Annual Conference 2012 

Lance is speaking in the following sessions:

Lance J. Albright is  Vice President of Claims for QBE the Americas.  He has responsibility for management and oversight of the Program Business claims department. He reports directly to the Chief Claims Officer of Program Business. QBE the Americas is a division of QBE Insurance Group Ltd, Australia's largest international general insurance and reinsurance group. It is one of the top 25 insurers and reinsurers worldwide and the 15th largest insurer in the United States. As Vice President and General Manager, Mr. Albright was responsible for the Legal Solutions Division of Computer Sciences Corporation, the third largest software and IT consulting and services firm in the world. Prior to joining CSC, Mr. Albright was the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company of America, where he was responsible for the management of Interdepartmental Operations and was a member of Yasuda’s Board of Directors. He began his insurance career with The Hartford Insurance Company in NYC as a field claims adjuster. He then moved to international insurance with AFIA Worldwide Insurance where he was responsible for international claims. He spent four years at The Home Insurance Company in NYC where he was home office branch claims manager for the Western Region of the United States and Canada. Mr. Albright received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame. He received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Seton Hall University. Mr. Albright holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.  He also has an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) degree. He is the current Chairman of the Insurance Federation of New York.  He is on the Board of Directors of the New York City Chapter of CPCU having previously served as the chapter President. He is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He has two daughters, Kristen and Blair.

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Ernest is speaking in the following sessions:

Ernest Aliseda is the Managing Attorney for Loya Insurance Group. Aliseda currently manages and oversees all litigation handled by both staff counsel and outside counsel in all the States Loya Insurance Group sells policies, along with managing and supervising all staff counsel lawyers and legal staff at four different offices. Judge Aliseda is a former State District Judge for both the 139th and 398th State District Courts, where he presided over both complex civil and felony criminal matters. In addition to his many years of judicial trial court experience, Aliseda has extensive varied legal experience handling complex litigation matters ranging from products liability, personal injury to fraud and contract claims from both the defense and plaintiff’s perspective. Aliseda also has extensive federal misdemeanor and felony criminal experience having recently served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney with the Department of Justice, while mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the Chief of Federal Litigation for the 18th Airborne Corps.  He was recently appointed by the State Bar President to the Task Force on Additional Resources for Complex Cases.  A graduate of Texas A&M University (B.A.) and the University of Houston Law Center (J.D.), Ernest is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and is admitted to practice in Texas and Illinois.

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Laura is speaking in the following sessions:

Laura Aznavoorian is a graduate of the University of Chicago and currently resides in the Chicago area. She holds AIC and ARM designations and is currently working towards completion of the CPCU program.  Laura is a claim industry professional. She has had a 20 year career handling product liability, general liability, retail claims and medical malpractice. Her specialty is in managing complex litigation. 

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Robert is speaking in the following sessions:

After practicing law in New York for 16 years Bob transitioned to Claims working first on the then Royal Insurance Litigation Management Strategy.  Bob was then named Litigation Management Claim Executive responsible for Arrowpoint Capital's implementation of the National Litigation Strategy and Legal Bill Review Unit.  Bob was then given responsibility for several national lines of business including General Liability, Construction Defect and Architects and Engineers.  Recently Bob has also worked in a leadership role in Workers Compensation.   Recently Bob has nbeen asked to take a leadership role in the Recently Rece

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Flavia is speaking in the following sessions:

Flavia L. Baker is an Excess Casualty claims handler for Navigators Management Company, Inc.  Prior to joining Navigators, she worked as an Environmental Claims Examiner for Markel Corporation.  She has also worked for AIG Domestic Claims, Inc. both as a senior claims analyst in the Excess Department and as a senior analyst in the Pollution Insurance Products High Profile Claims Department. During her time with AIG’s Pollution Department, Flavia handled complex pollution and professional liability claims, including contractor’s pollution, mold and toxic exposure, polluted sites, transported cargo, underground storage tanks, and asbestos claims.  Flavia received her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Law Minor from Pace University in 2001 and graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 2005.  She maintains active adjuster licenses in several US states.

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Franklin is speaking in the following sessions:

Working from Catlin’s London and U.S. offices, Franklin manages litigation and claims as well as coverage disputes across all lines of Catlin’s business in the United States.  Franklin graduated from Brooklyn Law School and from New York University with honors.  He is an “AV” (highest) peer rated lawyer by Martindale Hubbell. During his years of practicing law Franklin tried over 50 cases to verdict and was repeatedly recognized in Euromoney’s “Guide to the World Leading Aviation Lawyers” and “New York Super Lawyers.”  Before joining Catlin, Franklin was in private practice as a Partner with Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP in their New York office and Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP where he led the Aviation Team and was on the firm’s Executive Committee. Franklin is currently on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee (Vice President/President Elect) of the Aviation Insurance Association (AIA), President of the AIA Foundation and on the Board of Directors of AIA-Alternative Dispute Resolution, Inc. He is a licensed aircraft pilot.  Over the years, he has spoken at various insurance related forums, been quoted in the print media and interviewed on televised news as an expert in aviation insurance and complex litigation. Catlin Group Ltd. is an international specialty insurance and reinsurance underwriter.  Catlin underwrites 31 different lines of business with an emphasis on reinsurance, energy, aviation, property, marine, specie, professional liability, financial products and casualty.  Catlin’s Syndicate 2003 at Lloyd’s of London is the largest syndicate at Lloyd’s of London.  In addition to its Lloyd’s syndicate, Catlin has underwriting hubs in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Bermuda and Asia with 45 offices worldwide.  Catlin, Inc., The Group’s U.S. Hub, has 16 offices throughout the United States. 

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Nicole is speaking in the following sessions:

Nicole manages the company’s high severity employment practices liability (EPL) and governmental liability claims, and also serves as the Claims Department’s EPL and governmental liability product development liaison and new hire training, continuing education, and panel counsel coordinator.  Before assuming this role, Nicole led a team of senior claims analysts responsible for handling the company’s EPL and governmental liability claims nationwide, prior to which she was a senior claims analyst managing EPL, governmental liability, directors and officers, and managed care errors and omissions claims. Before joining Allied World, Nicole was a senior claims officer at Chubb Specialty Insurance, where she managed high severity claims nationwide including mass/class actions, government initiated actions, and litigation involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.  Nicole’s previous professional experience includes practicing as a management-side labor and employment attorney with Pepe & Hazard LLP in Hartford, Connecticut.  She has been a speaker at numerous industry conferences and seminars. Nicole earned her B.A. from the University of Connecticut and earned her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she also served as managing editor of the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal.  She is a member of the bar in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

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Leah is speaking in the following sessions:

Leah Beckham is the President of Meridian Consulting Services, LLC, and formerly the COO of McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC, one of the largest insurance defense firms in the Southeast. Ms. Beckham has worked in executive legal management since 1993 and specializes in providing guidance to law firms and other professional service companies in maximizing efficiency and profitability by leveraging technology, and designing performance metrics.  She also designed "eNvoicer," a software application that automates electronic billing for the legal profession, and "eMarketer," an application that tracks and reports professional marketing events and activities. Ms. Beckham is a member of the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), the National Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), an Associate Member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and a Claims and Litigation Management Fellow (CLM.) and recently co-authored "Technology Meets the Value Challenge" in the March 2011 issue of Peer to Peer magazine published by ILTA. Her creative, entrepreneurial approach has had a significant impact on her clients' ability to respond to the transitions required for success in the post-recession economy.

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Larry is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Beemer has 32 years in the insurance industry with Aetna, CNA, Home Insurance, Risk Enterprise Management and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.  He is currently the National Claim Director for Construction Defect, Latent Injury and Entertainment Claims at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.  In his career he has been a chief technical officer, consultant to re-insurers, training coordinator, national accounts coordinator, litigation manager, legal auditor, claims and due diligence auditor, PMK, expert witness and has been a panel speaker at CLM and other industry events.   He is a member of the AIA Subcommittee on Construction, a member of the Southern California Construction Defect Claim Managers Association, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  

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Hans is speaking in the following sessions:

Hans is a strategic, results-oriented legal technology solutions leader with a consistent record of exceeding expectations, improving processes, cultivating new markets, developing alliance partners and building long-term relationships. Hans has helped Global and Fortune 500 legal organizations implement and leverage legal matter and spend management solutions for over a decade. In his current role with TyMetrix, Hans is responsible for consultative sales to the insurance market, focusing on complex legal performance management technology and services to improve operational efficiencies and use of critical business intelligence. Hans is a graduate of Wofford College and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

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Paul is speaking in the following sessions:

Paul Berne joined the Lancer Financial Group in 1992. He has over 31 years experience in the management and administration of property/casualty claims. Prior to joining Lancer, Paul was Vice President of Claims with Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation. Paul is a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) where he served as President and Treasurer during his nine year term on the Board of Directors. He is currently the Chair of TIDA’s Risk Management and Endowment Committees. Paul is a member of the Counsel on Litigation Management Bad Faith Committee and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Claims and Bad Faith Committees. He is a frequent speaker and author on a range of subjects relating to Claims management, transportation risk exposure and claims cost control, and risk management.

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Mark is speaking in the following sessions:

Service and Retention Leader for National Accounts with Carl Warren & Company for General Liability/Product Liability claims. Mark has handled complex litigation and catastrophic injury claims from inception to trial. Mark's legal background provides great insight into the handling of claims, negotiation and litigation and is of great benefit to clients and employees.  Mark has handled cases involving attorney malpractice, catastrophic injuries, asbestos litigation and other toxic torts, as well as construction defect from the investigative stage through trial all for both the defense and plaintiff bar. Mark is the Corporate Ombudsperson and Compliance Officer/AVP including the MMSEA Leader. He is a frequent speaker at ESOP and NCEO conferences. He has spoken before the California Refuse and Recycling Council, the Housing Authority Defense Association as well as the National Restaurant and Retail Association on the topic of MMSEA.  

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Thomas is speaking in the following sessions:

Tom Best is Senior Counsel at Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. where he leads a team that manages the Company’s casualty, products liability, first property and torts claims and litigation. Tom is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and has been trained as a Six Sigma Black Belt. During Tom’s time at the Company, Tom’s group has pioneered several successful new programs including: National Discovery Counsel, Early Case Assessment and Evaluation, Regionalization of Products Liability Counsel, Regionalization of Torts Counsel, and Alternative Fee Approaches to Torts and Products Liability Litigation. Tom has presented on general liability matters, the relationship between outside and in house counsel, cost containment, and alternative fee strategies on numerous occasions. Tom is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University where he served on the Editorial Board as Student Writing Editor. Tom is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Defense Research Institute, National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel. Tom is also a Fellow of the Counsel on Litigation Management and serves as a Co-Chairperson of the Litigation Management Committee. Tom maintains an “AV” rating with Martindale-Hubbell.  

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Vincent is speaking in the following sessions:

Vince is currently Vice President of claims for Mass Litigation and Pollution. He supervise over 75 people that handle multiple policy year claims including, toxic torts, pharmaceutical and product cases etc. worldwide. He has been with Zurich Insurance Company for five years. Prior to that he was with AIG for 12 years where he was in charge of the legal malpractice and miscellaneous E&O division. At AIG he was also in charge of the Financial Institution department. Prior to that Vince was a Regional Litigation Manager with the Home Insurance Company where he was responsible for the management of the staff counsel offices and panel counsel for the Eastern section of the United States. Before joining the insurance industry Vince was a practicing attorney in New Jersey. He was with two defense firms in New Jersey commencing in 1973. He was also first assistant with the City of Jersey City law department where he was in charge of all litigation against the City. He handled and supervised his staff of five attorneys on cases ranging from minor accidents to Federal Civil Right claims under section 1983. Vince also acted as Risk manager for the City and is an ARM. Vince is a graduate of New York Law School and is a Navy Vietnam Veteran.  

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Brian is speaking in the following sessions:

S-E-A Project Engineer, with degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, specializing in accident reconstruction, biomechanical engineering, and vehicular occupant safety.  Vehicular accident reconstruction experience includes light and heavy trucks, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, off-road equipment, and pedestrians.  Extensive reconstruction work experience includes CDR and ECM data retrieval and interpretation, braking systems, tire failures, vehicle handling and dynamics, nighttime visibility /conspicuity, photogrammetry, and simulation.  Biomechanical engineering work includes assessments of injury causation, risk and potential related to exposures in the areas of automotive accidents, slip and falls, workplace accidents and product failures.  Specific to automotive accidents, biomechanical engineering work experience includes general occupant and pedestrian safety, reconstruction of injury causation, active and passive safety systems, and injury assessment reference values. 

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Michael Born joined ThinkRisk Underwriting Agency, LLC in May 2010 as Senior Vice President and Underwriting Manager. Michael has now been appointed Chief Claims officer of ThinkRisk.

Michael has extensive experience with all facets of specialty professional liability insurance. From November 2004 until May 2010, Michael was vice president at Media/Professional Insurance, the leading global underwriter of specialty errors and omissions insurance, including media liability, miscellaneous E&O, and cyber/technology insurance. During his 8 years at Media/Professional, he managed the claims department for the company's professional liability programs including cyber and technology, miscellaneous E&O, lawyers and accountants. Michael was also part of the senior management team and worked closely with underwriting to develop new products and promote the business to brokers, customers, reinsurers and others. Prior to working for Media/Professional, Michael practiced insurance defense law in Dallas and Chicago and as in-house counsel for American Family Insurance and Zurich American Insurance Company.

Michael is a frequent speaker and panelist on various topics surrounding the cyber liability and miscellaneous errors and omissions insurance industry, including presentations for PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriters Society), RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society), IRMI (International Risk Management Institution) CLM (Counsel on Litigation Management) and the ASAE (American Society of Association Executives).

Michael earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and his B.A. with honors from Washburn University (cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). 

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Brian is speaking in the following sessions:

Brian Bornstein is Claims Regional Vice President for Chartis Mid-Atlantic Region and is based in Philadelphia. In this position Brian acts as the senior claims executive in the this region and makes sure that all Chartis claims handled in the mid atlantic region are serviced appropriately. These claims include Crime, Directors and Officers, Errors & Omissions, Workers Comp, Casualty, Environmental, Property, and Healthcare. Prior to this position, Brian spent ten years in Chartis home office New York where he held the following positions: Vice President, Quality Assurance Group, overseeing the Crime, Directors and Officers, Errors and Omissions and Toxic Tort areas; and as Assistant Vice President, Crime Claims. In his position as Assistant Vice President of Crime Claims he managed hundreds of world wide crime claims with exposures in the multi millions of dollars. For these claims, he was also involved in managing the accounting and recovery processes. Prior to joining Chartis in 1995, Brian worked as in house counsel with Long Island Lighting Company and practiced law with Lowenstein Sandler and Bingham Englar. He holds a B.A. degree from Cornell University and Law (JD) and MBA degrees from the University of Buffalo.

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Pamela is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Bracher is the Director of Litigation for the Risk Management Department of U.S. Xpress, Inc., a Chattanooga, TN based transportation company. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from Emory University (1989), and her Masters in Public Administration (1994) and Juris Doctor (1997) degrees from the University of Cincinnati. After law school, Ms. Bracher practiced with the law firm of Miller & Martin PLLC in Chattanooga, focusing her practice on railway transportation, commercial, and products liability litigation. She joined U.S. Xpress, Inc. in 2006, as in-house counsel, where she works closely with outside defense counsel to represent the Company, including affiliate companies Xpress Global Systems, Inc., Arnold Transportation Services, Inc. and Total Transportation of Mississippi, LLC, at various stages of pre-litigation and litigation. Ms. Bracher’s responsibilities include oversight of all claims in litigation and involvement in high risk catastrophic claims to assist with evidence preservation.

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Frank J. is speaking in the following sessions:

Frank J. Brier was graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington DC in 1994.  Following graduation, he returned to Pennsylvania and served as law clerk to the Hon. S. John Cottone in the Lackawanna County, Court of Common Pleas.  Mr. Brier has spent the past sixteen years as a trial lawyer litigating in Pennsylvania state and federal courts.  He specializes in defending health care providers in complex cases.  In 2006, Mr. Brier joined Geisinger System Services as General Counsel and Litigation Counsel where he serves currently. He has been selected a Pennsylvania Super lawyer in the area of medical malpractice defense.  He lectures frequently on health care legal topics including professional liability, electronic medical records and fraud and abuse/anti kick back litigation.   Geisinger is a an integrated health services organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record, and the development and implementation of innovative care models including advanced medical home and ProvenCare® program. The system serves more than 2.6 million residents throughout 42 counties in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.   

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

Christopher R. Brigham, MD is the Chairman of Impairment Resources, LLC. He is the Senior Contributing Editor for the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Sixth Edition, and was a contributor/author for several chapters, including Upper Extremities, Lower Extremities, and Spine. With the Fifth Edition, he served on the Advisory Committee and as a contributor. Dr. Brigham is Board-Certified in Occupational Medicine (ABPM), Founding Director of the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME), Master Fellow, Academy of Independent Medical Examiners of Hawaii (AIMEH), a Fellow of the American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine (FACOEM), a Fellow of the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians (FAADEP) with Certification in Evaluation of Disability and Impairment Rating (CEDIR), a Certified Independent Medical Examiner (CIME), a Certified Impairment Rater (CIR), and a graduate of the Washington University School of Medicine – St. Louis. He is the Editor of the AMA publications The Guides Newsletter and The Guides Casebook. He was co-author of the text Understanding the AMA Guides in Workers Compensation, Third Edition, has written over two hundred published articles on impairment and disability evaluation and other texts, chaired the Medical Advisory Board for the Medical Disability Advisor, Fourth Edition, is featured in several video, audio, and web-based productions in the medicolegal field, and has trained thousands of physicians, attorneys, claims professionals, and fact-finders, throughout the US, Canada, and internationally. He is an experienced professional speaker. As a clinician with over thirty years experience, he has performed several thousand independent medical and impairment evaluations, providing him with excellent insight to the complexities of human potential, impairment, and disability. As a result of this experience, he has consulted for numerous organizations (including governmental jurisdictions). 

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Keith is speaking in the following sessions:

Keith Brown returned to TyMetrix in 2010 after a stint as a Consultant with Hildebrandt Baker Robbins. Keith currently holds the position of Lead Business Consultant. In the last 9 years, Keith has held several positions at TyMetrix including Director of Product Management and Director of Client Services. In his current role, Keith is focused on the delivery of professional services and custom developed solutions to TyMetrix prospects and clients. Prior to joining TyMetrix Keith spent a decade as a litigator in Boston, Masschusetts and previously worked as a claims handler.

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Timothy is speaking in the following sessions:

Results – oriented senior executive with extensive global enterprise risk management experience and knowledge in the biotechnology, medical device industry. Strong experience in establishing and developing liability avoidance through integration with quality system and regulatory compliance; especially in new product development; delivers results through performance excellence, team- building, process management mechanisms and unrelenting customer service. Passionate about building profitable businesses through liability avoidance, asset prevention, through cross functional team development, and motivating employee risk awareness and customer satisfaction. Areas of Expertise includes: • Medical product liability avoidance through integration with Quality and Regulatory Management;• Vision, communications and management alignment;• Enterprise risk management (ERM) for compliance, risk and governance;• Managing and implementing environmental, health and safety programs (EHS);• Risk Assessment techniques and human factors and usability engineering; PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Hazard Management Associates (HMA) 1990 - PresentHMA provides specialized consulting to the biotechnology industry (medical, drug, high technology) and their insurers assisting with risk assessment, analysis and mitigation. These services include: Enterprise Risk Management, Human Factors, Product Safety, Risk Management, EHS management, Industrial Hygiene, Systems Safety and Expert Witness Consulting. HMA provides advisement, regulatory consulting and governance, product risk assessment, forensic accident investigation, novel policy and procedures to avoid liability losses and claims. HMA has over 20 years of consulting experience with domestic and international organizations. President and Managing Consultant • Assisted over 120 organizations with identification, management, audit and risk management. • Provided strategic services assisting companies and their defense counsel in defending product liability lawsuits based on implemented product liability avoidance processes. • Established process flow methodology for major insurer in providing technical risk management consulting and underwriting services.• Provided consulting services to product liability and captive insurance companies to reduce risk potentials and enhance product liability and claim defenses. • Provided risk assessment and methods and techniques for medical device manufacturer of diagnostic blood chemistry monitoring equipment. • Participated as a consultant to FDA on its developing human factors in design projects. • Assisted major insurer with risk assessment/analysis for use by its field safety representatives. • Provided continuing industrial hygiene consulting services for major hospitals, financial institutions and industrial firms. • Assisted defense counsel and plaintiff’s counsel with specialized human factors consulting and expert witness services. Bayer Healthcare/Medrad, Inc. 1993 - Present Bayer Healthcare/Medrad, Inc. is a worldwide leading provider of medical devices and services that enable and enhance imaging procedures of the human body. Used in diagnostic imaging, Medrad’s product offerings include a comprehensive line of vascular injection systems, magnetic resonance (MR) surface coils and accessory products and equipment services. Total 2010 revenues were approximately $700 million, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year. Medrad is a 2003 and 2010 recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, the top honor a U.S. company can receive for quality and business excellence. MEDRAD has achieved a double-digit annual revenue growth for over 10 years. Its employee base grew almost five percent in 2007, with a current worldwide staff of over 1,700 employees, of which 1,200 works in the Pittsburgh and Minneapolis areas. Risk and Product Safety Manager • Developed Medrad’s risk management programs to guard corporate assets against events that may result in impaired operations, capital loss or reduced revenues. • Assisted two time Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award winning company with its risk management and EHS processes. • Awarded Medrad’s special “Spirit Award” for teamwork and quality efforts “in all safety matters in Medrad and for end-user product users” • Achieved positive outcome recovery of $2.2 million dollar mediation in a global product recall claim involving IP and general liability issues • Identifying and evaluating circumstances and events (impacting property, liability and personnel) that expose corporate assets to potential loss and; • Developing and implementing programs to cost effectively minimize the operational and financial impacts of those losses. • Assisted in three mergers and acquisitions marrying risk assessments, clinical safety issues with insurance coverages resulting in synergies and savings of $600,000.• A risk management program that includes contractual transfer of risk, acquisition of commercial insurance, risk retention and aggressive claims management and, • Created a risk prevention program that includes, disaster recovery, product risk analysis, business interruption assessment, document management and aggressive claims control. MARSH McLennan, Companies, Inc. (dba, MARSH) 1979 – 1990 Marsh Mc Lennan, Companies Inc. Marsh is the world’s largest commercial insurance broker; developing and designing insurance programs for domestic and international clients. Annual revenues exceed $10 billion dollars. M & M Protection Consultants were Marsh’s technical risk management consulting arm and provider of innovative loss avoidance programs. Vice President, Pittsburgh and Eastern Center Regional Manager • Developed risk management and technical service plans for fortune 500 firms in the Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Richmond, VA and Philadelphia, PA areas. • Developed risk mitigation and loss prevention programs for several large captive insurance companies. • Director of United States Steel (USX) Fire Protection Service Bureau (captive insurance Co). • Consulted internationally with USX and British Steel on environmental, health, and safety issues • Managed 16 risk control consultants for four regional offices of Marsh McLennan and an annual technical services revenue budget of approximately $4 million dollars. • Healthcare Task Group Leader for new service innovations, marketing and risk control services development. • Responsible for new business development within the eastern region of Marsh McLennan.

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

WILL BURDINE serves as associate general counsel for Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR). Quanta Services is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering infrastructure solutions for the electric power, natural gas and pipeline and telecommunication industries. Burdine joined Quanta Services in 2005 as senior litigation counsel responsible for managing catastrophic liability matters and insured litigation. When he was promoted to his current position in 2007, his primary responsibilities expanded to include corporate contracts, compliance, due diligence, regulatory matters and complex litigation management. During his six year tenure at Quanta Services, Burdine has served as vice president and general counsel for several of the company’s operating units. He has also spoken on a broad range of safety and litigation management topics before a variety of audiences, including continuing legal education seminars for attorneys, corporate leadership meetings and numerous risk management seminars. Prior to joining Quanta Services, Burdine was a trial attorney and subsequently held in-house positions with Travelers Insurance and The Hartford. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992 where he lettered in varsity football and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 1995. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time in the great outdoors with his wife, son and two daughters.

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Sarah is speaking in the following sessions:

Sarah Burke is a mediator, discovery referee and special master practicing in most Northern California counties. She has successfully mediated cases involving construction defects and brings firm and fair leadership as a Special Master and Discovery Referee. She has also mediated personal injury and wrongful death cases, insurance coverage disagreements, employment, copyright, contract and myriad other disputes. Sarah is a member of the Approved ADR Panels of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties.

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Chad is speaking in the following sessions:

Chad Callaghan is the Vice-President of Global Safety & Security - Americas for Marriott International, having responsibility for the safety and security for all Marriott businesses and brands in the U.S., Latin America and the Carribean.  He has been in the loss prevention profession for 36 years, and with Marriott International for 34 years. Mr. Callaghan is a member of the CSO Roundtable and a past co-chair of the Commission on Guidelines for ASIS International. He currently serves as the Chair of the Lodging Sector for the Department of Homeland Security Commercial Facilities Coordinating Council. Mr. Callaghan serves on the Board of Directors for ASIS International and is a past chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association Loss Prevention Committee.  Additionally, he served on the Security Planning Councils for the Atlanta and Salt Lake  Olympic Games.  Mr. Callaghan has been a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) since 1984, a Certified Lodging Security Director (CLSD) since 1999, and attained the Certified Security Consultant (CSC) designation in 2006.  In 2001, Mr. Callaghan received the Raymond C. Ellis Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Hospitality Industry and, in 2002, received the Presidential Award of Merit, both from ASIS International.  In 2007, he was recognized as one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People in the Security Industry” bySecurity Magazine.  In 2008, Mr. Callaghan was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Hospitality Lawyer.com. Mr. Callaghan has authored several articles on safety and security in the lodging industry and contributed to the reference book Security Business Practices.  Additionally, he currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Corporate Security and Hospitality Law publications.  He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Houston, Cornell University, Georgia State University and Delaware State University. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Callaghan received a BA degree in Communications from the University of South Florida in 1974 and did graduate work at Georgia State University.  He has a wife and two sons and resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland 

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Bruce is speaking in the following sessions:

Senior Vice President & Head of Claims, QBE Reinsurance Corp. Bruce Carlino has just under 30 years of claims management experience in the insurance and reinsurance industries. Bruce began his claims career in 1981. He has been at QBE for the past eight years and holds the position of Head of Claims, QBE Reinsurance Corp. A large part of his day-to-day activities involve overseeing an extensive claims portfolio of assumed reinsurance and loss cost management strategic planning. Prior to joining QBE, Bruce was the Assistant Vice President of Claims with Arch Insurance Services, US manager of Peter Blem Associates, a UK run-off and auditing company, and claims manager with Risk Enterprise Management. Bruce received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, FL and his law degree from the University of Bridgeport. He also holds the CPCU, ARe and CIOP (Chartered Insurance Operations Professional) designations and is a member of theNew York State Bar Association. 

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Kenneth is speaking in the following sessions:

Ken Carter started his career in insurance claims after graduating from the University of Rochester in 1989 with a degree in philosophy.  He is currently the Corporate Casualty Claim Manager for the Merchants Insurance Group in Buffalo, NY.  Merchants is a regional mutual property and casualty insurer underwriting diverse commercial and personal lines policies primarily in the Northeast and Midwest.  Ken oversees the company's casualty claim operations for offices in NY, NJ and NH.  Ken received his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 2007.  

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

Christopher A. Carucci is Vice President for Technical Claim Services and Litigation Management for Everest National Insurance Company, Inc., based in Liberty Corner, N.J. Carucci is responsible for managing all aspects of litigation management for the company as well as oversight of its most complex claims. He also manages the professional liability, SIU and compliance departments. Prior to joining Everest National Insurance Company, Carucci was a manager in the Specialties Claims Organization of Zurich North America and was responsible for managing staff who handled professional malpractice error and omissions claims. Carucci also played a significant role in litigation management. He worked at AIG before joining Zurich North America. At AIG, he managed a nationwide caseload of bad faith, coverage and high exposure claims. Carucci also was involved in litigation management and conducting training for claims personnel. Carucci is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York Bar Association, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (Advisory Board Member), the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, USLAW and the Defense Research Institute. He earned his B.A. degree from Fairfield University and his J.D. from New York Law School.

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Ann is speaking in the following sessions:

Claims Professional with extensive experience in Mass Torts, Product Liability, Commercial General Liability within the Entertainment Industry, National Amusement Park Programs, National Track Programs, high media exposure and complex coverage cases.Effective decision maker and detail oriented with excellent leadership qualities.Highly effective negotiator, litigation strategies, settlement plans and causal relationships to effectuate an amicable settlement for all parties.Licensed Adjuster in: RI, NH, VT, CT, DE, NC, FL, NM, TX, SC, GA, KY, LA, MEFCLA and CCLA designationsMicrobiology CertificateDeveloped a consistent approach procedure/protocols involving Mass Torts being utilized by one of the top 3 insurance carriers.Developed and presented in various webinars involving Mass Torts/RecallsWorked with Business Torts, Underwriting, Industry Edge to ensured best practices in claim handling and advise of potential exposures within Mass TortsSupervisory experience.Training Counsel LeadEmergency Response Team for major catastrophesMentor in professional development.Employee Spirit CommitteeStrong communication skills.Q&A ConferencesWord of the Day TrainingAssist in Department Self AuditsTravelers Insurance Company 2008 -2011Mass Torts Lead/Major Case SpecialistResponsible for managing and directing Mass Torts claims which can be defined as mini-catastrophes (multiple claimants as a result of an occurrence) along with high media exposure, complex coverage cases and high exposure cases with values greater than $2M and as high as $63M. Requiring coordination of all legal counsel (National/Local), insured’s counsels (Regulatory, PR, Personal) to ensure all evidence remains privileged and no action of one party adversely affects another. Informing/educating the insured regarding the recall process. Coordination of all defense experts (microbiologist, endocrinologists, and others) Managing and directing all available resources to ensure consistent handling and response. Develop best approach towards resolution. Completed various webinars regarding Recalls including the current mandates by the FDA. Developed procedures and protocols in responding to Product Recalls that was adapted company wide. Developed recall informational packets to be provided to the insureds and agents regarding what to expect during a recall involving the claim process. Direct field office activation in response. Co-manage/assist field adjusters regarding Product Liability cases. Responsible for supervising Sr. Technical Adjusters in their handling of Mass Torts along with being responsible for their continuing training/education regarding FDA/USDA mandates and product liability. Assisted in developing Recall Training Classes in attempt for state approval towards continuing education credits for licensed adjusters. Case presentations to Senior Leadership team regarding high media exposure and complex coverage/high exposure cases. Responsible for working with business partners (Industry Edge, Business Torts, and Underwriting) to ensure that we continue to provide the best product for the market. Assist various field offices during various high volume times along with providing consultations in complex/high exposure cases. Gulf/Travelers Insurance Company 2004 – 2008Technical Claim Specialist/Unit ManagerResponsible for handling and managing the Commercial General Liability Major Case Department including complex claims with complex coverage/litigation for Gulf Runoff business, Product Liability, Parks & Tracks Program; Entertainment Industry, Amusement Park Program; Hotel Program; NY Labor/Construction Claims; throughout the US, Puerto Rico, VI.Supervisor of the five Sr. Technical Specialist within the UnitAssist in developing supervisor response within other areas (Auto Department) to improve department results and continue training of adjustersContinuing education to maintain adjusters licenses for all states requiring licensingMaintain individual State knowledge regarding current case law, State law affecting the claimNotify appropriate authorities, when necessary, MCU, SIU, Lab, Forensic EngineersLitigation management of all case filesMentor claim adjusters professional developmentConduct Training Claims through the Training CounselAssist the Auto Claims and GL Claims Department when necessaryComplete reporting requirements for specific insured accounts; Word of the Day training; Q&A One Beacon Insurance Company, Mansfield, MA 2003-2004Claims Litigation Examiner/SIU Litigation Coordinator/Fraud Coordinator with SIU & Police DepartmentsResponsible for handling personal automobile and homeowner claims in litigated status to completion.Determine if additional investigation and discovery necessary and complete.Determine best course of action for litigated claim files and legal cost containment.Handle 93A Complaints along with the corresponding underlying claims.Attend all Arbitrations, Mediations and Trials.Determine the best venue to resolve each claim on a case by case basis.Attempt to resolve cases through negotiated settlement prior to trail while maintaining proper reserves and determining culpability of any co-defendants.Fraud Coordinator with Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and local police departments Pawtucket Mutual Insurance Company, Pawtucket, RI 1997 to 2003Assistant Supervisor – ClaimsSupervise five Auto Examiners in the investigation of coverage issues and determination of liability, including Bodily Injury claims (litigated and non-litigated), Medpay and PIPPerform Supervisory reviews/audits on files to determine if claims are being handled adequately and within appropriate time frame, as well as review for Subrogation activity/potential.Handle complex Auto claims and litigation in seven states.Responsible for litigation management, including attending mediations, arbitrations and trials. Providence Washington Insurance Company, East Providence, RI 1995 – 1997Claims Adjuster – Commercial General Liability/Complex Claims Worcester/Harleysville Insurance Company, Worcester, MA 1994-1995 Claims Adjuster – Commercial General Liability/Complex Claims Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, Fall River, MA/Brockton, MA 1981-1995ClaimsAdjuster/Associate Underwriter/Customer Service/Assistant SupervisorEDUCATION?? Bristol Community College – course study in Business Management/Accounting?? Fraud Claims Legal Specialist (FCLS)?? Claims Casualty Law Specials (CCLS)?? Microbiology Certificate 

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Christian is speaking in the following sessions:

Chris Casson is the Claims Manager based in Omaha, Nebraska for Vela Insurance Services, LLC, a member of the W. R. Berkley Corporation. He manages a staff of professionals who handle a wide array of Commercial General Liability and Miscellaneous Professional Liability claims, including construction defect, product liability, general casualty and error & omission claims. Chris has 19 years of claim experience including Commercial General Liability, Construction Defect, Commercial Property and Auto, Personal Property and Auto, Environmental and Professional E & O claims. He attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and holds the Associate in Claims designation from the Insurance Institutes of America.

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C. J. is speaking in the following sessions:

C.  J.  Childers was born in Virginia and raised in the resort town of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  After graduating from Greenbrier East High School in Fairlea, West Virginia, he attended Bridgewater College where he obtained a degree in business administration.  He then obtained his J. D. from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1999 and has been licensed in North Carolina since that time.  In 2000, he was admitted to practice in South Carolina. Mr. Childers began practicing in Charlotte, North Carolina with a regional defense firm that focused primarily on general liability, workers' compensation and medical malpractice litigation.  Following just over six years of private practice across North and South Carolina, Mr. Childers began with Family Dollar Stores, Inc. in 2006 as Litigation Counsel in charge of the company's general liability litigation.  In 2008, he stepped into the role of Senior Litigation Counsel and took on the additional responsibilities of managing the company's commercial and real estate litigation. Mr. Childers resides in Matthews, North Carolina with his son.

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Scott is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Scott B. Clark is the Risk and Benefits Officer of the Office of Risk and Benefits Management for the Miami-Dade County School Board, the fourth largest school system in the nation with over 50,000 employees and 340,000 students. Mr. Clark’s responsibilities include the oversight of the District’s Risk Management programs encompassing a budget with annual expenditures of approximately $400 million. Mr. Clark’s 25-year career with the district includes management of its traditional risk operations including property, casualty, employee benefits and loss prevention programs, as well as the creation of an Enterprise Risk Management platform, protecting district assets which exceed $8 billion and annual budgets of approximately $5.5 billion. Previous to his positions with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Mr. Clark was employed in the insurance industry in fields including claims administration, underwriting, marketing, and the creation of self insured programs. Mr. Clark is a member of the Board of Directors for The Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), currently serving as President of the Society. Mr. Clark has served on the RIMS Board of Directors since 2000, previously serving as Secretary/Treasurer, Board Liaison to the Conference Programming Committee, Audit Committee, and Chapter and Membership Services Committee. Over his 20+ years of involvement, in RIMS, he has also served on the Health and Safety Committee and was instrumental in the creation of the Greater Miami Chapter where he has served as President on three occasions. Additionally, he has participated for many years on the Florida RIMS Conference Committee, which directs the annual Florida Joint Chapters Conference, serving as Conference Chair in 1997, 2004 and will serve again as Chair in 2010. He has spoken at many national conferences, including four national RIMS conferences. In May, 2007 Mr. Clark was named as a member of Business Insurance Risk Manager of the Year Honor Roll in which he was selected as one of the top four Risk Managers in the country and the only public entity/governmental Risk Manager having received the reward for that year.   Mr. Clark is an active member of the Public Risk and Insurance Management Association (PRIMA), the State and Local Government Benefits Association (SALGBA), as well as being a past president and active member of the Florida Educational Risk Management Association (FERMA) where he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and most recently the Hall of Fame Award. He also serves as a member of the State of Florida Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board, and other statewide task forces, and has also participated as an audit member of the Council of Great City Schools in areas of Human Resources and Risk Management. He was honored in 2010 by the Florida Educational Risk Management Association (FERMA) by being elected into the FERMA Hall of Fame, after previously having received FERMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Mr. Clark also received Risk and Insurance Magazine’s Risk Innovator Award in 2010.

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Thomas is speaking in the following sessions:

Thomas M. Clark is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Claims for Selective Insurance Company of America based in Branchville, New Jersey.   He is responsible for oversight and management of all claims legal functions at Selective, including in-house legal groups dedicated to litigation, insurance coverage, compliance and bill review, in addition to 11 distinct staff counsel offices.  He was formerly with USAA in San Antonio, Texas where he was Vice President of Region Counsel Operations overseeing claim litigation management functions for the enterprise nationally, which included 7 regional offices and over 150 litigation management employees.   Prior to assuming that role, he focused on regulatory, legislative affairs, and complex claims management.      Tom is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Defense Research Institute (DRI), American Corporate Counsel Association, and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, and has been a participant in numerous panels on the topics of ADR, litigation management, and legal expense control.  He obtained his JD from the College of William & Mary in Virginia and is a certified mediator. 

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Susan M. is speaking in the following sessions:

Susan Clemson has over 22 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry.  As Vice President of the Program Management Unit of Everest National she is responsible for property and casualty claims nationwide for all active programs. Ms. Clemson has also held positions with Atlantic Mutual, AIG and Travelers.  Her diverse background includes supervising and managing General Liability, Auto, Construction Defect, Medical Malpractice, Errors and Omissions, Directors and Officers, Nursing Home Liability, Environmental and Toxic Tort claims.  Susan is a graduate of Lehigh University with a B.A. degree in Economics.  

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Andy is speaking in the following sessions:

Currently employed as Claims Operations Manager at The Gray Insurance Company, Metairie, LA.  Duties include home office manager for Worker's Compensation, Medicare Section 111 compliance, manage fraud/SIU activities, governmental affairs, vendor management, has assisted in the development of a claims management system, and oversee subrogation activities, among other duties.  Prior to arriving at Gray, he has served at Gallagher Bassett Services, Bankers Insurance Group (where he served as Claims Manager to the Louisiana Citizens project - most notably during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) and American International Group in both managerial and claims functions. He has obtained a Associate in Claims and Certified Workers' Compensation Professional designations. He is a certified firefighter and has provided expert testimony in Fire Cause and Origin testimony in state district court.  He has served as Fire Chief of a department with over 20 paid and 80 volunteer fire fighters. Former law enforcement officer and is POST certified. Past and/or present affiliations/memberships include:   Louisiana Claims Association, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Longshore Claims Association, National Fire Protection Association, American Society for Industrial Security, Internal Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and Infragard. Was a featured speaker at the 2006 American Claims Exposition.

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Ebru is speaking in the following sessions:

Ebru Craft-Kazanova got her Chemistry degree from the College of Charleston.  She started her career in operations in the chemical industry working overseas.  Upon moving to the US, she entered the construction chemicals field.  12 years ago, She joined Lafarge and after several years of working in the safety department, Ebru moved into the Risk Management group.  She is currently the Risk Manager of Lafarge North America with responsibilities in the US and Canada.  Ebru has her AIC and ARM designations and is currently working our her CRM.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael is a member of the Claims Legal Support Unit at Westfield Insurance, a P&C carrier based in Westfield Center, Ohio. During his 9 years at Westfield, Mr. Cronin has been actively involved in furthering Westfield’s litigation management endeavors, through invoice review, outside counsel roster management, firm evaluations/audits, best practice initiatives and guideline development. In 2010, the group was recognized as one of the ten most innovative legal departments in America by Inside Counsel magazine for its efforts in the litigation management field. Michael is a 1992 graduate of John Carroll University where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Latin. He obtained his juris doctorate in 1997 from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Michael is an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association, a Fellow of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and a member of the LEDES Oversight Committee.  

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael Cunningham is Senior Vice President, Claims Legal at Zenith Insurance Company in Woodland Hills, California.  He is responsible for managing all claims litigation for the company nationwide.  This involves overseeing both in-house counsel as well as outside counsel. Mike received his undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1991. He graduated with highest honors from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1994. He started his legal career with the law firm of Arter & Hadden. Mike then moved in house and practiced insurance defense law; first with Nationwide Insurance, and then Infinity Insurance, before moving to Zenith. Throughout his career, Mike has had a number of roles: practicing attorney, managing attorney, manager of Staff Counsel, and leading Casualty and Litigation departments. In each of these roles his focus has been on ensuring that insurance examiners and attorneys are working together to properly develop case strategy and prepare for trial. 

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Laura is speaking in the following sessions:

Laura L. Curtin: Laura began her insurance career just after earning her B.S. degree from Western Illinois University. She was trained at Liberty Mutual where she worked for her first four years in the industry handling all lines of property and casualty claims. Subsequently, Laura joined Interstate National Corporation. Working there for seventeen years, she handled claims nationwide specializing in Professional Liability coverages. As Vice President and Claim Director, Laura was responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the Medical Professional Liability Claim Department. Laura joined The Doctors Company and the Midwest Regional Office in March 1999 as Claim Director. She was promoted to Regional Vice President in 2007. In January of 2009 Laura joined the Home Office Claim Staff as Vice President and Claims Compliance Officer. Laura has been a national speaker on subjects such as Coverage, Litigation Management and Bad Faith Avoidance to groups such as the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, Eagle International, The Harmonie Group and The Defense Research Institute along with various bar associations and physicians groups.

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

Wm. Chip D’Angelo is an accomplished environmental consultant and expert. He pioneered indoor environmental remediation and asbestos removal practices and environmental due diligence procedures for the real estate, banking and insurance industries in the 1980s. Mr. D’Angelo founded and operates one of the nation’s most successful environmental engineering, consulting, testing and remediation management companies. The firm developed the procedures which became standards and regulations for the management and abatement of asbestos. The firm also pioneered the procedure of environmental compliance in conjunction with a real estate transaction with the first ECRA project in New Jersey. Mr. D’Angelo and his staff have delivered environmental projects involving hazardous materials, water, soil and waste throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe, including developing innovative technologies in the petrochemical industry and exporting and installing those technologies.Mr. D’Angelo formed the Environmental Claims Center with Hill International. He designed and developed Mid Atlantic Recycling Technologies, a RCRA Part B facility in New Jersey. He owned and operated Tank Tech, Inc., AAR Contractors, Sub-Surface Investigations, and ENSI Environmental; engineering, remediation and construction firms in New Jersey, New York, Texas, North Carolina and Virginia. He also founded and served as Managing Director of Environmental Claims for Strategy, Inc., a leading national construction claims firm. In addition to the $1.5 billion in environmental and construction projects that Mr. D’Angelo has evaluated, designed, and managed, he has also developed and managed Internet applications for the construction and engineering industries, along with e-commerce/web-based supply chain management. 

