (March 2, 2021).
    • “ADR Section & Insurance Law State Bar Section Joint Remote CLE,” Austin Bar Association Webinar (January 26, 2021).
    • “Oil & Gas Industry Cyber Table Top Breach,” 74th PLIMC, Scottsdale, AZ (November 15, 2018).
    • “Policyholder Legal Update,” 74th PLIMC, Scottsdale, AZ (November 14, 2018).
    • “A Roadmap for Young Insurance Litigators,” ABA Women in Insurance Network Conference (November 8, 2018).
    • “Insurance Through the Eyes of Coverage Counsel,” Marsh EnergyU Lunch and Learn (October 29, 2018).
    • “Cyber Risk in Operations,” RIMS Houston Fall Conference (October 23, 2018).
    • “Coverage for Sexual Harassment Claims and Other Bad Conduct,” Texas Bar Advanced Insurance Law Conference, San Antonio, TX (June 29, 2018).
    • “Insurance Law Lessons from Popular Culture,” RIMS Luncheon, Houston, TX (June 20, 2018).
    • “Protecting Our Pastimes: Risk Management and Insurance for Sports and Other Entertainment Events,” National RIMS Conference, San Antonio, TX (April 18, 2018).
    • “The Storm After the Storm: What Counsel Should Know About Preparing for and Handling Insurance Claims,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathon, Houston, TX (2017).
    • “The Storm After the Storm – Preparing for and Handling Hurricane and Other Property Claims,” 73rd PLIMC, Tulsa, OK, (November 7, 2017).
    • “Total Recall: The Ins and Outs of Coverage for Product Recalls and Chipotle-Like Incidents,” 21st Annual University of Texas Insurance Law Institute, Houston, TX (November 2016).
    • “Policyholder Legal Update,” Pipeline Risk Managers Conference, The Woodlands, TX (November 1, 2016).
    • “Through the Eyes of an Insurance Lawyer: What They See in Your Policies That You Need to Know,” Pillsbury’s CLE Marathon, Houston and Austin, TX (October 18, 2016).
    • “Attorney’s Eye-View: How Coverage Counsel Evaluates Issues Raised by Insurance Policy Provisions,” RIMS Houston, TX Chapter, (July 20, 2016).
    • “Developments in Energy Insurance,” 20th Annual University of Texas Insurance Law Institute, Dallas, TX (November 2015).

Education

  • J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 2009

    B.F.A., New York University, 2005

Admissions

  • New York

    Texas