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael J. Daly Michael is the XL Global Practice Leader for Liability Claims. In this role he guides complex and/or financially significant claims to conclusion. A great deal of his time is invested in the design and execution of case disposition strategies. He is an attorney admitted to the New Jersey Bar, and is a Court Approved Mediator. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University Undergraduate and Law Schools. He is a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. 

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

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Ron is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. del Pino has been in the legal and insurance arenas since 1983.  He joined the New York Telephone Company litigation team as an investigator in 1983.  Since then, he has managed in the areas of legal administration, litigation support, and has been the claims manager since 1993.  Mr. del Pino was instrumental in the development and implementation of the business plan that brought the first “Baby Bell” telephone company into the TPA environment in 1996.  Since that time the program has grown through several mergers and acquisitions.  Today the program is a high deductible-fully insured program handled by a TPA with close oversight by a small team of professionals at Verizon.  Inherent in all the change was the development and continued evolution of Litigation Management Guidelines and the closely coordinated account instructions at the TPA to address proper litigation management techniques. Mr. del Pino is an active and frequent participant in industry events and he is readily available to meet and discuss litigation management issues. 

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Frank is speaking in the following sessions:

McGriff, Seibels & Williams of Texas, Inc. 2007 – PresentVice President/Claims Executive, Commercial Division  Marsh USA 2001 – 2007Vice President/Senior Claims Consultant  Corporate Express/Velocity Express Delivery Systems 1998 – 2001Director, National Claims  Brand Scaffold Services, Inc. 1996 – 1998Corporate Risk Manager  Waste Management, Inc./Rust International, Inc. 1992 – 1996Regional Claims Manager  Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. 1988 – 1992Branch Manager  CIGNA Property & Casualty 1986 – 1988Claims RepresentativeCrawford & Co. Risk Management Services 1984 – 1986Multi-Lines Adjuster 

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael J. DeLonay is a Vice President of Claims at Swiss Re/Westport Insurance Corp. His 30 plus year career has included handling all types of property and casualty claims. The past 20 years have focused on Public Entity claims including complex civil rights litigation. After graduation from UW –Milwaukee, Mike started his career with Commercial Union and after 8 years moved to Providence Washington and then to Crum & Forster Managers. He has served as a Village Trustee in Glendale Heights, IL (1983 to 1989) and Carol Stream, IL (1993 to 2001). Mike is currently Illiniois State Co-chair for CLM, Co-Chair of CLM Live Standards Training Committee,  member of CLM Municipal committee.   

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Joe is speaking in the following sessions:

Joe DePaul is Senior Vice President at Arthur J. Gallagher. His responsibilities include Business Development, and marketing of Executive Risks lines of coverage, including Directors & Officers Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Fiduciary Liability, Crime & Fidelity Insurance, K&R Insurance, Cyber Liability (Network Security/Privacy Liability), and all forms of Professional Liability.  

Joe DePaul comes to AJG from AmWINS Brokerage of New York, Inc. where he was a Vice President and Manager since April of 2003.  Joe focused exclusively on management and professional liability insurance solutions for public, private, non-profit, and association entities.  Joe was responsible for overall management of the team at AmWINS, production/business development, and marketing.  During Joe’s time at AmWINS he developed expertise in Errors and Omissions Insurance, specifically Cyber Liability/Technology, including Privacy Insurance and Media Liability.  

Prior to joining AmWINS, Joe held Vice President positions at both AON and Marsh from September 1999, through April 2003.  While at AON, Joe was responsible for overall account management, specifically focused on Private Equity and Merger & Acquisitions clients.  The insurance solutions provided to these clients involved due diligence projects, inclusive of all lines of property and casualty insurance.  His experience at Marsh, again specifically focused on Private Equity and Merger & Acquisition clients, included business development activities, and account management for management liability solutions, as well as transactional Merger & Acquisition insurance solutions.  This included Representations and Warranties Insurance, Tax Liability Insurance, Litigation Buyouts, and other creative transactional Merger & Acquisition insurance solutions.  

Joe developed exceptional underwriting skills as an Underwriting Manager at Gulf Insurance Company and Five Star Managers (General Star Insurance Company), from September 1995 through September 1999.  While at these firms, he was responsible for underwriting/financial analysis and business development involving management liability products, for public, private and non-profit entities.  

Mr. DePaul began his insurance career in 1994, and has since developed exceptional knowledge in all aspects of management, underwriting, and brokerage of management and professional liability products.   

 

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Tim is speaking in the following sessions:

Claim Executive with extensive worldwide experience in all phases of Casualty claims.  2008 – Present:  Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company – Pennsylvania Assistant Vice President - Casualty Claims Technical - - Responsible for technical claim oversight in the areas of Excess - Umbrella claims (Commercial & Personal Lines), Construction Defect,  Latent Injury and Surplus Lines.  Also responsible for Litigation Management across all lines of business.  1976  - Bachelor of Science - Illinois State University 

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Tracey is speaking in the following sessions:

Tracey Dodd is a principal in U.S. Risk Management, LLC (USRM).  USRM is a full service consulting firm providing environmental, industrial hygiene, and safety consulting services to clients across the country, with expertise ranging from environmental risk evaluation or facility compliance assessments to full-scale remediation design, litigation support services, and  environmental catastrophic response. The company's practice uniquely positions the firm to work for facility owners, design firms, governments, insurance companies, contractors, attorneys, or developers in helping them assess environmental damage, uncover potential environmental liability and safety problems or manage the problems that have already become evident. A toxicologist and risk assessor by degree, Tracey Dodd has managed a litany of projects across the US, including the investigation, remediation design, and oversight of remediation/abatement projects associated with buildings, impacted property, and waterways.  This includes the performance of work associated with emergency releases due to explosions/plant upsets/etc., and work performed has included the protection of public health and the environment, as well as protection of resources and site stabilization.

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Steven is speaking in the following sessions:

Steven Donnelly currently heads up the Litigation Management Group for Liberty Mutual’s Regional Companies. The group is responsible for development of litigation related procedures and protocols, advising on complex and specialized claims and maximizing the effectiveness of the Regional Companies’ claims litigation management efforts.  Mr. Donnelly joined Liberty Mutual in 2007 with the acquisition of The Ohio Casualty Group. Mr. Donnelly joined the Ohio Casualty Insurance Company in 2001 serving as the Managing Attorney for their Illinois and Indiana staff counsel offices from 2002 to 2004. He was then named Director of Claims Litigation for Ohio Casualty during which he led the expansion of their staff counsel operation into Detroit, MI; Hartford, CT; and Seattle, WA; oversaw claims compliance and was ultimately in charge of ten legal offices spanning the country.  In 2006 he was named Regional Vice President of Claims for Ohio Casualty’s Western Region which covered 14 states spanning from Iowa to Alaska. Mr. Donnelly started his career in 1995 handling insurance defense litigation in Cook County, Illinois for Garretson & Santora and later with O’Connor, Schiff & Myers. 

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Andrew is speaking in the following sessions:

I am a practicing attorney in Massachusetts.  I presently manage the Massachusetts Staff Counsel operation for MAPFRE USA, which is the largest writer of personal lines in Massachusetts.  I previously managed a staff counsel operation for National Grange Mutual Insurance Company, which handled claims in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.  Before moving to staff counsel, I worked for law firms in Boston which served as panel counsel for various insurers and self-insureds, as well as business litigation clients. I am a Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Fellow and Massachusetts State Chair, a member of the Bad Faith Section of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and a member of the Professionalism & Ethics Committee for the Defense Research Institute.

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Gregory J. is speaking in the following sessions:

Gregory J. Duca is the National Liability Practice Leader with Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. (Sedgwick CMS).

Greg is a senior insurance executive and former consultant with a significant breadth of experience and expertise in operational management, strategic planning, and leadership, specializing in claims, claims management and compliance.

Mr. Duca joined Sedgwick CMS in 2009 and is responsible for overseeing the company's liability business practice in the areas of program design, claims resolution policy, service standards and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Duca has been working in the insurance industry for over 25 years where he has gained deep experience as a senior executive officer and consultant with core areas of expertise in:

• Claims and Litigation Management
• Organizational Reengineering and Project Management
• Process Improvement and Performance Measurement
• Claims Technology Assessment
• Claims Training & Development

Mr. Duca has broad based claims experience within the Property & Casualty arena with a specific focus in such areas as general liability, automobile liability, products liability, construction defect, asbestos, environmental and toxic tort claims. Within these areas, he has particular experience in evaluating liability and damages, analyzing coverage and managing defense and coverage litigation.

Mr. Duca was the former Senior Claims Officer at Legion Insurance Company in Liquidation. Prior to Legion, Mr. Duca led the Claims Advisory Services group within the consulting practice of Ernst & Young. Prior to joining E&Y, Mr. Duca was employed at American International Group for over 12 years having assumed various senior level management positions within the company. Before AIG, Mr. Duca spent three years with the CIGNA Insurance Company. Prior to entering the insurance industry, Mr. Duca was engaged in the practice of law specializing in the insurance defense practice.
 

Mr. Duca received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University in 1980 and his Jurist Doctorate from the New England School of Law in 1984. He was admitted to practice law in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts and was certified as a licensed property and casualty claims adjuster in 5 states.
 

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Karen is speaking in the following sessions:

Karen has held many leadership roles at Motorola over the past 24 years. A majority of those years were spent leading strategy and business planning as well as product and technology licensing for global marketing and engineering product teams. Karen joined the Motorola legal department 5 years ago developing and leading legal operations bringing together the General Law and Intellectual Property disciplines. Karen brings a fresh perspective to legal operations by bringing strong strategic and business planning skills and applying that framework to tools, processes and performance. Karen has utilized her business acumen, analytical skills and creativity to take complex legal information and translate this legal data into actionable understandable information for Motorola’s senior leadership. Karen’s educational background includes an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Finance with a minor in Computer Science. Her hobbies include walking, woodworking and golfing. In 1983, Karen won the Palm Beach County Women’s amateur golf tournament.

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Diana is speaking in the following sessions:

Diana R. Dyckman is a seasoned insurance claims executive with 38 years experience in insurance claims. Diana has worked for various companies throughout her career with emphasis on Property and Casualty main line business. She joined Houston Casualty Company as Senior Vice President of Claims in June of 1997. Prior to that time she served as a Senior Vice President of Claims with a New York City based Property & Casualty insurance company. Throughout her career she has handled thousands of claims in one stage or another of litigation. Through working with six companies in her career, she has taken the best practices from each to create her own methodology of successfully handling claims in litigation.

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Connie is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Edwards Vice President, Client Services with Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. in Pasadena, California. Connie has twenty-four years of experience in claims administration, management in California. She has worked with a variety of employers in retail, trucking, paper packing and building products, security industry, telecommunications non-profit agricultural cooperatives, manufacturers, healthcare and public entities providing consultative services in identifying trends to help improve employers’ workers’ compensation programs.She joined Sedgwick CMS in 2001 as a Claims Supervisor and promoted to Account Executive, Assistant Vice President in 2003 for direct oversight of the second largest school district in the United States. In January 2011 Connie was promoted to Vice President, Client Services responsible for additional client oversight for several other clients in the healthcare and retail business. In her role she mentors account managers and provides oversight and strategic analysis and consultation to the clients in her area.Prior to joining Sedgwick CMS, Connie worked as an Account Manager for another California TPA specializing in public entities, joint powers authority (JPA) management, agricultural grower industry, retail and manufacturer. Prior to that, she was a Claims Examiner for another national TPA.Connie has three professional designations from the Insurance Educations Association and her self-insured license for the State of California. She has her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management through the University of Phoenix. 

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Charles is speaking in the following sessions:

Chuck Ehrlich is a senior business executive and lawyer with over thirty-five years of expertise in representing clients as an outside counsel and in managing the resolution of legal problems from the in-house perspective. Chuck is Senior Vice President and Worldwide Special Counsel for RiverStone Resources LLC, an affiliate of Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. He is responsible for hands-on management of high stakes litigation and disputes in the United States and abroad. Chuck is also a member of the boards of directors of a variety of Fairfax companies. Chuck was recruited from private practice in 1994 to join RiverStone’s predecessor, The Resolution Group, as a key member of a new management team dedicated to resolving the most complex and financially volatile aspects of Xerox Financial Services’ exit from the property and casualty insurance business. Three years later, the team was acquired by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited to manage legacy liabilities worldwide. Chuck has held senior level corporate legal positions with responsibility for: Resolution of billions of dollars in disputes Management of legal expenses aggregating hundreds of millions of dollars Creation and management of a highly sophisticated claim resolution and litigation group numbering over 150 Supervision, as General Counsel, of a wide variety of corporate and litigation matters including: o Insurance coverage disputes o Directors and officers litigation o Class action litigation o Compliance investigations o Advising corporate directors o Corporate sales and acquisitions As an in-house lawyer, has Chuck worked closely with local, regional, national and international law firms of virtually every size and description, ranging from the best known “Wall Street” names to specialized boutiques. Chuck came to his in-house career after twenty-one years in private practice, including fifteen years as a litigation partner in an AmLaw 100 firm. In private practice, Chuck represented a broad spectrum of clients including major corporations such as Chevron Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Well Fargo Bank N.A., overseas private investors, real estate developers, investment companies, and private individuals. Chuck’s experience as a practitioner included: Securities litigation Banking litigation Land use regulation Antitrust Government enforcement Contract disputes Chuck’s responsibilities as a law firm partner included: Management of the home office litigation department for more than a decade Direction of the firm’s risk management program Serving as legal counsel to the firm Service on the firm’s Executive Committee  

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Andrew is speaking in the following sessions:

Andy Estrada has over 20 years of experience in managing insured litigation for publicly traded corporations. He has worked for several consolidators (Browning-Ferris Industries, Allwaste Environmental Services, Corporate Express Delivery Systems, Comfort Systems USA, and Orion Marine Group) in diverse industries, with many types of litigated claims. Andy has acquired broad experience in risk management, claims management, safety, loss control, and human resources in his 35 - year career. Andy has served as a guest instructor at the Texas A&M Industrial Fire School and has taught risk management courses for the Houston Community College and the Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). He is a Professional Member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Society of Safety Engineers. He holds a certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). He was named Risk Manager of the year for 2003 by the Houston Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS). Andy led the senior safety team at Comfort Systems USA when they were awarded the 2008 Gary E. Bird Horizon Award for innovation in construction safety by the Insurance & Risk Management Institute (IRMI). Andy has been a guest speaker for the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) national conference, The Harmonie Group Annual Conference, as well as several regional meetings and local chapter meetings of ABC, RIMS, and ASSE. He has also served on ABC’s National Safety Committee, the Prudential Retirement Client Advisory Board, and is active in Kiwanis International. Andy was born in Oklahoma, but was raised in Edinburg, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas - Pan American in 1976 with a double major in Chemistry and Biology. After working in a laboratory for a couple of years, the oil boom brought him to Houston. He was a field safety representative and industrial hygienist for Charter Oil Company – Houston Refinery, before switching to the corporate side of business. Andy lives in Friendswood, Texas with his wife, Joyce. They have three grown children (Brian, Jeff, and Stephanie) and a beautiful granddaughter (Mary Rose). 

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Lisa is speaking in the following sessions:

Lisa Fentress is Director of Specialty Claims in the Department of Risk Management at Marriott International’s Corporate Headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. Ms. Fentress manages Marriott International’s Global Employment Practices Liability Insurance Policy. In her role as Director of Specialty Claims Ms. Fentress’s primary responsibility is the management of all domestic and international fidelity and employment practices liability claims. Ms. Fentress manages all covered employment and fidelity litigation which includes, but is not limited to, assignment of the claim to outside counsel, litigation strategy decision making, settlement authority and arbitration and trial management. Prior to joining Marriott International in 2010 Ms. Fentress was Assistant General Counsel in the litigation section at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) where she regularly tried cases in the federal and state courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Ms. Fentress earned her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law and her B.S. from the University of Tulsa.

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Karen is speaking in the following sessions:

A former California attorney, Ms. Fettig has extensive management and litigation experience, working both in private practice and as staff counsel for companies including Liberty Mutual Insurance. After 10 years of practicing law, Karen transferred her knowledge to develop several insurance related software platforms including leading the product development effort of a litigation management solution for Farmers Insurance. Today, Karen leverages this expertise at Bottomline to help customers realize the strategic benefits associated with litigation management and legal spend management programs.

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Jason is speaking in the following sessions:

Jason A. Fogg is Vice President, Claims & Regulatory Compliance for Monitor Liability Managers, LLC, a subsidiary of W.R. Berkley Corporation.  Jason directs a staff responsible for managing claims under Monitor’s various professional liability policies, including Employment Practices, Management Liability, Directors and Officers, Nonprofit Management Liability, Accountants and Lawyers Professional Liability. A graduate of DePaul University College of Law, Jason began his legal career as a litigator specializing in employment law before joining the insurance industry.  An avid, yet tragically flawed, golfer, Jason lives outside of Chicago with his two children and incredibly tolerant wife.  When he’s not golfing, Jason spends his time thinking about insurance.

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Andy is speaking in the following sessions:

Andrew Forstenzer is Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Crump Group, Inc., holding company for Crump Commercial Insurance Services, Inc., Crump Life Insurance Services, Inc. and Ascensus, Inc. Together, the Commercial and Life businesses are one of the largest wholesale insurance distributors in the United States and Ascensus is one of the leading U. S. providers of recordkeeping and support services to company-sponsored retirement plans. Before joining Crump on January 1, 2006, Andy spent 17 years at Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., a publicly held, global leader in insurance services. In various roles, most recently as Vice President – Senior Litigation Counsel, he was responsible for handling corporate and overseeing litigation legal matters for various Marsh affiliates. From 1980 – 1987, Andy worked for Damson Oil Corporation, an American Stock Exchange company, most recently as Senior Vice President & Assistant General Counsel in charge of public and private limited partnership syndications and legal compliance for an NASD member broker-dealer. Earlier, he served as in-house counsel for a regional investment securities firm and as staff attorney for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mr. Forstenzer received a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Juris Doctorate from Villanova University Law School, and an LLM in Corporation Law from New York University School of Law. He is a frequent lecturer on Errors & Omission prevention and is involved with various industry associations such as NAPLSO, ACC, CLM, PLUS and CIAB.

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Julie is speaking in the following sessions:

Julie Fortune is Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer for Arrowpoint Capital based in Charlotte, NC. The Arrowpoint Capital insurance operation has a 165-year history in the United States, formerly as part of the worldwide Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Group plc. Julie is responsible for the multi-line claims management operation. She has more than 20 years of claims and legal experience in the insurance arena with both ongoing and run-off companies. Prior to joining Arrowpoint Capital, Julie served as the Vice President of Staff Counsel, Services Provider Group and Claims at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., Sr. Vice President Claims Zurich Canada, Vice President – Customer Services Provider Group and National Litigation Manager for Zurich North America, and National Litigation Manager for Liberty Mutual. Throughout her career she has gained extensive experience in claims, organizational transition, and vendor and litigation management. Julie earned her B.S. degree from the University of Oregon, M.A. degree from the Ohio State University, and J.D. degree from the Antioch School of Law. She is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States, Tennessee, and Oregon. She is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been quoted in various publications on the topic of claims and litigation management. She is the current Co-Chair and an Advisory Board member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Julie is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel. 

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Rory is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Francis is an insurance professional with nearly 20 years of experience in practically every aspect of the insurance industry, including Management, Claims, Fraud, Litigation, Sales and Marketing, Compliance, and Legislation and Regulation. Mr. Francis began his insurance career working for an independent adjusting firm handling large commercial losses primarily along the Gulf Coast for Lloyds of London and other major multi-national insurance syndicates. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Francis held several management positions within Allstate in both the Claim Department and the Regional Office Marketing and Sales Support Department as the Customer Retention Manager. After managing litigation in Claim and Fraud units for over a decade, Mr. Francis earned his Juris Doctor attending the University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law in 2008. Upon becoming a member of the Colorado Bar, Mr. Francis worked as an Associate Attorney in the Office of Regional Counsel where his work focused on Regulatory Compliance, Election and Campaign Finance Law, and Legislative Process and Reform to benefit the Insurance Industry. Mr. Francis then accepted a position as a Claim Litigation Attorney in the Denver, Colorado Staff Counsel Office where he defended policy holders for Allstate and Encompass Insurance Companies. In addition to offering his services as an Expert in all aspects of Insurance and “Bad Faith,” Mr. Francis is a skilled litigation attorney. He has crafting all types of trial motions and discovery, taken and defended countless depositions, and is a formidable negotiator who has successfully resolved thousands of contested claims and law suits over his career. Mr. Francis is a seasoned trial attorney with a winning trial record handling both bench and jury trials throughout Colorado State Courts. Mr. Francis currently manages Claim Litigation and coordinates and drafts Coverage Opinions for a nine-state region for Allstate. Mr. Francis is active in mentoring through the American Inns of Court and is an active participant in the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance Committees on Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Coverage Litigation, and Insurance Fraud. Additionally, Mr. Francis is active in his community and with his two daughters and loves all that Colorado has to offer. If you want to learn more about Rory Francis or connect, please look him up on LinkedIn. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rory-francis/4/318/4a 

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Matthew is speaking in the following sessions:

Matthew D. Freiman is the Director of large loss investigations and litigation management at Craig/is, Ltd in Jacksonville, Florida. Previously, Mr. Freiman founded and managed a Kemper Insurance Companies staff counsel office in Chicago, Illinois focused on national and international commercial property, boiler/machinery and marine subrogation and coverage matters. Mr. Freiman has practiced in state and federal courts nationwide and before international arbitral tribunals. Mr. Freiman served as a diplomatic security officer in the United States Department of State and is a graduate of Boston University and The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. 

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Dennis is speaking in the following sessions:

Dennis L. Galvin is the Vice President for Lawyers Professional and Real Estate Professional Liability Claims with OneBeacon  Professional Insurance. Mr. Galvin is a graduate of Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts and Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. Prior to joining OBPI, Dennis worked for Lexington Insurance Company, where he was responsible for handling complex professional claims in a variety of areas including lawyers, real estate, insurance agents, accountants, media corporations and government entities. Prior to joining Lexington, Dennis was in private practice in Massachusetts where he specialized in civil litigation including insurance defense and coverage litigation.

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Elizabeth is speaking in the following sessions:

Elizabeth Ganiere currently serves at Assistant General Counsel to a privately held manufacturing conglomerate in the Midwest, where her practice focuses on business agreements, contracts, real property and complex litigation. She also currently handles media and sponsor contracts for a professional athlete and serves on the board of a non-profit children’s organization. Previously she was Corporate Counsel for a global modular manufacturer Champion Enterprises, Inc. Ms. Ganiere is active in the Michigan Bar Association, Indiana Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Association of Corporate Counsel both Indiana and Chicago chapters. She is a graduate of University of Southern California and School. Ms. Ganiere’s learned to negotiate very early since she grew up in large family. Also, prior to attending law school, she gained a broad business background in accounting and insurance both of which have been instrumental in negotiating a variety of settlements, claims and business arrangements, recently, most notable she negotiated an additional $7 million in a natural disaster claim that was set to settle for a total of $11.5 million. She has also participated in a congressional hearing where her Company was called to testify. Ms. Ganiere is an avid golfer and participates golf leagues and annually in the Michigan Women’s PGA ProAm for which her team won first place this year.  

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Amanda is speaking in the following sessions:

Amanda Gann is a Senior Claim Representative at QBE FIRST. QBE FIRST is a division of QBE Insurance Group Ltd, Australia's largest international general insurance and reinsurance group. It is one of the top 25 insurers and reinsurers worldwide and the 15th largest insurer in the United States. Ms. Gann has the responsibility of handling large loss, casualty and litigated claims. She is a graduate of Mercer University and an Atlanta native. She has ten years of multi-state insurance experience handling auto and homeowner claims. Ms. Gann began her career working for Progressive Casualty Insurance Company as a generalist and continued her career at Omni Insurance as a litigation claims specialist before joining QBE FIRST. 

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Colleen is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Garbars received her Bachelors of Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Western Illinois University in 1988. Since then, she has pursued a career in Professional Liability Insurance. She has 20 years of experience in handling professional and general liability claims. She is currently employed by Illinois Risk Management Services in Naperville, Illinois. She manages both litigated and non-litigated professional and general liability claims for hospitals and physicians. Ms. Garbars presents at several seminars throughout the year for Illinois Risk Management Services on a variety of topics. She has also completed the course requirements for certification in risk management through the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM). Ms. Garbars is currently in the process of obtaining her AIC designation.

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

Bill Garcia is Regional Counsel with Liberty Mutual Group’s Enterprise Legal Services Organization, which is part of the Company’s corporate legal department. He oversees and manages outside counsel in the Northern Region, encompassing the states between Alaska, Washington and Oregon in the west and Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky in the east. The northern region is also responsible for managing the Company’s Canadian law firm partners. Prior to joining Liberty Mutual, Mr. Garcia was in private practice in Washington and California, where his work focused on the defense of matters through trial, arbitration and mediation of liability, insurance and commercial claims for a variety of entities.

Bill has served as an arbitrator in mandatory and uninsured/underinsured arbitrations and as a court appointed settlement guardian ad litem. He has spoken on a variety of topics including: why inclusion and diversity matter to corporate and insurance clients; selection of counsel and control of litigation in self-insured retention situations; preparing successful responses to requests for proposals for legal services; ethical billing; inclusion and diversity within corporate legal departments; corporate retention of outside counsel; resolution of minors’ claims in wrongful death matters; handling arbitrations; and handling abusive discovery tactics in civil litigation.

Mr. Garcia is on the Advisory Board of the Washington State Bar Association’s Leadership Institute (co-chair 2009 – 2011). He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), appointed as Chair of the Insurance Executive Committee in June, 2011. He has served on the Board of Directors of the King County Bar Foundation, on the Board of Directors of the Latino Bar Association of Washington (LBAW) and was a member of the fundraising committee for LBAW when the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) held its national conference in Seattle, Washington in 1997. Bill completed Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training in the spring of 2008.

Mr. Garcia has been a member of the Washington State Bar Association since 1993. He is also a member of California State Bar Association (inactive status). He is a 1985 graduate of the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon and a 1982 graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, California.

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Marta is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Garrett received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the City College of New York in 1990.  She was an emergency department nurse for several years prior to attending law school at Roger Williams University School of Law, from which she graduated in 2004.  Ms. Garrett is admitted to the state and federal bars of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  She practiced law in Rhode Island, and is currently employed at ProAssurance in Birmingham, Alabama. 

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Paul is speaking in the following sessions:

Paul graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1988, then from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1995. He is admitted to the State Bars of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. He spent his first seven years of private practice as a litigator with the Birmingham, Alabama insurance-defense firm of Hall, Conerly & Bolvig, P.C. followed by four years with the firm of Hollis & Wright, P.C. His private practice was concerned with a wide variety of cases, including private and commercial motor-vehicle accidents, products liability, premises liability, bad-faith litigation, insurance-coverage disputes, and medical-malpractice cases. In 2006, Paul joined the Corporate Litigation Department of Infinity Insurance, where he is now Corporate Counsel, managing extra-contractual litigation, bad-faith lawsuits, and class action litigation against the company nationwide. He currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Insurance Bad Faith Committee, and is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

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Gytis is speaking in the following sessions:

Gytis has over twenty-five years claims experience and began his claims career with the Royal Insurance Company.  This was subsequently followed by associations with General Accident, General Re / National Re, Colonial Indemnity, and Catlin, Inc.  Through the years Gytis has been involved in the resolution of many high exposure and extremely complex claims and possesses an ability to understand and analyze intricate claims, coverage and litigation issues.  In his current position as Specialty Claims Director at Catlin, Inc., Gytis oversees the company’s Casualty Claims operation.  As a Second Vice President at General Re he worked with client companies in the resolution of a significant number of complicated and high exposure claims. Through his association with these clients, Gytis observed first hand both effective and ineffective litigation management efforts.  This client involvement provided Gytis the perspective and ability to effectively assess and address litigation management issues and implement effective litigation strategies going forward.  Gytis is a graduate of Boston State College with a B.S. Degree in Management. 

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Jonathan is speaking in the following sessions:

Jonathan Gerdes has been employed with QBE since 2009, initially as the Vice President of Casualty Claims and currently as the Vice Present of Claim Field Operations. He has 25 years of property and casualty insurance claims experience and has held various increasingly responsible field, regional and home office level positions. He has exposure to all property and casualty lines with an emphasis on the casualty line having worked for a several top 20 insurance carriers, a nationwide TPA and a worldwide top 4 insurance advisory company. Jonathan has extensive experience with helping claim organizations achieve their full potential through the consistent delivery of superior claim outcomes.
Jonathan has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Business Administration both from Stetson University. He has earned his CPCU, SCLA and AIC designations.

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Cathy is speaking in the following sessions:

Cathy Gicker has 35 years with Allstate with the last 20 years in the SIU as a field investigator, manager and now the Litigation Specialist monitoring all suit cases in Pennsylvania. This involves working with house and retained counsel on case strategy, medical defense, preparing the insured for trial and referring fraudulent claims to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and local Law Enforcement agencies. Cathy is also an Allstate Ambassador promoting the company to the public through speaking engagements and community involvement. Cathy was the Vice-President and then President of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) from 1994-2000. She was elected to the International Board of IASIU for 2000-2002 and then served as the Vice-President of IASIU from 2003-2009, chairing the Chapter and Seminar Committees.. She is currently the President of the Philadelphia Loss Conference (PLC) for 2011-2013. Cathy’s professional designations are Fraud Claim Law Specialist (FCLS) and Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator(CIFI)  

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Marc is speaking in the following sessions:

Marc is a dedicated Insurance Professional, with over 10 years of industry experience. Marc currently works at SCOR Reinsurance handling Commercial Property risks with a focus on the Energy industry. Marc was formerly a Senior Vice President for Property Insurance Claims at Swiss Re America Corp. He possesses a unique combination of (Re) insurance knowledge in both Domestic and International markets, as well as a strong understanding of business fundamentals. He has experience handling claims in multiple product lines such as: Property, Casualty, Directors & Officers, and Professional Liability Errors & Omissions. Marc received his J.D. from Pace University and his B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Manhattanville College.

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Alexander is speaking in the following sessions:

Alex Goodrich is Vice President of Risk Management Services at ADR Systems of America where he has worked since 2000. He provides ADR (alternative dispute resolution) consulting, marketing and risk management services for various Insurers and law firms throughout the Mid-West. Prior to joining ADR Systems, Mr. Goodrich built and ran the claims department for a start up insurer in Oak Park, IL. In the late 90's Mr. Goodrich worked for a major insurer where he, designed, developed and implemented an internal ADR based risk management program.  Mr. Goodrich is the founder of the Post-negotiation Risk Management process, and provides ongoing consultation to clients in conflict resolution and risk management.Mr. Goodrich has expertise in Risk Management and Alternative Dispute Resolution. He is the founder of the Post-negotiation Risk Management process, and provides ongoing consultation to clients in conflict resolution and risk management.  

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

CHRISTOPHER BROOKS GREENE

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL

CANAL INSURANCE COMPANY

                                                                                

With over 25 years of diversified insurance industry experience encompassing claims & litigation management, underwriting & agency management, regulatory affairs and corporate legal work product, Chris believes it important to establish a proactive, structured approach to the management of litigated matters; bringing together the disciplines of enterprise risk management, technology and legal knowledge to facilitate satisfactory outcomes. 

 

Headquartered in Greenville, SC, Chris joined Canal Insurance Company as its General Counsel in January 2009.  As the primary legal advisor to the Board and Executive Management of Canal, Chris provides work product related to the drafting and review of contracts, implementing enterprise risk management strategies, ensuring company compliance with laws and regulations, implementation of various corporate governance standards, formulating litigation management strategies, and otherwise dealing with all manner of legal issues confronting Canal.  

 

Previous to joining Canal, Chris served as Vice President and General Counsel to a division of American International Group, Inc. (AIG).  Prior to AIG, Chris served as Corporate Counsel to Progressive Insurance Company and as a Trial Attorney for the Birmingham, Alabama law firm of Gaines, Wolter & Kinney, where he focused on insurance defense litigation and insurance regulatory work product.  His reported decisions include Ex parte Jordan, 779 So.2d 183 (Ala. 2000); Barnett v. Funding Plus of America, Inc., 740 So.2d 1069 (Ala. 1999) and Ennis v. Kittle, 770 So.2d 1090 (Ala.Civ.App 1999).   A frequent lecturer on the topics of litigation management, compliance programs and enterprise risk management fundamentals, Chris is admitted to several state and federal bars and is active in the Defense Research Institute, the Association of Corporate Counsel, Transportation Lawyers Association, Council on Litigation Management, and the American Bar Association.   

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Stanley is speaking in the following sessions:

I began my legal career in 1981, holding various positions with a private law practice, AIG/Chartis, and Sedgwick CMS, the nations largest Third Party Administrator. During my entire career, I have developed and delivered literally hundreds of seminars and training sessions on a variety of topics. I most recently joined Chartis as Claims Counsel with the New York Construction Risk Management Group in 2008. In March of 2009, I was promoted to Vice President of the Specialty Claims Counsel Program and now oversee claims counsel in the Construction Risk, Construction Defect, Private Client Group and Vendor Services practice groups. I also served as Claims Counsel from 1994-2003 for AIG Claim Services, Inc. in the Property/Casualty Divisional Claim Office in Blue Bell, PA.  I began my professional career in private law practice with the Atlantic City, NJ defense firm of Cooper Levenson, handling lawsuits involving construction accidents, construction defects, insurance coverage, motor vehicle, premises liability, and products liability. As a partner in the firm’s construction litigation practice, I regularly represented owner, architects, engineers, general and prime contractors. As head of the firm’s Coverage Unit, I regularly represented insurance carriers in providing legal opinions, coverage opinions and representation in a variety of coverage matters. I also routinely provided legal seminars to insurance company staff on a variety of substantive topics. From 2003 to 2008, I was a Vice President and National Litigation & SIU Practice Leader with Sedgwick Claims Management Services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In that role, I was responsible for designing and implementing litigation management strategies, litigation cost reduction, and addressing litigation related issues, and I also managed the Sedgwick CMS Special Investigations Unit (SIU). During this time, I developed and delivered training and seminars for adjusters, risk management departments, and attorneys, as well as speaking at national conferences such as DRI and RIMS. 

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Juliet is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Gridley received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida. She maintains Professional Engineering licenses in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. She is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), a Certified Mold Remediator (CMR), and a licensed mold assessor in the state of Florida. Ms. Gridley performs egress evaluations, surface slip resistance assessments, workplace accident investigations, industrial hygiene/air quality evaluations, water intrusion evaluations, and civil engineering investigations such as structural damage assessments, foundation and roof investigations and vibration damage analysis. 

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

Christopher J. Hallman  Chris Hallman is Senior Vice President & General Counsel for Pardee Homes. Prior to joining Pardee in 2005, he was a partner at Koeller, Nebeker Carlson and Haluck. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and California Western School of Law and is admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in California and Nevada.  Back to top

David is speaking in the following sessions:

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Grace is speaking in the following sessions:

Grace Hanson is Claims and Litigation Counsel for Homesite Group Ltd, a national provider of Homeowner’s insurance which is an innovator in online private marketing and direct sales of that product through its various partners, including Progressive, 21st Century, and Geico. In her current role Ms. Hanson manages bad faith litigation, the liability claims department, and panel counsel as well as providing general counsel to the Claims department. Ms. Hanson joined Homesite in 2009 after leaving Allied World Insurance Company where she was the Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer managing a global team of professionals handling reinsurance, professional liability, director’s and officer’s, excess casualty, healthcare and commercial property exposures worldwide. Prior to that Ms. Hanson was the Senior Vice President Claims with AIG for Starr Excess. Before going in-house Ms. Hanson was a commercial litigator and handled coverage litigation for various large carriers.

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Angela is speaking in the following sessions:

Angela Henderson is the claims supervisor for BerkleyNet Underwriters, LLC.  BerkleyNet utilizes web-based technology to provide workers’ compensation insurance solutions in 34 states.  Angela has more than ten years of experience in the workers’ compensation industry spanning technical and managerial responsibilities.  Angela has a varied background of corporate experiences and worked in marketing research for eight years prior to moving into the insurance industry.  She has managed claims for captive self-insured organizations, large national third party administrators and regional carriers.  BerkleyNet is a member company of W.R. Berkley Corporation that was formed in 2006.  Angela works out of BerkleyNet's corporate office in Woodbridge, VA.

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Victor is speaking in the following sessions:

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Cathy is speaking in the following sessions:

Cathy J. Hester is the Owner and CEO of CJ Hester Inc located in Mobile, Alabama (Home Office) with branch offices in Montgomery, Dothan, Birmingham, Florence and Huntsville, Alabama and Gulfport/Biloxi,  Jackson and Tupelo, Ms, including extended areas of operation in the Florida Panhandle, SW Georgia and the Greater New Orleans area. Cathy has enjoyed being a multi line independent adjuster for over 30 years and has owned and operated her own independent adjusting company for the past 16 years. She has also served on CAT teams during hurricanes and other catastrophes. Prior to CJ Hester Inc, she worked for a local independent adjusting company that had the UAC/Continental Franchise and also for Gay and Taylor as the Assistant Branch Manager in Mobile. Besides being a Fellow and State Chair for the Council of Litigation Management, Cathy is a member of  the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters (NAIIA), Property Loss Research Bureau/Liability Loss Research Bureau (PLRB/LLRB), Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA), National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), Atlanta Claims Association, Mobile Claims Association, Montgomery Claims Association, Alabama Workers  Compensation Organization (AWCO), Mississippi Claims Association and Alabama Self Insured Association (ASIA). In addition to  operating CJ Hester Inc, Cathy still handles claims, attends mediations and does trial monitoring.

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Melina is speaking in the following sessions:

Melina Hipskind is Counsel at McDonald’s Corporation. She is a member of the Tort Litigation Practice Group, where she oversees tort claims and litigation in McDonald’s Corporation’s New York Metro and Philadelphia regions.  She is also a member of the Litigation Practice Group, which manages litigation relating to franchising, real estate, intellectual property, and class actions.  Prior to joining McDonald’s, she practiced defense litigation at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP.  Melina graduated from DePaul University College of Law and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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C. Peter is speaking in the following sessions:

Peter Hitson is the Assistant Vice President, Legal Practices & Support for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.   In support of Property and Casualty Claims, Pete is charged with selection, retention, evaluation and management of outside counsel and other legal vendor relationships. He also oversees The Hartford’s legal bill review services and legal e-billing initiative. Pete is the former National Manager of Panel Counsel, and served as Managing Attorney within Claims Legal. He was engaged in private practice prior to joining The Hartford.   He is a graduate of Denison University and The University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

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Guy is speaking in the following sessions:

Over 20 years of management and supervision at major insurance companies.  Managed environmental, mass tort, construction defects and sexual abuse claims.  Participated in numerous mediations, coverage in place agreements, selection of and creation of defense panel counsels. 

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael Holzhueter, JD: Michael Holzhueter is Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel of CDH-Delnor Health System serving CDH since June 2005. Before his arrival at Central DuPage Hospital, Mr. Holzhueter served as Assistant Corporate Secretary and Associate General Counsel for The University of Chicago Hospitals. Prior to that he held the position of Associate General Counsel at Advocate Health Care and was an Associate in the Health Care Department of McDermott, Will & Emery. Mr. Holzhueter received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Loyola University and a Juris Doctor (with a health Law Focus) from Loyola’s School of Law.

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Alex is speaking in the following sessions:

Alex Jivan is the Vice President of Commercial Claims Division at Farmers Insurance Exchange, responsible for Commercial Auto, Casualty, Specialty and Workers Compensation Claims. In his prior assignment at Farmers as a National Director of Litigation he was responsible for creating initiatives and developing strategies to improve business outcome for the company. He joined Farmers in 2003. He has held number senior positions at various top rated personal and commercial lines carriers over the last 35 years. He received an Advanced Level Certificate and Ordinary level degree administered by Cambridge University and a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. He is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and past member of DRI as well as Inter-company Arbitration.
He lives in Los Angeles, California and his favorite hobbies include hybridizing Hybrid daylilies, Painting batiks, Golf and tennis.. 

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Deanna is speaking in the following sessions:

Practice Areas: Corporate LitigationClaims Litigation, Class Actions, Complex LitigationBad Faith and Extra Contractual Litigation Education: B.A. - Union College, Schenectady, NYJ.D. - Emory University, Atlanta, GA Professional Profile: Deanna joined the Corporate Litigation Group in the General Counsel's Office in December 2009.  She manages all corporate litigation by or against Fireman's Fund Insurance Company arising out of underwriting, extra contractual and/or other general business disputes.  She provides pre-litigation counseling and advice on all aspect of the business.

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

Captain Christopher Karentz Captain Karentz is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a Bachelors Degree in Marine Transportation. He currently holds a US Coast Guard License as Master of Steam and Motor Vessels, any Gross Tons, Upon Any Oceans, with an Offshore Installation Manager endorsement. He is compliant with the 1995 Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW). Captain Karentz has extensive seagoing experience on many types of vessels, including oil tankers, freighters, dynamically-positioned vessels, oil field support craft, and semi-submersibles. He has owned and operated large commercial oceangoing tugboats and has accrued significant time coastwise and offshore on sailing yachts. His past employment has included vessel management, vessel operations, and a wide-ranging history of refit and repair work on ships, large yachts, and specialty vessels. Captain Karentz is highly skilled in shipboard regulatory compliance issues, safety management, marine operations, and loss control. Christopher holds several ABYC training certifications. His previous experience utilized his varied skills and experiences in assisting Maritime Attorneys in the admiralty law/marine insurance arena.

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Amy is speaking in the following sessions:

Amy Keith is a Corporate Manager in the Legal Department of AT&T, with responsibility for the planning, development and administration of matter management and electronic invoicing systems. Ms. Keith began her career with BellSouth (now AT&T) in 1990 as a Legal Secretary and has held various positions of increasing responsibility in the Legal Department. In 2000, she was appointed Legal Administrator for AT&T Mobility (previously known as Cingular Wireless) with responsibility for all administrative and staff matters. TyMetrix T360° was implemented in 2004/2005. In 2007, Ms. Keith was promoted to Corporate Manager – Matter Management and assigned responsibility for the implementation and management of TyMetrix T360° for the newly-formed AT&T Legal Department. This project brought together five separate legal departments consolidating them into one platform. She currently manages a staff of three T360 Administrators with training, support and reporting responsibilities for 750+ internal users and 800+ active law firms and vendors. Ms. Keith earned her MBA for Experienced Professionals from Kennesaw State University and a B.S. from the University of Georgia. She may be contacted at AK1008@ATT.com.  

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Angus is speaking in the following sessions:

Head of the San Diego office with 25 years experience in insurance claims and structured settlement industry. Extensive experience in the catastrophic liability, products, medical malpractice & workers compensation areas. The following services that I provide at "NO COST" to my clients: Negotiating and facilitating settlements of physical injury cases (worker compensation & liability) utilizing structured settlement, reviewing and pricing life care plans, projecting future loss of earnings and medical needs. I attend mediations and informal settlement meetings with clients to assist in the resolution of claims. My office handles all the necessary paperwork to finalize settlement and secure the "Tax Free" benefits that structured settlements allow to the injuired party. Also, I conduct presentations for claims offices, attorney firms, IEA, mediators and judges on the benefits of having a structured settlement a part of any negotiations.

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Simon is speaking in the following sessions:

Current Role: Director of Risk Management for US and Canada for Red Bull--the world's No. 1 energy drink. (Red Bull's annual revenues are $4 Billion Euros and its interests include a record label, a media house, soccer team(s), an arena, 2 NASCAR and Formula 1 Teams, and a  world class distribution operation). Former Role(s): Was the insurance program manager at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and spend the prior decade in claims management and litigation management roles of increasing responsibility at  established carriers such as The Travelers, The Hartford, ACE-USA, and HDI-Gerling America. Licensure:  Licensed as an attorney in Washington D.C., and Texas.

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Cynthia is speaking in the following sessions:

Cynthia Khin is the Chief Claims Officer for Medmarc Insurance Group.  In this capacity, she is responsble for drug and medical device claim investigation and settlement oversight, defense counsel selection, litigation management, trial preparation/supervision, claim reserve audits and assessments. Ms. Khin holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation from the American Institutes for CPCU, Associate in Claims, Associate in Risk Management and certificates in Claims Law from the American Education Institute, and designations in Management and General Insurance from the IIA.  Cindy has taught insurance classes in the Washington, DC area for more than 10 years.  Ms. Khin is a frequent speaker on claims and litigation management topics before a variety of audiences, including the annual conference of Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine, the International Risk Management Institute, American Conference Institute (ACI) and numerous Medmarc risk management seminars.  Her co-authored article, "We Love Settlements!" appeared in "For the Defense", the monthly publication of the Defense Research Institute. Prior to joining Medmarc in 1989, Ms. Khin was with a leading casualty insurer, GEICO, in its home office where, for eight years, she assisted the company in shouldering litigation, management and training responsibilities.

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Kevin is speaking in the following sessions:

Kevin King joined Turner Construction Company in October 2000 as the Corporate Claims Manager and has served as the Vice President of Claims and Legal Services since January 2006.  He was responsible for designing and implementing Turner’s overall claims and legal strategy.  He has overseen the merger of the claims department with the corporate legal department, which has resulted in the creation of the Turner Claims and Legal Services group.  This group provides oversight to a specialized panel of over 100 law firms engaged to handle both insured and non-insured legal disputes for Turner.  Kevin also serves as the editor of Turner’s quarterly newsletter, The Turner Law Partnership, which covers topics germane to construction related risk and legal disputes.    Prior to joining Turner, Kevin was employed with Marsh & McLennan as a Vice President, where he provided consulting services related to risk management, claims, and litigation management for several large Fortune 100 accounts.    Kevin holds a bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Iona College. He is a licensed Insurance Producer in all 50 states and is an associate member of the ABA and AGC.  In addition, he is a frequent speaker at numerous conferences including the Construction Super Conference, RIMS and ABA sponsored events, covering topics such as Risk Transfer, Subcontractor Default Insurance, Contractor Controlled Insured Programs and other claim or coverage related topics.   Kevin, his wife Tracey and their three children reside in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. 

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Mark is speaking in the following sessions:

Mark is experienced in Forensic Analysis of Electrical-Electronic Equipment Failures as an Advanced Origin & Cause Expert. He specializes in Damaged Mechanisms affecting Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Fire, Smoke, Lightning, Water, and Power Surge).  Additional specialties include: Semiconductor Device Physics/Digital Telephony and Data Communications, Computer Systems, Manufacturing, Assembly Line, HVAC Failures, Medical Equipment Diagnostics/Industrial-Mechanical Equipment and Handling, Shipping, Transport Damage to Industrial Equipment.

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Phil is speaking in the following sessions:

PHIL KRAJEC is Vice President in the Directors & Officers Unit at RSUI Group, Inc.  He has more than 25 years claims experience. Prior to joining RSUI in 2000, he was the Claims Manager for RLI Transportation and Specialty Lines Claims Manager for Risk Enterprise Management in Atlanta. Phil obtained his Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University College of Law. He holds the CPCU, ARM and AMIM professional designations and is a Past President of the Atlanta Chapter of the CPCU Society.

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Carol is speaking in the following sessions:

Carol Kreiling is a Vice President at Swiss Re. She is a Claims Expert for Swiss Re’s Claims, Accounting, and Liability Management. Ms. Kreiling graduated with honors from the University of Missouri at Kansas City with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law where she was a member of the Law Review. Ms. Kreiling practiced law at Shook, Hardy and Bacon Law Firm in Kansas City, Missouri, where she specialized in tort litigation. In addition, Ms. Kreiling served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. As a Trial Counsel in the JAG Corps, Ms. Kreiling prosecuted numerous service members at General Courts Martial and served as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Prior to managing reinsurance claims, Ms. Kreiling handled and supervised professional liability errors and omissions claims for Employers Reinsurance Corporation. Over the last ten years, Ms. Kreiling has managed complex litigation involving reinsurance claims. She currently serves on the Global and National Claims Team for Swiss Re America’s Casualty Claim Unit.

Ms. Kreiling recently co-authored with John G. Browning, Esq., and with Gerald Deneen, Swiss Re, a white paper entitled, The Impact of Social Media on Personal Lines. In addition, Ms. Kreiling has presented at Swiss Re’s Social Media and Claims webinar regarding ethical issues arising from using social media as a claims investigative tool.

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Dianne is speaking in the following sessions:

Dianne Fisher Kroll, BSN, MS: Dianne Fisher Kroll is the Claims Management Administrator of CDH-Delnor Health System since August 2006. She has 24 years of experience in risk and claims management with a focus on general and professional liability in the health care industry. Prior to her current position, she was a Claims Supervisor with SA Gross and Associates and the Illinois Hospital Association. Her health care experience also includes nursing, teaching at a variety of organizations including the University of Michigan, and management up to a Director level. She received her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska and her Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael LaFond is an attorney within QBE's Environmental Mass Tort Center of Excellence. The group  manages QBE's national book of environmental and mass tort claims. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Masion with his degree in Chemistry and a graduate of Marquette Law School. He is an Adjunct Professor at Carroll University teaching Principles of Business Law.

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Melanie is speaking in the following sessions:

Melanie has spent thirty eight years working in healthcare. She is the Director of Insurance and Risk Services for CDH-Delnor Health System serving Central DuPage Hospital. She is currently responsible for oversight, facilitation, coordination and supervision in the areas of risk financing, claims administration, event reporting, and clinical and non-clinical loss control and mitigation strategies. Since joining Central DuPage Hospital in 1982 she has also had accountability for various other departments such as patient relations, medical staff services, quality, safety, infection control and continuing medical education. Prior to that she had additional healthcare experience with the University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis Children’s Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, Minneapolis.

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C. Kyle is speaking in the following sessions:

C. Kyle Lang, Senior Litigation CounselMeadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc.Kyle has focused his career on litigation of complex coverage issues. Kyle began his career in private practice with two national insurance-coverage firms in Chicago, and recently (Fall 2010) moved in-house for Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. While in Chicago, Kyle litigated environmental coverage disputes over Superfund clean-up sites and toxic tort MDLs across the country, in both federal and state courts. With Meadowbrook, Kyle is in-house counsel to the claims department, advising on coverage issues pertaining to first-party, third-party, admiralty and environmental coverages. Kyle also retains outside counsel for coverage opinions and defense of the Meadowbrook companies in coverage suits. Kyle is a 2003 cum laude graduate of The John Marshall Law School located in Chicago, where he was a lead and student articles editor on the law review. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Denison University. Kyle is a member of the Illinois, District of Columbia and Maryland bars, the Defense Research Institute, and the Counsel on Litigation Management. 

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Paul is speaking in the following sessions:

Paul Larimore has 25 years of insurance litigation experience, including 15 years in a successful insurance defense trial practice.  Since 2002 Paul has worked directly  for insurers both large and small.  Paul is a periodic lecturer on topics related to insurance defense litigation, and currently serves on the CLM Litigation Management Task Force.  Areas of professional expertise include: Staff counsel management Litigation management, including oversight of  outside counsel Policy development and implementation, including litigation guidelines and billing policies Employee training and education Legal auditing solutions Risk assessment and risk management

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Karl W. is speaking in the following sessions:

Karl Leo is the Vice-President, Chief Legal Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest distributor of roofing, siding and other select exterior building products in the US.  Mr. Leo is also the Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer of Hendricks Holding Company, Inc., an affiliate by common ownership with ABC.  HHC owns a broad spectrum of businesses including commercial real estate and construction, manufacturing and trucking, specialty insurance and insurance brokerage, in addition to a variety of private equity investments.  Mr. Leo continues his role as the founding attorney of Leo Law, LLC, a business-focused law firm based in Huntsville, Alabama.  Mr. Leo is a graduate of Duke University School of Law and the University of Redlands.

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Robert is speaking in the following sessions:

Robert Lewis is Chief Legal Officer & Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Crowe Paradis Services Corporation, a national Medicare Compliance company. He is also a founding member and former President of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals (NAMSAP);a Member of the Steering Committee for the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC); and Chairman of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Medicare Compliance Committee.  In 2004, he was selected by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of the “Top 40 lawyers under the age of 40” based in large part on his accomplishments in the Medicare arena.     Mr. Lewis has published a number of articles addressing Medicare compliance including articles/chapters found in:  Lexis Medicare Compliance Treatise, The New Jersey Law Journal, Medley’s Managed Care Liability Report, Andrews Health Law, New Jersey Lawyer, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Employer Liability Insurance, and Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual. Mr. Lewis is also a nationally recognized speaker and has presented before such prestigious organizations as:  Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS),  The American Insurance Association (AIA), The American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA), The Defense Research Institute (DRI), The University of Florida,  The University of Mississippi, The American Inn of Court Program, The Judges of the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation, Lorman Education Services, Council on Education in Management, and MediPro Seminars, LLC.  In addition to numerous educational programs, Mr. Lewis has also assisted in training and protocol development for a number of the nations largest  insurance carriers, third party administrators, and self-insured’s.  Robert also has a distinguished career as a practicing workers’ compensation defense attorney while serving as a partner in the law firm of Capehart & Scatchard in Mount Laruel, New Jersey.  He has also practiced liability and workers’ compensation defense in North Carolina with the law firm of Hedrick, Eatman, Gardner & Kincheloe.  Mr. Lewis is a member of the American, Burlington County, Camden County, New Jersey State, and North Carolina State Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, North Carolina, and before the United States Supreme Court.

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Danielle is speaking in the following sessions:

Danielle Librizzi, Esq., Claim Director

Danielle is a Claims Director in the CNA Pro Claim unit where she is responsible for, among other things, management of all Miscellaneous Professional Liability claims as well as Technology liability and Media claims .  In her role, Danielle has  five attorneys on the Claim staff who report directly to her, and she also works very closely with our MPL, Technology and Media underwriters.  Danielle joined CNA and the Specialty Claim unit in 2004, and she has worked exclusively on large account professional liability D&O and E&O claims during her tenure.  Prior to joining CNA, Danielle worked in the claims units of two other major professional liability carriers, and she also worked in private practice in a New York law firm.  Danielle received her law degree from St. John’s University in 2000 and her undergraduate degree from New York University.   

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Trevor is speaking in the following sessions:

1975–1977 H Clarkson Insurance Brokers Ltd, Aviation Reinsurance Broker

1977–1979 Harrington Austin Insurance Brokers Ltd, Aviation Reinsurance Broker

 1978–1979 Trident General Insurance Company Ltd, Assistant Aviation Loss Adjuster

1979–1986 English and American Insurance Company Ltd, Aviation Loss Adjuster

 1986–1990 Lloyds Aviation Claims Centre, Aviation Claim Examiner

1990 – 1994 Lloyds Aviation Department, Senior Claims Negotiator and Deputy Manager

1994 – 1998 Willis Faber & Dumas, North American Aviation Claims Director

1998 – 2000 Airclaims, General Manager and Director

2000 – 2005 Willis, Technical Services Director Responsible for Claims, Risk Management and Contracts and Leasing

2005 – 2006 Global Aerospace, Aviation Commercial Manager

2006 – to present GAB Robins Aviation Ltd, CEO  

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Thomas J. is speaking in the following sessions:

Thomas J. Little is a Litigation Manager for Veolia/Sedgwick CMS and licensed to handle claims in 18 states along with several other states not requiring licenses.  He routinely attends depositions and mediations for Veolia which has been his dedicated client for the past 10 years. He has been in the insurance claims business for 31 years and has also taught classes through the Insurance Institute of America.  He represents Veolia at 30 to 40 mediations every year and also attends all key depositions and trials.

Mr. Little has attended mediations in all areas of insurance including General Liability Claims, Auto Liability claims, Workers Compensation subrogation, PD subrogation and Jones Act claims.  He has attended mediations on the east coast, Midwest and across the south from Florida to Texas.

Mr. Little graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater - Deans list 1^st honors with a BBA in Finance in 1976.  He has his Associate in Management and Associate in Risk Management degrees from the Insurance Institute of America and has classes toward his CPCU and Masters.

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James is speaking in the following sessions:

A CPA, CFE and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Jim is President and CEO of LegalEye Inc., a software and consulting company dedicating to helping both law and claims departments and law firms reduce costs, manage expectations and improve performance. LegalEye™ Spend Management Software fosters collaboration between in-house and outside counsel through automated bill reviews and by providing visibility throughout the invoice-to-payment process. Customers also value LegalEye’s™ dynamic dashboarding and reporting capabilities, and flexible, collaborative budgeting options.  LegalEye™ Consulting harnesses the knowledge of CPAs and Lean/ Six Sigma Black Belts (continuous improvement experts) to deliver financial clarity and streamlined processes to both departments and law firms, with a specialization in alternative fee arrangements. Jim has twenty years of financial, operational and information technology experience, which includes leadership roles with Ernst & Young LLP, Campbell Soup Company and MBNA America (Bank of America). As a CPA, Jim has developed and implemented scalable data mining and analysis protocols, financial reporting structures and data visualization solutions that engage diverse groups of stakeholders. As a CFE, Jim has worked with financial institutions and the FBI on fraud investigations and has significant experience in corporate and legal compliance. He is a frequent speaker on fraud-related topics. As a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Jim has applied proven Lean/ Six Sigma continuous improvement concepts, tools and methodologies to high-profile corporate initiatives (including legal spend management), which resulted in significant savings and improved performance. Jim has addressed general counsel, law department managers and attorneys on the topics of budgeting for improved performance, crisis management and managing alternative fee arrangements. A graduate of John Carroll University with a double major in Accounting and Finance, Jim received a full tuition scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his MBA. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the American Society for Quality and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, where he co-chairs the Alternative Fee Arrangements Committee and is a State Chair for Pennsylvania. Jim also serves two Pittsburgh-based charitable organizations (Genesis and HEARTH). He enjoys golf, tennis, platform tennis and playing music. 

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Nick is speaking in the following sessions:

Nick Lopuszynski is a Senior Claims Examiner who manages risk exposure, claims, and litigation nationally and internationally for entities insured with Markel Corporation. Nick currently leverages his education, training, experience and skills on product liability risks concentrating on life sciences, medical devices, biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, supplements, and vitamins. Prior to joining Markel, Nick was a trial lawyer with a boutique trial firm in Chicago, Illinois focusing his practice on defending product designers, manufacturers and distributors as well as professionals across all lines. Nick manages large insured accounts consisting of multinational entities with aggregate reserve levels in the mid-eight figures. Nick also possesses extensive experience drafting, reviewing and revising manuscript endorsements and policy forms while working directly with C-level executives in identifying risk exposures, communicating viable options to manage risk exposures, and achieving risk exposure solutions. Nick is an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America and in his free time enjoys running, cycling, swimming, camping, fishing, reading, and cooking.

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Norma is speaking in the following sessions:

Director of Property & Liability Claims for Costco Wholesale Corp. Norma joined Costco in 1999, as a Senior Claims Administrator. She was promoted to Supervisor & then Claims Manager before assuming her current role in November of 2011. She has held various position in the insurance industry with INA/Cigna, Unigard Insurance, O.U.M. and Carl Warren & CO. handling auto, professional liability, medical malpractice, E&O, product and premises liability claims. AEI Claims Law Designation. Attended Eastern Washington State College. Recreational interests include golf, hiking, biking, skiing and reading.

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Leslie is speaking in the following sessions:

Experience• More than 10 years in the Litigation Support and Forensic Engineering industry• Certified NFPA Paralegal with over 8 years experience working in-house at a leading law firm• Over 8 years in business development capacity   Practice Areas• Premises Liability• Mechanical Failure• Data Recovery / HDD Failures• Cause & Origin• Fire Investigation• Vehicle Accidents• Civil/Structural Accidents• Computer Forensics/eDiscoveryProfessional Profile Mr. Lumpkins is a Forensic & Litigation Consultant at LWG Consulting. Leslie consults with lawyers, paralegals and litigation support departments on a variety of different types of cases concerning their Computer Forensics and Forensic Engineering needs. He has been a featured speaker at law firms, bar associations, conferences and law schools throughout the country. Education• Political Science/Pre LawUniversity of WashingtonTestimony Experience Leslie has been involved with and assisted on numerous matters where LWG was called to deliver expert witness testimony. Mr. Lumpkins has assisted attorneys at trial as a law firm employee and vendor. Licenses/ Accreditations• Certified NFPA Paralegal• E-Discovery ExpertKroll OnTrack Florida Defense Lawyers Assocition Member FDCC Litigation Management College Representative Project Experience Leslie has over 8 years of experience consulting on high profile cases involving electronically stored information. Mr. Lumpkins assisted with collection during the Enron scandal, and processed ESI for WorldCom litigation Representative Client List• Travelers• Chartis• Liberty Mutual• Cozen O’Connor • Fisher Kanaris• King & Spalding• Cummins, Inc.• Lockheed MartinProfessional Development • DRI Products Liability • DRI Insurance Coverage • DRI Labor & Employment• ABA Transportation Mega conference,• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance,• Florida Liability Claims Conference Presentations Given • “Computer Forensic/E-Discovery”• “Bringing E-Discovery In-House”• “Managing Electronic Information”• Lectured on ESI for The American Bar Association , National Bar Association, Gate City Bar Association & Cook County Bar Association Professional Affiliations Defense Research Institute (DRI)Florida Defense Lawyer Association (FDLA)Gate City Bar Association Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)  

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Heather is speaking in the following sessions:

Heather is the Vice President of Risk Management and Litigation Counsel for Borden Dairy Company, based in Dallas, Texas. Borden Dairy Company processes and distributes fluid milk and cultured dairy products throughout the United States. Heather is responsible for managing the Company's litigation, including transportation, premises, product liability, and commercial litigation. Heather also manages a team of in-house claims adjusters. Heather is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Phi Delta Phi, General Counsel Forum, and RIMS. She is a member for the State Bar of Texas committee for Women in the Profession and also a member of the CLM Transportation Committee. Heather received her Certified Litigation Management Professional designation after completing the inaugural LMI course in October, 2011 at Columbia Law School.

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Vic is speaking in the following sessions:

Senior Director – Global Claims, Marriott International    

Vic is a graduate of the University of Maryland, School of Business.  He holds an Associate in Risk Management designation is a certified mediator and has extensive training in negotiations, mediation and trial strategy from various law schools including Pepperdine University, Harvard University and Southern Methodist University.    Vic began his career with Marriott 25 years ago and has held several positions including National Claims Director and Regional Claims Director for the Mid-Atlantic region.   In his current position, Vic has responsibility for claims oversight of all high cost claims in five lines of insurance (guest liability, workers compensation, employee dishonesty, property and employment practices liability).  Vic also oversees our national claims reporting vendor (Actec) and is an active member of several national organizations addressing litigation management and other relevant topics for self-insureds.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael Mattix has thirty-two years experience in the insurance industry, beginning his career as an attorney in private practice specializing in insurance defense matters.  He has more than 20 years experience in managing primary, excess and reinsurance claims with an emphasis in both personal and commercial property and casualty lines, as well as workers compensation and professional liability claims.   Michael was recently named Vice President, Chief Claims Officer for Armed Forces Insurance. Prior to his association with Armed Forces Michael spent nearly 25 years with Swiss Re (formerly known as Employers Reinsurance)   During his tenure, he created and managed a state-of-the-art claims and financial transactional audit team, as well as a claim consulting group.  He is a recognized expert in claims management, process redesign and effecting change within organizations, and is a frequent speaker at industry events. 

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Ronald A. is speaking in the following sessions:

Ronald A. Mazariegos is a Claim Litigation Strategy Manager with Arrowpoint Capital, (formerly Royal Insurance). As part of his various roles within Arrowpoint, Ron consults and coordinates a team of Workers Compensation claim handlers and managers in the Charlotte office. He is also the settlement manager for the southeast region. In addition, Ron represents Arrowpoint in mediations nationwide and has presented several lectures to the company on a wide variety of civil litigation topics. Ron has extensive experience representing the insurance industry on both the claims and defense side. Prior to joining Arrowpoint, Ron was a senior associate with Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP in New York. His practice focused on litigation, with an emphasis on construction, professional and general liability defense, insurance coverage matters and subrogation claims. He regularly defended automobile negligence, premises liability, assaults and batteries and negligent security claims. Ron has significant experience in state courts at all levels and has successfully drafted and argued numerous dispositive motions. Ron was also a civil-trial attorney for the New York City Law Department, Office of the Corporation Counsel. As an Assistant Corporation Counsel, Ron successfully tried several suits against the City to verdict and handled hundreds of depositions. Ron is admitted to practice both in New York and North Carolina. He is also a licensed North Carolina claims adjuster.

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Dennis is speaking in the following sessions:

Dr. McGarry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering, his Master of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Metallurgical Engineering from The Ohio State University. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at OSU. At SEA, he is responsible for conducting and supervising the testing and performance evaluation of materials and products. He is also responsible for conducting failure analysis of materials, and evaluating the design, quality, and safety of products made from metal, glass, ceramic, and polymeric (plastic) materials. He is a registered professional engineer in several states and has provided expert testimony in state and federal courts of law. He is a member of the American Society of Metals (ASM International) and ASM International Failure Analysis Committee, American Welding Society (AWS), Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International), and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE).

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Preston is speaking in the following sessions:

Preston McGowan is a Vice President and manager of Chubb’s Claim Litigation Management Unit which provides centralized management of legal counsel utilization and spend.  He joined Chubb in 2003 as a business solutions consultant.  In 2007, he transitioned to the Corporate Development department as a senior analyst focusing on enterprise level strategic and business process improvement initiatives.   Preston began his professional career as an INROADS intern with the former Continental Insurance.  After his internship, he joined Continental as a management trainee where he served as a underwriting and claims systems analyst.  In 1994, Preston joined CIGNA Healthcare of Georgia to build and direct it’s IT and Workflow Management department that provided systems and operational solutions for the HMO’s southeast region. In 1998, he returned to New Jersey to join Prudential Financial as an operational risk management consultant where he led several engagements focusing on the company’s transformation from a mutual to a public company.  Prior to joining Chubb, Preston served as the Vice President of Operations for ADVISEN Ltd. where he managed the firm’s project management office and co-led the custom software development practice.  Preston earned a MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. He also holds a Management of Technology diploma from the Georgia Institute of Technology and executive education certificates from Harvard Business School and Wharton / INSEAD.

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Denise is speaking in the following sessions:

FultonCounty is the largest metropolitan county in Georgia with Atlanta as its county seat.  Denise McHam-Pinto, RMPE manages Risk Management Operations for Fulton County Government in Atlanta Georgia. She draws from over  twenty years of private and public sector  experience, with high skill competencies  in operational audits  and performance  metrics setting,  contracts analysis and coverage interpretation, strategy and performance setting, developing strategies for successful litigation,  subrogation and complex / claims outcomes.  Her Risk Management career was preceded by a deep rooted multi line adjusting experience with major P&C carriers in NE, SE, and CA that included stints at Home Office level direct Reporting and advising on Fidelity &Surety coverage’s and as a Senior Investigator in the Home Office  Special Investigations Unit.  Denise also enjoys the distinction of being a trailblazer recruit of the inaugural class at the   Howard University Center for Insurance Education.   Denise oversees and audit the overall Risk Management Division’s Operations; directly manages the STARS Risk Management Information System’s database development and knowledge management, as well as the Litigation and Subrogation and Recovery Programs at Fulton.   Denise collaborates with the Division Manager of Risk Management, Agency heads, and the Office of the County Attorney in developing programs, implementing and monitoring risk and compliance controls, policies and procedures, contract review and mitigation efforts that affect internal stakeholders and citizens. Denise is a member and participant  with various industry and community groups including Atlanta Claims Association, National Association of Insurance Women, RIMS, including service as VP of Operations , Atlanta Chapter, and Executive Committee Member of PRIMA External Affairs Committee. She is a frequent adviser and speaker on practical risk management strategies, governance and compliance and has been a featured presenter at Public Risk Manager’s Conference (PRIMA).  

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Jed is speaking in the following sessions:

Jed D. Melnick, Esq. has been involved in the mediation and successful resolution of hundreds of complex disputes with an aggregate value in the billions of dollars. He has mediated over 750 disputes, published articles on mediation, founded a nationally ranked dispute resolution journal and taught young mediators. Mr. Melnick serves as a mediator, appointed by Judge Kaplan, in the Lehman ADR Derivative Contract Program. He is the managing mediator for the Weinstein Group, led by the Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.), one of the nation’s preeminent mediators of complex civil disputes. In 2010 and 2011, Mr. Melnick was selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” the only “Rising Star” in the Alternative Dispute Resolution category in Pennsylvania. He was also selected to the 2010 list of Pennsylvania “Lawyers on the Fast Track,” a recognition given to 30 Pennsylvania Lawyers under the age of 40 by Legal Intelligencer and the Pennsylvania Law Weekly. Jed's full bio is available at www.jamsadr.com under neutrals.  

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Merrill has over 18 years of investigative experience and is one of the SIU Community’s most recognizable leaders.  Prior to his current role, Mr. Merrill was President and founder of The Merrill Group, Inc. a leading claims investigation solutions provider.  Mr. Merrill, in his current role, directs the management of all ICS Merrill business, reporting directly to the EMSI President, CEO and Chairman, Mark Davis.  Mr. Merrill serves on the boards of various nonprofit organizations and is currently on the Board of Directors of AMCOMP (the American Society of Workers’ Comp Professionals, Inc.) and PIRSAC (Private Investigation Recovery Security Advisory Council).  Mr. Merrill is a graduate of Eckerd College.

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Edgar is speaking in the following sessions:

Edgar Meza,Vice President-Claims, is directly responsible for the entire claims organization for Fred Loya Insurance.  FLI is primarily an auto insurance company headquartered in Texas serving several states including Texas, California, NM and Colorado.  He has been with Fred Loya Insurance for the last 8 years and in that time the company has grown from $42 million in annual written premium to well over $300 million for 2008.  

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Regan is speaking in the following sessions:

Regan Miller is a Producer with Marsh & McLennan Agency in Houston, TX. She has a background in insurance and public accounting. Ms. Miller joined the local firm of Insurance Alliance in September 2005 before that firm was acquired by Marsh & McLennan Agency, a middle-market dedicated insurance brokerage firm.

While offering risk management solutions and insurance products to a variety of industries Ms. Miller has focused on professional service clients. Ms. Miller holds the Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation as well as a Certified Risk Manager, a designation developed by the National Alliance. Ms. Miller is one of the State Chairs for the Council on Litigation Management in Texas and also serves on the steering committee for the state chapter of PLUS. She has written articles for the Houston Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators and hosts Continuing Legal Education Series on a variety of professional responsibility, ethics and risk management related topics.
 

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Russell is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Mirabile, who joined XL Specialty in 2006, is presently Senior Vice President, Head of Specialty Claims North America for XL Insurance America, Inc. where he is responsible for the supervision and management of all in house attorneys and claims professionals handling Aerospace; Marine and Offshore Energy; Fine Arts and Specie; Equine; and Product Recall claims and all litigation arising from these business units. Mr. Mirabile received his JD from St. John’s University (1974) and an LLM from New York University (1980). He was admitted to the New York State Bar (1975), USDC-Eastern District of NY (1975), Second Circuit Court of Appeals (1976) and U.S. Supreme Court (1977). Mr. Mirabile, who started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney (homicide trial attorney) in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, was formally a senior officer with United States Aviation Underwriters, Inc. (USAIG) where he served in various capacities including USAIG’s Director of Claims (1990 – 2006) supervising a staff of 40 experienced aviation attorneys and claims professional who were responsible for handling claims and managing litigation. Mr. Mirabile has personally handled high profile cases such as the JFK Jr. crash and numerous mass disaster cases including Pan AM Lockerbie, Pan AM Karachi, TWA 800, Value Jet and the 9/11 Litigation. Mr. Mirabile also served as Deputy General Counsel of USAU, Inc. where he was responsible for legal and regulatory matters. An active member of the ABA, he has served in many leadership positions including chair (2001 – 2002) of TIPS – Aviation and Space Law Committee. After the World Trade Center terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Mr. Mirabile was one of eight attorneys nationwide to be appointed to the ABA’s sub-committee on terrorism to comment and make recommendations to the Attorney General and Special Master on the Victims Compensation Fund set up by Congress. Over the last twenty-five years, Mr. Mirabile has been a frequent lecturer on Aviation, Products Liability and Insurance Law matters at numerous aviation industry sponsored seminars including: ABA, DRI, IADC, IUAI, Embry Riddle and SMU Air Law Symposium.  

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Phyllis is speaking in the following sessions:

Phyllis Modlin is a Construction Defect Claims Supervisor with Markel in Walnut Creek, California where she manages construction defect claims on a nationwide basis. Ms. Modlin received her B.A. degree from University of California at Santa Barbara and her J.D. degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. For the past 20 years, she has developed extensive experience in handling and managing construction claims under both Commercial General Liability and Wrap policies with a focus on coverage, risk transfer, liability and litigation management.

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Kathryn J. is speaking in the following sessions:

Kathryn “Katie” Moran graduated with honors from Whittier College School of Law in Costa Mesa, California in 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, minor in Foreign Affairs, from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduation from Assumption College, Katie started her career in insurance with Campania Management Company in Vienna, Virginia. She began managing medical product/device claims and litigation in 1996. A year later, she was transferred to Denton, Texas to manage the claims and litigation for Texas Health Enterprises, then the largest nursing home provider in Texas.  In September 1998, she was offered a Litigation Specialist position with Tenet Healthcare in Dallas, Texas. Katie managed claims and litigation for 11 hospitals in Louisiana and Massachusetts out of Tenet’s Dallas office until June 2000 when she was transferred to Tenet’s Southern California Regional Office. There she managed professional and general liability claims and litigation for 15 hospitals in and around Southern California while attending law school in the evenings. In 2004, Katie graduated with honors from law school and was transferred back to Tenet’s Dallas headquarters. While studying for the Texas Bar exam in 2005, she managed claims and litigation for hospitals in California, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. After successfully passing the Texas Bar exam, Katie began practicing law with an insurance defense firm in Addison, Texas. Her practice focused primarily on defending physician and nurse clients in medical malpractice actions, as well as medical product liability and general insurance defense. In September 2008, Katie founded KJM Claims Management LLC, a full-service claims management company specializing in the pre-litigation and evaluation of medical negligence, professional liability and general liability claims. Most recently, Katie was responsible for the comprehensive management of medical liability and general liability claims and litigation for Palmetto Health hospitals in Columbia and Easley, South Carolina. Katie coordinated extensive pre-litigation investigations, and was responsible for the evaluation of risk and exposure to the insurance company’s largest book of healthcare business. Throughout her nearly 16 years in the healthcare insurance industry, Katie has participated in over 500 mediations nationwide. She is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and was a State Chair for South Carolina in 2011. Katie has been a proud member of the State Bar of Texas since November, 2005 and is licensed in the U.S. Court of Appeals (5th Circuit), as well as U.S. District Courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Texas. When she isn’t working, Katie enjoys visits back to her native New Hampshire, traveling internationally, winter skiing, spending time outdoors and working on her new home near Cincinnati. 

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Douglas is speaking in the following sessions:

Douglas R. Morr, M.S., P.E.Mr. Morr received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (specializing in Biomechanics) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University. After gaining automotive engineering experience at an international manufacturer and over five years of research, design, and testing experience as a biomechanical engineer at a measurement device company, Mr. Morr brought his education and experience to SEA in 2000. Since arriving at SEA, he has performed hundreds of accident investigations and reconstruction analyses, biomechanical analyses relative to injury mechanisms and injury causation, and mechanical engineering analyses of failure events. Mr. Morr also has experience and training in the use of MADYMO, both in research and real-world human kinematic and kinetic analysis, HVE for vehicle accident and kinematic simulation analysis, and engineering support for animation. Capitalizing on his design and testing background, Mr. Morr leads research and case-specific testing programs at SEA, utilizing instrumented Anthropometric Test Devices (ATDs), vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests, and human volunteer testing. In his career, Mr. Morr has continuously worked with colleagues on other biomechanical, mechanical, and investigative research projects culminating in over 20 peer-reviewed publications and two book chapters. A registered professional engineer in 18 states, he is an active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), including the Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Practices Committee (AIRP); the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM); the International Traffic Medicine Association (ITMA); the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); and the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA). This combination of experience, education, and training has maintained Mr. Morr’s status as an expert in his respective fields, with over eight years of testimony experience in criminal and civil courts nationwide.

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Matthew is speaking in the following sessions:

Matthew Morrison has years of experience focusing on complex litigation and insurance coverage from both the perspective of an insurer as well an attorney in private practice.  In his current position with QBE Regional Insurance he is responsible for providing legal counsel on complex insurance coverage issues, management of extra contractual litigation and litigation management programs.  He is also responsible for management of Environmental/ Mass Tort claims as well Staff Counsel operations.      In 2001 Matt joined General Casualty as a Claim Attorney in their complex litigation unit supervising litigation nationwide including construction defect, class action, and catastrophic injury litigation.  In 2007 Matt was named Assistant Vice President of Liability & Litigation for General Casualty with responsibility for all liability claims.  In February 2009 Matt was named Head of Claims Legal for QBE Regional Insurance.  QBE Regional Insurance includes Farmers Union Insurance, General Casualty and Unigard and writes insurance in 33 states.    Prior to joining QBE Regional Insurance, Matt was in private practice with an insurance defense law firm in Illinois representing insurers and insureds in complex coverage matters as well as complex liability litigation.  He is admitted to practice before the state courts of Illinois and Wisconsin and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.  He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Wisconsin State Bar Association and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  Matt is a CLM State Chair for the state of Wisconsin.  Matt has spoken to insurance and defense organizations on various topics in the past including most recently the SCHIP Reporting Act of 2007.  Matt graduated with distinction from The University of Wisconsin Madison School of Business in 1992.  He obtained his J.D, Cum Laude, from Northern Illinois University College of Law and his MBA from Northern Illinois University College of Business in 1995.  Matt lives in the Madison, Wisconsin area with his wife, Laura and their two children Marly and Bennett.     

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Nicky is speaking in the following sessions:

Nicky Mukerji is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on Legal Spend Management. He has developed innovative and pioneering solutions that fulfill the business information needs of Risk Managers and General Counsel worldwide. Mr. Mukerji draws upon his expertise in Project Management, Business Intelligence, Benchmarking, and Statistical Analysis to develop the perfect Spend Management Solution for each client.  Mr. Mukerji is the Chief Information Officer of Legalbill, an international Legal Information Solutions Company for Insurance Corporations, Risk Management Departments, and Corporate Legal Departments. He has a background in strategic consulting and technology, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

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Raquel is speaking in the following sessions:

Raquel Murphy, Senior Project Manager with United States Risk Management, LLC has over fifteen (15) years of environmental consulting experience and is primarily responsible for NEPA and NHPA projects related to demolition, construction and renovation of residential and commercial properties. Mrs. Murphy has experience in support of numerous environmental projects, ranging from air permitting and compliance for industrial sites to completion hundreds of environmental assessments related to residential and commercial properties, evaluating lead and asbestos abatement and managment activities. Mrs. Murphy has a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Business Analysis, a Masters of Science in Environmental Management and a Masters of Business Administration.

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Malcolm is speaking in the following sessions:

My work experience is primarily related to insurance claims management and to insurance coverage issues. Asbestos-related bodily injury and property damage claims, long term exposure claims involving alleged silica, drug, medical device or chemical injuries and other product liability claims comprise the bulk of my experience. I focus on the development and implementation of creative and effective strategies for negotiating or mediating claim and coverage issues. I am also involved in alternative dispute resolution, litigation and mass tort bankruptcies

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Cisselon is speaking in the following sessions:

Cisselon Nichols Hurd currently serves as Senior Litigation Counsel for Shell Oil Company in Houston, Texas, where she handles environmental litigation.  Prior to joining Shell, she served as Senior Counsel at ConocoPhillips, formerly Conoco Inc., where she managed mass toxic tort litigation matters.  Ms. Hurd also previously served in a variety of governmental positions in the U.S. Virgin Islands including Counsel to the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Environmental Enforcement.  Prior to her work in the Virgin Islands, Ms. Hurd clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Harry W. McKee in the Eastern District of Texas.  She also worked at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Attorney General’s Honors Program as a Trial Attorney in the Environment and Natural Resources Division and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas where she prosecuted environmental crimes.  Ms. Hurd obtained her B.A. and B.S. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.  She also received her law degree from the University of Texas.

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Mark is speaking in the following sessions:

Mark Niznik is a Complex Director in the Mass Tort Department at Chartis Insurance. Mark has been at Chartis Insurance for 5 years and he has handled a variety of substantial claims arising from exposure to toxicants such as, but not limited to, asbestos, silica, benzene, diacetyl, formaldehyde and pharmaceuticals. As part of his responsibilities, Mark works with legal counsel regarding the management and handling of the defense of cases. His experience includes complex multidistrict litigation, trials, mediation and high exposure settlements. Prior to joining Chartis Insurance, Mark practiced law in New Jersey with a firm specializing in insurance defense. In addition to his New Jersey bar admission, Mark holds adjuster licenses in New York, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana.

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Paul is speaking in the following sessions:

Paul Norkett is the Program Management Practice Lead at Sedgwick CMS, the leader in innovative claims and productivity management solutions. He is charged with deploying strategic initiatives which support enhanced client outcomes and operational efficiencies.  Paul has worked in both the carrier and TPA environments and his background includes claims management, managed care, account management, and business administration. Back to top

Jenny is speaking in the following sessions:

Jenny Novoa is the Sr. Director of Risk Management for Gap Inc., the largest US specialty retailer, with $14 billion in global sales from its Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, Piperlime brands with 3100 stores. She is responsible for risk financing, insurance procurement, domestic and international claims for all lines and safety. She has been with Gap Inc for 19 years in various positions within the Risk Management Department. She is also President of the Golden Gate Risk Insurance Management Society Chapter. 

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Charles is speaking in the following sessions:

Charlie O’Connor is Senior Vice President & Manager, Commercial Market Liability Claims, for the Liberty Mutual Group. As such, Charlie has overall responsibility for defining and delivering Liberty’s Commercial Market claim services countrywide for auto and general liability customers. Previously, Charlie was the Vice President & Manager of Middle Market Liability Claims and Assistant Vice President and Manager, Liability Claims, in the Liberty Mutual Group’s Examining Unit in Dover, NH. There he was responsible for oversight, management and evaluation of Liberty Mutual’s highest exposure liability claims for commercial market business. Prior to these positions, Mr. O’Connor served in various legal and claims management positions including trial counsel & attorney of record in an active Long Island, New York practice. Charlie was also instrumental in the development of litigation management efforts for the Liberty Mutual Group. Mr. O’Connor obtained his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar, the American Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. 

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Carl is speaking in the following sessions:

Carl is a senior casualty claims consultant with Marsh’s Claims Practice in New York. His primary responsibilities involve developing, implementing, and communicating custom claims service programs. Carl is a strong client advocate who works to interpret complex coverage issues and to assist clients and colleagues with large loss negotiations and settlements. His other skills include analyzing loss data & benchmarking; providing claims management training and performing claim reviews and audits - all are done with an eye towards reducing a client’s total cost of risk. Carl is the National Retail, Wholesale, Food & Beverage Industry Practice Claim Leader. He is also an active member of the Construction and Life Sciences industry practices. Carl has over 18 years of experience as a broker claim consultant and over 10 years experience with insurance carriers. During the course of his career he has worked as a Team Leader; Sr. Consultant and Complex Claim Technical Specialist. His experience includes primary and excess Commercial General Liability policies including London, Bermuda & manuscript forms; multi-state Workers Compensation primary and excess coverage as well as commercial auto fleet coverage. He has created and presented claim training seminars for clients and internal employees. His industry experience includes chemical; construction; healthcare; manufacturing; pharmaceutical; retail; tobacco and transportation.  BBA from Hofstra University JD from St Johns University – School of Law Licensed NY state attorney – App Div, 2nd Dept NY State Adjuster’s License CT Adjuster’s License NY State Brokers License 

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Amy is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Pechacek is the Risk Manager for Lake County Government, a collar county of Cook, in the Chicago metropolitan area. She directs the County’s 25 million dollar self-insured, self-administered operations and oversees the in-house claims department. Ms. Pechacek is responsible for protection of the County’s assets and resources, risk transfer techniques, civil litigation management, life safety, exposure assessment, cost reduction strategies, and crisis management. Lake County currently has over 3,000 employees and operates in a variety of high exposure areas including law enforcement, jail and juvenile detention, nursing home care, community health, courts and probation, public works, and highway transportation.   Ms. Pechacek previously worked as the director of a national detective agency and was also a licensed private detective specializing in fraud detection. Ms. Pechacek received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is currently earning her Masters in Public Policy Administration from Northwestern University.  

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Kenneth is speaking in the following sessions:

Kenneth P. Picard, SIU Consultant, San Francisco, CAKen spent twenty-two years as a field investigator and manager for private investigative vendors in California where he gained extensive experience conducting and managing life, health, disability and work comp claims investigations and surveillance. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State College in Massachusetts. He is a licensed private investigator in California, a member of the Northern California Fraud Investigators’ Association and International Association of Arson Investigators. He joined CNA in 2005 and has worked as a Fraud Case Manager, assigning, coordinating and monitoring fraud and surveillance investigations for all lines of business. He is currently assigned to the Property Large Loss Organization.

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

Joe Picone brings 24 years of experience as Chief Claim Officer of North America for Willis' Strategic Outcomes Practice. Joe has multi-line experience including extensive experience with Workers’ Compensation, General Liability, Auto, and Property.

Joe began his career working for a large regional insurance carrier. Most recently, Joe was with HRH (2007) as the Managing Director of Claim Services for HRH for 14 years. Upon the merger of HRH and Willis, Joe was named the National Director of Regional Operations for the Strategic Outcomes Practice and Chief Claim Officer, accountable for the Willis’ risk relationships for all of their North America clients.

Joe is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and an Associate in Claims (AIC). He holds adjusting licenses in several states and is a licensed agent/broker in Virginia. His undergraduate studies in Finance were at Albright College in Reading, PA and later attended the University of Michigan Executive Management School.

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

Started career as Claims Specialist from 1990 to 1994 with CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company, a California based mutual that insured CPAs throughout the country.  Joined the law firm of Garrett & Tully in Los Angeles in 1994 as an associate and later was a partner until 2004.  Joined CAMICO in 2004 as its Director of Claims and later served as its Vice President of Claims until January 2011.  Joined Aspen Specialty as Vice President, Lawyers and Accountants Claims in February 2011.

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Dawn is speaking in the following sessions:

Dawn Pinkston is an AVP of Litigation Management Strategies at Chartis Insurance. She has held various positions within Chartis Claims in Financial Lines, Litigation Management and Issue Management. Ms. Pinkston is a graduate of Western Michigan University and New England School of Law. She also holds a Master’s degree from Simmons College. Ms. Pinkston served as a certified mediator in New Jersey while working as a law clerk and is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

Joseph V. Pitstick is Corporate Counsel of BMW Group Legal Department located in Hilliard, Ohio. Joe has been with BMW Group since 2006. He is responsible for the management of state and federal litigation for BMW Group Financial Services, including BMW Financial Services NA, LLC, BMW Bank of North America, Financial Services Vehicle Trust, and BMW Insurance Agency, Inc.  This litigation has included federal and state class action defense, insurance defense/vicarious liability, consumer litigation (including federal and state claims), and commercial litigation.  Joe also handles vendor contract review and supports a number of internal departments within BMW Group Financial Services.

Prior to his coming to work for BMW Group, Joe was in private practice for thirteen years. During that time, he litigated a wide variety of civil cases, including commercial disputes, real estate issues, breach of contract, mechanic’s liens, workers’ compensation, construction defects. Joe also had a significant criminal defense practice and handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to aggravated murder.

Joe received his B.A. degree in History from Kent State University and his law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the Ohio bar and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. He has taught Real Estate Law as an Adjunct Professor, taught LSAT review courses, and has worked as a Volunteer Mediator for various courts in Ohio.   

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Margaret is speaking in the following sessions:

Margaret Pruitt has 20 years in the Insurance Industry with Continental Insurance, Progressive Insurance, Atlanta Casualty, Guide One Insurance and  Safe Auto  Insurance Company.   Margaret is currently a Claim Examiner at State  Auto Insurance Company based out of Columbus, Ohio. In her career she has been a Human Resources Associate, PIP representative, Senior Claims Adjuster, Call Center Team Leader and Claims Supervisor.   In her current role as a Claim Examiner she handles multi-line claims in litigation in the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut . Margaret holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.  AIC, AIS and LPCS, CCLA Designations. She is the President of the Columbus Claims Association and Lead Ohio Chair for the CLM.

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Angela is speaking in the following sessions:

Angela Easley Radel has over ten years of experience in the legal profession. She earned a Bachelor of Music, with distinction, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996 and a Juris Doctorate from Campbell University, where she was a member of the Law Review, in 2000. Ms. Radel is admitted to practice law in North Carolina and California and has held a variety of legal positions, including Assistant District Attorney, Associate Attorney with a regional defense law firm, and state and federal clerkships with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, North Carolina Supreme Court, and United States District Court for the Central District of California.   In 2008, Ms. Radel joined Family Dollar Stores, Inc. as Litigation Counsel, managing the company’s general liability litigation. Recently, she took on new responsibilities of negotiating and drafting contracts for the company in the Corporate Contracts group within the Legal Department.   Ms. Radel serves as one of the Chairs of the CLM Premises Liability Committee and CLM Annual Conference Courses Subcommittee. In addition to this role, Ms. Radel serves as Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of the Mecklenburg County Bar and is a member of the Corporate Counsel Steering Committee of the Defense Research Institute. Ms. Radel also holds memberships with the Association of Corporate Counsel, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and North Carolina Bar Association.   Ms. Radel is passionate about pro bono work and received the North Carolina Legal Aid Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award in Mecklenburg County in 2008, as well as the Power of Justice Pro Bono Impact Award in Mecklenburg County that same year for her work with domestic violence victims. She serves as Chair of the Legal Department’s Pro Bono Committee and also is active in the Association of Corporate Counsel Charlotte Chapter Pro Bono Committee.   When not working, Ms. Radel enjoys playing violin and has been a member of the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, Charlotte Civic Orchestra, and Vivace Quartet. She resides in North Carolina with her husband and son.

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Craig is speaking in the following sessions:

Craig Raeburn joined TyMetrix in 2002 and is the Managing Director of TyMetrix Legal Analytics. Craig brings over 20 years of experience in legal technology and performance management to his role at TyMetrix. During his career working in corporate law departments, as an industry consultant, and as an executive at a number of legal technology companies, Craig has amassed a deep knowledge and expertise around the business of law and driving operational excellence. In his current capacity, Craig is responsible for delivering products and solutions to the legal marketplace that enable corporate law departments, insurance carriers, and law firms to gain insights into market trends, improve operational outputs, and gain understanding of the true drivers and influencers of performance.  

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Renee is speaking in the following sessions:

Renee Ramirez is a Senior Claims Specialist with J.C. Penney Corporation at their corporate offices in Plano, TX.  Renee has worked in the insurance field over 17 years in the Casualty field handling trucking, explosive and propane claims.  Renee is currently on the Advisory Board of NRRDA.  Renee received her B.S. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. 

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Christina is speaking in the following sessions:

I joined Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers as a Senior Claims Attorney in the Environmental unit in October 2010. I worked for seven years as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey and began my claims career in 2005 as an environmental claims analyst for American International Group, Inc.  I received my B.A. from Barnard College in 1995 and my Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1998.  I am a member of both the New Jersey and New York bar and am licensed as an insurance adjuster in numerous states.

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Karen is speaking in the following sessions:

Karen Rice is Head of Construction Claims Operations for XL Insurance. Prior to joining XL in July of 2011, she was the  National Construction Defect Claim Manager for OneBeacon Insurance (OBI) from for seven years and was the AVP of National Construction Defect claims and Western States ACE Risk Management claims with ACE USA prior to that.   Ms. Rice is past President of the Construction Defect Claim Manager Association and the past Chair of the Speakers and Topics Committee for the Annual West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar. She has sat on the DRI Construction Law Steering Committee for the last four years, and has been a frequent lecturer at various seminars throughout the country, including ALFA, Defense Research Institute, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, West Coast Casualty Annual Construction Defect Seminar, Mealey’s, CPCU All-Industry Day, and the American Bar Association.  Ms. Rice earned her Bachelor degree from University of California at Santa Barbara and her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Laverne.

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Maureen is speaking in the following sessions:

Maureen Ringland, Vice President, Medical/Professional Claims. Maureen has over 24 years in the professional liability insurance industry. Prior to joining OneBeacon Professional Insurance, Maureen was employed by Travelers Insurance Company as a Major Case Director in the Intellectual Property Claims Division. Prior to her role at Travelers, she was employed by St. Paul Insurance Company as a Regional Unit Manager in the Health Care Claims Division. Before beginning her career in insurance, Maureen worked as a Nurse Paralegal with a Denver-based insurance defense law firm. Maureen Ringland Vice President Health Care Claims OneB eacon Professional Insurance TM303.531.3810 t 866.340.5370 f | mringland@OneBeaconpro.com 188 Inverness Drive West, Suite 600Englewood, CO 80112 | 

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Ronnie is speaking in the following sessions:

Ronnie has over 20 years of legal experience both in private practice engaging in general commercial litigation, reinsurance and insurance arbitrations and in the insurance industry joining AIG in 2000. Ms. Rosenberg started her career at AIG handling the run off of auto warranty litigation and commutations of captive reinsurance treaties. She joined Litigation Management in July, 2004 to start up the Trial Skills Division, assisting the claims departments in gaining specific knowledge of trial skills of outside counsel through direct observations, evaluating overall performance in the courtroom. In November, 2010, Ms. Rosenberg joined Panel Management leading Firm Performance for Chartis, establishing law firm metrics across select Chartis business lines and developing a methodology to measure efficiency of firms, by comparing legal costs and total costs per case, including cycle time (duration) of claims, thereby allowing for comparisons of law firms’ performance across multiple venues.

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

Joseph M. Rosenthal President Essex Risk Consulting

jrosenthal@essexrisk.com 973-868-5088 www.essexrisk.com  

Credentials:  

Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Syracuse University. MBA in Business Administration, Fordham University. Licensed New York State Insurance Broker. Past President, Fordham University Graduate School of Business Alumni Association and Board of Directors. Member, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. Member, The Wings Club. Experience:  A licensed insurance broker with vast experience at NYSE global firms servicing all Property/Casualty product segments including Workers’ Compensation, Employee Benefits/Group Medical, and a specific industry specialization in Aviation and Aerospace insurance. Account experience includes a wide range of accounts in various industries including construction, major airlines, mainframe aircraft manufacturers, component aircraft part manufacturers, commercial helicopters, airports, airport ground servicing companies, and corporate aircraft fleets. Senior level contacts at insurance companies in the United States, Lloyd’s of London and Continental insurers and reinsurers.  

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JoAnn is speaking in the following sessions:

JoAnn Ross is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a member of the Ohio Bar.  She began her legal career with a mid-size Cincinnati firm handling plaintiff personal injury and medical malpractice cases.  She also worked at Lexis-Nexis where she was a Research Specialist in the Business Information Services division.  She was an expert in the Medical Libraries and Databases online. JoAnn was the Compliance Officer of a large health network in southwest Ohio, overseeing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid billing regulations for a hospital, nursing homes, home health company, dialysis center, and multiple physician offices.  She became a specialist in EMTALA and HIPAA regulations and was an editor of Strategies for Health Care Compliance, an industry newsletter.  She is also a specialist in ICD-9 and CPT coding for both hospitals and private physician practices. JoAnn currently works for Great American Insurance Group where she manages the Claims Litigation Services department.  Her department performs bill review for 19 divisions of the company, reviewing close to $100 million in legal bills this year.  

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Mary is speaking in the following sessions:

Mary Rowe is the Construction Defect Claims Manager for Markel Corp where she manages a department that handles all Construction Defect Claims nationwide. Markel has CD units in California, Virginia and New Jersey that report to her. She has held a number of claims management positions for the last 30 years.

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Ronna is speaking in the following sessions:

Ronna Ruppelt is Director of Claims Legal and Compliance at Direct Auto Insurance, a position she has held since mid-2010. She is responsible for bad faith, claims litigation, litigation management, staff and panel counsel management and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Direct, Ms. Ruppelt was Vice President of Claims – Legal and Compliance, at AIG/21st Century Insurance for several years, until the company was sold to Farmers. While at AIG/21st, she managed the claims counsel, complex/extracontractual litigation, large loss, staff counsel and claims compliance departments. After the sale to Farmers, Ms. Ruppelt worked at Farmers for a short time as the nationwide technical manager of commercial claims handling until she left to join Direct. Prior to joining AIG, Ms. Ruppelt worked for 18 years at Progressive Insurance, where she held a variety of legal, staff counsel and claims management positions. Before that, she was an insurance defense litigator for several years after law school. Ms. Ruppelt is licensed in both Ohio and Georgia. She is a Fellow with the CLM, where she is a current Georgia state chair. She also is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Defense Research Institute and various bar associations. She has presented as both a speaker and panelist at several Association of Corporate Counsel annual meetings and for the Atlanta CLM chapter. Ms. Ruppelt has extensive community involvement experience, including that as the co-chairman of a school levy campaign and a long time member of the school district’s strategic planning committee. She was also a founding board member of a thriving arts organization. Ms. Ruppelt received a BS from Kent State University and her JD from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.  Back to top

Jeffrey is speaking in the following sessions:

Jeff is the Liability Manager in the Risk Management Department at Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. Prior to joining Winn-Dixie, Jeff further served 14 years in various management roles at Zurich North American Insurance Company.

He also served as the Chief Operating Officer for McCorkle Court Reporters, Inc. in Chicago.

Jeff is a proud graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and holds the Senior Claims Law Associate designation.

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Joshua is speaking in the following sessions:

Joshua R. Schwartz is Associate General Counsel and Compliance Officer for ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. and Special Counsel to the Enterprise Risk Management Group for the ACE Group of Companies. His responsibilities include providing legal advice on professional lines, excess liability and property claims; participating in mediations, arbitrations and other litigation; counseling underwriters on policy wording; ensuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations; and providing advice on enterprise risk management issues. He sits on the ACE Bermuda Risk Committee and the ACE Group Pension Committee. Prior to joining ACE, Mr. Schwartz worked as Counsel at O'Melveny & Myers LLP representing clients on a variety matters, including insurance, securities, white collar, mass tort, pharmaceutical, bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He also worked as an Associate at Fried Frank Harris Shriver and Jacobson and as Law Clerk to the Hon. Federico A. Moreno, Chief Judge of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida. While practicing law in New York, Mr. Schwartz taught a mediation course at New York University School of Continuing and Professional Services. He graduated Order of the Coif from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rhode Island. In law school, Mr. Schwartz served as Notes Editor for the Cardozo Law Review. His recent publications include "Has the Supreme Court Finally Reined in Punitive Damages?" and "English Arbitration: A Proven Asset for US Insureds Who Buy Insurance in Bermuda."

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Todd is speaking in the following sessions:

Todd Schweitzer is an Assistant Vice President of Major Case for Construction Defect and Professional Liability Claim Services at Zurich North America. He joined Zurich in July 2008 and possesses over 24 years of property and casualty claim experience. Prior to joining Zurich, he worked for Travelers for nineteen years serving in multiple managerial and technical capacities including manager of the Construction Defect (CD) Major Case Unit, CD MCU Director, Litigation Manager, CD Unit Manager and National Account Supervisor. He received his B.A. in Finance with a minor in Accounting from Western Connecticut State University and the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1995. At the 2009 WCC Seminar, he received the Larry Syhre Commitment to Service Award. He is a current member of the Construction Defect Claim Managers Association and previously served on the board as Vice President and Treasurer.

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Stacey is speaking in the following sessions:

Stacey Shannon is a Branch Manager for Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.  She has worked with McDonald's Corporation since 2002.  Her areas of expertise include overseeing general liability claims, product liability claims and litigation management.  She has trained and managed dozens of adjusters throughout her years with Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.  Stacey has earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois and an Associate in Claims designation from the Insurance Institute of America.

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Shaw is a dedicated management level attorney specializing in Professional Liability insurance defense litigation with experience and a proven track record in Quality Assurance, Litigation Management and Risk Management. Mr. Shaw has vast experience in project development, project management and team leadership. He provides creative and proactive strategies to resolve complex legal and claims problems resulting in cost effective early resolutions with lower indemnity results. He is a strong leader with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. He is extremely adept at conflict resolution. He is an innovative, strategic, result driven, and highly organized. . Mr. Shaw joined Baldwin & Lyons in June of 2011 after 25 years of legal practice. From 1997 to 2011 Mr. Shaw was employed at Zurich North America. He was integral in developing and implementing a quality assurance program for claims, staff legal and panel counsel. From 2007 to 2011 he piloted, formulated and led legal strategies, designed legal support processes to ensure business strategic goals. Accountable for the efficient and effective utilization of internal and external resources including the management of staff and outside counsel. Established and achieved legal expense projections, cost savings measures, and budgetary management as well as managing the performance of staff members. Including the following areas: • Developed, formulated and tested a new electronic audit process for Zurich Claims, Staff Legal, and Panel Counsel to capture quality of claims handling, legal services, and billing practices to drive results and top tier performance.• Provided analysis of total costs per case metrics, which include legal spend and indemnity, identification of paid amounts to firms through review of systems data and data provided by the individual business units.• Prepared metrics analysis with the entire team of auditors and upper management.• Understands and identifies factors other than costs that impact performance.• Developed quantitative and qualitative measurements utilizing firm spend data, relative to the individual business claims operations and particular specialties.• Collaborated with other litigation management resources in defining targets and performance measurements for panel and staff firms in order to optimize cost savings opportunities for handling offices.• Maintained production goals as well as ensured that all team members were properly calibrated.• Conducted training, coaching and mentoring sessions of managers, team leaders, trial attorneys, and guest reviewers.• Completed quarterly executive reports, deep dives, and future planning as a liaison with claims, staff legal, panel counsel, and upper management counterparts to provide statistical correct samplings, to identify areas for improvement, and future training. From 1997 to 2007 Mr. Shaw worked at the Zurich Staff Legal offices in Metairie, Louisiana here he was instrumental in the following areas:• Provided comprehensive legal counsel for insureds and insurer, from initial assignment to trial and appeal, in the area of maritime law, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, personal injury, construction defect/liability, lawyers liability, real estate and general liability.• Successfully handled large exposure, high dollar cases to favorable conclusion.• Negotiated numerous cases at mediations with favorable results.• Tried numerous complex and simple matters at the trial level as well as the appellate level.• Received the Zurich Bronze Award for outstanding work.• Had his Pre-trial report designated as the model by the regional manager for all future pre-trial reports for the Zurich Staff Legal Program.• Selected as the Staff Legal Champion for the Pro-Active Resolution Team. This team was designated to close 20% of all pending matters; the Team was capable of exceeding this goal and closed 35% of those matters pending.• Led internal audits locally, regionally, and nationally.• Participated in Major Case/Large Loss Roundtables at the Dallas and Schaumburg claims office.• Mentored younger staff attorneys. From 1986 until 1997 Mr. Shaw worked for a number of law firms where he gained vast experience and expertise as a court room litigator in a number of areas including maritime personal injury defense, cargo subrogation, insurance defense, real estate transactions, and coverage opinions. Mr. Shaw is a graduated of Tulane University where he received his Bachelors of Science in History in 1983. He continued at Tulane University School of Law where he received both his Juris Doctor in 1986 and Masters of Law in 1987. 

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John is speaking in the following sessions:

Since October 2006, Mr. Shelonko has been in charge of the risk management department of Lafarge.  In 2008, he was promoted to the position of Vice President of Risk Management - Americas.  Mr. Shelonko manages the self-insured and insured risks in North and South America, including two Vermont insurance captives.  He directs the marketing and purchase of commercial insurance for all of  North America and coordinates joint global programs in South America.  He reports directly to the V.P. of Finance - Americas.  He is also the co-Chair  of the Cement, Aggregates and Ready-Mix Risk Management Association Industry Group. Mr. Shelonko joined Lafarge in February of 1999 as Assistant Risk Manager and was promoted to Director of Risk Management in 2004.   Prior to joining Lafarge, Mr. Shelonko was a Regional Manager for Cunningham Lindsey in Dallas, Texas where he managed four claims offices for national third party claims administrator.    He also served as a Claims Supervisor at Gay & Taylor, and an Examiner at The Crawford & Company, both in Dallas, Texas.    

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Caryn is speaking in the following sessions:

Caryn Siebert is President of Carl Warren & Company, a prominent third party claims and litigation management company. The firm is a leading outsourced service provider to insurers, public agencies and corporate clients.  Ms. Siebert has leveraged her lengthy industry and leadership expertise to continue the growth and success of Carl Warren and has dedicated her career to building high-performance teams, operations and companies as a senior execu­tive with several diversified insurance companies. Under her guidance, Carl Warren was placed onto the OC Metro Magazine Best Places to Work For List in 2009.  The Company was awarded the California / Western States 2006 ESOP Company of the Year. In 2007, Ms. Siebert was recognized by the National ESOP Association as Outstanding Contributor for the Board of Governors.  She is the Chairman of the Board of Directors’ Administrative Committee and is a recipient of the 2008 Ambassador to the Children Award.  Prior to her tenure at Carl Warren, Ms. Siebert was a Vice President and National Director of Safeco Insurance in Washington.  She was part of a leadership team that planned and orchestrated a complete turnaround of a money-losing personal and commercial property and casualty insurance subsidiary of a $7B multi-line insurance and investment company.  She overhauled a 2900-employee claims operation to create a new management team and centers of excellence focused on cus­tomer service, process efficiency and support.   Prior to that, Ms. Siebert was Director of North America Commercial Claims for GE Employers Reinsurance in Kansas and before that, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations/General Counsel for GE Coregis in Illinois.  Preceding that, Ms. Siebert served as Corporate Interaction and General Counsel for Crum & Foster in New Jersey.  She began her career in 1986 as an Associate with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in New York.  She graduated cum laude from New York Law School, where she was the Law Journal Editor.  Ms. Siebert is a magna cum laude graduate of Brooklyn College.  Ms. Siebert has authored numerous industry publications and lectured frequently, including for the Defense Research Institute.  She is extremely active in charitable causes, including Family Services of Seattle, the University of Washington Diversity Scholarship Fund, CAMEO Mentor Program, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity.  She is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors for Kids Konnected. 

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Smith, with more than 32 years of diverse experience in the insurance sector, has worked with Kemper Insurance, Continental Insurance, C N A. He was Assistant Vice President, Risk Management for Guardsmark, and was President of a national Managing General Agency prior to joining Family Dollar Stores in 2003.Mr. Smith is currently Divisional Vice President – Risk Management for Family Dollar Stores, and President of Family Dollar Insurance, Inc., Family Dollar’s captive insurance company. Family Dollar is a fortune 300 company with more than 50,000 employees, more than 6,900 stores and annual revenues in excess of $7 billion.Mr. Smith has served as Vice President and on the Board of Directors for the Carolina’s Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Chapter and the Board of Directors of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National MS Society. Mr. Smith is currently serving as a Work Place Task Force Member – National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention under the auspices of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a public health agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Smith has spoken on various risk management topics including two Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) International Conferences on Workers’ Compensation Return to Work programs and Traumatic Workplace Response programs, the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference on Traumatic Response and Workers’ Compensation Return to Work, the Case Management Society of America’s National Conference on Pharmaceutical Abuse Management in Workers’ Compensation, as well as the annual PartnerSource Texas WC Non-subscription Conference, July 2010, The Conference Board – Corporate Security, Business Continuity & Crisis Management Conference in New York City, March, 2011, and on Insurance Fraud at the Annual National RIMS Conference in Vancouver, Canada, May, 2011, Crisis Response to Workplace Violence at the Annual National RIMS Conference in Vancouver, Canada, May, 2011, the National Workers; Compensation & Occupational Medicine Conference, July, 2011. For his work in the development of successful post traumatic response to workplace violence and acceleration of return to work, Mr. Smith was the 2010 recipient of Risk and Insurance Management Magazine’s Risk Innovator of the Year award and the 2010 recipient of Liberty Mutual’s Responsibility Leader Award. Mr. Smith attended Boston University prior to earning a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree from Syracuse University.

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Taylor is speaking in the following sessions:

Taylor Smith serves as the president of CLM Advisors. Prior to this role, Taylor was Founder and Managing Principal of two successful businesses: Revere Advisory, a litigation management consulting firm, and Suite 200 Solutions, a company that connects claims, legal, and insurance executives with products and services that improve their businesses. Taylor’s areas of specialty include legal spend and vendor management, market intelligence studies, talent acquisition, sales and marketing and other operational areas of opportunity for industry executives. Taylor is also the Contributing Editor of The Claims Spot, an award-winning LexisNexis Top-50 Insurance Blog that focuses on operational and strategic best practices for claims executives. He has more than 25 years of experience in improving processes for insurance, claims, and legal executives, holding executive positions with ePolicy Solutions, CT TyMetrix, CaseKnowledge, and CaseRev. In these roles he developed high levels of expertise in litigation management, spend management, collaboration, vendor management, and other initiatives important to insurance and legal executives. At MMI Companies, the nation’s second-largest healthcare facility underwriter, Taylor directed a successful consulting practice that designed litigation management programs and processes for self-insured healthcare entities. Taylor started his career managing professional liability losses for Norcal Mutual and CNA Insurance Companies. Taylor’s articles have appeared in Claims Magazine, Claims Advisor Magazine, Property Casualty 360, AM Best Review, National Underwriter, The DRI’s For the Defense magazine, and Litigation Management Magazine. Taylor received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in New York City, and attended Boston College Law School.

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Jessica is speaking in the following sessions:

Jessica C. Smythe is National Sales Executive for Crowe Paradis Services Corporation. Prior to joining Crowe Paradis, Jessica had close to thirteen years experience as a workers’ compensation and liability defense attorney. Her clients included large national and international employers, self insured corporations, third party administrators and insurance carriers. In the course of the representation of her clients, Jessica faced the impact of Medicare compliance on claims handling and litigation on a day to day basis and uses this practical knowledge in her current Medicare compliance training. Jessica is a national speaker on Medicare compliance issues, including Medicare set asides, the negotiation and settlement of conditional payments and MMSEA (Section 111) reporting requirements. Jessica also provides Medicare compliance training to the world’s largest insurance carrier and the nation’s largest carriers, third party administrators, self-insureds and state fund and guaranty associations. She also provides Medicare compliance instruction for the nation’s leading law firms. Jessica is a frequent lecturer at national conferences and on behalf of private and public entities including CLM, RIMS, National Workers' Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN), National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA), the Rand Corporation, City/County of San Francisco, California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association (CWCDAA), Nevada Self Insured Association and the Mississippi Association for Self Insureds (MASI).  Jessica was a 2010 faculty member on the Certified Medicare Set Aside consultant (MSCC) training program offered through the University of Florida. She was also an instructor for the 2011 Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional Professional (CMSP) course.  Jessica is a certified instructor for the CEU Institute and is the author of "Hope on the Horizon: New Cases Challenge Medicare's Established Collection Practices Under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act," published in the Winter 2011 edition of The Defender, the quarterly publication of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA). Jessica is a graduate of Meredith College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude. She graduated from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University and was a finalist in the National Moot Court Competition where she was awarded Best Oralist. She was also a member of the National Trial team and was a quarterfinalist in the National Trial Competition. Jessica is an inductee to the Order of the Barristers and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Wake County Bar Association, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and the National Association of Medicare Set Aside Professionals (NAMSAP).

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Eric is speaking in the following sessions:

Eric has over 27 years of experience in the risk management world.  He received a Bachelors degree in Science from Ohio University in 1983.  He has been with Stanley Steemer for over 3 years, where he oversees all aspects of risk control from insurance to loss control/safety to claims/litigation management.  He leads a small team of in house professionals that utilize a range of external partners to pursue proactive and reactive continuous improvement.  Prior to Stanley Steemer, Eric spent 9 years working in global logistics with DHL/Exel Logistics; 9 years in the chemical manufacturing and distribution industry with Ashland Chemical; and ~6 years in the nuclear waste industry with Battelle Memorial Institute.  He has consulted to Fortune 500 companies on hazardous materials/waste management independently for 2 decades.  He has authored and acted as a consulting editor in various publications. Eric is married with a son attending Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH and a daughter attending high school in Delaware, OH.  Eric’s wife is retired from Huntington National Bank and is presently a student administrator at Ohio Wesleyan University. 

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Eric is speaking in the following sessions:

Eric is currently employed with QBE the Americas, the New York based operating division of the Australian insurer QBE. He’s been a part of the QBE group of companies for 15 years. Eric has 20+ years of insurance experience. He is currently a SVP of QBE Claims. His division primarily supports the independent agency distribution channel. In addition to his claims background, his past experience includes managing QBE America’s Consolidated Support Services, consisting of backend shared services and policy functions. He holds his Senior Claims Law Associate designation, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management. Eric resides in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with his wife Mia. They have two adult children. 

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Scott is speaking in the following sessions:

Scott Statham is the Assistant General Counsel- Litigation at Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, he was Senior Counsel Litigation & Environmental at ConocoPhillips and a litigation partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston, Texas. Scott is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a registered in-house counsel with the State Bar of Arizona. He earned his BBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his JD degree, with highest honors, from the University of Texas.

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Anthony is speaking in the following sessions:

Tony Stompanato • Regional Vice President • Chartis, Inc. • Chicago, IL Mr. Stompanato is the Regional Vice President of Healthcare claims for Chartis, Inc., a New York-based global provider of Commercial and Personal insurance. He has been with Chartis since April 2001, and has 26 years of claim and management experience within the healthcare industry. Mr. Stompanato has previously worked at MMI Companies where he was responsible for excess and reinsurance exposures for the Midwest and Eastern states. He has also worked at Illinois State Medical Insurance Services, a leading provider of medical malpractice coverage for Illinois physicians, and Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. A resident of Chicago, Mr. Stompanato is responsible for all claim activity for Chartis Healthcare’s four regional claim offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco.

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Gerald F. is speaking in the following sessions:

Gerald Strachan, a graduate of Rutgers School of Law- Camden, is a Managing Attorney for Chartis Insurance. He serves on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Defense Association, is Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Staff Counsel Committee, Vice Chair of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Law Department Management Committee, Chair-Elect of the ABA TIPS, ADR committee and an Editor of the Comprehensive Guide to the CGL policy. A nationally recognized speaker on insurance defense litigation topics, he practices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

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Kimberly is speaking in the following sessions:

Kimberly Sullivan, Vice President of Litigation and Casualty Claims for MiddleOak Insurance Group, has responsibility for all lines of litigated claims and general oversight of litigation management. She is also involved in compliance and underwriting issues for the company. Kimberly has been in the insurance industry for over 20 years. She earned a B.S., Economics, from Boston College and holds several insurance certifications.

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Richard is speaking in the following sessions:

As Director of Insurance and Safety for Dollar General, Mr. Sumner is responsible for 10,000 retail locations, 10 Distribution Centers and over 100,000 employees in 37 states.Mr. Sumner has more than 20 years safety experience in the retail, manufacturing and transportation industries. He worked in the commercial baking industry in So. California for 10 years as Director of Safety and relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area for a position with a retail company in 2004. Rick moved to Nashville, TN 4 years ago for his current employer Dollar General.Mr. Sumner was in the United States Military as a Medical Corpsman from 1974 to 1978 and is a licensed nurse in California. 

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Marty is speaking in the following sessions:

Marty serves as Senior Legal Counsel to Hess Corporation working in domestic and international arbitration and litigation matters.  She works in all sectors of the business including corporate, exploration and production, and marketing and refining.  Marty was formerly with the law firm of Haynes and Boone, LLP in Houston, TX.  Marty is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.

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Tracy is speaking in the following sessions:

TRACY T LEONARD. Born Birmingham, Alabama, on November 5, 1970. Admitted to Alabama Bar 1994. Admitted to Georgia Bar 1998. Education: Samford University (B.S. 1991); Cumberland School of Law, Samford University (J.D. 1994). Cumberland Law Review; National Moot Court Team; Experience: Insurance defense associate with Parsons, Lee & Juliano in Birmingham, Alabama (1994 – 1996); In-house counsel with Citigroup (1998 – 2000); Staff counsel with Travelers Property Casualty in litigation division (2000 – 2001); Solo practitioner (2001 – 2003); Staff counsel with Travelers Property Casualty in worker’s compensation division (2003 – 2007); Associate Managing Counsel for Workers' Compensation (2007 to present); Area of practice – worker’s compensation defense.

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Lauren is speaking in the following sessions:

Lauren joined Motorola to manage complex, global IT programs. Since 2002, Lauren began working exclusively with the Law Department to lead the selection and implementation of a new invoicing solution, establish portfolio management processes as well as lead a number of initiatives. Lauren applied Digital Six Sigma principles to significantly reduce the internal cost of invoice review, optimize workflow and gain efficiencies through analytics and process mapping. Lauren’s educational background includes a Master’s certificate in Global Business Management, PMP (Project Management Professional) credential since 2006 and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Business and Psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys design, art and gardening. Back to top

Natalie is speaking in the following sessions:

Natalie Troilo has been the Claims Manager for Dick's Sporting Goods since joining the Company in September of 2010. In that position, she manages a team of Professionals, who handle the Company’s workers compensation, general liability and product liability matters. Natalie is an attorney admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Prior to joining Dick's Sporting Goods, she was in private practice for approximately eight years. During that time, her primary focus was on general liability, product liability and workers compensation matters. Natalie earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University with a major in Accounting and a minor in Economics in 1999. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2002. 

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Stephen is speaking in the following sessions:

 

 

Stephen Truono Vice President, Global Risk Management & Insurance for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: "HOT") based in White Plains New York. His responsibilities include leading a team of 13 professionals in managing the Company’s worldwide risk management initiatives including: 1) identification, analysis and evaluation of risks to which the Company may be exposed; 2) design and implementation of programs to fund/finance/transfer these risks, including placement and management of Company’s global insurance programs, and 3) mitigation and control of identified risks through the development and implementation of environmental, health & safety, fire prevention, life safety, security, crisis planning and claim management programs.

Starwood is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 1000 properties in 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. StarwoodHotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis

®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, aloftSM and ElementSM.

Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.

Prior to joining Starwood, Mr. Truono spent 13 years leading

Avon Products, Inc’s. Risk Management and Safety responsibilities. As Sr. Director, Global Risk Management & Insurance, he lead the a staff of Insurance, Claims, Environmental, Occupational Safety & Health and Property Loss Control professionals in managing risks associated with Avon’s global manufacturing, distribution, and sales of beauty and related products. Previous positions include: Corporate Manager, Safety & Property Loss Prevention - JWP International, based in Purchase NY; Safety Engineering Consultant - Marsh &McLennan; and Sr. Loss Control Representative – Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

Mr. Truono has a BS degree in Physical Sciences from St. John’s University. He is a Certified Safety Professional by examination through Board of Certified Safety Professionals and has his Associate in Risk Management

(ARM) with honors through Insurance Institute of America. His has served on several insurance company Client Advisory Boards, is an active member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association Risk Management Committee, Metropolitan NY Risk Manager Roundtable, and a member of RIMS. He is a Past President of the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, and is currently active in

various risk management and trade organizations.

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Paul is speaking in the following sessions:

I presently am an Assistant Vice President at Chartis, Inc. in the Coverage Litigation Unit of the Environmental Department. Previously, I worked as in-house coverage counsel for Kemper Insurance, as well as for the Liability Insurance Research Bureau, with articles published in the National Claims magazine. I have a Juris Doctorate Degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Loyola University  of Chicago. I am a member of the Illinois Bar.   

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Janice is speaking in the following sessions:

Janice Walker is the Corporate Risk Manager for Daymon Worldwide, the world’s leading private brand and consumer experience marketing company. Ms. Walker manages the insurance, safety compliance, and claims management functions for more than 30,000 associates throughout 26 countries. In this capacity, she also oversees all general liability and workers’ compensation litigation management issues for the company. Ms. Walker has worked in many capacities during her tenure in the insurance industry. She spent several years working with the hospitality industry. She was also an instructor for the Insurance Education Association. Ms. Walker currently sits on the Board of Directors for Kids for Peace.

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Tamara is speaking in the following sessions:

Tammy has been working in the transportation industry for over 20 years. She started her career as an aviation defense attorney in Chicago. After 6 years she began her in-house career at Schneider National as their Litigation Manager. She obtained a CDL at Schneider and trained her co-workers on how to handle litigated claims. She also worked for 2 other large OTR carriers - Transport America and Interstate Distributor. At those companies, she led the liability, work comp and cargo claims departments, driver training, safety, compliance and loss prevention departments. Tammy is now working at C&K Trucking, one of the largest intermodal carriers in the US. In her role at C&K, Tammy is involved in the driver recruiting and hiring, safety, training, claims management, legal and human resources. Tammy is the President of TIDA and has been active on their Board of Directors for 7 years. 

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Randy is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Watson is a Senior Fire Investigator and Regional Manager of the Atlanta, Georgia, office. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining SEA in 1992, he spent 15 years investigating fires and explosions for the fire service, law enforcement, and private sector. Mr. Watson began his affiliation with the National Fire Protection Association’s Technical Committee on Fire Investigation in 1991 and continues to serve as a principal member. From 2002 through 2007 he served as the Committee Secretary. Since January of 2008 Mr. Watson has served as the committee chairman. This is the committee responsible for writing “NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations”. Mr. Watson also serves on the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Investigator Professional Qualifications. This committee is responsible for writing “NFPA 1033 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators”. In addition to being a Certified Fire Investigator, Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, Certified Fire Investigation Instructor, and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, he holds certifications as a Hazardous Materials Technician and Asbestos Hazard Evaluation Specialist. Throughout his career, Mr. Watson has qualified as an expert witness and provided testimony in numerous federal, state, and local jurisdictions. He is a licensed fire investigator in numerous states. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International), serving on the E05 Committee-Fire Standards and the E30 Committee-Forensic Science; the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE); the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and many state chapters; the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), serving on the Board of Directors; the Professional Fire and Fraud Investigators Association (PFFIA); and the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII).Randy Watson, C.F.I., C.F.E.I., C.F.I.I., C.V.F.I.

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Scott is speaking in the following sessions:

Scott R. Whiteside is Executive Vice President of Gallagher Construction Services in San Francisco. Gallagher Construction Services, part of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., is dedicated solely to serving the insurance, surety and risk management needs of the construction and real estate industry throughout the United States. Mr. Whiteside specializes in designing both Owner Controlled and Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs for public and private projects. He manages Gallagher's National Wrap-up practice group. He currently manages one of the largest Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs in the country. In addition to wrap-ups, Whiteside specializes in risk manangement programs for general contractors, subcontractors, home builders, developers and architects and engineers. He has also provided expert testimony in construction insurance claims involving large property losses and complex liability issues. Whiteside began his insurance career in 1973 as an adjuster for a national insurance company. In 1982, he was appointed Technical Services Manager for the San Francisco office of Willis Corroon. He was a founding partner in 1992 of Lamberson Koster & Company, a San Francisco based construction broker, which was acquired by Gallagher in 1996. Scott helped create the National Wrap-up practice for Gallagher and under his leadership in the past 15 years, the team has placed wrap-ups on over $15 Billion in project values. Whiteside is a sought after speaker on the topic of wrap-ups and insurance programs for contractors. His speaking engagements include RIMS, National Women in Construction Conference, International Risk Management Institute [IRMI], West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar, the Hospitality Law Conference and the Institute for International Research [IIR].

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Joilou is speaking in the following sessions:

Joilou (Joi) Wilson AINS, CRIS, CIIP, DAE Joi is currently serving as the International President for NAIW, International dba International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP). She joined IAIP in 1980 and is a member of the local association, NAIW Dallas, Inc. She has served in most of the local, council and regional Board positions for this association for the last 20 + years. Joi is currently Vice President for Star Risk Services, Inc, the North American Branch of the Risk Management and Insurance group of the Lufthansa German Airlines. She also serves as Secretary and Treasurer on the Board of Directors in Germany. The agency writes property & casualty as well as life & health insurance. She is licensed as a property & casualty and life/health agent in most of the 50 states. Joi has over 30 years experience in the insurance industry, most of which were spent in the risk management consulting profession working for Fortune 500 and 100 companies, public entities, associations, captives, and pools. Joi authored articles on Workers Compensation, Texas Law, Deductibles and Group insurance. She has also co-authored articles for The John Liner Review, and monographs entitled Financing Workers Compensation- Self-Insurance and Other Options, and Financing and Managing a Workers Compensation Program. She holds the designations, Associate in Insurance (AINS), Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist (CRIS), Certified Insurance Industry Professional (CIIP) and Diversified Advanced Education (DAE). She attended the University of North Texas with a major in Business Administration and has taken many insurance related courses during the years. She has completed most of the ARM Courses. Joi has 3 children and 7 grandchildren. She lives in Garland Texas and enjoys reading, shopping and traveling. 

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Daniel is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr.  Winkler is responsible for overseeing Westfield Insurance’s litigation management and legal research support functions .  He has been a featured speaker and author on the topic of litigation management and the use of technology in enhancing the litigation management process, drawing upon both his experience as a practicing attorney and on his 16 plus years of experience in the claims and litigation management arena. The Westfield Claims Legal Department, which he leads, was recently honored as one of the ten most innovative legal departments in America by Inside Counsel magazine.  Mr. Winkler is an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel, numerous professional organizations including the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Defense Research Institute and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and currently serves as a member and advisor on a number of industry related committees. 

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Ray is speaking in the following sessions:

Ray is a graduate of Webster University with a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Human Resource Development. He began his career with Marriott ten years ago as Director of Loss Prevention for what is now fifty five Vacation Clubs worldwide including such locations as Phuket, London, Paris, Hilton Head, Vail, and many other major vacation destinations. As part of that position he participates in claim management with the insurance carriers, their adjusters, and the legal counsel representing his company. He is active in managing costs and very hands on for General Liability, Property Damage, Workers Compensations, and Unemployment Compensation through prevention methodologies and active investigation.  

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Lee is speaking in the following sessions:

Lee Wright is an Assistant Vice President and Senior Claim Consultant with XL Insurance. He has more than twenty years of experience focusing on large, complex litigation involving products, transportation and construction risks and has overseen national claims programs for self-insureds and foreign insurers. He is the immediate past president of the Construction Defect Claim Manager Association and a national co-chair of the Construction Committee of the Council on Litigation Management. He has acted as a Regional Training Coordinator for a major insurer and is an approved CE instructor in CA, MD, SC and VA and conducts seminars and classes on insurance coverage, dispute resolution and risk transfer issues. Lee received his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and has earned the Certified Litigation Management Professional, Associate in Management, Master Certified Special Arbitrator and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist designations. He is a two-time finalist for the Jerrold S. Oliver Award for Excellence and the 2011 recipient of the Legends of an Era Award for inspiration and contributions for the benefit and betterment of all members of the construction defect community.

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

Bill is Managing Associate in the Atlanta area office of Ringler Associates with over 23 years of experience in financial risk management, insurance, and structured settlements.  Beginning in 1987, Bill held positions of increasing responsibility from casualty claims adjuster up through Claims Manager with three major property casualty insurance carriers.  Prior to joining Ringler in 2005, Bill worked as a Credit Risk Manager and was a ‘Black Belt’ in the Six Sigma Quality program with GE Capital. In his current role with Ringler Associates, Bill is responsible for assisting all case parties in the resolution of a variety of disputed and litigated matters, including many types of general liability, medical malpractice and workers’ compensation cases. Bill provides active, consultative assistance and advice in the planning, design, and implementation of appropriate structured settlement solutions.  After graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Bill earned an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.  He also holds professional designations as a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Structured Settlement Consultant.  He is a member in good standing of the National Structured Settlements Trade Association, the Financial Planning Association, and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Bill and his wife reside in Roswell, Georgia with their two sons.   

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Douglas is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Wylly is currently Senior Vice President, Claims Counsel Program, at Chartis. He has overseen the claims counsel program at Chartis/AIG since July of 2003. The claims counsel program is a nationwide organization of attorneys who provide litigation management and coverage advice to claims professionals. In this position Mr. Wylly also maintains the company’s litigation management guidelines.  Before coming to AIG in 1987, Mr. Wylly was an associate in several other New York firms, including two plaintiff's firms, a general practice firm and the staff counsel office of Royal Insurance Company.  Mr. Wylly first joined AIG as an associate in its New York City staff counsel office. While there he specialized in the litigation and trial of construction site accident and products liability claims. During his staff counsel tenure he also held the positions of senior trial attorney, team leader, construction unit leader and unit manager. Mr. Wylly became claims counsel for AIG’s Manhattan Property & Casualty Office in July of 1997. As claims counsel, he was responsible for overseeing litigation management and coverage issues for the office. He also worked with the adjusters to develop litigation and trial strategy.  In 1999 Mr. Wylly became a Director in AIG’s New York Complex Claims Unit. As such, he handled high exposure claims, including general liability, automobile liability and products liability. His responsibilities included overseeing the investigation and litigation of the claim, monitoring trials, and negotiating settlements.   

Education:                   

Brooklyn Law School - Juris Doctor - 1982                                        

Cornell University  - Bachelor of Arts - 1979  

Bar Admissions:         New York State - 1983                                       

U.S. Southern & Eastern Districts - 1983   Memberships:             

Cornell University Alumni Association                                       

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance                                        

Defense Research Institute  

Publication:  

Douglas Wylly, Plaintiff's Negligence in Labor Law Section 240 Cases, New York Law Journal, September 6, 1996, at 1.

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Robert is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Zaralban received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering,specializing in structures from the Georgia Institute of Technology. The emphasis of his structural design isin steel, concrete, and masonry structures.  Mr. Zaralban has provided expert testimony of potentiallydefectively constructed foundations, steel, aluminum, concrete, masonry and wood frame structures, exteriorwall finishes, windows and doors, building waterproofing systems and roof systems.  Mr. Zaralban is a licensed Professional Engineer in eight states.  He is also a Structural Masonry Inspector, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

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Frank is speaking in the following sessions:

Frank T. Zeigon RPA, CCLA, PLCS, CLCS, PCLA, FCLACommercial Property Claims Manager I have worked in various claim capacities for 45 years. I have worked at home office, zonal, regional and branch positions. I have claims expertise in auto, property, liability both personal lines and commercial. I have been an appraiser/umpire and have been an expert witness in bad faith litigation during my career. I have worked for major insurance companies and as an independent adjuster. My present position is as commercial property claims manager for the western states for CNA Insurance Company.  

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Christopher is speaking in the following sessions:

Christopher Zeman is Claims Counsel and Environmental Manager for Endurance Services Limited. Mr. Zeman worked in the environmental field for over 13 years and has been handling high profile environmental claims for the past five years for Zurich, AIGDC and now Endurance. Prior to this, Mr. Zeman was an environmental attorney and Program Counsel for various national and international ocean conservation organizations, including Oceana and American Oceans Campaign. He continues to be actively involved in federal ocean management as the New Jersey representative to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

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Ramzi is speaking in the following sessions:

RAMZI ABADOU, is a partner in Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP's San Francisco office.  He received his Bachelor of Arts from Pitzer College in Claremont, California in 1994 and his Master of Arts from Columbia University in the City of New York in 1997. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Abadou was a political science professor at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. Mr. Abadou graduated from the Boston College Law School and clerked for the United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego, California.   Mr. Abadou concentrates his practice on prosecuting securities class actions and is also a member of the Firm’s lead plaintiff litigation practice group. Mr. Abadou has been associated with a number of significant recoveries, including: In re UnitedHealth Group, Inc. Sec. Litig., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40623 (D. Minn. 2007) (settled - $925.5 million); In re SemGroup Energy Partners Secs. Litig., Case No. 08-md-1989 GFK (N.D. Ok.) (settlement pending - $28 million); In re Direct Gen. Corp. Sec. Litig., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56128 (M.D. Tenn. 2006) (settled - $15 million); and In re AT&T Corp. Secs. Litig., Case No. 00-cv-5364 (D.N.J.) (settled - $100 million).   Mr. Abadou was a featured panelist at the American Bar Association’s 11th Annual National Institute on Class Actions and is a faculty member for the Practicing Law Institute’s Advanced Securities Litigation Workshops. Mr. Abadou was named as one of the Daily Journal’s Top 20 lawyers in California under age 40 for 2010, and has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers – Rising Stars Edition 2011. Mr. Abadou has also lectured on securities litigation at various law schools throughout the country. He is admitted to the California Bar and is licensed to practice in all California state courts, as well as all of the United States District Courts in California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael A. Airdo is a founding member of Kopon Airdo, LLC in Chicago, Illinois. His area of practice focuses on complex civil and coverage matters. He has a broad base of experience in representing the unique legal needs of religious institutes and religiously sponsored ministries. Mr. Airdo also specializes in legal matters involving not-for-profit corporations, schools, colleges, and universities. He has a wide array of experience in resolving matters through the alternative dispute resolution process, and is a frequent lecturer on topics related to his legal practice. Since 2001, Mr. Airdo has served as a Trustee for the Village of Bartlett. Mr. Airdo graduated with honors, Order of the Coif, from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael Alper focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation with particular emphasis on insurance disputes and consumer class actions.  He has represented clients in connection with a broad range of insurance and consumer matters including: Represented an insurance company in a putative class action lawsuit seeking reformation of all of the client's Colorado automobile insurance policies to provide unlimited lifetime medical and wage-loss payments to all insureds who ever made a claim for no-fault benefits.  After defeating the plaintiffs' attempt to certify a class, the WTO legal team settled the remaining individual claims very favorably. Represented insurance companies in numerous lawsuits alleging bad faith breach of the insurance contract, including cases involving catastrophic injuries. Represented reinsureds and reinsurers in reinsurance disputes. Represented commercial landlords and tenants in lease disputes, including the prosecution of actions to terminate leases and the defense of a lawsuit for alleged damage to a large industrial recycling facility. Defended consumer lawsuits under California Business and Professions Code § 17200, including cases involving allegations that a title insurance company allegedly retained "secret interest" on escrow deposits, failed to escheat unclaimed property to the state, and charged customers for services it did not perform or which cost far less than the amount charged. Represented a major oil and gas company in a wrongful death lawsuit arising from an accident occurring on an oil rig owned by the company. Represents clients in appellate matters in both state and federal courts of appeals.   Clients Allstate - Regional Trial Counsel Admitted to Practice California Colorado U.S. District Court for the Central District of California U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit   Other Experience Pillsbury Winthrop, LLP (formerly Pillsbury Madison & Sutro)   Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors Colorado Rising Stars    Insurance Coverage, 2009American Bar AssociationColorado Bar AssociationColorado Defense Lawyers Association   Personal Interests Ice hockeyScuba divingTravelForeign languages 

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Patricia is speaking in the following sessions:

Patricia O’Connell Alvarez, born and raised in México, obtained her degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, her areas of practice include trucking law, products liability, professional liability and insurance law. Ms. Alvarez is the current national representative of Tex-ABOTA, Laredo Chapter, and the former president of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas. She is a member of the American Bar Association and was the chairperson of the TTIPS/Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee from 1997-1998. Ms. Alvarez is a member of the DRI (National Director, 204-2007), the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel (Regional Vice-President 2001-2002 and 2008-2011). Ms. Alvarez tries lawsuits in various jurisdictions of the South Texas Border, including some of the most liberal in the country. She is a principal of The Alvarez Law Firm, P.C., located in Laredo and in San Antonio, Texas.

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Doug is speaking in the following sessions:

Douglas W. Andrews is Managing Partner of Andrews & Rhodes LLP, a defense civil litigation firm servicing southern California. Mr. Andrews heads the firm’s construction litigation practice. He has 25 years of experience in complex construction litigation, including the representation of developers, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and manufacturers of building products. Mr. Andrews received his B.A., M.P.A. and J.D. degrees from Brigham Young University.

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Benjamin is speaking in the following sessions:

  Benjamin M. Basista joined the law firm of Burns White in 2004, and is a Member in the Medicare Compliance group. Mr. Basista focuses his practice on addressing Medicare issues that arise in the resolution of workers’ compensation, general liability and FELA claims. He is retained as National Medicare Counsel and Advisory Medicare Counsel by a number insurance carriers, third party administrators and self-insured entities, including Class I and short line railroads, to advise on compliance matters regarding the Medicare Secondary Payer Statute.  Mr. Basista is a frequent lecturer on the topic of Medicare compliance to insurance carriers, self-insured businesses, law firms and professional organizations. Mr. Basista has been named as industry Medicare counsel to the Association of American Railroads and has also assumed the role as the legislative chair for the National Association of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals. Mr. Basista obtained his Juris Doctor in 2003 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he was a finalist for the 2003 Herman L. Foreman Labor Law Award. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from The Pennsylvania State University in May 2000. Previously, he served as a law clerk with the Hon. Paul F. Lutty in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, and in the Pittsburgh office of the National Labor Relations Board. A native of Pittsburgh, Mr. Basista is admitted to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania. Areas of Lawo Medicare Complianceo LitigationEducationo University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D. 2003)o The Pennsylvania State University (B.S. 2000)Membershipso American Bar Associationo Pennsylvania Bar Associationo Allegheny County Bar Associationo National Association of Medicare Set-Aside Providerso National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 

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Gary is speaking in the following sessions:

Gary F. Baumann is a founding partner who earned his Juris Doctorate degree, with honors, from Nova Southeastern University in 1996. He practices many areas of civil litigation, including Construction Defect Litigation, Construction Bodily Injury Claims, Crane Litigation, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Premises and Auto Negligence. He has trial experience throughout Florida and is currently a member of the Defense Steering Committee handling Chinese Drywall Claims in the Multi-District Litigation in New Orleans. He regularly presents accredited seminars on topics such as Current Events in Florida Construction Defect Law; Premise Liability; and Claims Adjuster Ethics.   

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Lawrence is speaking in the following sessions:

b. 1964 B.A. Swarthmore College, 1987; New York University, J.D., 1990, Admitted to the Connecticut Bar 1990 and New York and New Jersey 1991. Admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the District of New Jersey, Southern District of New York and Eastern District of New York, 1991. Certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.   Lawrence is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and a past member of the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Inn of Court, Essex County. Lawrence is a past President of the Central New Jersey Board of the Jewish National Fund. Court.    A Certified Civil Trial Attorney, Lawrence Berkeley has quickly established himself as one of the state's prominent trial lawyers with a national reputation concentrating his professional practice in civil litigation with an emphasis in representing large self-insured corporations in the defense of liability lawsuits as well as in commercial matters. He is a regular panelist and speaker at defense counsel conferences.   Certified Civil Trial Attorneys have a recognized level of competence and an unblemished reputation attested to by attorneys and judges. Less than one percent of the 60,000+ New Jersey attorneys qualify as Certified Civil Trial Attorneys. The Supreme Court of New Jersey established the Certification Program to help consumers make an informed decision when seeking and selecting a lawyer.Working with self-insured, insurance carriers and third-party administrators, Lawrence's general liability defense practice includes premises liability, construction defects, motor vehicle matters and product liability claims for many well-known companies such as Costco, BJ's and Best Buy. Lawrence also provides coverage opinions and policy interpretations.In his commercial litigation practice, Lawrence is consistently sought out to provide particular expertise to the resolution of landlord-tenant and sophisticated lease issues and he has earned the respect of clients that include, among others, Simon Property Group, the No. 1 mall owner in the United States.Lawrence has extensive experience in Federal and state courts in New Jersey and New York and has tried a number of jury trials to a verdict. He has appeared before the New Jersey Supreme Court where in Azurak v. Corporate Property Investors the Court ruled that a party is not entitled to indemnification for its own negligence absent explicit contractual language. Lawrence has also argued successfully before the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey in various cases.Lawrence is AV®-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the confidential national peer review rating service for attorneys. The AV® designation is the highest possible rating. It identifies an individual as having reached the height of professional excellence and is a reflection of that attorney's pre-eminent expertise, experience and integrity.  In addition, Lawrence has been recognized as a 2011 & 2012 New Jersey Super Lawyer. 

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Carmelite is speaking in the following sessions:

Carmelite Bertaut is special counsel to Stone Pigman Walther & Wittmann in New Orleans.  Her practice is concentrated in the field of mass torts and complex litigation with particular emphasis in products liability. Ms. Bertaut is a past president of the New Orleans Bar Association. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, and the Association of Women Attorneys.  Ms. Bertaut serves within the leadership of the ABA Section of Litigation. Ms. Bertaut has been named to The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Product Liability Litigation.  She is an active speaker and lecturer and has served on the faculty of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.  Her views on the defense and management of mass torts have been published nationally by the Defense Research Institute. 

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Kevin is speaking in the following sessions:

Kevin M. Blake is the managing attorney of the firm’s Blue Bell, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania office. Kevin graduated from Drexel University in 1990, earning a B.S. in Commerce and Engineering, with concentrations in Operations and Human Resource Management. Kevin worked in food packaging, warehousing, and transportation prior to attending the Temple University School of Law in September of 1993. While at Temple, he was the recipient of a William R. Spofford Scholarship for outstanding legal scholarship his second year. Kevin graduated with honors in May, 1996. Kevin litigates and tries personal injury claims arising from automobile negligence, premises liability, and exposure to asbestos. He also defends cases involving commercial disputes, dram shop liability, and the enforcement of employment agreements and covenants not to compete, as well as prosecuting subrogation claims on behalf of the firm’s clients. Kevin is national counsel for an international specialty transportation and logistics company, defending the company in contract disputes and lawsuits arising from claims of lost and/or damaged shipments. Kevin is licensed to practice law in the State Courts of New York, as well as the State and Federal Courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania (Eastern and Middle Districts). Kevin has briefed and argued numerous cases before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Kevin has also arbitrated and tried jury trials in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania. He has tried jury trials in Berks, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and York counties in Pennsylvania. Kevin was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2005 and 2006 by Law & Politics and The Philadelphia Magazine. Kevin was also named a Super Lawyer in 2009 by the same publication for the practice area of Personal Injury Defense. Kevin resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons. The family is active in scouting and youth sports. Kevin is also the Treasurer for the Chester County Wolfe Tone Division 1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Monsignor Schuyler Council 1333.

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Kenneth is speaking in the following sessions:

KENNETH A. BLOOM is a founding partner of Gartner + Bloom, PC., an AV rated law firm with offices in New York City and Springfield New Jersey. Ken is a skilled trial attorney, who concentrates his practice in the areas of Casualty/Liability Defense; Insurance Coverage; New York Labor Law (Scaffold Law); Construction Litigation including construction defect, EIFS, apparent microbial growth (AMG), asbestos and lead paint matters, as well as Insurance Fraud Defense and Commercial Litigation.  Ken was admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia in 1981; New York 1982; Pennsylvania 1990; the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern District of New York in 1983; U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York in 1990; U.S. Supreme Court in 1985; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan in 1988; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit 1990.  Ken is a graduate of Cornell University (B.S., 1978), where he serves as a guest lecturer for the course, “Managing and Resolving Conflict.” He obtained his J.D. from American University in 1981.  Prior to founding Gartner + Bloom, Ken was an Assistant District Attorney, Kings County, New York, 1981-1982; Senior Staff Attorney, New York City Mayor's Strike Force, 1982-1983; Partner, O'Donnell, Fox & Gartner, P.C., New York City, 1983-1990; Resident Senior Partner Cozen and O'Connor, New York City, 1991-1994.  Ken is a member of the New York State Former District Attorneys Association, Brooklyn, New York; Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations- member of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section and Alternate Dispute Resolution Section; Co- chair of the Construction Committee of the ABA Section on Dispute Resolution (2004-2005); District of Columbia Bar and the New York County Lawyers Association. He is a frequent lecturer on construction and coverage related topics, as well as ADR. 

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Dan is speaking in the following sessions:

Dan Boho has a national trial and mediation practice withverdicts in Illinois, California, New York, New Jersey andPennsylvania and appearances as pro hac vice counsel in 18states. Mr. Boho is a Fellow of the prestigious American Collegeof Trial Lawyers and handles high profile, media-intensivematters. Crain's Chicago Business featured Mr. Boho as one of sixlawyers honored as Chicago's best lawyers in, "Chicago's Best,on the record." Mr. Boho has worked to increase alternate dispute resolution /mediation efforts within the court system and has spokennationally, and co-authored a treatise, on this topic. InsideLitigation magazine states that Mr. Boho's alternative disputeresolution practice has "a significant impact in litigation practicein the United States." For 21 years Mr. Boho has served as National Litigation Counselfor a Fortune 500, United States-based international servicecompany, and as primary state counsel for one of the largesttransportation companies in the United States. Regardingcommercial disputes, Mr. Boho has served as the chairman ofthe commercial litigation section of the Federation of Defenseand Corporate Counsel. Representative Cases Mr. Boho represented the building management in litigationarising from the Cook County Headquarters fire in which sixpeople died and 16 were injured. The Governor of Illinois and thePresident of the Cook County Board appointed commissionsheaded by the former director of FEMA and the former counselto President Clinton, respectively, to study this fire. (Mediaattention about this litigation was extensive.)In July 2008, Mr. Boho successfully defended the East BankClub in a personal injury case involving a plaintiff with anincomplete quadriplegic injury. The jury reached a no liabilityverdict in favor of the East Bank Club where the plaintiff hadasked for $16,500,000. Mr. Boho represented the fire alarm monitoring company in the$140,000,000 John Deere warehouse fire in Davenport, Iowa.Mr. Boho represented building ownership in the high-profileHancock scaffold litigation involving three deaths and numerousinjuries. Mr. Boho represented LaSalle Bank in the major 2004 highrisefire at LaSalle Bank’s headquarters. Mr. Boho represented a media conglomerate in an allegedsexual assault case arising from a radio station “date” promotion.The case was followed nationally by CNN, Fox and InsideEdition. Mr. Boho represented a 13-year-old girl who was sexuallyassaulted at the United States Air Force Academy whileattending a summer camp sponsored by the Air Force. Thismatter was a part of the cadet scandal at the Air Force Academyand Mr. Boho's case and client were profiled on "20/20" anddiscussed in a front page article in The New York Times Sundayedition. Mr. Boho advised one of the major transportation companies inthe country on legal concerns arising from the post 9/11 anthraxscare. Professional Background Mr. Boho joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in May 1977. He is a22 year member of Hinshaw's executive committee, regionaldirector of the firm's litigation practice and a leader of its defenselitigation practice group. He has been recognized by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in thecategories of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury DefenseLaw and Products Liability. In addition, Mr. Boho holds the AV®Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest ratingfor ethics and legal ability. Mr. Boho is also a board member ofthe national Client Advisory Board for LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. Since 2005, Mr. Boho has been named annually to the SuperLawyer list in the area of Business Litigation by Illinois SuperLawyers magazine. He is listed in “Who’s Who in AmericanLaw,” “Who’s Who in America” and “Who’s Who in the World.”Mr. Boho has been a member of the Advocates Society, theDefense Research Institute and the Illinois Association ofDefense Trial Counsel. In addition, he has served as:• Fellow, American College of Trial Attorneys• Board of Managers, Chicago Bar Association• Chairman, Trial Skills and Professionalism Committee,Chicago Bar Association• Chair, Commercial Litigation Section, Federat

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Jeffrey is speaking in the following sessions:

JEFF BRINKER is a partner with the law firm of Brinker & Doyen, L.L.P., a defense firm with 20 attorneys in Clayton, Missouri, the seat of St. Louis County. His areas of practice include professional liability and products liability, and he has been recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly for having Top 20 defendants’ verdicts in both areas. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Williams College and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He is currently President of The Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers and for several years chaired its Legislative Committee. He and his firm represent restaurants and retailers in Missouri and Illinois. He has lectured to various groups on issues including healthcare and tort reform.   

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

David Brown is the Managing Partner of Pinto Coates Kyre & Brown in Greensboro, N.C.   David concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance coverage, appellate practice, personal injury litigation, and construction litigation.  He has extensive experience and expertise litigating complex insurance coverage disputes and bad faith claims throughout North Carolina and in other southeastern states. He regularly represents clients before the North Carolina appellate courts and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and he has advocated questions of first impression before those courts. David is also a certified mediator and maintains an active mediation practice, particularly in insurance coverage and construction defect related claims.  David has an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell, he is listed in Best Lawyers in America in Insurance Law, and he is listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers in the area of Insurance Coverage. 

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

 

Education:
David Brown is from Cleveland, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alabama and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Law. At the University of Alabama, he was a Member of the Jasons Senior Mens Honorary and was also on the Dean's List. In law school, he was a member of the Moot Court Board and also a member of the Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Team.

Practice Areas:
David is a partner in the Firm and primarily serves as a trial attorney in the fields of product liability, employment litigation, automotive liability, workers' compensation, and general civil defense.

Professional Profile:
David has been awarded the status of AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association, American Bar Association, Magic City Bar Association, and Council on Litigation Management. He is also involved in the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Diversity Task Force Committee), a 2007 Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum Inductee, and a Defense Research Institute Products Liability Committee member. In addition, David has authored "Location Matters: Venue Can Play a Role in Corporate Suits", Birmingham Business Journal, 2011.

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Ed is speaking in the following sessions:

Edwin Brown is a senior partner in the firms Irvine office. He has practiced law since 1979 and has served as lead counsel in over 100 jury trials, court trials and arbitrations.   A well regarded legal orator, Ed has argued dozens of appeals to the California Supreme Court and Appellate Courts. A few of his published decisions include the landmark Supreme Court premises liability case Kentucky Fried Chicken v. Sup. Ct. (1997) and appellate cases Dominquez v. Sup. Ct. (1985), Agoura Equip. v. Sup. Ct. (1989), State Farm v. Sup. Ct. (1989), Visueta v. General Motors (1992), Pamela M. v. Millsom (1994), Rosas v. Sup. Ct. (1994), Lamden v. La Jolla Shores (1998), 1231 Euclid Homeowners Assn. v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. (2006), O'Hanesian v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. (2006), and Crown Professional v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. (2006).   A frequently requested speaker, he has lectured or authored papers on such subjects as Third-party Crime: Why Are You Being Sued?; Anatomy of a Lawsuit; Not At My House: Residential Crime; What Judges and Juries should know about Community Associations; The Institutional Insurance Bad Faith Lawsuit and Don't Be The Second Victim.   Premises Liability: Considered a nationwide expert on civil liability by merchants for violent crime on their premises, Ed is consulted by and represents shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, homeowners associations and apartment buildings. Eds clients include La Quinta Inns, Taco Bell, Holiday Inn, Hilton Hotels, Wendys, Subway, Bennigans and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Eds expertise was featured in an article in the Orange County Register in April, 1996.   Directors and Officers Liability: Having represented more than one hundred homeowners associations or members of their boards of directors in litigation, Ed is considered an authority on mutual benefit non-profit corporations and the obligations and liabilities of their lay board members.   Insurance Law: Ed has been counsel to a number of major insurance companies in California including State Farm, Allstate, Twenty First Century and Royal Globe. Ed has also assisted local counsel in defense of insurance bad faith claims in Nevada, Utah, Texas, Arizona, West Virginia and New Mexico. 

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John F. is speaking in the following sessions:

John F. Brown Jr., principal of Brown Law LLC, is a University of Notre Dame (B.A.) and University of Pennsylvania (J.D.) educated and U.S. Department of Justice trained lawyer. He is a former shareholder of one of the country’s largest law firms. John joined that firm when it was still a litigation boutique of 19 lawyers shortly after receiving the Attorney General’s Special Commendation Award for trial achievements while with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. During the growth of his former firm to over 500 lawyers, he tried and handled litigation matters in 27 different states. Over the past several decades, John has been involved in numerous complex litigation matters ranging from varied contract actions, product and construction defect claims to legal malpractice, misrepresentation and fraud matters. He has tried matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. A listing of significant representations is available for download in the Knowledge section of the Brown Law LLC website. John is admitted to practice in New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.   

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John is speaking in the following sessions:

John Browning is the managing partner of the Dallas, Texas office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, where he handles civil litigation in state and federal courts in areas ranging from employment and intellectual property to commercial cases and defense of products liability, professional liability, media law, and general negligence matters. Mr. Browning has extensive trial, arbitration, and summary judgment experience and has represented companies in a wide variety of industries throughout Texas and on a pro hac vice basis in other jurisdictions. Mr. Browning received his B.A. with general and departmental honors from Rutgers University in 1986, where he was a National Merit Scholar and member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1989. Some of his honors include being a 2009 and 2010 recipient of the prestigious Burton Award for Achievement in Legal Writing; rated "AV," the highest commendation issued by Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability, ethics, and professionalism; selected as a "Super Lawyer" in the field of Civil Ligation Defense (2005¬2010, Law & Politics); inducted as a Charter Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers; and elected to the American Law Institute (one of only seven lawyers in Texas elected in 2009). Mr. Browning is a noted legal writer, and is a frequent contributor to national and regional legal publications on a wide variety of subjects. His weekly syndicated newspaper column "Legally Speaking" has garnered numerous journalism awards. His book, The Lawyer's Guide to Social Networking: Understanding Social Media's Impact on the Law, was published in December 2010 by Thomson Reuters\West Publishing. He is a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the International Association of Defense Counsel, and also serves as an adjunct professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, where he teaches the course “Social Media and the Law.” He is the author of numerous articles on social media-related topics, and has been quoted as a national authority on the subject by the New York Times, TIME Magazine, Salon.com, Inside Counsel Magazine, Law 360, and other publications.

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Michael S. is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael S. Burke was born in Gainesville, Florida, June 4, 1964. Admitted to Bar California Bar 1990 Education University of California at San Diego (BA 1987) University of San Diego (JD 1990) Member State Bar of California Bar Association of San Francisco Board of Directors - Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California State Bar Conference of Delegates (1994-1995) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of California Barrister, American Inns of Court, William B. Enright Chapter (1995, 1997) Court Appointed Arbitrator - Marin County Superior Court Early Settlement Program panelist - San Francisco Superior Court Graduate, San Diego Inn of Court, College of Trial Advocacy  Editor,California Commercial Digest.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael Caspino is one of the Founding Partners of Brady, Vorwerck, Ryder & Caspino.  His energy and tenacity has resulted in a solid reputation as an accomplished trial attorney.  He is licensed to practice in the states of California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.    Published appellate opinions include the landmark case of National Union v. Nationwide Insurance Company, 69 Cal. App. 4th 709, which dealt with the extent of indemnity obligations in contracts.  In Olson v. Aztech, 120 Nev. 240, Mr. Caspino argued before the Nevada Supreme Court in the first appeal that dealt with the Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 40 statutory scheme for resolving residential construction defect claims.  Mr. Caspino's litigation efforts have lead to a number of advantageous settlements on behalf of the firm's clients.  In one matter, he was lead counsel in a construction dispute involving over 6,000 apartment units in Nevada and Florida.  Mr. Caspino litigated and resolved multiple personal injury and property damage claims, throughout the country, related to a legionella outbreak at a Las Vegas timeshare resort. Recently, Mr. Caspino was quoted in The Wall Street Journal, wherein he commented on legal liability relating to automated external defibrillators.

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Debbie is speaking in the following sessions:

Debbie Champion is a founding partner in the firm of Rynearson Suess Schnurbusch and Champion. Ms. Champion is actively practices in Missouri and Southern Illinois, in the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She has tried cases in eastern and southeastern Missouri and in southern Illinois. She has orally argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and the Eastern, Western and Southern District Courts of Appeals. Ms. Champion won the Lawyer’s Lawyer Award at the 2008 Women’s Justice Awards. She is a recipient of an Outstanding Volunteer Award from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the Missouri Pro Bono Publico Award from the Missouri Bar Association. She was recently honored by the Women’s Law Caucus of Washington University for her commitment to the advancement of women in the law. She has been selected as one of Ten Outstanding Young St. Louisans by the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce. She served on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Shelter the Children. She was a founding member of Kids’ Inc, a charitable organization for underprivileged children of East St. Louis, Illinois. Ms. Champion co-authored the Missouri Practice Worker’s Compensation Subrogation Chapter. She often presents educational seminars to clients and to the legal community on topic a variety of topics, most recently including voir dire, depositions, dealing with the difficult client, premises liability, workers’ compensation subrogation, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and Missouri and federal liens. Ms. Champion is a Fellow and charter member of the Litigation Counsel of America and she is a member of the Council for Ethical Billing/Council for Litigation Management. Currently, Ms. Champion serves on the 21st Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission as part of Missouri’s non partisan court plan. 

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Hugo is speaking in the following sessions:

Hugo Chaviano was born in Havana, Cuba, and emigrated alone to the United States at the age of thirteen. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and Northwestern University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania.   Mr. Chaviano’s practice has been focused in the representation of Fortune 500 companies, large financial institutions, and others in civil litigation, and on complex business and legal issues, at both the national and international levels, concerning insurance and reinsurance matters, products liability, construction, breach of contract, employment, errors and omissions, as well as joint ventures, franchise agreements, risk management, negotiations, and alternative dispute resolution. He is a Partner in the 40 attorney Chicago based law firm of Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman, LLP, the largest minority owned law firm in Illinois. He is fluent in Spanish. In addition to his representation of major companies in the United States, Mr. Chaviano has traveled extensively and handled matters throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.   Mr. Chaviano’s practice has been characterized by distinguished service to the legal profession and to the Hispanic communities in the United States and abroad. In June 2010 he was elected Secretary General of the Inter American Bar Association at their Annual Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He also has served as President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement. He has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine. Mr. Chaviano has also been listed by Chicago Magazine for the past several years, including 2010, as one of Illinois Super Lawyers.   Mr. Chaviano has served as Ambassador to the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, member of the House of Delegates and Commissioner on the Council on Race and Ethnic Justice. He has served as a member of the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association and has chaired its Judicial Evaluation Appellate Review and Insurance Law Committees. He has also served on several Blue Ribbon committees, including the Judicial Merit Selection Panel of the United States District Court for the Seventh Circuit and the Circuit Court of Cook County-Illinois-Mediation Program.   Mr. Chaviano has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law in Trial Advocacy at Northwestern University School of Law and Instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He is a certified Mediator and Arbitrator. Mr. Chaviano has been a speaker at national and international business and bar association conferences including the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the American Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Association of Mexican Corporate Counsel (ANADE), The Bar Association of Venezuela ( Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Venezuela), the Chicago Bar Association, the Inter-American Bar Association, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and Northwestern University School of Law He serves as a Mediator and Arbitrator with ADR Systems of America, LLC..   Mr. Chaviano has served on numerous Boards of Directors including the boards of Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago Children’s Museum, Latino Educational Alliance, Court Theater, Latin American Bar Association and Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Chaviano serves as General Counsel to the Chicago Minority Supplier Diversity Council. He also serves on the Northwestern University School of Law Board.   Mr. Chaviano has been the recipient of various awards and special recognitions, including the National Mercurio Award. The National Mercurio Award is the highest award given by the Cuban-American Chamber of Commerce to a Cuban who has achieved national prominence in business or a profession and who has a demonstrated record of humanitarian service to the community.            

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Mario C. is speaking in the following sessions:

Mario Ciano serves as Chairman of Reminger Co., L.P.A., a regional law firm with multiple offices in Ohio and Kentucky. For 18 years, Mario served as Managing Partner of the Reminger firm. During his tenure, Reminger experienced substantial growth in personnel, geographical reach, and scope of services provided. An important component of Reminger’s growth was spirited by Mario’s entrepreneurial bent and the firm’s willingness to share risk and rewards with a variety of self-insured and insured clients through Alternative Fee Arrangements. Professionally, Mr. Ciano has headed a number of practice groups including Medical and Non-Medical Professional Liability and Complex and Commercial Litigation. He has been regularly recognized among the “Best Lawyers in America” and has been a featured “Leading Lawyer” by Inside Business magazine. He is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Defense Research Institute, and a Member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Mr. Ciano frequently lectures to peer groups on various topics including trial and litigation, professional liability, leadership, and best practices in litigation management.     Education: Western Reserve University (B.A., 1965; J.D., 1968)   Law ReviewAdmitted to Bar: 1968, Ohio State and Federal CourtsAreas of Practice: D&O, Professional LiabilityBusiness / Commercial LitigationInsuranceMediationMemberships: Federation of Defense and Corporate CounselDefense Research InstituteFaculty Fellow National Institute of Trial AdvocacyFederal, State, and Local Bar AssociationsLife Delegate of Ohio Eighth Judicial DistrictCelebreeze Inns of CourtJustinian ForumFederal and State Court ADR Panel Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Honors: Frequent Lecturer To Peer Groups On Various Trial, Litigation, Professional Liability and Litigation Management TopicsInside Business Magazine Leading Lawyer 2010 

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Charles is speaking in the following sessions:

Charles H. Clark, Jr. Charles H. Clark, Jr. (Clay) is a senior partner in the law firm of Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart, LLP,    based in Birmingham, Alabama.  He is actively engaged in the practice of employment law, workers’ compensation, product liability, toxic exposure litigation, industrial accident litigation, retaliatory discharge, sexual harassment, ADA litigation, discrimination, errors and omissions, motor carrier litigation, premises liability, and general liability litigation.   Clay represents a wide range of local and national clients and is consistently “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell surveys.  He is listed in “Top Lawyers” by the Birmingham Business Journal , Alabama Super Lawyers, and has also been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for each of the last fifteen years.  He is a frequent lecturer, speaking throughout the Southeast on the topics of employment law, industrial accident litigation, and workers’ compensation litigation.    Clay is admitted to practice before the Alabama Supreme Court, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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Geoffrey is speaking in the following sessions:

Attorney Geoffrey Coan focuses his practice in products liability, drug and medical device and complex litigation.  A significant portion of his practice involves serving as national coordinating counsel to medical device and pharmaceutical companies. A selection of Attorney Coan's representative cases includes: Actively serving as national counsel for a generic drug manufacturer in consolidated actions pending in multiple jurisdictions arising out of the use of the drug Metoclopramide. Actively serving as national counsel for a pharmaceutical company in multi-district litigation arising out of the use of contaminated heparin. Defending a distributor of an orthopedic product in consolidated litigation arising out of the implantation of joint spacers. Actively serving as national counsel and providing risk management services for an orthopedic and spine medical device manufacturer in products liability actions across the United States involving various products. Defending a pharmaceutical company in a class action arising out of the use of prescription flea and tick powder. Attorney Coan began his legal career in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General's Corp.  He left active duty in 1999 and continues to serve in the Naval Reserve.  He has been with Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP since May, 2010.  Prior to that he was a partner in the Boston office of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP.   Attorney Coan has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career, including being named MEDMARC Attorney of the Year in 2008.  Attorney Coan is a member of the Products Liability Committee of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, where he serves as co-chair for the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Subcommittee.  He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute. 

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Lewis F. is speaking in the following sessions:

Lewis F. Collins, Jr., is a Partner in the Tampa, Florida office of Butler Pappas Weihmuller Katz Craig, LLP.  He is Board certified in Civil Trial Law by both the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and practices primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, bad faith, products liability, drug and medical device litigation, wrongful death, personal injury, employment law, and professional liability defense. Mr. Collins served as President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (2005-06) and is Past President of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.  Mr. Collins currently holds the position of   President of the Lawyers for Civil Justice.  He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Defense Research Institute and was Dean of the Litigation Management College at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University (2001 - 2002).    Mr. Collins is AV rated, is a member of ABOTA and is a Master of the American Inns of Court.  He received the 1997 Florida Defense Lawyers Presidential achievement award and the 1996 DRI Exceptional Performance award.  Mr. Collins was recognized as a ALeading Florida Attorney” in the field of Products Liability Defense by Leading American Attorneys (an honor awarded to less than 2% of Florida Attorneys) and as a “Florida Super Lawyer”.    Mr. Collins received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida State University in 1975 and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University in 1978.  He is the author of numerous articles that have appeared in national peer-reviewed legal treatises and publications.  He is a frequent lecturer on trial tactics and substantive legal topics ranging from trial tactics, technology, legal malpractice, bad faith and products liability, to discovery procedure, ethics and law firm management.  

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Ted is speaking in the following sessions:

Ted is an exceedingly seasoned and experienced litigator, and joined the firm “Of Counsel” in 2010. He brings to our firm his special expertise in the areas of complex insurance litigation, including bad faith, fraud, large exposure property damage claims, as well as personal injury defense. He has tried over one hundred twenty five jury trials to a verdict. His prior position as staff trial counsel for a large insurer afforded him the opportunity to defend a wide range of insurance related cases. Most of those which went to trial ended with a defense verdict. Ted is recognized as a leading authority in the fields of insurance fraud, bad faith and uninsured motorist law. He frequently presents to attorney and industry organizations on areas where that is expertise. He is the author of “Alabama Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law.”     EducationJ.D., Cumberland School of Law, Samford University (1986)B.S., Auburn University, Journalism and Economics (1983)Staff Attorney to Alabama Supreme Court Justice Oscar W. Adams, Jr.Law Clerk for Alabama Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Jones   AdmissionsAlabama Bar AssociationUnited States District Court for Alabama (Northern, Middle and Southern Districts)  

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Daniel is speaking in the following sessions:

Daniel Costello, Founder of Daniel P. Costello & Associates, LLC, has years of experience concentrating in complex litigation, construction litigation, litigation management, and insurance coverage.  He has successfully handled over 150 major jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations. He has an undefeated trial record, working on significant multi-million dollar cases.  Mr. Costello has had handled some of the largest construction and products liability case in the state of Illinois.  Additionally, he has litigated and managed cases across the country including Washington, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois.    Additionally, he has substantial corporate business experience.  In his time working for a Fortune 500 insurance company he became the youngest VP of Claims Litigation in the history of the 90 year old company rising to the position in only five and half years.  In his time working as the head of all staff counsel operations, and directing all litigation management programs the company experienced a significant turn around.   During this time the company implemented a full range of cost and litigation management tools including the use of active metrics, counsel scorecards, continuous process improvements, and systematic audits.   Mr. Costello graduated from Lewis University as an “Honors Scholar” graduating with High Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/History.  He graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law with a Juris Doctor and a certificate in Energy and Environmental Law.  He also received an post bachelor's Certificate in Leadership from Xavier University. 

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Randal R. is speaking in the following sessions:

Bob Craft is the senior litigation partner in the Litigation Practice Group of Holland & Knight's New York City office and heads the firm's National Aviation Industry Team. His practice is devoted primarily to providing advice and conducting litigation concerning aviation, product liability, mass disaster and insurance matters.   In aviation, he has been lead counsel to airlines and manufacturers of aircraft and components, especially in major air crash cases and NTSB investigations throughout the United States. For example, he was lead counsel for TWA in the Flight 800 investigation and litigation. Most recently, he has been U.S. lead counsel for Turkish Airlines in connection with the Flight 1951 B737 crash in Amsterdam in 2009 and for UPS in connection with the Flight 6 B747 crash in Dubai in 2010. Because of his extensive experience in dealing with accident investigations, at the invitation of the NTSB he chaired the panel on "Accident Investigation, Proprietary Information, and Tort Litigation" at the NTSB's April 2000 Symposium on Transportation Safety and the Law and in 2008-2009 gave two lectures at the NTSB on the lawyer's role in accident investigations.   In non-aviation cases, Bob has extensive experience as lead counsel in numerous product liability cases across the United States, including mass disaster cases, for manufacturers of all kinds of products, including industrial machinery, railcars, chemicals, electrical equipment, engines, toys, medical equipment and household consumer products, and he has counseled these manufacturers on preventive measures. In insurance cases, he has advised and represented insurers in dealing with the interpretation of policies, coverage issues and claims settlement procedures.   Bob is a frequent speaker and writer on the handling of mass disaster cases, product liability, insurance, and aviation and space issues. His articles have appeared in the Journal of Air Law and Commerce, The New York Times, the National Law Journal, the Journal of Space Law, and various bar association and foreign publications. He has been a member and officer of various city, state, national and international bar associations’ committees on aviation law and product liability law and was a founder and the first Chairman of the Council of New York Law Associates, now renamed the Lawyers’ Alliance for New York, the nation's leading pro bono provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations.   He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas (Austin), where he serves on the Engineering Advisory Board, and a J.D. Degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was selected as the Center's Outstanding Advocate. He currently serves as General Counsel to the Wings Club, where he has been on the Board of Governors. Bob is General Counsel to the New York City Ballet, where he is also on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and he is a member of the Board of Governors of the New York City Center of Music and Drama. He was also General Counsel to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics while it was headquartered in New York City.   PROFESSIONAL HONORS & AWARDS: Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Transportation: Aviation: Litigation The Best Lawyers in America guide, Mass Tort Litigation; Product Liability Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation The International Who's Who of Aviation Lawyers The International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defense Lawyers The Legal 500 USA, Litigation: Product Liability & Mass Tort Defense - Aerospace/Aviation Guide to the World's Leading Aviation Lawyers New York Super Lawyers Euromoney Best of the Best in Aviation Guide to Best of the Best Attorneys Around the World Corporate Counsel Edition, Super Lawyers magazine Who's Who in American Law Who's Who In America Who's Who in the World Who's Who Legal  

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Timothy D. is speaking in the following sessions:

Timothy D. Crawley is a 1982 graduate of Duke University, and 1985 from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He has been in private practice in Mississippi since 1986, for 13 years in Gulfport and the past 13 years in the metropolitan Jackson area. He has 40 reported decisions to his credit, predominantly in the area of civil litigation/insurance defense. He is a founding Member in the Ridgeland, MS, firm of Anderson Crawley & Burke, pllc, and has been in their Ridgeland office since 2003. Mr. Crawley's practice focuses on the defense of serious personal injury claims, insurance coverage matters, trucking litigation and professional liability claims. He is a State Chair of CLM in Mississippi and serves on the Bad Faith Insurance Committee; is a member of DRI, TIDA and TLA; is a Member of the Mississippi Bar, the Fifth Circuit Bar, and the U. S. Supreme Court Bar, and is licensed to practice in all State and Federal Courts in Mississippi.

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Sterling G. is speaking in the following sessions:

Sterling G. DaviesMcAngus Goudelock & CourieColumbia, SC Office Mr. Davies’ practice includes general litigation, with an emphasis on construction litigation, products liability, premises liability, insurance litigation, and major loss cases. He leads the firm's litigation practice group. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Mr. Davies received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law where he was a member of the Order of the Wig and Robe, The Moot Court Bar and the ABA Real Property, Probate & Trust Journal. He is currently serving as treasurer of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association and is serving on the steering committee of the Defense Research Institute's 2010 Construction Law Seminar. Mr. Davies regularly defends clients in state and federal courts. He is a member of the South Carolina and Richland County Bar Associations, the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association, and the Defense Research Institute. Professional Associations & MembershipsSouth Carolina Bar Association - MemberDefense Research Institute - MemberSouth Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association - TreasurerDefense Research Institute's Construction Law Seminar - Steering Committee 

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Brian J. is speaking in the following sessions:

Brian J. Donnelly was an Assistant District Attorney in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office from 1985 to 1988.  During those three years he tried twenty five jury trials to verdict.  The cases involved both misdemeanors and serious felony offenses.  Many of those convicted were violent criminals and drug offenders with extensive prior criminal records. The conviction rate for cases tried by Mr. Donnelly was extraordinarily high.  When he left the District Attorney’s office to join Ahmuty, Demers & McManus, he was honored by his colleagues for his leadership, integrity, and professional ability as a trial attorney.     During his tenure at the District Attorney’s office, Mr. Donnelly lectured new Assistant District Attorneys on trial techniques.  He was specially designated by District Attorney Denis Dillon to be the Assistant District Attorney in charge of all violent assaults involving inmates at the Nassau County Corrections Center.    In 1988 he joined the firm of Ahmuty, Demers & McManus as an associate and became a partner in 1993.  He has tried cases for Ahmuty, Demers & McManus for the past twenty years both in State and Federal Court.    Mr.  Donnelly has tried cases of the highest exposure in Courts throughout Upstate New York, the City of New York, and Long Island.  Several of the cases tried by Mr. Donnelly have drawn attention from the media including the first case to go to trial of a firefighter involved in the post 9/11 recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site and the alleged rape of a minor at a prominent University. Mr. Donnelly has coordinated the response of self insured retail and transportation clients to catastrophic incidents.  He is the supervising partner for cases involving some of the largest self-insured retail and transportation companies in the United States. 

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Sandra is speaking in the following sessions:

Sandy Doty is licensed to practice both in Mississippi and Tennessee, with her primary office located in Jackson, Mississippi.  Ms. Doty has extensive experience as both coverage and litigation counsel, including the defense of medical malpractice and long term care cases, as well as general and commercial liability.  In the past five years, her practice has transitioned to also include a large workers compensation defense practice.  Sandy is married with three children and belongs to a family of die hard New Orleans Saints fans. 

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Joe is speaking in the following sessions:

Joe Duncan is a partner with Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart, LLP, in Birmingham, Alabama. His practice consists largely of the defense of claims at the trial and appellate level relating to general litigation, personal injury, product liability, and insurance defense.   Joe has represented a wide range of companies, including Fortune 500 Companies, contractors in all phases of construction, insurance companies, product manufacturers, trade groups, and start up businesses. His caseload is focused primarily on defending contractors and construction entities, product liability claims, and insurance companies against both direct and third-party claims.  He has participated at trial with cases tried to a defense verdict on behalf of several defendants.  In addition, he has successfully handled a number of appellate cases which focus on job site liability, as well as the indemnity and insurance issues that may arise from the same incidents.   Joe has been published in the Alabama Law Review and has spoken to trade and insurance groups in regard to the many liability and litigation issues that arise in the construction industry in Alabama and the Southeast.  In addition, he has participated in the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association’s Trial Academy.

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Jennifer is speaking in the following sessions:

Jennifer D. Edgeworth is a Partner at the law firm of Hermes Sargent Bates, L.L.P, in Dallas, Texas.  Her practice areas include environmental litigation, product liability, and construction litigation.  She has represented a variety of clients including chemical distributors, oil companies, general contractors, product manufacturers, and solid waste disposal companies.  Her representative experience includes defending allegations of CERCLA violations, defending oil companies against allegations by independent contractors of exposure to hydrogen sulfide and benzene, defending shippers of hazardous materials, defending construction defect claims, and negotiating supply contracts.    Mrs. Edgeworth obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, cum laude, from Texas Christian University (TCU), and went on to obtain a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor Degree from Baylor University.    Mrs. Edgeworth is a Texas State Chair for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  She often speaks on matters involving trial practice and litigation.  She chaired the Environment, Energy, and Resource Committee of the American Bar Association, Young Lawyer Division and is a member of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council.  She is also the president of the 2700 member Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Bar Association, and was honored as the Outstanding Young Professional of 2009 by the TCU Alumni Association. She has been recognized by her peers as one of Dallas’ Best Lawyers Under 40 by D Magazine, and a Texas Rising Star by Texas Monthly Law & Politics. 

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Stephen is speaking in the following sessions:

AREAS OF PRACTICE Products Liability, Insurance Defense, Toxic Torts, Environmental Law, Admiralty, Trucking Claims, Construction Defects BACKGROUND Native of Detroit, Michigan Louisiana State University, B.S., 1968 Louisiana State University, J.D., 1974 Admitted to Practice, 1974 Married, one child BAR ADMISSIONS Admitted to Bar, 1974, Louisiana Admitted to Bar, 1993, Texas United States District Courts:Eastern (1974), Middle (1980), and Western (1976) Districts of LouisianaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1981) PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES American Bar AssociationLouisiana State Bar Association Jefferson Parish Bar Association Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel Defense Research Institute HONORS/AWARDS Moot Court Board, Louisiana State University CIVIC ACTIVITIES Rotary Club of New Orleans Louisiana Lodge No. 102, F. and A.M.

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Juan is speaking in the following sessions:

Juan C. Fernandez

has 22 years experience in labor and employment law and commercial litigation and has also served as Essex County Counsel, Assistant Union County Counsel and Union Township Municipal Prosecutor. He is a former member of the District Ethics Committee and The New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority.

Mr. Fernandez maintains an active litigation practice in labor and employment matters and has represented corporate clients in the courts of New Jersey, New York and abroad.

Mr. Fernandez also provides commercial litigation services to corporate clients focused on restrictive covenants and employment disputes. Mr. Fernandez is a member of the New Jersey State and Federal Bars.

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Paul M. is speaking in the following sessions:

-Mr. Finamore is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and Compensation Committee. He is the Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. In the Litigation Department, his practice concentrates in the areas of employment, general liability and professional liability defense. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Mr. Finamore has lectured extensively regarding the investigation of fraudulent claims and employment law. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Finamore regularly counsels employers on employment issues, workplace policies, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. Mr. Finamore began practicing in employment law while serving on active duty in the US Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He is the author of "The Employment Process, A Practical Guide." Mr. Finamore has been recognized as a top attorney in general litigation and employment and labor by Maryland SuperLawyers magazine. He is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, and the Professional Liability Underwriting Society. Mr. Finamore has published articles in DRI’s The Voice and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel’s Employment Practices and Workplace Liability Section Newsletter. Mr. Finamore is also actively involved in the Baltimore community, and currently serves as Secretary on the Executive Committee of the Board of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore, which is a privately funded, non-profit multi-denominational organization that provides at-risk children with a stable home, positive parenting, high quality education, and the support needed to reach their full potential. Bar AdmissionsMaryland, 1988 • District of Columbia, 1992 • U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 1988 • U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1999 • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1994 • U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1992 • U.S. Court of Federal Claims EducationCatholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, District of ColumbiaJ.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1988Law Review: The Catholic University Law Review, Senior Staff Member University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IndianaB.A., Bachelor of Arts, 1985

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Kevin is speaking in the following sessions:

Kevin Foley practices in Reminger Co., L.P.A.'s Columbus Office. He joined Reminger afterclerking with Ohio Supreme Court Justice Herbert Brown. Kevin's practice focuses on truckingliability, premises liability, general insurance and workers compensation. He is admitted topractice, and has successfully argued cases, in the United States District Court for the State ofOhio, Northern and Southern Divisions, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He frequentlylectures on trucking and other insurance issues. He is a member of numerous truckingorganizations and subcommittees including DRI, Transportation Lawyers Association, ColumbusBar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.  Admitted to Bar:1992, State of Ohio1998, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit  Education:Ohio State University (B.A., 1988)Cleveland-Marshall Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1992)  Areas of Practice:General CasualtyTrucking and TransportationCommercial Premises LiabilityInsurance Coverage/Bad FaithConstruction Design & LiabilityEmployer Intentional TortCommunity Service:Hilliard City Council (1996-1998)Salesian Boys & Girls Club, Board MemberCatholic Social Services

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Jim is speaking in the following sessions:

James A. Foster is a partner in Cassiday Schade LLP’s Chicago office and is engaged in the practice of civil litigation, with primary emphasis on transportation and products liability litigation.  He heads and coordinates immediate response teams for trucking companies on catastrophic losses, and has published articles on punitive damages and spoliation of evidence.  He has also spoken at industry conferences on early case analysis, mediation, and electronic discovery.  Mr. Foster is the immediate past Chair of the ABA’s Tort and Insurance Practice section’s commercial transportation litigation committee, Editor of the Trucking Industry Defense Association’s state law summary for Illinois, Dean of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel’s Graduate Program of the Litigation Management College, Chair of DRI’s Hand and Power Tools section, and co-Illinois state chair for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  Mr. Foster obtained his B.A. at the University of Michigan in 1979 and his J.D. at the University of Illinois, College of Law, in 1983. 

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Krista is speaking in the following sessions:

Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law, 2003
B.A. (double major), Indiana University, 1999

Bar Admissions
Florida, 2003

Court Admissions
Florida Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Practice Areas
Aviation
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Commercial Litigation
Products Liability
Property and Casualty Litigation

Recognitions & Awards
Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP)™ designation, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
Litigation Management Institute Certificate™, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Professional Memberships and Activities
Aviation Insurance Association (AIA), Member
Defense Research Institute, Member
Products Liability Subcommittee
Trial Tactics Subcommittee
Women in the Law Subcommittee
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Member
Products Liability Subcommittee
Construction Litigation Subcommittee
Florida Association for Women Lawyers
National Association for Insurance Women

Lectures and Publications
Author: “The Idiosyncratic or Unusually Susceptible Plaintiff: Strategies for Successful Defense,” Defense Research Institute, For the Defense, Winter Issue (2011)
Co- Lecturer: “Products Liability: Man, Machine and Environment of Use,” Chubb In-House Claims Presentation (2008)
Lecturer: “How to Win Your First Trial,” National Business Institute (2007)
Lecturer: Prepare to Succeed in Federal Court, National Business Institute (2006)
Lecturer: Spoliation of Evidence in Florida, In-house claims seminar (2006)
Author: Trends in Florida Arbitration, an Overview, client newsletter (2005)

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Karen is speaking in the following sessions:

Karen D. Fultz is a partner at Cozen O'Connor's Atlanta office, practiceing with the Insurance Department. She focuses her practice on subrogation and recovery. Prior to joining the firm, Karen was an associate with Lackland and Associates in Atlanta. She also served as a judicial intern for the Hon. Denise Page Hood of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. As a member of the subrogation and recovery department she handles product liability cases ranging from $100,000 to over $1,000,000.00 involving product failures which result in fire and/or water losses.  She is the coordinator for the Atlanta office’s pro bono program and provides legal assistance for the underprivileged and unrepresented community in the state of Georgia in partnership with Georgia Legal Services and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation.   She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Insurance Law Section, and its Young Lawyers Division. She served as the President of the Gate City Bar Association (2005), and continues to serve as a member. She is also a member of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the Atlanta Bar Association and a member of the American and National bar associations. Karen was selected for inclusion in the eighth edition of Who's Who In Black Atlanta.  She is the author of the article “Workers' Compensation Recovery Issues - Conflicts of Law in Georgia: Can You Intervene to Protect a Foreign State's Lien?” which was published in the Subrogator (1/11/2006). She has made presentations on topics such as Motor Carrier/Cargo Claims, Taking Your First Deposition, and Workers’ Compensation Subrogation claims.  Karen received her bachelor of arts degree from Michigan State University in 1993 and her law degree in 1998 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, cum laude, where she served on Moot Court.

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Marc is speaking in the following sessions:

Marc S. Gaffrey is an AV-rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell and is the Partner-in-Charge of the Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation Department. He has extensive experience in the litigation of toxic tort matters and mass tort litigation involving lead, asbestos, silica, talc, benzene, "sick building syndrome," latex allergy, PCB, diazanon, welding fumes, orthodichlorobenzene, trichloroethylene, and numerous other chemicals and pesticides. He has handled thousands of toxic tort cases in New Jersey and New York. Marc also has litigated numerous environmental matters involving fuel oil discharge, hazardous waste, Superfund site construction and remediation, and landfill clean-up. In particular, he assisted in the litigation of the landmark case of Ayers v. Township of Jackson. Marc has been named National Coordinating Counsel to seven companies encompassing multiple business disciplines. He coordinates the defense of all asbestos-related matters throughout the country, including hiring local counsel and managing the files. He also has authored numerous articles in the toxic tort field and has been a frequent lecturer at both national and regional conferences including: Defense Research Institute (DRI), Perrin Conferences, New Jersey Defense Association, HB Litigation Conference, Harris Martin, Worley, and NJ Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE). In addition, Marc routinely gives in-house seminars to clients discussing the most recent trends in asbestos and toxic tort litigation.

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

A dedicated advocate, Joseph P. Garin is a partner in the firm of Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, P.C. He maintains a national practice, focusing on the defense of professional liability claims, insurance coverage disputes, directors and officers claims, and risk management. Throughout his career, Mr. Garin has defended more than 400 lawyers and law firms across Michigan, Illinois, Nevada and Colorado. He is also experienced in complex and commercial litigation matters, including cases involving breach of contract and unfair business practices. He has successfully pursued and resisted claims for extraordinary relief, such as temporary restraining orders and preliminary and permanent injunctions. He specializes in a range of litigation matters, including professional liability disputes, insurance coverage, director and officer liability, commercial law and employer/employee disputes. He regularly consults with insurers and businesses of all sizes to manage their risks and reduce litigation expenses.Mr. Garin earned a B.G.S. degree from the University of Michigan and received his J.D. degree cum laude from Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the State Bar of Illinois, the State Bar of Nevada and the State Bar of Colorado. He is admitted before the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan, the District of Nevada, as well as in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.Mr. Garin serves on the Ethics Committee to the Nevada State Bar and is a member of the Professional Liability Committee for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. He has served as a court-appointed special master and settlement facilitator. He is an SCAO-trained Mediator. He has been a featured speaker at continuing education conferences on a national and state level. He annually teaches a continuing legal education seminar, State of the Law - Legal Malpractice, in cooperation with various local bar associations. Mr. Garin serves on the Board of Directors of ENSURE Children’s Hospital of Michigan and the Advisory Board of Think Detroit,Mr. Garin resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

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Richard is speaking in the following sessions:

Rich is a Partner with Davis & Young. After spending most of the 1990s gaining extensive trial and appellate experience as a prosecutor and then as a magistrate, Rich joined Davis & Young in 2000 where he focused his practice on insurance coverage (including bad faith), appellate practice and complex litigation. In 2003, he was selected as Ohio’s “Lawyer of the Year” by Ohio Lawyers' Weekly. Since 2005, he has yearly been named as a “Rising Star” or “SuperLawyer” by Ohio Super Lawyers/Cincinnati Magazine. He has also maintained the highest possible rating with respect to ethics and ability from his peers in the legal community (“AV”–Martindale Hubbell). In 2007, after a rigorous credentialing and testing process, he was certified as an “Appellate Specialist” by the Ohio State Bar Association. In his career, he has handled hundreds of appeals in state and federal courts. Since 2008, he has served as a Member of the Appellate Specialty Certification Board of the Ohio State Bar Association. Since 2008, he has served on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (“OACTA”). Since 2009, he has served as the Co-Chair of OACTA’s Insurance Committee. In 2011, he served as the Chair of the OACTA Special Task Force Re: Insurance Coverage Issues Pertaining to R. C. 2745.01 (Ohio’s employer intentional statute). He is a frequent author and lecturer on legal issues, and is active in local, state and national bar organizations. Rich completed both his undergraduate and Juris Doctor at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He is married with three children and resides in Strongsville, Ohio. 

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Tamara is speaking in the following sessions:

Tamara Glaser is a shareholder and trial attorney with San Diego law firm of Neil, Dymott, Frank, McFall & Trexler, APLC.  She has been practicing law since 1993 and is admitted to practice in California, Pennsylvania and Florida. Ms. Glaser's practice is focused on the representation of healthcare providers and entities in professional negligence actions, disciplinary and licensure matters.  She also defends and advises entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of products including medical devices/pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Ms. Glaser has experience in general liability matters, Multi-District Litigation and real estate. Ms. Glaser is on the Board of the San Diego Defense Lawyers Association.  She is a member of DRI’s Women in the Law Committee and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.   Ms. Glaser is a member of the CLE Programming Committee for the Primerus International Society of Law Firms. She is also a member of the Professional Liability and Product Liability committees for Primerus.  Ms. Glaser is an honors graduate of both Case Western Reserve University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. 

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

Joseph J. Golian is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He concentrates his practice in the areas of bad faith litigation, tort defense, bodily injury litigation, civil litigation, class action, commercial litigation, construction law, FELA, premises liability, product liability law, railroad litigation, and risk/claims management, with a particular emphasis in transportation law.Mr. Golian is a frequent lecturer on transportation matters including driver deposition preparation, transportation trial matters and tactics, claim investigation, and FELA claims handling. In addition, Mr. Golian is active in the Knights of Columbus and serves on the School Advisory Board for St. Matthew School.Mr. Golian is a member of the Columbus Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits. He is also a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, Trucking Industry Defense Association, and Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Additionally, he maintains an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and in 2008 and 2009 was named a “Top Lawyer” in Central Ohio by Columbus C.E.O. magazine.In 1982, Mr. Golian graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a B.A. in Economics. He received his J.D. from Capital University Law School in 1985.     Practice Groups Construction Law Product Liability Transportation Law Education B.A., Washington & Jefferson College  (1982) J.D., Capital University Law School  (1985) Bar Admissions OH  

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Anthony is speaking in the following sessions:

Anthony Golowski is a partner in Goldberg Segalla's Princeton, New Jersey office and focuses his practice on insurance, corporate and alcoholic beverage law. Commercial and litigation issues often overlap in the business world, and Tony's financial background and trial experience enable him to represent clients in: Litigating insurance fraud and retrospective premium cases; Providing coverage opinions; Defending professional liability, bad faith, life, healthcare and employment claims; and Negotiating Agreements (purchase/sale, intellectual property licensing, manufacturing, confidentiality, employment and severance).  Tony's clients include insurance carriers, food manufacturers and alcoholic beverage licensees. He routinely works with insurance carrier SIU Departments to proactively analyze and investigate fraudulent insurance claims and to develop litigation strategies focused on restitution and the deterrence of future fraudulent claims. Tony has obtained four $1,000,000.00 + judgments for insurance carriers that were the plaintiffs in insurance fraud cases. 

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Fred is speaking in the following sessions:

Fred R. Green is a partner in the Atlanta office of Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP, and a trial attorney with over 16 years experience in civil litigation and workers' compensation. His practice in all federal and state courts in Georgia includes general insurance defense, professional malpractice, commercial and business claims, products liability, and premises liability.  Fred also practices regularly before the State Board of Workers' Compensation.   Fred is a member of the State Bars of Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina. He is also a mediator certified by the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.  In addition to his professional pursuits, Fred has been actively involved since 1997 in the State Bar of Georgia's High School Mock Trial Competition as an attorney coach for highly successful Milton High School Mock Trial Team.  Fred is also fluent in German and enjoys maintaining contacts with friends in Germany.   Fred is a graduate of the University of Michigan (A.B., 1990) and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (J.D., 1994). 

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David C. is speaking in the following sessions:

David specializes in various areas of healthcare litigation, particularly those matters involving catastrophic loss.  Most of his cases involve brain-damaged infants, neurologically disabled adults, disfigured patients, and wrongful death claimants. He has also litigated and tried numerous other healthcare matters involving physician credentialing, medical device product liability, employment discrimination, and nursing home litigation. Hislitigation and trial experience also includes various transportation litigation matters including those involving aviation and maritime accidents. Notably, David has tried to verdict over 90 cases, most of which were pending in Cook County, Illinois. The vast majority of those trials involved cases having seven-figure exposure with at least two dozen of them involving eight-figure demands.   David has frequently been recognized by his peers for both his skills and accomplishments as a healthcare defense trial attorney. In 2007, he was inducted as a Fellow into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Induction in that nationally based group is by invitation only and pursuant to a vigorous due diligence review process. Similarly, David was recognized by his peers, including the many plaintiffs’ attorneys he has bested at trial, as one of the top 20 tort defense attorneys in all of Chicago. That recognition was formally sanctioned by the Chicago Lawyer magazine. Two other organizations, which identify the leading attorneys in any given practice area, namely the Leading Lawyer Network and Super Lawyer magazine, have honored David with membership. Those two organizations also base their nomination process on the recommendation of peers in the nominee’s respective legal practice area. Finally, the highly regarded Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter recently recognized David as one of the top six defense trial attorneys after reviewing available trial results over its 50 years of operation.   In addition to being one of the founding fathers of HPS, David previously was the Department Leader of Lord Bissell & Brooks’ Medical Litigation Department. As the senior active partner at HPS, David is dedicated to training the next generation of trial lawyers.   Aside from trying high-exposure cases, David’s true passion is historic military aviation. He’s a seasoned pilot who owns and operates two classic WWII trainers, namely The Stearman and Texan.   Education University of Michigan, J.D., 1983, cum laude Michigan State University, B.A., 1980, High Honors in Accounting; Phi Kappa Phi   Bar Admissions Illinois, 1983   Courts U.S. Court of Appeals (Federal Circuit), 1983   Professional and Community Organizations Illinois State Bar Association

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Robert T. is speaking in the following sessions:

Robert T. Horst represents insurers in complex coverage disputes, bad faith litigation, class action defense, and the investigation of suspected fraud.  Mr. Horst is an experienced and effective litigator, having tried over forty cases to verdict before a jury, along with many more bench trials and arbitration matters.  Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, Mr. Horst has litigated matters pro hac vice in numerous jurisdictions throughout the nation, including Delaware, Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Washington.  The following are some of the favorable results Mr. Horst has obtained for his insurer clients: Obtained voluntary discontinuance of Philadelphia litigation before jury selection when policyholder plaintiff's pre-trial settlement demands exceeded $1 Million based on carrier's assertion of statutory counterclaim for insurance fraud; Managed and concluded contentious Appraisal of complex machinery claim; Successful defense verdict on behalf of commercial lines carrier after assertion of denial based on unambiguous water exclusion, despite allegations of bad faith, breach of policy contract and demand for reformation of policy (also included pre-trial dismissal of claims for negligence and for violations of consumer protection statute); Obtained voluntary discontinuance of Philadelphia litigation by homeowners policyholder who accused carrier of bad faith and damages under consumer protection statute after demonstrating policyholder's claims regarding personal property claim were false, incomplete and misleading and that accompanying receipts were fraudulent; Represented personal lines insurer in national class action venued in Ohio involving valuation methods of estimating worth and value of "total loss" vehicles, with parallel matters in Oklahoma, West Virginia and Florida, which resulted in res judicata effect for carrier in subsequent litigation in multiple jurisdictions; Secured dismissal of all claims against 4 insurers in Philadelphia class action litigation involving attack on payment of "actual cash value" under property insurance claims. Routinely handling complex coverage matters - with a special focus on first party property, boiler and machinery and time element claims - Mr. Horst has handled insurance coverage matters and bad faith disputes for close to two decades. A frequent lecturer on topics related to insurance, the law and law firm management, Mr. Horst has presented to numerous organizations, trade groups, and insurers, including the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance,  Loss Executives Association, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Insurance Society of Philadelphia, Property Loss Research Bureau, and Pennsylvania Bar Institute, amongst others.  He has published numerous times and is most proud of the publication of the text Extra-Contractual Litigation Against Insurers (Law Journal Press) which he co-authored and edited. Mr. Horst has also recently been quoted in The New York Times, The National Underwriter, The Legal Intelligencer, www.examiner.com, the Jackson Clarion Ledger (Mississippi), and Student Lawyer (American Bar Association).  In addition to his practice, Mr. Horst presently serves as General Counsel to the International Association of Special Investigative Units ("IASIU"), the insurance industry's leading "fraud-fighting" organization, which has 40 chapters worldwide and a membership numbering over 4,000.  He also acts as an expert witness in the area of insurance bad faith litigation and serves as a private arbitrator in insurance coverage matters.  Mr. Horst was NLdH's Managing Partner from 2003 -2008 and is one of the firm's founding partners. 

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Mark is speaking in the following sessions:

Current Practice Areas Admiralty and Maritime Complex Commercial Litigation Insurance Coverage Evaluation and Litigation Products Liability General Aviation Personal Injury and Wrongful Death  Recognitions AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating possible)South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer in Admiralty and Maritime Law Best Lawyers in America, Maritime Law Professional Memberships and Activities Maritime Law Association of the United States Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club American Boat and Yacht Council Anchor Member & Board Member, Marine Industries Association of South Florida Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Defense Research Institute American Institute of Marine Underwriters National Marine Manufacturers AssociationBoard of Directors, Seafarers’ House Patrons Council, Cleveland Orchestra, Miami Residency Lectures and Publications Mr. Houck teaches Marine Insurance as an adjunct professor at University of Miami School of Law and co-authored and edited “Crew Claims in the United States” 6th Edition.He lectures frequently throughout the United States and Europe on subjects related to General Liability and Commercial Litigation, Marine and Non-marine Insurance Coverage Evaluations and Litigation, Insurance Broker and Agent Liability, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, and Products Liability.

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Peter M. is speaking in the following sessions:

Peter M. Hughes is the founding partner of The Hughes Law Firm, APC in San Diego, CA. He has been a trial attorney for over 23 years and his practice is devoted to the defense of professional liability, automobile liability, premises liability, construction defect, transportation, products liability, employment law and government/municipality liability. He has defended over 50 jury trials to verdict and handled countless claims and lawsuits in a variety of practice areas. He has extensively lectured and provided training to insurance companies, third party administrators, commercial clients and industry groups. Peter has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates since 2003 and an AV Rated lawyer in Martindale-Hubbell since 1996. He was one of the initial members of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Peter graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University Of San Diego School Of Business in 1984. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University Of San Diego School Of Law in 1987. In 1988 he was admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in California. The Hughes Law Firm practices in Southern California and Northern California. 

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George is speaking in the following sessions:

George T. Jackson graduated from The University of Texas School of Law in 1991. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Jackson received a B.A. in Print Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio in 1984 and a M.A. in Rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988.   Since graduating from law school, Mr. Jackson has been actively engaged in civil litigation, handling both trial and appellate matters. Part of his practice has focused on insurance coverage analysis, and Mr. Jackson has prepared in excess of 150 coverage opinions. In addition, Mr. Jackson has handled insurance coverage litigation in both state and federal court. Mr. Jackson has also represented insurance carriers in bad faith litigation.

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Jeffrey William is speaking in the following sessions:

 L  Jeffrey W. Johnson is the founder of The Johnson Law Group.  Mr Johnson is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell.  He has extensive litigation and jury trial experience in matters involving wrongful death, personal injury, and construction-related matters in the areas of general tort liability and commercial litigation.  Mr. Johnson’s experience includes litigating matters involving the trucking industry, amusement industry, automobile accidents, premises liability, product liability, and construction/contractor liability. Mr. Johnson is admitted to practice before the Florida Bar, and he is a member of the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and the Broward County Bar Association.  He is a participating member of CLM, TIDA, TLA, and IALDA.    He currently represents the largest privately owned amusement company in the United States in the litigation throughout the State of Florida. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami, School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in all trial and appellate courts in the state of Florida, as well as the U.S. District Court (Southern and Middle Districts of Florida).

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Greg is speaking in the following sessions:

Greg Katz is a partner in the firm's general liability group. Mr. Katz has over 20 years of experience in defending cases in State and Federal Court. He has worked with numerous MGA's, insurance carriers and third party administrators in developing strategies for reducing costs for programs. He served on the Board of Directors for Target Markets and the National Risk Retention Association. Mr. Katz has served as national counsel for environmental, habitional and transportation programs. He has lectured and written on numerous topics including reducing the shelf life and the cost of a claim, paratransit issues, coverage and insurance tender issues commonly faced by carriers in New York as well as publishing numerous articles on New York's threshold and labor law statutes. Mr. Katz is on the Board of Directors and a founding Member of the American Society of Environmental Professionals.   ASSOCIATIONSNational Risk Retention AssociationCaptive Insurance Company AssociationVermont Captive Insurance AssociationTarget MarketsAmerican Society of Environmental ProfessionalsTrucking Industry Defense Association   EDUCATIONBrooklyn Law School, Juris Doctor, 1990University of Michigan, Bachelor of Business of Administration, 1987   

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Matthew P. is speaking in the following sessions:

Matthew P Keris Scranton, Pennsylvania Shareholder phone (570) 496-4602 fax (570) 496-0567email mpkeris@mdwcg.com   Matthew P. Keris has extensive experience in medical practice defense, having represented doctors, physician groups, hospitals, and regional health centers for over a decade. He concentrates his practice in medical malpractice, general liability (slip/fall), and auto defense work.Matthew has handled hundreds of medical malpractice matters, both as an attorney and an adjuster, including the management of claims in the Philadelphia area.   Matthew lectures extensively, both locally and nationally, on issues pertaining to medical malpractice through educational institutions including the National Constitution Center, Lorman Education Services, Stafford Legal Teleconferences, and Progressive Business Publications. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in electronic medical record issues, and has spoken for numerous organizations including the American Society for Health Risk Management; American College of Obstetrician/Gynecologists; Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association; The Commonwealth Medical College; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania MCARE Fund; CPACHRM of Central Pennsylvania; Center for Health Training, NOR-PANPHA and the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Health Information Management Association; Cassatt Health System; and PMSLIC/NORCAL, and for publications including National Health Law Week, Hospital Litigation Reporter, and New York Health Law Update. He also advises medical institutions on the establishment of policies and procedures regarding responses to electronic discovery.Matthew is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the United States Middle District of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Lackawanna County, and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.   Bar Admissions:   Pennsylvania, 1996U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2000New York, 2011 Education:Roger Williams University School of Law, Bristol, Rhode Island, 1996Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, 1993   Published Works:A View From The Trenches: Discovery Issues With Electronic Medical Records, Risk Rx, Special Edition on the Electronic Health Record, University of Florida, Vol. 8, No. 1 January-March, 2011; and Florida Hospital Association's Risk Review, August 23, 2011Civil Litigation Update of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Co-Contributor/Author 2007-Present   Classes/Seminars Taught:Moderator--Roundtable on the Discovery of Incident Reports, Central PA Association for Health Care Risk Management Fall Education Forum, Harrisburg, PA, November 4, 2011Co-Presenter, Electronic Medical Records 101: What Claims Professionals Need to Know. March 24, 2011--Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.Panelist/Speaker--E-Discovery Update--Pennsylvania Defense Institute Annual Conference, Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford, PA, September 30, 2010Moderator--Ethical Issues Pertaining to the Insurance Relationship, PDI Regional CLE, Mohegan Sun Casino, Wilkes-Barre, PA, August 27, 2009   Honors and Awards:BV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell   Professional Associations and Memberships: Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Member Lackawanna County Bar Association, 2000 - Present Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Board of Directors, 2007 - 2009Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Secretary, 2009 - 2011 Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Treasurer, 2011 –Secretary, PBA Health Care Law Committee, 2010-Present President-Elect, Central PA Association for Health Care Risk Management -- 2011 Chairman of PBA Healthcare Law Subcommittee on Civil Litigation, 2011 

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Celeste is speaking in the following sessions:

Celeste King is Managing Partner of the Chicago-based law firm of Walker Wilcox Matousek LLP. Celeste advises insurers and reinsurers on coverage for cyber risks and privacy breaches involving first party and third party CGL policies, as well as policy drafting and underwriting guidelines. She counsels clients on cyber risks unique to professions, hospitals, financial institutions, retail industry and schools, among others. Earlier this year, Celeste delivered presentations on cyber risks and their insurance implications to the London and Bermuda insurance markets, and in October she co-hosted the first in a series of webinars on cyber risks entitled “If You Use It Don’t Lose It: An Introduction to Cyber Risks and Privacy Breaches And Their Insurance Impact”.     In addition to cyber issues, Celeste is an experienced reinsurance lawyer.  She has counseled clients on treaty and facultative risks involving a variety of topics such as follow the fortunes, aggregation of losses, ECO and XPL claims, recovery of DJ expenses and claims handling.   Celeste represents clients in reinsurance litigation and arbitration.

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Paul is speaking in the following sessions:

Paul R. Koepff is a partner of Clyde & Co US LLP’s New York office.  Paul has handled insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes for over 30 years, has tried numerous coverage cases in state and federal courts, has argued appeals in various state and federal appellate courts, and has arbitrated numerous insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes, including multiple arbitrations in the UK and Bermuda.More specifically, Paul has been involved in litigating various kinds of insurance and reinsurance-related disputes and claims in state and federal courts under the laws of various jurisdictions. He has prevailed in his last 10 arbitrations involving various insurance and reinsurance-related disputes and claims in domestic and foreign arbitrations, including recovering the fees and expenses as the prevailing party. Among other things, the matters have related to claims of ceding companies seeking reinsurance with respect to environmental claims, asbestos claims, products liability, product tampering and accidental contamination, professional liability, and other coverages. He has also been involved in challenges made to arbitration proceedings and awards in courts of the United States and Bermuda.Paul has been counsel of record in some of the most significant and far-reaching insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes. He has served as lead counsel in numerous appellate decisions, including ones: rejecting joint and several liability and adopting allocation; adopting a broad and fair reading of the sudden and accidental pollution exclusion; and the number of occurrences rising out of a host of different circumstances.Additionally, Paul is a contributing author to the multi-volume Mathew Bender Treatise on New York Insurance Law, the multi-volume treatise Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation, and authored a chapter in Inside the Minds: Negotiating Insurance Policy Disputes.  He has been a speaker at various conferences and seminars on insurance-and reinsurance topics, and is recognized by Chambers USA as one of the nation's leading insurance lawyers.

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Angela is speaking in the following sessions:

Angela Cirina Kopet is the General Liability Practice Group Manager for Allen, Kopet & Associates, a law firm that currently has twenty-four offices throughout twelve states. She joined the law firm after several years as Staff Attorney for Permanent General Insurance Company. Her experience includes all areas of insurance and general liability defense and she is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.   Angela received her Bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and her J.D. and MBA from Widener University. She is licensed to practice before the state courts in Georgia, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., as well as most of the United States District Courts throughout Tennessee and Georgia.   Angela is a member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance. She currently acts as Chair of the Annual Conference Education Committee and Lead State Chair for South Carolina. She has been honored with a Fellowship in the Litigation Counsel of America, a Trial Lawyer Honorary Society; open to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. She has been inducted into the Order of Juris for recognition of her trial experience and she has been President of this Order since 2008. Most recently, she was inducted into the Order of Certus for her appellate work. She has been selected as a member of the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association and American Veterinary Medical Law Association.  She is a former Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Automobile Committee.  She also is a certified instructor with the Georgia Commissioner of Insurance.   Angela has received an award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Law by the International Biographical Centre Cambridge, England. She has also been named a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International. You may reach Angela at akopet@allen-kopet.com or 843-341-9333. 

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Jonathan M. is speaking in the following sessions:

Jonathan Kuller, a partner in the firm's Princeton, New Jersey office, has litigated cases, published and lectured about insurance fraud of all types, defense of bad faith and extra-contractual claims as well as coverage and premium disputes. Mr. Kuller brings over thirty years of trial experience and a keen awareness of the insurance business to issues that directly impact clients' bottom line.

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Nicholas J. is speaking in the following sessions:

Nick Lanza is a civil trial attorney with McCormick, Lanza & McNeel in Houston, Texas.

He handles a wide variety of litigation matters for businesses , insurance companies, and individuals.

His cases include personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, business disputes, contract, professional liability, and all types of 1st and 3rd party insurance related disputes.

Nick Lanza has successfully tried to verdict or resolved hundreds of cases throughout the State of Texas.

Nick is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the Texas Board of Civil and Appellate Law Specialists.

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Wayne is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Lee received his law degree in 1974 from Tulane University School of Law, where he was chosen to the Order of the Coif and was a member of the Tulane Law Review Board of Editors, 1972-74. He joined Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C. in 1974, is a member of the firm and chairs the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group. For the last 18 years, his practice has included a concentration in insurance and insurance class action lawsuits. Mr. Lee has experience handling coverage litigation, bad faith claims, defense against first and third party claims, regulatory issues and class actions covering a broad array of substantive issues. Mr. Lee is a past President of the Louisiana State Bar Association. He is also a member of The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and DRI. Mr. Lee is a member of the American, National, Louisiana, New Orleans and Fifth Federal Circuit Bar Associations. Mr. Lee is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has been named to The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of commercial litigation, insurance law, antitrust litigation and personal injury litigation-defendants, to Chambers U.S.A. America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the field of General commercial litigation and to Super Lawyers. In 2006, the Louisiana Bar Foundation's Board of Directors selected him as the 2006 Distinguished Attorney in Louisiana. 

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Richard is speaking in the following sessions:

Richard W. Lenkov represents companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to small businesses across the civil litigation spectrum, concentrating in workers’ compensation (heading up the firm's Workers' Compensation department), premises liability and personal injury. Since joining the Illinois bar in 1996, Rich is highly respected in representing retailers in these practice areas. Rich is experienced in such issues as slip and fall accidents, spoliation of evidence, false arrest/imprisonment and food contamination. Rich is a frequent lecturer on these and other civil litigation topics, and is an active participant in organizations such as the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS). Rich is also active with Northern Illinois University College of Law, serving on its Board of Visitors. When not practicing law, Rich enjoys spending time with his family and playing basketball. Licensure Illinois Supreme CourtU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Education J.D., Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1995B.A., McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, 1992 Professional Memberships & Associations Agassiz Elementary School, Local School Council Canada-US Business Council ChicagoCity Club of ChicagoCook County Mandatory Arbitration Program Panel Chairman Claims and Litigation Management Alliance - Premises Liability CommitteeDefense Research InstituteDuPage County Bar AssociationIllinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel – Workers' Compensation Committee, Spring DefenseTactics Seminar Committee, ChairmanIllinois Chamber of CommerceIllinois Manufacturers' AssociationIllinois Retail Merchants AssociationIllinois State Bar AssociationIllinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyers AssociationNational Retail & Restaurant Defense AssociationNational Workers' Compensation Coalition (NWCC) - PresidentNational Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference & Expo - Board MemberNorthern Illinois Adjusters AssociationNorthern Illinois University College of Law Board of VisitorsRisk & Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)Workers’ Compensation Claims AssociationWrightwood Neighbors Association, Schools Committee Seminars and Presentations •"IL Workers' Compensation Reform," Bryce Downey & Lenkov clients, Chicago, Illinois, June 2011 •"Illinois Workers' Compensation Reform," Bryce Downey & Lenkov clients, May 9, 2011 •"Debate: Picking a Jury is a Science and Not Just Pure Luck" and "Retail Liability,” Illinois Defense Counsel Spring Symposium, April 14, 2011 •"Negotiation and Mediation Strategies,” National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA), April 13, 2011 •“Difficult Situations, Real-World Solutions: Thorny Issues the Defense Industry Struggles with Every Day” and “Premises Liability – Shopping for Answers to Effective Retailer Risk Management, CLM’s Annual Conference, March 24, 2011 •"Avoiding the Top 10 Mistakes Illinois Manufacturers Make in Handling Workers' Compensation Claims," Illinois Manufacturers' Association Breakfast Briefing, March 16, 2011 •"Top 10 Ways to Screw Up a Workers' Compensation Claim," Marsh's Retail/Wholesale, Food & Beverage Practice, December 2, 2010 •“Point/Counterpoint: Key Workers’ Compensation Issues From the Perspective of an Employee Attorney and an Employer Attorney,” 19th National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference & Expo, November 11, 2010• “Top 10 Ways to Screw Up Your Workers’ Compensation Case,” Marsh USA’s Fall Retail Roundtable 2010, November 4, 2010•“Five Cost Drivers and How to Fix Them,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, October 29, 2010 • “Hot Topics in Illinois Workers’ Compensation,” Limited Brands, October 8, 2010 • “Cost Cutting & Negotiation Strategies for Workers’ Compensation Professionals,” REBEX 2010, September 21, 2010 • “Selection, Use and Management of Expert Witnesses,” Merchants Insurance Group, September 17, 2010 • "Negotiation for Claims Professionals 2.0," SafeAuto Insurance Company, July 14, 2010 and Motorists Mutual Insurance Group, July 15, 2010 • “The Life of a Workers’ Compensation Claim: From Accident to Trial,” IKEA, July 8, 2010 • “Illinois/Indiana Workers’ Compensation Update,” Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance, June 29, 2010 •"Retail Panel," RIMS 2010 Annual Conference & Exhibition, April 27, 2010 •“Evaluating Permanency,” SRS, March 27, 2010 •“2010 Claims & Defense Tactics Symposium” moderator, Illinois Association of Defense Council & Illinois Insurance Association, March 25, 2010 •"Managing & Closing WC Claims In a Cost-Effective Manner," Illinois Manufacturers' Association Breakfast Briefing, February 18, 2010 •"Obtaining a Winning Medical Opinion" and "Evaluating Permanency," PESI 2010 National Conference, Workers' Compensation Top Medical & Legal Issues, February 16, 2010 •"Closing the Nightmare Case: The Perspective of a Claims Adjuster and Defense Attorney," National Workers' Compensation & Disability Conference, November 19, 2009 •"Top 10 Ways to Lose Your Workers' Compensation Claim," REBEX 2009, the Regional Risk Management Conference and Exhibition, October 22, 2009 •"Obtaining a Winning Medical Opinion," JPB Medical Marketing's Medical & Legal Issues in the Work Comp Arena Case Managers Education Dinner, October 6, 2009 •"Litigation 101," Celina Insurance, September 1, 2009 •"Managing and Closing Workers' Compensation Claims in a Cost-Effective Manner,” SEAK 29th Annual National Workers' Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference, July 20, 2009 •“Turning the Tables: How To Use An Employee's Own Actions As A Defense To Their Workers' Compensation Claim," 2009 John Deere Annual Workers' Compensation Conference, July 15, 2009 •"Illinois & Indiana Workers' Compensation Issues," HCR Manor Care, June 24, 2009 •“Protect Your Business, Your Employees and Stay Afloat,” City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, June 5, 2009 •"Illinois Workers' Compensation 101," Central DuPage Hospital, May 26, 2009 •"Top 10 Ways to Screw Up Your Workers' Compensation Case," Acuity Insurance, April 9, 2009

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Benjamin is speaking in the following sessions:

Benjamin A. "Ben" Leonard practices in Bovis Kyle & Burch's Workers' Compensation section, having  joined the firm in February 2009. He has been licensed to practice law in Georgia since 2000 and since that time has represented employers, insurers, self-insurers, and third party administrators in numerous Workers' Compensation claims throughout the state of Georgia. He has successfully argued a number of reported cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals on a wide range of issues in Workers' Compensation. He is a member of the Georgia State Bar, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Atlanta Claims Association, the Atlanta Lawyers Club, Georgia Motor Trucking Association and is also active in the Georgia State Bar and Atlanta Bar Association Workers' Compensation Sections. He has been a featured speaker before a number of these groups and groups across the United States on Workers' Compensation topics. He is a regular contributor to a number of publications on Workers' Compensation topics as well. Mr. Leonard heads up the Medicare Set Aside section of the firm where he specializes in consulting on and performing allocations for CMS compliance along with handling conditional payment demands from CMS. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in 2000. While in law school he served on the Board of Governors and also as a student editor of the Journal of Southern Legal History. He served as the head coach of the Mercer University Men's and Women's Cross-Country teams while in law school. He earned a BA in Political Science and a BA in History, Phi Alpha Theta, in 1995 from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. While there he was a four year letterman on the Cross-Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. He also served in the student legislature and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Ben is very active with the Georgia Kids' Chance Foundation which provides college scholarships for the children of workers who are injured or killed in industrial accidents in Georgia. He is active in community service in Atlanta, and is engaged with the Homeless Pets Foundation and Mostly Mutts organizations, both of which actively place homeless pets with responsible owners. Ben has been honored with three consecutive selections to the Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2009, 2010 and again in 2011, an honor only bestowed upon the top 2.5% of all attorneys under 40 in Georgia. 

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Shari Claire is speaking in the following sessions:

Shari Claire Lewis is a Partner in the firm's Professional Liability and Litigation & Appeals Practice Groups. Ms. Lewis' practice, at the intersection of law and technology, includes matters involving attorney and other professional liability, medical device and product liability, and computer and Internet litigation. Ms. Lewis represents lawyers and other non-medical professionals in diverse litigation, including commercial litigation, securities fraud, intellectual property, malpractice, fraud, R.I.C.O, contract breach, constitutional violations, and other tort theories. Ms. Lewis also specializes in representing manufacturers, distributors and maintenance companies in connection with medical device and product liability claims, including angioplasty devices, coronary and tracheal stents, orthopedic and dental implants, operating room fixtures, disposable medical products, factory and farm machinery, hair dye and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, industrial and consumer electrical products. With particular expertise in technology law issues, Ms. Lewis represents entities at the cutting edge of twenty-first century technology, including Internet registrars, software designers and various Internet and computer providers. She has litigated cases involving domain name disputes, cybersquatting, freedom of speech, online and “click wrap” contracts, jurisdiction, and antitrust and trademark violation in that medium. She also drafts technology and online contracts on behalf of technology vendors and consumers, as well as policies and/or terms of service for use on her clients' websites. Ms. Lewis has frequently lectured and published on such topics as e-discovery, email best practices,  identity theft laws and professional liability, She has a bimonthly column on Internet Law in the New York Law Journal. Ms. Lewis regularly appears in state and federal courts. She has extensive experience handling complex class actions and multi-claimant multi-district litigation (“MDL”). She has frequently lectured and published articles on the topics of Internet law, e-discovery, domain names, attorney malpractice, medical device litigation, computer liabilities and other liability-related issues.

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Carla is speaking in the following sessions:

A partner in Deasey, Mahoney, Valentini & North, Ltd., Carla P. Maresca brings 17 years of experience as a litigator and concentrates her practice in employment discrimination and civil rights. As an experienced jury and bench trial litigator, as well as appellate practitioner, Carla represents individuals, small businesses, for profit and non-profit corporations and governmental entities. She also drafts employee handbooks, policies, and contracts, and provides employment counseling on issues such as wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and family and medical leave. Carla’s knowledgeable and skillful handling of both litigation matters and employee counseling and training has earned her widespread respect among clients and opposing counsel. She was selected as a 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2010 Superlawyer Rising Star, and a 2011 Superlawyer, for her focus in employment litigation. A frequent lecturer, Carla is regularly invited to present seminars and continuing legal education (CLE) on sexual harassment in the workplace, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, immigration reform, and standard operating procedures for human resource managers. Carla also serves on the panel of employment law arbitrators and mediators for the Philadelphia region of National Arbitration & Mediation (NAM). In her spare time, Carla enjoys the practice of yoga, studying Eastern philosophies, and traveling. 

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Stuart is speaking in the following sessions:

Stuart Mauney is a partner with the Gallivan White & Boyd law firm in Greenville, SC.  He is chair of the firm's Tort & Personal Injury/Property Damage Team in which he manages a staff of lawyers and legal assistants who provide legal and risk management  services to insurers, self insureds, and third party administrators.  Stuart devotes his practice to the defense of serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, including claims arising out of the trucking and healthcare industries.  In particular, Stuart is a member of the firm's Professional Negligence Team in which he serves as trial counsel for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He is also a member of the GWB Trucking Team and provides emergency response services for catastrophic accidents. Stuart is also a Certified Mediator and provides mediation and other ADR services, working with parties and their counsel as an alternative to litigation and trial.

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John is speaking in the following sessions:

While an in-house attorney, John was one of the earliest adopters of electronic invoicing technology, allowing him to aggregate invoice and performance metrics data, generate litigation management reports, evaluate the effectiveness of outside counsel, implement cost reduction strategies and evaluate internal staffing choices.

After completing a clerkship for a Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court John entered private practice concentrating on the defense of architects and engineers. After leaving private practice he held a variety of legal positions with national insurers in the areas of environmental coverage and litigation management, most recently as Chief Claims Counsel for OneBeacon Insurance. This past year John re-entered private practice as a partner with the law firm of Wilson,Elser, Moscovitz, Edelman and Dicker where he concentrates on national program management, insurance coverage and general liability litigation.

An attorney for 27 years, he is "AV" rated by Martindale and is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College, Franklin Pierce Law Center, and has completed management training programs at the Wharton School of Business and the London Business School. He is the 2008 Chair of the ACC Insurance Staff Counsel Committee and is the Vice Chair of the CLM Board of Advisors.

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

David McMahon is the Managing Partner in Barger & Wolen LLP’s San Francisco office. His practice focuses on large complex litigation. He has worked on numerous high-profile litigation matters involving life settlements, multi-million dollar insurance coverage disputes relating to intellectual property matters, wage and hour litigation, environmental claims, directors and officers liability insurance, maritime matters, and cases involving alleged insurer bad faith. His expertise also includes international marine transactional work with experience in negotiating shipbuilding contracts. He also has experience in appellate litigation, reinsurance litigation and counseling clients on attorney fee disputes and ethical issues relating to the practice of law. Mr. McMahon has extensive experience in matters relating to computer-related discovery, large case document management, and the efficient use of technology to streamline the handling of large cases. He is a co-editor of the firm’s Litigation Management & Attorney Fee Analysis blog.

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Daren is speaking in the following sessions:

Daren S. McNally maintains a practice that is intensely focused on insurance coverage litigation and counseling, with an emphasis in complex insurance and reinsurance litigation, trials and arbitrations in both domestic and foreign arenas. As a broadly experienced insurance coverage practitioner, he represents insurers and reinsurers based in the United States, Europe and Bermuda in every aspect of insurance coverage in both the third-party liability and first-party property contexts. Daren represents domestic and foreign insurers in a wide variety of insurance-related matters, including general insurance coverage, excess liability claims, directors and officers liability, long-tail claims, such as asbestos, environmental and other toxic torts, construction defect, bad faith/extra-contractual claims, reinsurance matters, product liability, life and disability insurance, group health claims, and catastrophic loss.   Daren began his legal career in New York City with the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP. He joined Connell Foley in 1995 before moving on to Clyde & Co US in 2010 where he works with in the Insurance Practice Group.   During his law school career, Daren served as the Articles Editor for the Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal. He also interned with the Honorable Leonard I. Garth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.   Admitted to Practice State of New Jersey State of New York United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit United States District Court for the District of New Jersey United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York United States District Court for the Southern District of New York Education William Paterson College (B.A., Political Science, 1988) Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 1992)  

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Bruce is speaking in the following sessions:

Bruce serves as the Chair of Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson’s Executive Committee and is the founder of its 19 Member Legal Audit Practice Group. A former prosecutor, Bruce has been providing clients and the legal community with litigation and counseling services for almost three decades. As an active litigator, Bruce’s personal practice consists of high profile, complex commercial, insurance, reinsurance, criminal (white collar crime) and professional liability litigation. Bruce also serves as counsel to a number of Fortune 500 companies. As an adjunct to his professional liability practice, Bruce frequently serves an attorneys’ fee expert and has testified before numerous state and federal tribunals. Bruce has conducted or supervised more that 300 legal bill review audits involving over $2 billion in legal fees and has testified in deposition and trial on more than a dozen occasions. He has also led and supervised numerous non-fee related corporate and governmental investigative/legal audits involving issues ranging from financial fraud and malfeasance to alleged abuses in governmental hiring. Bruce began his career as a prosecutor in the State's Attorney's Office of Cook County, Illinois as an Assistant State Attorney.  Bruce has been a long standing appointee to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility. Bruce was recently appointed by the Governor of Illinois to the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board. Bruce is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Trustee of The John Marshall Law School.  The subject of numerous news articles and features stories, Bruce’s practice was recently featured in the March 2007 issue of The American Lawyer in an article entitled: “Meet Mr.  Meckler.”

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Glen is speaking in the following sessions:

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Stuart A. is speaking in the following sessions:

Stuart A. Miller is a Partner in the New York and White Plains offices. Admitted in both Florida and New York, he handles claims in both states. He has extensive experience in state, federal and appellate courts, with an emphasis on national account management, transportation litigation, product liability defense, and general tort liability defense and labor law litigation.   Stuart manages several Fortune 500 accounts where the clients have substantial self-insured retentions. He works with a national team of Wilson Elser attorneys to handle all types of claims, including trucking, construction, premises security and liability, loss subrogation and complex product liability. He strategizes with the account risk managers and general counsel on case management and corporate consistency.   In addition, Stuart has been designated as national counsel on behalf of nationally recognized transportation and logistics companies. In that role, he acts as the gatekeeper and national coordinator of all the company’s liability claims. He attends mediations, settlement conferences and trials throughout the United States, working alongside local counsel.   In the area of transportation, Stuart oversees a National Emergency Response Team which responds to catastrophic trucking losses. Stuart defends several national long hauling and local trucking companies, taxi and livery fleets, buses and ambulette companies in catastrophic personal injury, uninsured motorists, no-fault and PIP subrogation cases.   A seasoned trial lawyer, Stuart’s role in the defense of a personal injury case in federal court was featured in a front page article in the New York Law Journal. In the article, the judges referred to Stuart’s “aggressive” summation at the trial. Stuart obtained a defense verdict on proximate cause in the case that involved multiple neck and back surgeries. The case was later affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Sonia is speaking in the following sessions:

Sonia enjoys a varied litigation practice at Sapientia Law Group, a mid-sized Minneapolis law firm that Sonia founded with a few other colleagues in March 2011.  Sapientia Law Group is one of a very few minority-owned AND women-owned law firms of its size in the country.  The progressive firm model of SLG is focused on providing alternative fee structures for clients and modifying the traditional law firm model in many respects, including management structure, compensation structure, and inter-office collaboration dynamics. Sonia's practice primarily focuses on commercial litigation and product liability matters. She has defended a multitude of products ranging from automated industrial controls and domestic products to medical devices and pharmaceuticals to food contamination cases. Sonia also advises and handles various commercial matters for her clients including contract disputes, trade secret issues, non-compete litigation, franchise disputes and some employment matters.  On a pro bono basis, Sonia has represented guardians ad litem for children in foster care looking for adoptive homes and parents in custody disputes.In her fourteen years of practice, Sonia has earned the respect of her colleagues, peers, and adversaries. In 2002, Sonia was named one of Minnesota’s top ten Up-and-Coming Lawyers by the Minnesota Lawyer publication. Minnesota Law & Politics named her a “Rising Star” in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Sonia also had the honor of serving as the 89th President of the Hennepin County Bar Association, an 8,000-member organization, from 2007 to 2008 -- the Association's youngest female President and first Hispanic President. Representative Experience :  Tonicstar, Ltd. v. Lovegreen Turbine Services, Inc., 2006 WL 2472826 (D.Minn) Leucadia v. Intermas , 2003 U.S. Dist. Lexis 2334 (D.Minn) Berczyk v. Emerson Tool Craft, et al. , 291 F. Supp. 2d 1004 (D.Minn. 2003) Hammel v. Eau Galle Cheese Factory , 2003 U.S. Dist. Lexis 7515Hammel v. Eau Galle Cheese Factory , 2003 U.S. Dist. Lexis 11380 In Re: Welfare of S.N.R. , 617 NW 2d 77 (Minn. App. 2000) PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS: "Innovation:  A Place in Big Law?" The Hennepin Lawyer, November 2011. "Time to Dive In:  Understanding the Ebb and Flow of AFA's," Litigation Management Magazine, Fall 2011. “Millennials in the Workforce: Making the “In it for me” Employee In It For You,” CBIZ & Flynn Gaskins & Bennett Seminar, 5/09 Panelist,"Women as Leaders in the Legal Profession," Visions of Women’s Leadership Conference, University of St. Thomas, 10/08 Speaker, “Judicial Elections—the Changing Landscape,” American Association of University Women, 11/06 "Strategic and Long-Range Planning for Organizations" - 2005 NAPABA National Bar Leadership Institute (IL)  "Trends in Non-Compete Litigation" - Firm Seminar, November, 2004 "State Farm v. Campbell : The Last Word on Punitive Damages?" - Firm Seminar, September, 2004 "Finding & Motivating Members" - 2004ABA Young Lawyers Division Fall Conference (TX) & Western Regional Conference (CA) “Top Ten Changes in the ADA”- 2004 ABA Young Lawyers Division Mid-Year Meeting (TX) “Where are We with the ADA”- 2003 ABA Young Lawyers Division Fall Conference (PA) “Is Adoption of the ‘Inevitable Disclosure’ Doctrine Inevitable in Minnesota Courts?” Firm Seminar, 12/03 “Defending a Medical Device Claim”- MSBA CLE, 6/03 “Taking Hate Out of the Junior/Senior High School Classroom”- 2002 ABA Young Lawyers Division Spring Conference (CO) “Operation Arbitration”- 2001 ABA Young Lawyers Division Spring Conference (AK) “Goal-Setting: Achieving Your Personal Goals”- 2000 ABA Young Lawyers Division Spring Conference (TX) “Youth Empowerment Summit”- 1999 ABA Midwest Regional Conference (WI) Professional Recognition :  Named “Minnesota Rising Star” by Law & Politics (2005, 2006, 2008) Named “Star of the Quarter” by American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division (2006) Awarded “Distinguished Service Award” by Notre Dame Club of Minnesota (2006) Selected by Minnesota Lawyer as 1 of 10 “Up and Coming Attorneys” (2002) Memberships :  Defense Research Institute Hennepin County Bar Association:    President (2007-2008)    President-Elect (2006-2007)    Treasurer (2005-2006)    Secretary (2004-2005)    Executive Committee (2004- 2009)    Board of Directors (1998- 2009)    Community Relations Committee (Chair: 2002- 2004; Co-Chair: 2001-2002)    Finance & Planning Committee (2003-2008)    Leadership Institute Planning Committee (2003- 2005)    Nominating Committee (1999-2004)    Program Assessment Committee (2002-2003)    Delivery of Legal Services Committee (Co-Vice-Chair: 2000-2002)    New Lawyers Section (Chair: 1999-2001) Minnesota State Bar Association:    Board of Governors (1998- 2004; 2006- present)    Operations Committee (2009- present)    Diversity Implementation Task Force (2006- present) (Co-Chair:  2009- present)    Governance Committee (2007- 2009)    Food & Drug Section (Treasurer: 2002-present; Secretary: 2001-2002)            American Bar Association:    National Council of Bar Presidents (2007-2009)    National Affiliate Assistance Team, Young Lawyers Division (1999-2000,       2002-2003, 2004-2006)    Lawyers with Disability Committee, Young Lawyers Division (Co-Vice Chair: 2003-2004)    Litigation Committee (Co-Vice Chair: 2002-2003)    Co-Coordinator, Young Lawyers Division Pilot Project-Taking Hate Out of theClassroom (2001-2002)    Co-Coordinator, Young Lawyers Division Pilot Project- Operation Arbitration (2000-2001) Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association National Association of Professional Women Minnesota Women Lawyers Court Admissions :  MinnesotaU.S. District Court, District of MinnesotaU.S. District Court, Western District of WisconsinU.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh CircuitU.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth CircuitU.S. Supreme Court Civic Involvement :  International Spanish Language Academy, School Board, 2006- present (Chair 2009-2010; Secretary 2011-2012)Hennepin County Bar Foundation - Board of DirectorsVolunteer Lawyers Network – Board of DirectorsIndiana University School of Law- Alumni Board of DirectorsNotre Dame Club of Minnesota - Board of DirectorsUniversity of Minnesota Student Legal Services- former Board of DirectorsYouth Empowerment Summit- Minneapolis, FounderHelping Kids Belong Project - Coordinator"We the Jury" Project - CoordinatorSt. Joe’s Catholic Church/Immaculate Heart - member & volunteer  J.D., Indiana University- School of Law (1997), cum laude, Indiana Law Journal B.A., University of Notre Dame (1993), Dean’s ListSummer Program, Moscow State University (1992)  

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

William A. Nebeker, Esq. is the managing partner of the Phoenix office for the law firm of Koeller, Nebeker, Carlson & Haluck, LLP. He practices in the area of insurance litigation defense with an emphasis on personal injury and construction defect litigation. Mr. Nebeker received his B.S. degree in political science from Arizona State University and his J.D. degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. After admission to both the California Bar in 1976 and the Arizona Bar in 1977, Mr. Nebeker began his career as House Counsel for Home Insurance. After entering private practice, Mr. Nebeker became one of the first lawyers certified by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization for personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Mr. Nebeker has tried to conclusion over 75 civil jury trials. Mr. Nebeker is an active member of the Arizona Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Arizona Association of Defense Lawyers and the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the California Bar Association and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. Mr. Nebeker is AV peer rated by Martindale Hubbell and in 2008, Mr. Nebeker was elected an Advocate Level Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Recently, Mr. Nebeker was selected as a Super Lawyer for the Southwest Region and was nominated for Fellowship in the Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. Mr. Nebeker is a recognized national speaker on construction litigation issues and has successfully represented developers and general contractors in all phases of litigation for the past 30 years in both Arizona and California. Mr. Nebeker has spoken at and presented written materials for the following organizations: West Coast Casualty, Mealey Publications, Lorman Educational Services, National Business Institute, Maricopa County Bar Association, MC Consultants' Construction Law Seminars, Defense Research Institute and the State Bar of Arizona. The Arizona office, currently managed by Mr. Nebeker, includes seventeen associate attorneys as well as seven paralegals. The caseload involves traditional litigated cases including automobile, premises, and product liability. In addition, in the construction defect arena, the firm is currently representing Beazer Homes, Centex Homes, Fulton Homes, Ryland Homes, Meritage Homes, D.R. Horton Homes, Toll Brothers, Shea Homes and Pulte/Del Webb Homes. Recently, this firm was named Pulte Homes Litigation Counsel of the Year (2006 and 2008). Mr. Nebeker has several published opinions in the Arizona and California Court of Appeals. See: Gouvis Engineering v. Superior Court, 43 Cal.Rptr.2d 785 (1995); Camelot by the Bay Condominium Owners' Assn. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 27 Cal.App.4th 33, 32 Cal.Rptr.2d 354 (1994); Equitable General Ins. Co. v. Helm, 128 Ariz. 6, 623 P.2d 365 (Ariz. 1981); La Jolla Village Homeowners' Assn. v. Superior Court, 212 Cal.App.3d 1131, 261 Cal.Rptr. 146, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 12,277 (Cal.App. 1989); Decca Design Build v. American Automobile Insurance Co., 206 Ariz. 301, 77 P.3d 1251 (Div. 1 2003). 

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael F. Nerone is a shareholder and one of the founders of Pion, Johnston, Nerone, Girman, Clements & Smith, P.C.  His practice is focused primarily in the areas of transportation law, insurance coverage litigation, bad faith defense and prevention, product liability and general civil litigation. Mr. Nerone regularly manages catastrophic losses from time of occurrence and investigation up through and including verdicts and post-trial appeals.  Pion Johnston provides its clients with 24/7 coverage for such catastrophic losses and Mr. Nerone is integral in managing such exposures for the firm's clients. Mr. Nerone lectures regularly regarding transportation law, coverage issues and Medicare compliance and strategies for obtaining approval of set-aside trusts.  Mr. Nerone also regularly participates in training and education of commercial drivers.  He has been published regularly throughout his legal career beginning with the Duquene Law Review while he was in law school and more recently in transportation periodicals, Andrews Insurance Industry Litigation Reporter, Best Weekly Property/Casualty News and Trends, Insurance Advocate and others. Mr. Nerone is a member of TIDA and is and has been for several years Chairman of the TIDA Amicus Committee.  Through the TIDA Amicus Committee Mr. Nerone has been integrally involved in addressing numerous issues having a wide-ranging impact upon the transportation industry, including MCS-90 issues, punitive damage issues, jurisdictional issues and legislative changes. Mr. Nerone is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.  He is admitted to practice before all of the Pennsylvania State Courts, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.  Mr. Nerone is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Pennsylvania Defense Institute and the Trucking Industry Defense Association. Mr. Nerone graduated from Duquesne University in 1988 with a BS in Accounting.  He obtained his JD from Duquesne University School of Law in 1991.  He has practiced in Pennsylvania throughout his entire career.

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Rick D. is speaking in the following sessions:

For over 20 years, Rick Norris has maintained a diversified trial practice in state and federal courts trying more than 100 jury trials to verdict in more than 25 counties across the state of Alabama. Mr. Norris has devoted a large part of his practice to the representation of major restaurant and retail corporations in defense of premises liability, product liability, automobile and trucking accidents, as well as employment practices liability actions.Mr. Norris’ extensive courtroom experience has taken him to difficult venues in high exposure cases. He has successfully tried serious injury, loss of limb and wrongful death cases in some of the most feared forums for corporate defendants.In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Norris is an experienced mediator listed on the panel of neutrals of the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a frequently invited speaker on issues of trial tactics and personal injury litigation for both legal events and industry specific programs.One of the things that Rick likes most about practicing law at Christian & Small is the firm’s investment in its people. He says the firm spares no expense when it comes to developing the finest lawyers. That dedication may come in the form of the latest technology or making sure that every attorney has an opportunity to give back to the community through charitable activities.Outside his law practice, Rick is a proud husband and father and an active member of Mountain Brook Community Church, where he teaches an adult community group class. 

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Christian is speaking in the following sessions:

Christian Novay is a Partner in the Chicago office. He focuses on the defense of product liability, general liability, trucking and transportation litigation, construction, professional liability, automobile negligence, and employment practices liability litigation. Throughout his career, Christian has tried cases in various courts in Illinois and New York as lead counsel. Among others, he obtained a defense verdict for a law firm that failed to file a lawsuit within the statute of limitations period on behalf of a client who suffered permanently disabling injuries in an elevator malfunction accident. Christian has also successfully appealed cases before the Supreme Court Appellate Division in the State of New York. He has successfully defended a variety of product liability matters involving goods manufactured in the United States and abroad. In the area of professional liability, Christian has defended engineers, architects, lawyers, and insurance brokers and actuaries. Additionally, he has handled employment cases in state and federal courts. Christian has represented construction companies, property managers, apartment complexes, condominium associations, retailers, security firms and golf courses in matters of premises liability and intentional tort. He has also represented numerous trucking and transportation companies in vehicular accidents. Christian is a former Assistant District Attorney in New York, where he tried numerous cases and achieved a greater than 90 percent conviction rate. Bar Admissions New York State Bar Illinois State Bar Education Florida Southern College, B.S., 1991Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 1997 Court Admissions U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New YorkU.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Professional Memberships Kane County Bar Association Chicago Bar Association Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Defense Research Institute

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David is speaking in the following sessions:

David M. O’Connor of O'Connor & Associates, LLC, an AV-rated Boston firm, represents carriers in coverage and unfair claims practices litigation. Mr. O’Connor is recognized in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers is a Massachusetts Super Lawyer. He obtained a B.A. from Georgetown University and is a cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School. Admitted: 1985, Massachusetts, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts; 1997, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, U.S. Court of Appeals, First and Ninth Circuits; 1998, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut Law School: Boston College, J.D. College: Georgetown University Member: Boston (Member, Insurance Law Committee), Massachusetts (Member, Litigation Section) and American (Member, Tort and Insurance Section) Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute. Biography: Articles Editor, Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, 1983-1984. Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Boston Magazine. Born: Teaneck, New Jersey, November 20, 1958 

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Kevin is speaking in the following sessions:

Kevin J. O'Toole is a nationally recognized litigator with an emphasis in environmental, toxic tort and complex litigation matters.  Kevin has been retained by Fortune 500 companies to provide litigation strategy and risk management. Kevin received his B.A. degree from Seton Hall University (1986) and his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law (1989).  He currently serves in the New Jersey Senate.  During his previous post in the state Assembly, Mr. O'Toole held the posts of Deputy Republican Leader and Assistant Majority Leader. Kevin can be reached at kotoole@ofwvlaw.com.

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

D WilliamD B. Oberts is a director at Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C. He is a litigation attorney that focuses his practice in the area of tort and civil rights defense and professional liability. He was selected from over 700 nominees as one of the top 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty To Watch by Law Bulletin Publishing Co. He was also recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyer magazine for the past three years in the area of civil rights litigation. Bill is the Chair of the Council on Litigation Management’s Municipal Law Committee. Bill is a former member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Board of Managers and a past Chair of its Young Lawyers Section, an over 9,000 member organization. He has spoke and published articles on various issues involving tort and civil rights litigation, professional liability, civility and professionalism.

Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Michigan State University College of Law (1998)
B.A., University of Illinois (1994)

Areas of Practice
Torts and Civil Rights Litigation
Professional Liability
Construction Litigation
Civil Defense Litigation
Class Action Litigation

Articles

“Civil Rights Update,” published by Illinois Municipal Risk League Association (2005)

“Timing is Everything,” CBA Record (1997), re-published in Committee News, American Bar Associations Government Law Committee (Winter 2008)

“Together Everyone Achieves More,” CBA Record (September 2007)

“Get Involved!,” CBA Record (October 2007)

“Life in the Balance,” CBA Record (November 2007)

“Can't We All Just Get Along,” CBA Record (January 2008)

“I'll Take a Vowel,” CBA Record (February/March 2008)

“Investing in the Future,” CBA Record (April 2008)

“Reputation: Hard to Build and Easy to Lose,” Chicago Lawyer (March 2009)

“Why do we do it?” Chicago Lawyer (July 2008)

“When do we stop climbing?” Chicago Lawyer (March 2009)

“Responsibilities of Partners, Managers, and Other Supervisory Lawyers in Illinois,” IDC Quarterly, The Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Second Quarter 2011)

“Section 1983 Claims – Not your typical state law claims,” Litigation Management, Council on Litigation Management (Summer 2011)

Speeches

“Attacking the Affidavit,” moderator for seminar hosted by Chicago Bar Association (2003-2005)

“CBA Basic Skills Course - Civility in the Profession,” Chicago Bar Association (2007 and 2008)

“You're a Young Lawyer: Handling Bias in the Workplace,” Legal Ease: Voice of the Young Lawyer Series, West LegalEdcenter Webcast (December 18, 2008)

“You're a Young Lawyer: Professionalism and Office Relations,” Legal Ease: Voice of the Young Lawyer Series, West LegalEdcenter Webcast (February 18, 2009)

“Comparative Negligence: A Discussion of the Allocation of Fault and its Practical Applications,” presented to Broadspire - AOL (April 8, 2009)

“You're a Young Lawyer: Practicing Professionalism with Opposing Counsel and the Bench,” Legal Ease: Voice of the Young Lawyer Series, West LegalEdcenter Webcast (April 16, 2009)

“EMT Exposures,” IMLRMA Defense Counsel Seminar (September 9, 2009)

“Records Retentions and E-Discovery,” IML 96th Annual Conference (September 24, 2009)
“Practical Tips on Professional Development,” Legal Ease: Voice of the Young Lawyer Series, West Legal Ed Center Webcast (October 1, 2009)

“Civil Rights and Governmental Liability: Case Evaluation and Claims Handling,” Council on Litigation Management 2011 Annual Conference (March 24, 2011)

“Controlling Communications of Public Employees on behalf of a Public Entity,” Council on Litigation Management (June 29, 2011)

Awards and Recognitions

2009 thru 2011 Illinois Rising Star recognized by Super Lawyer magazine

40 Under Forty, selected from over 700 nominees as one of the 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to watch, Law Bulletin Publishing, October 2009

Professional Associations

Professional Associations

Council on Litigation Management
Chair, Municipal Law Committee (2010-)

Chicago Bar Association
Board Member, CBA Board of Directors, TV Productions, Inc. (December 2010- )
Board Member, CBA Board of Managers (June 2009-June 2011 )
Vice Chair, Federal Civil Practice Committee (2009-2010)
Board Member, CBF Board of Directors (2008-2009)
Co-Chair, Special Committee of the Judicial Evaluations Committee (2009)
Member, Hearings Committee, Judicial Evaluation Committee (2004-2009)
Member, CBA Blue Ribbon Committee on Cook County's Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (2006-2009)
Chair, Young Lawyers Section (2007-2008)
Vice-Chair, CBA Membership Committee (2006-2008)
Vice-Chair of Investigations, Judicial Evaluation Committee (2002-2003)

American Bar Association
Vice-Chair, Governmental Liability Committee, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (2009- )
Vice-Chair, National Conference Committee, Young Lawyers' Division (2005-2006)
Member, E-Communication Team, Young Lawyers' Division (2004-2005)
Assistant Editor, Affiliate, Young Lawyers' Division (2003-2004)
District Representative for Illinois and Indiana (2001-2002)
FEMA coordinator for Illinois and Indiana (2001-2002)

Illinois Judges Foundation
Auxiliary Committee Member (2009)

Illinois State Bar Association

 

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

Joe Pappalardo is a trial attorney who represents public and private companies, insurancecarriers and individuals in cases involving industrial accidents, personal injury, wrongfuldeath, employer intentional torts, and property damage. He has litigated cases in a widevariety of industries, including aviation, trucking, automobile, motorcycles, hand and powertools, and automatic pedestrian doors. The past few years he has concentrated his practiceon trucking, motor coach, and product liability matters. A partner since 1987 in theCleveland, Ohio, law firm of Gallagher Sharp, Mr. Pappalardo is admitted to all Ohio Courtsas well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the UnitedStates District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the United States Court ofAppeals for the Sixth Circuit.Mr. Pappalardo received his law degree from The Ohio State University in 1980, and hisundergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University in 1977.He is Martindale-Hubbell AV rated, and listed as an Outstanding Lawyer of America and anOhio Super Lawyer for 2004-2011.Mr. Pappalardo is a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) (Board ofDirectors, General Counsel), Transportation Lawyers Association, Ohio TruckingAssociation, including the Legislative Committee, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance,including the Transportation Committee, Defense Research Institute, including the ProductLiability and Trucking Committees, Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland Association ofCivil Trial Attorneys, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, and is a Master Bencher,Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court.

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Alan is speaking in the following sessions:

Alan Parker's civil litigation practice includes intellectual property, medical negligence, personal injury, professional liability, employment discrimination and breach of contract disputes. On three separate occasions, his cases were listed among the most significant defense verdicts in their respective years by the ABA Journal or the National Law Journal. In addition to litigation, Alan advises clients on intellectual property, management and protection strategies and internet and web-based commerce issues. Alan frequently lectures and writes on trial practice, medical negligence and risk management, and the use of technology in civil litigation. He is also active in national and local professional organizations, especially those focusing on legal issues involving the internet and technology. Alan has organized and moderated seminars on information, surveillance and technology issues for governments, citizens and lawyers, as well as numerous continuing education programs on civil trial practice. 

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Amy is speaking in the following sessions:

Amy R. Paulus is a partner and member of the Board of Directors of Clausen Miller P.C. who concentrates her practice in all areas of liability insurance coverage law, environmental and toxic tort coverage litigation, and reinsurance matters. Ms. Paulus also regularly assists insurers in drafting new policy forms and coverages. Ms. Paulus is a CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter). Ms. Paulus has also received an AV rating (highest) from Martindale-Hubbell. Ms. Paulus received a B.A. from Northwestern University in 1985. In 1989, she received her Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University College of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review. Ms. Paulus is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and is a member of the Chicago Bar Association.   Education J.D. Northern Illinois University College of Law, 1989 B.A. Northwestern University, 1985 Bar Admissions Illinois Court Admissions U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1989 Organization Affiliations Chicago Bar Association  CPCU Society

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Robert is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Peahl is the Chief Litigation Management Executive for Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker.  He is responsible for development and management of programs that ensure consistently exceptional client services. 

Mr. Peahl has over 30 years of professional experience  as a practicing attorney and in corporate litigation management positions.  Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Mr. Peahl was Senior Vice President, Litigation Services for AIG, where he was responsible for litigation management programs and practices relating to selection, compensation and management of counsel retained by or on behalf of the claims organizations of the AIG member companies.

Mr. Peahl received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. with Honors from Hamline University School of Law.  He is licensed to practice law in DC, Illinois and Minnesota. 

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Steven is speaking in the following sessions:

For more than two decades, Steve's practice has had its emphasis in the areas of insurance coverage, bad faith, reinsurance, professional liability and complex general commercial litigation. He has represented insurers at every stage of the process, from claims handling through trial and appeal in state and federal courts across the country. Steve has also served as national and regional counsel for a number of insurance companies in general liability, construction defect, municipal liability, healthcare, environmental, mass tort and bad faith claims. He has diverse jury and bench trial experience in both criminal and complex civil cases. Steve has been engaged as an expert on insurance-related topics and speaks regularly at insurance coverage seminars throughout the country. He has also taught insurance law as an adjunct professor of law and has published articles in this area. He serves on the Firm's Executive and Management Committees. Publications: "Shifting Risk in Construction Losses: New Developments in Additional Insured and Contractual Liability Coverage," 2007 CGL Reporter (19)615-1 (IRMI 2007). Presentations: "Risk Transfer and Additional Insured Issues In Construction Defect Litigation," ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Sections, 15th Annual Insurance Coverage Litigation Midyear Program, February 16, 2007 "Dissection of a Wrap Policy," 11th Annual Construction Defect Claims Seminar MC2 Consultants, June 3, 2006   Education: DePaul University College of Law (J.D. 1985) University of Minnesota (B.A. 1982)   Admitted to Practice: Illinois United States Supreme Court United States Court of Appeals (First, Second, Sixth, Ninth, Eleventh Circuits) Professional Activities: IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law: Adjunct Professor of Insurance Law (1990-1998) Peer Recognitions/Awards: Martindale & Hubbell - AV Rated (highest rating for legal ability and ethics) Illinois Super Lawyer Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin Publishing Company Service Appointments: Appointed by Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme Court to Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar Committee on Character and Fitness (Second Judicial District) Community Activities: Wheaton Academy Board of Directors/Executive Committee Angel Flight Central Board of Directors/Executive Committee Cornell University, Parents Annual Fund Committee   Other: Instrument-Rated Private Pilot News: 13 MBT Partners Named "Illinois Super Lawyers;" Tilson "Top 100;" Argionis and Wermuth "Rising Stars" Meckler Bulger & Tilson Expands Its Name, Adds Two Founding Partners to Masthead 10 MB&T Lawyers Named Illinois Super Lawyers  

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Juan Jose is speaking in the following sessions:

Juan Jose (“John”) Perez was born in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Because his parents were migrant workers, he and his family traveled through the northwestern states working in the fields. Like most children from migrant-worker families, he attended two or three different elementary schools each year. Before starting high school, John’s family settled in Toledo, Ohio. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, and received his BA in Psychology in May, 1978. In 1985, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.John began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Nicholas J. Walinski, District Judge for the US District Court in Toledo. He then joined a major law firm in Columbus, first as associate and then partner. Later, he branched out from the law office to serve as general counsel and vice president of administration for a publicly traded company. In 1997, he fulfilled a goal he set early in life and opened up his own law office. In 1999, the law firm of Perez & Morris LLC was formed. Perez & Morris LLC, a business law firm which specializes in all aspects of business litigation and transactions, and represents clients throughout the United States.He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Toledo and is on the Board of Trustees for the Mount Carmel Health System Board (which is comprised of four hospitals and six clinics). John also is a founding member of and is on the Board of Directors for Columbus First Bank, a community bank. He is Past Chair of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.In 2009, John was featured on the cover of the inaugural edition of “Who’s Who in Latino Columbus.” He previously served as a member of the Governance Committee of the National Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, board member of the National Kidney Foundation Serving Ohio, the Columbus Crew Foundation, the Advisory Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, Advisory Board of The Gathering, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council, Franklin County Foster Parent Association and as commissioner for the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.John and his wife, Joan, have three sons. He is very active in church and community activities, and is fluent in Spanish.John and his wife, Joan, have three sons. He is very active in church and community activities, and is fluent in Spanish.In 2009, John was featured on the cover of the inaugural edition of “Who’s Who in Latino Columbus.” He previously served as a member of the Governance Committee of the National Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, board member of the National Kidney Foundation Serving Ohio, the Columbus Crew Foundation, the Advisory Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, Advisory Board of The Gathering, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council, Franklin County Foster Parent Association and as commissioner for the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Toledo and is on the Board of Trustees for the Mount Carmel Health System Board (which is comprised of four hospitals and six clinics). John also is a founding member of and is on the Board of Directors for Columbus First Bank, a community bank. He is Past Chair of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.John began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Nicholas J. Walinski, District Judge for the US District Court in Toledo. He then joined a major law firm in Columbus, first as associate and then partner. Later, he branched out from the law office to serve as general counsel and vice president of administration for a publicly traded company. In 1997, he fulfilled a goal he set early in life and opened up his own law office. In 1999, the law firm of Perez & Morris LLC was formed. Perez & Morris LLC, a business law firm which specializes in all aspects of business litigation and transactions, and represents clients throughout the United States. 

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Carl J. is speaking in the following sessions:

arlJ. Pernicone
Partner
New York: 212.915.5656
carl.pernicone@wilsonelser.com

Carl Pernicone is co-chair of the firm’s Insurance-Reinsurance Coverage practice. Carl has extensive experience with matters involving toxic tort and environmental liability claims, including property insurance claims. He also applies the skill set he has developed in handling complicated environmental issues to assist insurers facing claims in emerging coverage areas such as climate change and clean energy technologies.

Carl adds value to his client relationships through responsiveness and regular follow up. He takes the time to get to know the issues of interest to each of his clients – including issues not related to projects Carl is handling for them– and frequently will pass along relevant news articles, email alerts or other materials to his clients. Carl also provides regular follow up on key topics of interest to attendees of educational programs he has presented.

In addition to his legal practice, Carl manages Wilson Elser’s national attorney training program and is chair of the Associate Development Committee.

AREAS OF FOCUS

Insurance-Reinsurance Coverage

For more than two decades, Carl has represented insurers and reinsurers across the country as counsel of record in complex, high-exposure insurance and reinsurance coverage disputes in state and federal courts. In addition to litigating matters, he analyzes coverage, issues coverage opinions, prepares reservation of rights and disclaimer letters, drafts policy wording, and drafts insurance coverage settlement and “buyback” agreements.

Much of Carl’s work concerns coverage disputes arising from so-called “long-tail” injury claims, such as those involving asbestos, lead, silica, workplace chemical exposure and environmental liability. More recently, Carl has applied his extensive experience assisting insurance companies with long-term pollution cases from the 1980s and 1990s to address coverage implications for his clients in emerging areas such as climate change liability and hydrofracking for natural gas trapped in shale.

Currently, Carl is counseling insurers on the coverage implications of claims brought by plaintiffs residing in the vicinity of hydofracking operations. The plaintiffs are seeking medical monitoring for future injury due to the potential seepage of fracturing fluid into groundwater and the potential release of methane gas during the natural gas extraction process. In addition to such toxic tort and property damage claims, Carl is counseling insurers on potential product liability claims alleging defective drilling equipment.

Many of these same issues are surfacing in connection with other clean energy technologies such as wind and solar, and Carl presently is involved in analyzing them on behalf of his insurer clients.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Budofsky v. Hartford Insurance Co. (seminal New York decision sustaining applicability of absolute pollution exclusion for environmental claims)
• Maryland Casualty Co. v. W.R. Grace & Co,
• In Re Union Carbide Corporation Multi-State Environmental Coverage Litigation
• G. Heilman Brewing Co. v. Royal Group, Inc, et al.
• Borg-Warner Corporation v. INA, et al.
• In Re Babcock & Wilcox asbestos bankruptcy proceeding
• In Re W. R. Grace asbestos bankruptcy proceeding
• In Re Federal-Mogul Corporation asbestos bankruptcy proceeding
• In Re Quigley asbestos bankruptcy proceeding

Bar Admissions
New York

Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1983
Iona College, B.A., 1980, summa cum laude

Awards & Distinctions
Selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers, 2011

Professional Memberships
American Bar Association, Litigation Committee; Tort and Insurance Practice Committee
New York State Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee
Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Ad Hoc Litigation Committee
New York County Lawyers Association
Council on Litigation Management
Defense Research Institute
Environmental and Emerging Claims Manager Association
Fordham University School of Law, Environmental Law Journal, editorial advisory board

Publications
“Underground Liability: Hydraulic Fracturing Raises Environmental Concerns,” Business Insurance, February 2011.
Co-author, chapter on “General Liability Coverage for Bodily Injury and Property Damage,” New York State Bar Association, Insurance Law Practice 2011 Supplement (updated biannually).
Toxic Tort Law in New York, West Publications, (2011).

Presentations
“Hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale: The Liability and Insurance Coverage Implications,” webinar, April 20, 2011.

 

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John is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. John V. Petrycki, Jr. is a graduate of Gettysburg College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with honors in 1991. He graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law with his Juris Doctorate in 1994. Mr. Petrycki is admitted to practice in the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Petrycki is a member of Mayfield, Turner, O'Mara, Donnelly, & McBride where he has practiced since 2002.  Prior to joining his current firm, he was an associate for eight years with the law firm of Fitzpatrick, Reilly, Supple & Gaul in New Providence, New Jersey.  His current practice is focused on the defense of litigated matters for self-insured clients and insurance carriers in both state and federal courts in cases involving premises liability, construction site accidents, property damage, employment, toxic torts, general negligence, and appellate practice.  He has also served as a arbitrator for Uninsured/Underinsured claims. Mr. Petrycki is a member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey District IV Ethics Committee, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Camden County Bar Association. He was a Barrister in the Worrell F. Mountain Inns of Court in 2001-2002. He has also presented various seminars to clients on insurance coverage issues, contractual indemnity claims, verbal threshold issues for commercial clients, and other motor vehicle related topics.

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William is speaking in the following sessions:

Bill is a partner in the Mobile, Alabama office of Austill, Lewis & Pipkin, P.C.  He has a general civil practice, focusing on the defense of workers’ compensation, personal injury and general liability matters.  Admitted to practice in Alabama and Florida, he is an experienced trial attorney in both state and federal courts throughout Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  He is a member of the Alabama State Bar and served as Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Section from 2006-2007.  His other memberships include, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute (Construction Law, Trucking Law and Workers’ Compensation Committees) and the Florida Bar.  He is currently Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Defense Research Institute and is a frequent speaker at professional education seminars on workers’ compensation topics.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Workers' Compensation Attorneys and co-Chair of the National Workers' Compensation Review Program at the annual FWCI Conference.  Bill is an Eagle Scout and has been selected for inclusion in “Best Lawyers in America”.  He earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989 and his undergraduate degree in English and History from Birmingham-Southern College in 1986.

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Edgar is speaking in the following sessions:

Edgar Allen Poe, Jr. is an equity member in West Virginia based law firm of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe. Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe is an insurance defense law firm with approximately fifty attorneys practicing in the states of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. The law firm has offices located in Charleston, Beckley, Morgantown and Martinsburg in order to service all areas of the state. The law firm services insurance clients in all aspects of insurance law from general liability to bad faith to coverage issues. The law firm prides itself on a responsive and collaborative method of doing business in the industry. As an equity member in the law firm, Mr. Poe has over twenty-five years of experience in defending insureds and insurance companies throughout the state of West Virginia. Mr. Poe is well recognized within the industry as a trusted advisor and panel counsel to insurance companies and as a seasoned trial lawyer for their insureds. Mr. Poe routinely conducts and participates in seminars relevant and timely to the insurance industry and to the defense of insureds. Mr. Poe is actively involved in the West Virginia legal community through the West Virginia State Bar, Defense Trial Council of West Virginia and other organizations. Nationally, Mr. Poe is active in DRI and serves as a State Chair for The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Mr. Poe is also active in his community, having served in a variety of volunteer capacities in the past through various professional, religious and political organizations. Mr. Poe presently serves as Vice President and legal counsel of the United States Tae Kwon Do Won, Inc. For a separate bio descriptive of Mr. Poe, you may visit the website of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe at www.pffwv.com or you may call Mr. Poe directly on his cell phone at (304) 549-1505. Year Joined Organization:  1999 – Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC Areas of Practice: Insurance Defense Litigation - General Liability and Major Claims Product Liability Construction Law Trucking Law Mass Tort / Environmental Law Professional Liability - Medical, Legal, Architect and Engineering State Government Law 

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Tom is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Radcliffe joined DeHay & Elliston, L.L.P. as a partner in the Baltimore office in 2002. Previously, he was a partner with Church & Houff, P.A., and an associate with Tydings and Rosenberg in Baltimore.Mr. Radcliffe has been a member of the Bar of the State of Maryland since 1986. Mr. Radcliffe concentrates his practice of law in mass tort litigation and insurance defense. He has trial experience in many of the Circuit Courts of Maryland as well as in states other than Maryland.  He has tried or participated in the trial of cases in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Mr. Radcliffe maintains a trial case load on a national level and actively supervises attorneys in jurisdictions throughout the country.Mr. Radcliffe is AV rated by Martindale Hubbel. 

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Dean is speaking in the following sessions:

Dean S. Rauchwerger is a partner with Clausen Miller P.C. concentrating his practice in the handling of complex, multi-million dollar commercial and tort litigation matters on a national basis in both Federal and State Courts. Mr. Rauchwerger has prosecuted a variety of loss recovery claims around the country, achieving eight figure, multi-million dollar recoveries. Mr. Rauchwerger’s practice has covered extraordinary building fires and a myriad of industrial explosions and other disasters involving substantial property damages and lost profit claims. Many of these disasters have been recognized by the National Fire Protection Association on their annual listing of Large Loss Fires and explosions. Mr. Rauchwerger’s experience includes the catastrophic fire at the First Interstate Tower in Los Angeles, California; the World Trade Center explosion; the massive explosion of an ammonium nitrate fertilizer manufacturing facility; major explosion and fire at a coal-fired electric utility; flooding of a high-rise New York City office building; rail car explosion involving toluene diisocyanate chemical waste materials; and a host of other industrial accidents and commercial and business disputes. In November 2003, Mr. Rauchwerger achieved a record seven figure unanimous jury verdict in Douglas County, Kansas for a 1999 catastrophic manufacturing plant explosion. Mr. Rauchwerger has considerable experience in multi-party matters involving business litigation, products liability, aviation, toxic tort and mass disaster. He also has significant experience in litigating claims against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act as well as handling qui tam whistleblower litigation under the False Claims Act. Mr. Rauchwerger’s broad experience includes the national defense of a Fortune 100 corporation for product liability claims involving damaged buildings and other physical structures; defending a major air carrier against personal injury and wrongful death claims in multi-district litigation arising out of the Flight 232 Sioux City air crash; defending a multitude of toxic tort TCE claims arising out of the groundwater contamination of the Tucson aquifer and the prosecuting of FTCA claims against the United States; defending an air carrier against novel handicapped rights claims being prosecuted by public interest groups; pro bono prosecution of a major prisoner rights lawsuit involving First Amendment and Section 1983 civil rights claims; and other diverse litigation. Mr. Rauchwerger earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Washington University in St. Louis in 1981 and 1984, respectively. He is licensed, by examination, to practice in Illinois, New York and Connecticut. Mr. Rauchwerger is also admitted to practice before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Mr. Rauchwerger has an "AV" rating with Martindale-Hubbell indicating the highest ranking in legal ability and ethical standards as determined by his peers in the legal community.   Education J.D. Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, 1984 B.A. Washington University in St. Louis, 1981 Bar Admissions Connecticut New York Illinois Court Admissions U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1985 U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1997 U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2001 U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1985 U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2003 U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 2004 U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1985 U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1998 Organization Affiliations The Lawyers Club of Chicago  Chicago Bar Association Federal Bar Association National Association of Subrogation Professionals New York State Bar Association Practice Areas Business/Commercial Litigation Subrogation Mass Torts Products Liability Director & Officer Liability Intellectual Property Industries Insurance Manufacturers and Distributors Closely Held Businesses and Entrepreneurs Chemicals Energy Transportation News, Events & Publications Event: 09/13/2010 Stern & Rauchwerger: PLRB/LIRB Subrogation Seminar News: 09/08/2010 Rauchwerger, Errera and Ferrini Score MCS-90 Subrogation Victory Article: 10/27/2010 MCS-90 Endorsements Provide Significant Subrogation Recovery Opportunities CM Report 2007 CM Report: Business Practice Group Report (2007) Publication: 10/29/2009 Rauchwerger, Errera, Ferrini & O'Brien Publish: "The Daubert Tango: Recent Developments In Fire and Explosion Litigation"

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R. Steven is speaking in the following sessions:

Steve Rawls is a partner with Butler Pappas. His practice involves third party general liability coverage matters throughout the United States, focusing upon construction defect, pollution, premises and products liability matters. His practice also includes representation of clients in bad faith matters and defense of his clients' insureds in catastrophic injury case. Mr. Rawls frequently speaks about issues related to his practice at client and industry seminars. Most recently, Mr Rawls moderated each of the MC2 Construction Defect Coverage Seminars held in Florida in 2007 and 2008. Mr. Rawls also spoke as a panelist at those seminars regarding the consequences of underinsuring developers in Florida, issues unique to high-rise litigation, and Florida coverage law. In 2009, Mr. Rawls will be speaking on risk transfer and additional insured issues in the East and Southeast. Mr. Rawls' client seminars have addressed a wide range of construction defect coverage issues such as trigger, allocation and cessation of allocation, risk transfer and additional insured coverage issues. Mr. Rawls has also presented several client seminars regarding claims handling and bad faith settlement issues. Mr. Rawls has published extensively about issues related to his practice in articles and treatises, including the Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation, the CGL Reporter and For The Defense, among others. Additionally, Mr. Rawls provides quarterly articles in his role as Expert Commentator in the area of Liability Insurance for the International Risk Management Institute.  His publications include: Does an Insured Owe a Duty of Good Faith to its Insurer When the Insured is Responsible for Defense Costs in a Self-Insured Retention?, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 23, #12, p. 27 (October 22, 2009)(with Ryan Hilton);  CGL Insurance and the Question of Intent, International Risk Management Institute (February 2009)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Coverage Trigger: Getting It Right for the Right Reason, International Risk  Management Institute (October 2008)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  The Future Is Now: When Eventual Indemnity Obligations become Present Defense Obligations, International Risk Management Institute (August 2008)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Variations on a Theme: When the Cause Theory Determines the Number of Occurrences, International Risk Management Institute (May 2008)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  The Burden To Allocate: Mine, Yours, or Ours?, International Risk Management Institute (February 2008)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Insurance Law and Exclusion (m), International Risk Management Institute (November 2007)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  More Allocation Theories: Exhaustion, International Risk Management Institute (July 2007)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Cover Me: The Subcontractor Exception to the Your [Completed] Work Exclusion, International Risk Management Institute (April 2007)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  The Scope of "Ongoing Operations" Additional Insured Endorsements: Broader than Expected, International Risk Management Institute (February 2007)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Business Risks Exclusions: CGL Coverage and the Cost of Doing Business, Chapter in DRI treatise entitled Construction Defects-Claims and Coverage, DRI (2007) (with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  When Does Liability Coverage Exist for Mental Anguish without Bodily Injury?, International Risk Management Institute (November 2006)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Pre-Tender Defense Costs: Who Pays?, International Risk Management Institute (July 2006)(with Rebecca Appelbaum);  Selected Third Party Bad Faith Liability Standards Governing Failure to Settle Cases, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 20, #4, p. 1 (June 20, 2006) (with Dennis Hudson);  Are Products Advertisements That Give Rise to Advertising Injury Coverage?, International Risk Management Institute (April 2006)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Allocation of Damages for Ongoing Losses over Multiple Policies Who Pays and How Much?, International Risk Management Institute (January 2006)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  The Scope of the Prior Publication Exclusion: Now You See It, Now You Don't, International Risk Management Institute (October 2005)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Insurers: Can You Get Your Defense Dollars Back? International Risk Management Institute (July 2005)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  An Insurer's Liability For Punitive Damages In An Excess Judgment, Mealy's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 19, #3, p. 27 (June 7, 2005)(with Rebecca C. Appelbaum);  Hospital Lien Laws and Personal Injury Settlements, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 18, #14, p. 30 (November 16, 2004)(with Ryan Hilton);  Do Liability Insurers Have A Duty To Make An Offer Where There Is No Claim Against The Insured?, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 17, #18, p. 27 (January 21, 2004)(with Ryan Hilton);  What Is A Reasonable Settlement When There Are Multiple Claimants?, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 17, #6, p. 26 (July 16, 2003)(with Andrew Patten);  Recognizing Subtle Exposures To Avoid Bad Faith Claims, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 15, #14, p. 29 (November 21, 2001)(with Veronica Vellines);  Justices: Please Take This Case!, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 15, #12, p. 24 (October 17, 2001)(with Fay Ryan);  Additional Insured Coverage & Bad Faith, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 15, #10, p. 25 (September 25, 2001)(with Lisa Oonk);  Litigating Coverage During the Pendency of the Underlying Tort Suit, Chapter in West treatise entitled Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation (West 2000) (with Lisa Oonk and Kim Nolen); Bad Faith Findings In The Absence of Coverage, For The Defense, Vol. 42, No. 1, January, 2000 (with Kathy J. Maus);  The Duty Of Insurers To Advise Insureds Of Policy Benefits, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 12, #18, p. 28 (Jan. 19, 1999) (with Andrew Patten); Good Faith Settlement Of Claims In Excess Of Policy Limits Against Multiple Insureds, Mealey's Litigation Report: Bad Faith, Vol. 13, #10, p. 21 (with Abigail Dressel; originally published as Blind Man's Bluff: Settling Claims In Excess Of Policy Limits Against Multiple Insureds, CGL Reporter, Binder 9, 1997); Discovery Issues in Bad Faith Cases, Chapter in treatise entitles Recurring Issues in Insurance Disputes: A Guide for Insurers and Insureds, 1996 (with Lisa Oonk and Herbert J. Baumann, Jr.); Attacking the Consent Judgment: Corralling the Horse That Gets Out of the Barn, DRI, 1993 (as an uncredited co-author with John Weihmuller); A representative sample of Mr Rawls' clients includes Zurich N.A., Travelers, Markel and Markel International, Mid-Continent, Hartford, XL Insurance, Old Republic Construction Program Group, General Fidelity and various Lloyd's syndicates. Mr. Rawls graduated in 1991 from the University of Florida College of Law and is a member of The Florida Bar and the United States District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Defense Research Institute, the Council for Litigation Management and the American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Coverage Committee. 

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Robert E. is speaking in the following sessions:

Rob Rider has more than 20 years of experience in insurance coverage with an emphasis in environmental and long-tail claims – claims made for incidents where the harm or injury occurred years after the exposure or circumstance that led to the claim.  His expertise also includes evaluating coverage considerations in a wide variety of matters, including professional and health-care liability claims. In this regard, he has handled complex insurance coverage disputes in which he managed numerous attorneys and voluminous documents, and has successfully litigated cases in multiple jurisdictions, including Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, Texas, Connecticut and Massachusetts  Rob is active in community and professional associations and is currently with the Virginia state delegation for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, previously having been the state chair for the District of Columbia.  His is admitted to the state bars in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland.  Rob has earned an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest recognition achievable for professional ability and ethics. He received both his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia. • J.D., University of Virginia, (1988); B.A., University of Virginia, (1985)• Practice Areas: General Litigation & Trial Practice , Insurance Coverage• Admitted to Practice: Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia  

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Richard is speaking in the following sessions:

Since 1996, Mr. Righi's practice has concentrated on representing individuals, contractors and businesses in tort and contract litigation, primarily in the areas of construction defects, complex litigation, general liability, personal injury, product liability and insurance bad faith. Mr Righi began trying cases in 1993 as a Deputy Maricopa County Attorney.  He has tried over 50 cases to verdict in courts throughout the State of Arizona. His trials have involved a wide variety of issues: vehicular homicide in his early experience as a prosecutor; a variety of significant injury cases; lost profits resulting from product defect; a construction defect trial involving the catastrophic failure of Northland Pioneer College in Holbrook, Arizona; and the total destruction of a residence in Sedona, Arizona due to the alleged diversion of flood waters.  He achieved defense verdicts and cost awards in favor of his clients in his three latest trials.  In addition, Mr. Righi successfully defended a single family construction defect case in a AAA fast-track Arbitration in 2010.      Mr. Righi defends owners, developers and general contractors in complex construction defect matters. Mr. Righi represents the interests of clients at the request of national insurance carriers and understands how to effectively manage insurance defense litigation. Mr. Righi has expertise in managing the prosecution of third-party litigation on behalf of owners, developers, and general contractors and understands how to effectively pursue primary and additional insurance coverage for his clients. Mr. Righi has experience pursuing equitable contribution on behalf of insurance carriers and has expertise defending insurance bad faith issues that arise from complex litigation including defect and toxic tort litigation. In addition to his trial experience, Mr. Righi has taken significant cases to binding arbitration, pursued cases to judgment to secure payment on behalf of his clients and argued before the Arizona Court of Appeals.  

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Lisa is speaking in the following sessions:

Lisa Rolle is a seasoned trial and appellate attorney.  She specializes in the defense of labor law, premises liability, products liability, environmental, trucking, motor vehicle and construction related matters. She has been practicing in the field of civil litigation her entire legal career.  Ms. Rolle has taken numerous successful verdicts in New York and Connecticut and has briefed and argued appeals before the First and Second Departments of the Appellate Division of the State of New York.   Practice Areas: Appellate Civil Rights Complex and Multi-District Litigation Construction Law Environmental Law General Liability Labor and Employment Medial Malpractice Premises Liability Product Liability Professional Liability Toxic Torts Trucking, Transportation and Motor Vehicle and and Motor 

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Frank is speaking in the following sessions:

Frank T. Sabaitis graduated from Boston College cum laude and from DePaul University School of Law. He became a member of the Illinois State Bar in 1980, the California State Bar in December 1983, and the New York State Bar in September 2004. Mr. Sabaitis practiced law in Chicago prior to joining Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley in its San Francisco Office. In 1993, Mr. Sabaitis started and was the managing partner of the Ropers Los Angeles Office. In April 2000, he co-founded the firm of SABAITIS • O’CALLAGHAN, LLP, with Mr. O'Callaghan. Mr. Sabaitis litigates in several areas of the law, with an emphasis in earth movement, flood, products liability, real estate, commercial and business litigation. He has substantial trial experience in federal and state courts in both Northern and Southern California, as well as in Nevada. Some examples include: Very recently, Mr. Sabaitis represented V.A.S. S.p.A. in the trial of Perez vs. V.A.S. S.p.A. The litigation involved product liability and negligence claims by Plaintiff for injuries he sustained while using a heavy piece of industrial machinery manufactured by V.A.S. Upon the conclusion of trial, the court entered a defense judgment in V.A.S.’ favor, finding that Plaintiff’s misuse of the industrial machinery was not reasonably foreseeable to V.A.S. Plaintiff appealed the trial court’s ruling to the California Court of Appeals, arguing that the ruling was not supported by substantial evidence and that the trial court misapplied the burden of proof. Upon submission of appellate briefs, the California Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s ruling in favor of V.A.S. The Appellate Court further ordered that its written opinion in Perez v. V.A.S. S.p.A. be published, representing the first comprehensive, published opinion of California products liability law since the Appellate Court’s 1996 decision in Torres v. Xomox Corp. (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th.1. In the summer and fall of 2008, Mr. Sabaitis served as La Conchita Ranch Company's personal trial counsel in the trial of Alvis vs. La Conchita Ranch Company, et al. The litigation (inclusive of 36 consolidated plaintiff cases) involved the catastrophic landslide of January 10, 2005, which killed ten people and injured more. Mr. Sabaitis handled all aspects of the expert witness presentations/testimony on behalf of the Ranch defendants during the 56 day jury trial. Ultimately, the jury returned a mixed verdict in September 2008, finding the Ranch only partially responsible for the slide, and the matter was favorably resolved prior to the damages phase of the trial. In April 2004, after a 3½-week jury trial, Mr. Sabaitis obtained a non-suit in the case of Geller, et. al v. Kaufman & Broad, et. al. in Los Angeles County. The construction defect case involved a claim that the construction of approximately 26,000 lineal feet – approximately 5 miles – of retaining walls were defective in that the back drains behind the walls were installed too high, the application of waterproofing material was inadequate and the drainage devices were not properly installed. Plaintiff’s original cost of repair was $23 million. Plaintiff’s presented evidence to the jury that the cost of repair was $11.7 million. In January 1999, after a six-week bifurcated bench trial on liability only, Mr. Sabaitis received a defense verdict in the case of Brown v. La Conchita Ranch in Ventura County. The case involved a group of 141 individual property owners in the town of La Conchita who filed a suit against the past and present owners of the uphill property, La Conchita Ranch Co., claiming the catastrophic landslide was caused by the irrigation practices of the Ranch. Two other related cases were consolidated for purposes of trial. The exposure to defendants was in excess of $85 million dollars, and plaintiffs’ demand was $23 million dollars to settle the case before trial. Mr. Sabaitis is a member of the State Bar of California, the State Bar of Illinois, the State Bar of New York, the American Bar Association and Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has served as a judicial arbitrator on numerous occasions in San Francisco and Los Angeles and has presented seminars on construction, earth movement, landslide and products liability related matters throughout the United States. Mr. Sabaitis is an AV rated attorney, a member of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America and The Outstanding Lawyers of America. He was named by Southern California Super Lawyers and Los Angeles Magazine as a "Super Lawyer" for 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, and has been recognized by Pasadena Magazine as a "Top Attorney". 

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

Michael joined Thompson & Bowie, LLP as a trial lawyer in 1984 after extensive experience at the federal, state and county level, including over 100 jury trials and numerous appellate arguments before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Civil rights defense of police officers and municipal officials was a natural transition into civil practice. Michael’s government liability practice has ranged from the successful defense of the municipal solid waste ordinance in Houlton, Citizens v. Town of Houlton to road reconstruction and taking claims in King v. Town of Monmouth. Michael represents the firm's clients in asbestos and latex glove litigation.Michael participates in the Defense Research Institute and enjoys golf with his five brothers during Maine's brief season.Assistant Attorney General, State of Maine, Criminal Division 1979-1982; Assistant District Attorney, Prosecutorial District # 1 (York County, Maine) 1982-1984.Co-author:Commentary to the Maine Juvenile Code, Vol 8 Maine Revised Statutues Annotated (1980)Chair, Committee to Monitor the Implementation of the Juvenile Code-1981-1983; Chair, Maine Criminal Law Advisory Commission-1987-89; Chair, Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group-1990-1997. National Chair, Coalition for Juvenile Justice, Washington D.C.- 1994. Award of Excellence in Law, Boston College Alumni Association-1996.  BORN:Waterville, Maine EDUCATION:Boston College, A.B. cum laude, 1975; University of Maine School of Law, J.D. 1978; Maine Law Review, staff member 1976-1978 BAR ADMISSIONS:Maine and U.S. District Court, District of Maine, 1978; U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, 1979 PRACTICE AREAS:Civil Rights DefenseEnvironmental & Toxic TortFire and Premise LiabilityInsurance DefenseMunicipal/Public Official LiabilityProducts LiabilityState County and Local Government Liability 

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Stefani is speaking in the following sessions:

Member of the Firm, Stefani C Schwartz has a concentration in labor and employment law in the private and public sectors. In addition to complex civil litigation, Ms. Schwartz’s expertise includes counseling businesses with employment issues. At Rutgers University Camden School of Law, Ms. Schwartz worked for the New Jersey Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.  After graduation, she served a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Alvin Weiss, former Assignment Judge of the Superior Court, Essex County. Ms. Schwartz chairs the Firm’s Labor and Employment Group and concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment, representing management; non-compete litigation; public entities and officials in litigation; commercial litigation and appellate practice. Ms. Schwartz has litigated in both state and federal courts, as well as before the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law. She has practiced before the National Labor Relations Board, the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  She has several reported cases and has been successful with jury and non-jury trials. She also has extensive experience in the areas of collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. As a frequent lecturer, Ms. Schwartz has spoken at over one hundred seminars and conferences on such topics as sexual harassment, employment handbooks and employment and labor law. 

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Thomas is speaking in the following sessions:

Thomas P. Scrivo graduated from Fairfield University in 1985 and from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1989, where he served as an editor of the Law Review. He served as Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Arnold M. Stein, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He has served as an adjunct professor of law at Seton Hall University School of Law. He has extensive experience in the areas of complex commercial and corporate litigation, contract disputes, business litigation, banking litigation, labor and employment law, land use and zoning, construction litigation, health care law, real estate tax appeal litigation, estates and trusts litigation, professional liability litigation, patent, copyright, trademark infringement and anti-trust litigation, municipal law, ERISA, election law, environmental law, workers' compensation, toxic tort and product liability litigation, class actions, and securities litigation.  In his employment practice, Mr. Scrivo represents businesses in cases alleging wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, and related claims. He has litigated many cases involving the enforcement of restrictive covenants in employment agreements. He provides counseling to clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, including general employment advice and counseling, preparing employee manuals and handbooks, and conducting internal investigations. He also conducts management and employee training. He also has an active workers’ compensation practice, primarily focused on cases involving claims of occupational exposure as well as mass layoffs or plant closings.  In his municipal law practice, Mr. Scrivo serves as Township Attorney to two New Jersey municipalities. In addition, Mr. Scrivo has served as special counsel to municipalities for cases involving real estate tax appeals, labor and employment, civil rights litigation, public bidding and contracts, redevelopment law, and election law. He also represents developers in land use matters before planning boards, boards of adjustment and municipal bodies. He has extensive expertise in redevelopment law. Mr. Scrivo is the author of the treatise, New Jersey Local Government Deskbook, which is updated annually.  Mr. Scrivo is a past President of the Essex County Bar Association. In 2001, he served as Chair of the Essex County Bar Association’s WTC Disaster Relief Task Force, which coordinated the training of more than 250 attorneys to provide free legal services to families and victims of 9/11. He is a member of the American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey and the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. In 2002, he was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the District V-B Ethics Committee, where he served until 2006. He regularly lectures at seminars presented by the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Essex County Bar Association, and other groups.  In 2002, Mr. Scrivo was named one of New Jersey’s “Top 40 Lawyers under 40” by the New Jersey Law Journal. He was also presented with the Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2002 by the Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Law Society at Seton Hall University School of Law. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Essex County College Board of Trustees.

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Thomas is speaking in the following sessions:

Thomas F. Segalla, is the co-author of the renowned insurance law treatise Couch on Insurance 3d and is one of the founding partners of the firm.  Mr. Segalla is a nationally recognized reinsurance and insurance expert and an ARIAS Board Certified Arbitrator who has been retained by numerous insurance carriers and policyholders.  His active practice focuses on the defense and insurance coverage aspects of matters involving bad faith; construction site personal injury accidents (Labor Law §§ 200, 240(1) and 241(6)); and toxic tort and environmental issues. As a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), he is the Past Chair of the Insurance Law Committee and served on the Board of Directors and is the past Chair of the Law Institute. In addition, as a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, he is integrally involved in the relationship between the Insurance Industry and defense counsel. He has published and lectured extensively for many professional organizations.  Mr. Segalla possesses an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to the Top 50 of the New York Super Lawyers. Practice Areas Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Litigation Labor and Employment Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation General Litigation Product Liability Litigation Toxic Tort Litigation Professional Liability Litigation Railroad Litigation Education University of Miami, Department honors, B.B.A., 1965 State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, cum laude, J.D., 1972 Previous Experience Co-Author Couch on Insurance 3d (West Publications) "Meet The Experts," Matthew Bender & Co., Insurance Law Scribes, The American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects Mealey's Litigation Report: Insurance Bad Faith; LexisNexis 2004-  "Bad Faith Update," Mathew Bender & Co., (publication advisory board, 1999-2004 Adjunct Professor, Practice and Procedure, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 1985-1990 Professional Affiliations Defense Research Institute Board of Directors Board Liaison to the Insurance Law Committee  Past Chair of Law Institute Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Chair, Ethics and Professionalism Committee Vice Chair, Admissions  Member - Reinsurance Section, Environmental Law and Toxic Torts Section, Alternate Dispute Resolution Section, Insurance Coverage Section British Law Association International Association of Defense Counsel International Association for Insurance Law American Arbitration Association Roster of Neutrals National Foundation for Judicial Excellence State Liaison National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel ARIAS U.S. American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section  USLAW Chair, Insurance Committee New York State Bar Association Environmental Law Section Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section General Building Contractors of New York State Associate Member  Erie County Bar Association Western New York Trial Lawyers Association Defense Trial Lawyers Association of Western New York  Insurance Club of Buffalo 1996, Director 1998-2001 Buffalo Insurance Claims Association 1972- Utica Insurance Claims Association 1990- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter - Matriculated Student New York State Insurance Department (CPCU Sponsorship) - Continuing Education Instructor  Publications and Presentations Co-Author, "Mealey's Litigation Report: Insurance Bad Faith," Monthly 2010 (January to December) Co-Author, "Construction Defect Claims: An Update," 2010 Co-Author, Labor Law §200, 240(1) & 241(6) Update, Winter, 2010 Co-Author, "A Unique Opportunity: Evaluating Your Firm's Diversity Initiatives," For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, July, 2009 Co-Author, "2008 - A Year in Review, For the Insurer: Misrepresentations in the Insurance Process," Mealey's Litigation Co-Author, "Nanotechnology: Something So Little Should Not Be Allowed To Get Too Big!," 2009 Co-Author, "Guideposts for Defending Directors and Officers in a Good and Bad Economy," Spring, 2009  Moderator, "Prophylactic Measures to Reduce/Shift the Cost of Recalls," USLAW Network Spring Conference, Charleston, SC, March, 2009 Presenter, "Current Trends and Issues Impacting the Reinsurance Industry," Hawksmere International Reinsurance Congress, Hamilton, Bermuda, October, 2008 Co-Author, "Construction Defect Litigation: The Impact of the Lamar Homes and J.S.U.B. Decisions," DRI, The Critical Path, September, 2008 Co-Author, "2007 - A Year in Review, For the Insurer: Primary/Excess/Reinsurance -- An Increased Focus," Mealey's Litigation Report: Insurance Bad Faith, March, 2008 Presenter and Co-Author,"The Unsettling Nature of Right to Settlement Provisions in a Professional Liable Policy," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting, February, 2008;  Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 56, No. 1, Fall, 2008 Co-Author, "Big Unknowns for "Science of the Small," DRI For The Defense, Defense Research Institute, May, 2007 Presenter,  "Nanotechnology:  Something So Little Should Not Be Allowed To Get Too Big,"Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Winter Meeting, March, 2007.  (Nanotechnology has been considered by some to result in the next mass tort litigation, such as asbestos)  Co-Author, "2006--A Year In Review For the Insurer:  How Discovery Can Impact Bad Faith Litigation,"Mealey's Litigation Report:  Insurance Bad Faith, Vol. 20, #21, March, 2007   Presenter, "Trends in Bad Faith Litigation," Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, December, 2006 Presenter, "DRI Food Liability - New Issues, New Strategies," November, 2006 Presenter,  "Bad Faith as a Continuum:  From Claim to Trial," DRI Southern Regional Meeting, June, 2006 Co-Editor-in-Chief, "Construction Site Personal Injury Litigation-New York Labor Law Sections §200, 240(1) and 241(6),"New York State Bar Association, 2006   Presenter, "Misrepresentations in An Insurance Application:  There are Dangers in Those Lies,"Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Mid-Winter Meeting, 2006 Co-Author, "2005 -A Year in Review for the Insurer: The Right to Be Wrong," Mealey's Litigation Report: Insurance Bad Faith, Vol. 19, #19, February, 2006   Punitive Damages Bait and Switch:  Juries or Judges; Individual Suits or Class Actions, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 56, No. 1, 2005  Co-Author, "Workers' Comp Hot Sheet," for Quinlan's New York Workers' Compensation Law Bulletin, August, 2005-present "The Use and Misuse of Expert Testimony in Municipal Cases Post-Daubert - A Current Consideration," For The Defense, Defense Research Institute, June, 2005  Co-Author, "Silica:  Insurance Coverage Issues - An Update," Defense Research Institute, June, 2005 Presenter, "The Impact of the Medicare Secondary Payer Act on Workers' Compensation and Liability Cases," Defense Research Institute Insurance Roundtable, April, 2005 Presenter and Co-Author,“Insurance Issues Involving Municipalities – At a Glance,”Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, January, 2005   Contributing Author and Editor, "Insurance Bad Faith: A Compendium of State Law,"  The Defense Research Library Series, 2004 "Tort Reform: Legislation or Litigation - Where Does the Solution Lie?," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2004 "Food Litigation: Tell Me What You Eat and I Will Tell You Who You Are!." Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2003 "MOLD: Ways to Keep Abreast and Stay Current," Defense Research Institute, 2003 "Property Damage Coverage: Now You See It, Now You Don't," Defense Research Institute, 2003 "Insurance, Reinsurance and Self-Insured Retention: The Basics and Beyond," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2002 "Punitive Damages Bait and Switch: Juries or Judges - Individual Suits or Class Actions," Defense Research Institute, 2002 Co-Author, "2000-2001 Survey of New York Insurance Law,"  52 SYR L. Rev. 449, 2002   "If It Isn't Mold - - What Is It? Sick Building and Indoor Air Quality," Defense Research Institute, 2002 "Mold - A Substantive and Insurance Coverage Checklist and Case Update," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2002 "Bad Faith, A Case Update: What has Occurred and is Occurring in 2001-2002?," American Conference Institute, The Eight National Forum on Litigation, 2002 Author, "Bad Faith as a Continuum: From Claim to Trial," The Property Loss Research Bureau 2002 Claims Conference and Insurance Services Exposition, 2002 Author and Presenter, "Right of Privacy and Big Brother: Where Have We Been? and Where Are We Going?," Defense Research Institute, 2002 "Defense Research Institute Recommended Case Handling Guidelines For Insurers; Defense Research Institute Recommended Case Handling Guidelines for Law Firms, 1999-2001 Author, "Bad Faith As A Continuum: From Claim to Trial," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2001 Co-Author and Editor, 1999-2000 Survey of New York Insurance Law, 51 SYR L. Rev. 563, 2001 "Insurance Experts: The Need for a Proactive Challenge,"Defense Research Institute, 2000 Author, "A Practical Tactical Approach to Declaration Judgment Actions (Update)," Defense Research Institute, 2000 Author and Presenter, "Bad Faith Avoidance: Who Set the Trap?," Defense Research Institute, 2000 Author, "Governmental and Industrial Claims in Gun Litigation and Coverage: Where To Go From Here?," Ali-ABA Course of Study Materials, 2000 "Examination Under Oath: A Proactive Sword," Defense Research Institute, 1999 Author and Presenter, "Y2K Third Party Insurance Issues: Help! We've Been Sued Over Y2 Something," Defense Research Institute, 1999 Author, "Bad Faith: What's Going on IN - CA, FL, NY & TX," Defense Research Institute, 1999 Co-Author, Couch on Insurance 3d, Westgroup, 1998 Author, "How to Win Early in Lead Paint Litigation," Federation of Defense and Corporate Quarterly, Vol. 50, No. 3, 1998 "Misrepresentation on the Application Process: There Are Dangers in Those Lies," Defense Research Institute, 1998 Author, "Claims and Defenses for Personal Injury within the Context of Premises Liability/Construction Site Injuries [New York Perspective]," Causes of Action Second, Vol. 9, Westgroup, 1997 Co-Author, "Anti-Subrogation, Additional Insureds and Other Related Issues," Construction Related Insurance Coverage Issues, Defense Research Institute, 1996 Co-Author, "A Tactical Approach to Declaratory Judgment Actions,"  For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, 1996 Co-Author, "To D.J. or Not to D.J.: What Then?,"Insurer's Duties: A Coverage Perspective, Defense Research Institute, 1995 "Federal Preemption-A Prime Case Reference," Federation of Insurance & Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 46, No. 1, 1995 Presenter, "Reinsurance:  The Basics;" "Nursing Homes and Related Health Care Liability and Insurance:  Are There Any Trends?" "Insurance Defense and Coverage;" "Bad Faith and Extra Contractual Liability;" "Labor Law 200, 240, 241;" "Toxic Torts and Environmental" presented for the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel; Defense Research Institute; New York State Bar Association and the International Bar Association Honors Named to Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition Named one of the Top 50 New York Super Lawyers Who's Who in America  Who's Who in American Law United Who's Who - Honored Lifetime Member Presidential Who's Who Among Business and Professional Achievers International Association of Business Leaders for commitment to sound business practices and having earned a reputation in the business community for vision, performance and leadership; Life Member, January, 2004 America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals 2003/2004 National Republication Congressional Committee's Business Advisory Council's 2003 Businessman of the Year FDCC 2002 Andrew C. Hecker Award Bad Faith as a Continuum:  From Claim to Trial, Fall, 2001; presented in honor of Andrew C. Hecker, a leader of the defense bar; presented July 27, 2002  Excess Surplus Lines Claims Association for contribution to the Association's Fund of Knowledge, October, 2001

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Neil is speaking in the following sessions:

Appellate Practice
Business Litigation
Extracontractual / Bad Faith Consultation and Litigation
Insurance Coverage
Liability Defense
Professional Liability Defense Litigation
Reinsurance Issues and Litigation
Toxic and Mass Tort Litigation

Education:
University of Southern California, J.D., 1974
University of Southern California, B.A., 1971 (magna cum laude)

Neil Selman specializes in representing insurers in coverage and related matters, emphasizing first and third party property-casualty issues, construction and environmental matters, entertainment coverages, professional liability, as well as extracontractual issues. Mr. Selman advises his clients on business practices, underwriting and claims handling, and drafts policy language and endorsements. His expertise also includes primary/excess issues and the representation of surplus lines carriers. He is also involved in the defense of insureds, and has nationally coordinated cases involving toxic substances.

Mr. Selman has represented insurers not only in a consulting capacity, but has also litigated matters in all areas relating to insurance. He has tried coverage and bad faith cases in California and other States and has appeared in the Appellate Courts of the State of California and other States as well. He has also been responsible for arguing cases before the California Supreme Court which have had significant impact on California insurance coverage law and the rights of insurers.

Mr. Selman attended the University of Southern California, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1971 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also received his J.D. at the University of Southern California in 1974. He is admitted to practice before all California State Courts, all Federal Courts within the State of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He has practiced law continuously since 1974.

Mr. Selman is the author of the chapter on General Business Liability Insurance (CGL) Policies in California Insurance Law & Practice (Matthew Bender) Chapter 49, Business General Liability Policies (as updated 2008). He has also authored several articles, including “Exposure to a Manifest Injustice: The Argument Against Horizontal Stacking in Latent Injury and Damage Cases,” Mealey's Litigation Reports - Insurance, Vol. 5, #4, November 27, 1990; “New Statute re Notification to Claimant of Settlement Checks,” California Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters Status Report, February, 1995; “Horizontal Bar - Continuous Loss and Exhaustion of Primary Insurance,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 18, 1997; “New CGL Form Promises Fresh Theories to Litigate,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 14, 1998; and “Collision Course,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 13, 1999; Quoted in article: “Liability Could Hinge on What is ‘Act of War,’” Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 14, 2001.

Mr. Selman participates in seminars and panels on insurance issues throughout the United States, including the American Bar Association, the California State Bar Convention, Defense Research Institute, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) for the California State Bar, West Coast Casualty, Combined Claims Conference, Ohio Civil Trial Lawyers Association, Lorman Educational Institute, The Insurance Education Association, RE/MAX International Summer Conference for Brokers/Owners and Managers, and The Environmental Claim Managers Association. Mr. Selman also serves as an expert witness pertaining to insurance and claim handling issues and has testified on various insurance issues. For the past eight years, Mr. Selman has been invited by the California State Bar to teach insurance issues at the California State Bar Annual Meeting.

Mr. Selman is a member of the Defense Research Institute (Committee on Insurance Law; current Chair of the Subcommittee on Excess/Umbrella Issues; past Chair of the Subcommittee on Employment Law Claims), American Bar Association (Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee; Co-Chair of the Additional Insured Subcommittee), Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (Coverage/Bad Faith Substantive Law Committee), Los Angeles County Bar Association (Insurance Committee), and served as Vice Chairman of the Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee, Torts and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. Mr. Selman is rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell, indicating that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

Mr. Selman has recently become a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. In 2009, Mr. Selman accepted an invitation to become a member of the Council on Litigation Management, which is an alliance of corporations, insurance companies, law firms and service providers committed to furthering the highest standards of litigation management.

Mr. Selman has served as Judge Pro Tempore in the Los Angeles Municipal Court and as Arbitrator for the Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitration Program. He is certified as a graduate of a mediation program provided by Pepperdine Law School, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, "Mediating the Litigated Case," May, 1999.

Mr. Selman is involved in community activities in the Los Angeles area. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Bowl Society, a support group for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl. He was the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Pacific Palisades Celebration of Our Shared Values, which was a community-wide, week-long event focusing on the importance of values, an event sponsored by all religious institutions in Pacific Palisades, California. Mr. Selman recently served on the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Committee of the City of Los Angeles.

Mr. Selman has been voted by in-house counsel and peers as one of the preeminent insurance & reinsurance practitioners in the world by Expert Guides' Guide to the World's Leading Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers.

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Howard is speaking in the following sessions:

Howard has over 20 years of experience in the insurance and corporate liability defense field. Howard is Managing Partner of Shafer Glazer, LLP and President of Your House Counsel (R), The National Consortium of Highly Regarded Insurance and Corporate Liability Defense Law Firms. Howard has received an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a New York Super Lawyer since 2006. Since 2009 he has been selected for the Corporate Counsel Edition. He was also selected as a New York State Chair of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and is Vice-Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of the New York State Bar Association. Howard’s cases have been reported in both Federal and State reporters and his articles have appeared in a number of legal publications. He has lectured on various subjects in his field and Chaired the Third Corporate Counsel Institute, co-sponsored by the Corporate Counsel Section and the Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the New York State Bar Association in New York City. Practice Areas:Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Practice, Attorney Malpractice, Automobile Liability, Commercial and Business Litigation, Construction Liability, Corporate Counsel, Directors & Officers Liability Defense, Employment Practices Liability, Environmental/Toxic Tort, General Liability, Insurance Coverage, Labor and Employment, Premises Liability, Products Liability Defense, Professional Liability Defense, Security Company Liability, Workers’ Compensation Defense Education:Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1989Rutgers, B.A., Labor Studies, 1986 Admitted to the Bar:1989, New York; 1990, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts2006, New Jersey, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey Appointments:Arbitrator, New York City Civil Court; Zoning Board of Adjustment, Englewood, NJ Associations: New York State Bar Association (Elected Member of the Executive Committee and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section; member of the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law section; member of the Labor and Employment section); Professional Liability Underwriting Society; Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (New York State Chair); Bergen County Bar Association; Hotel Association of New York City; Jewish Lawyers Guild (Vice-President – Financial and Treasurer)  Publications: CPLR Article 16, The Case For Meaningful Limitation of Liability, NYSBA Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section Journal, Summer 2010, Vol 39, No. 2 A Refresher on New York Dram Shop Liability, NYSBA Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section Journal, Spring 2008, Vol 37, No. 1 Amendments to the N.Y. CPLR on Motion Practice, New York Law Journal, August 15, 2007, Inside Magazine (publication of the Corporate Counsel Section of the NY State Bar Association), Fall, 2006. Highlights From The First Corporate Counsel Institute, Inside Magazine (publication of the Corporate Counsel Section of the NY State Bar Association), Winter, 2005. Removal In Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Cases And Subsequent Occurring Events – The Amount in Controversy, The Defendant, September 1997 Without Prejudice Dismissal Does Not Guarantee Extension, New York Law Journal, May 15, 1996 Honors:New York Super Lawyer 2006, 2007, 2008; 2009, 2010, 2011(Metro and Corporate Counsel editions)AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell 

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Diana is speaking in the following sessions:

Diana Shafter Gliedman, a shareholder with Anderson Kill's insurance recovery group, represents policyholders in actions ranging from small disputes to multi-party, multi-issue insurance coverage litigations, with an emphasis on Professional Liability, Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Liability Insurance.  Ms. Gliedman, who is a Co-Chair of the Professional Liability Subcommittee of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation ("ICLC"), as well as a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Professional Liability subcommittee, frequently represents law firms, partnerships and other professional organizations seeking to analyze potential sources of coverage and maximize insurance recovery.  Ms. Gliedman is also a member of the Anderson Kill's Financial Services insurance coverage group, which serves clients such as broker/dealers, commercial banks, investment advisors, hedge funds, mutual funds and other financial institutions.  She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two young sons. 

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Gary is speaking in the following sessions:

Gary R. Shendell is a 1987 graduate of James Madison University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. He obtained his juris doctorate in 1992 from the University of Miami School of Law. He is admitted to the Bars of the State of Florida and State of New Jersey. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Federal Southern, Middle and Northern District Courts of Florida and all Circuit and County Courts in Florida. Mr. Shendell is the former founding shareholder of the Fort Lauderdale office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, where he concentrated his practice from 2002-2006 in complex insurance and commercial litigation. In addition to serving as managing shareholder for S&P, Mr. Shendell continues to concentrate his practice in these litigation areas. His insurance litigation practice includes the defense of professionals, including: attorneys, accountants, architects and engineers, directors and officers, brokers-dealers, insurance agents, fiduciaries, real estate agents and title agents. He lectures on accountants' liability and risk management issues before numerous groups and firms throughout South Florida. Mr. Shendell also prosecutes and defends first party and third party coverage matters, including rescission issues. He has experience in monitoring complex matters for excess insurance carriers. He has assisted clients and carriers in their compliance with Florida's Insurance Code in order to avoid potential waiver of defenses. He also provides insurance coverage opinions, and when required, pursues actions for declaratory relief. Mr. Shendell has been involved in insurance regulatory affairs nationally. Mr. Shendell devotes considerable time in matters of complex commercial litigation, including disputes in the areas of construction, contract, fraud, deceptive trade practice actions, and business torts. His construction litigation practice has involved a wide variety of construction related issues, including: construction and design defects, disputes among owners and contractors, indoor air quality and mold. Mr. Shendell utilizes his experience in tax probate and estate planning in the probate litigation arena as well. He brings to the firm a unique combination of accounting and corporate skills developed during his tenure at a corporate law firm and in public accounting with J.H. Cohn & Company in Roseland, New Jersey. This background is invaluable to his representation of individuals, private and public companies and non-profit entities in a broad range of business matters. Areas of Practice:Professional LiabilityDirectors and Officers LiabilityGeneral LiabilityNursing Home LiabilityInsurance Coverage and Bad Faith LitigationInsurance Regulatory and Governmental AffairsConstructionBusiness and Commercial Litigation & LawReal Estate & Title LitigationTransportationSecurities/NASD LitigationBar Admissions:Florida, 1992New Jersey, 1993U.S. Supreme Court, 2002U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1992U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1992U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 1992Florida Supreme CourtFlorida Circuit and County Courts Education:University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, 1992J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1987B.S., Bachelor of Science, Cum LaudeMajor:  Accounting Classes/Seminars Taught:Numerous Lectures on Professional Liability, Risk Management, Fraud and Construction LawProfessional & Community Associations:American Bar AssociationLawyers Professional LiabilityProfessional Liability Underwriters SocietyBroward County Bar AssociationUJA Annual Dinner Committee MemberIsrael BondsABA Lawyers Professional Liability ConsortiumCommunity Association institutePast Employment Positions:J.H. Cohn and Company (accountant/auditor)Stephens, Lynn, Klein and McNicholas, P.A.Michaud, Buschmann, Mittlemark & Shendell, P.A.Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman and Goggin 

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Jeff is speaking in the following sessions:

Jeffrey J. Signor is a licensed attorney and seasoned litigator. He is a former partner with Goldberg Segalla LLP, a defense firm in the Northeast, where he honed his skill in trial and appellate practice. As his practice developed he became the Medicare Secondary Payer (“MSP”) resource for his firm, and created best practices which he applies today at Franco Signor in an effort to mitigate the contingent liabilities of our clients.His MSP efforts are not limited to the Northeast. He has developed a National presence through his work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. Having written articles in response to, and spoken with Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trusiak, he gained notoriety as legal counsel that had both an enthusiasm and appreciation for the nuances of MSP.Jeffrey is also an accomplished and requested speaker on the MSP topic. He has written articles from a national perspective, and has been published in DRI’s “For the Defense” magazine. His exposure on this issue led his firm to appoint him as its representative to the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (“MARC”) where, in Washington, D.C. he advocated for sensible changes to the law.Jeff obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Ithaca College and his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in New York and manages the day to day legal workload for Franco Signor in response to client’s MSP exposures. 

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Philip C. is speaking in the following sessions:

Philip C. Silverberg has more than twenty years of experience in commercial, tort, corporate, insurance, and reinsurance litigation. His litigation practice has included arbitrations, trials, and appeals involving insurance coverage disputes, third-party defense, environmental claims, subrogation, reinsurance, broker liability, property and casualty losses, and fraud claims. Mr. Silverberg has litigated in state and federal courts throughout the United States and has served as national coordinating counsel on matters arising out of 9/11 and other catastrophes, including Hurricane Katrina. He also has lectured on reinsurance and claims-handling practices. He is admitted to the New York and New Jersey bars and is a member of the ABA and New York County Lawyers' Association. MEMBERSHIPS/HONORS Member of the Firm's Executive Committee New York County Lawyers' Association American Bar Association Recognized in Chambers USA Recognized in Guide to the World's Leading Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers Recognized in New York Super Lawyers AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell PUBLICATIONS Quoted, "CPSC Ties Drywall, Corrosion," The Wall Street Journal, November 24, 2009.  Co-Author, "'Chinese Drywall' First-Party Coverage Implications," Mealey's Litigation Report: Insurance, September 2, 2009. Author, "Adjusting the Adjusters: Florida's Proposed Legislation Concerning Public Adjusters," Best's Review, May 2008. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Conference Chair and Panelist, Oil in the Gulf: Litigation & Insurance Coverage, HB Litigation Conferences, November 2010. Conference Chair and Panelist, Oil in the Gulf: Litigation & Insurance Coverage, HB Litigation Conferences, June 2010. Lecturer, reinsurance and claims handling practices. May 2008 Presenter, PLRB Claims Conferences from 1998-07 on arson and fraud claims, first-party mold claims and deposition techniques. Presenter, "Critical Update on Insurance Litigation: Key Strategies for Corporate Counsel," Marcus Evans, November 2006. Presenter, PLRB terrorism conference in January, 2002 on business interruption claims arising out of 9/11. ADMISSIONSNew York, 1985New Jersey, 1985 EDUCATIONB.A., Montclair State University, 1980J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 1984 

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Anthony is speaking in the following sessions:

Anthony R. Slimowicz, Esq. is a well regarded legal, insurance, and financial executive with over 18 years of industry experience. As an attorney and international insurance executive, Mr. Slimowicz has been involved with all aspects of risk assessment, company portfolio management, environmental, regulatory, turnaround, and organizational operation. Mr. Slimowicz serves as “Of Counsel” to the Northeast based law firm of O’Toole, Fernandez, Weiner, Van Lieu, LLC, specializing in the areas of Environmental, Insurance Specialty Lines, Employment, and Corporate litigation. Mr. Slimowicz is also the Managing Director and Co-founding member of WCD Capital Partners, LLC a group actively involved in contaminated property acquisition, remediation and redevelopment. The group developed an innovative approach to bringing capital, insurance, engineering, and remediation management to a challenged property and then returning that property to its true economic value. Previously, Mr. Slimowicz was with Zurich Financial Services for 12 years where he held a variety of positions including: Vice President & Director of Global Corporate Customer Service, and Vice President & Assistant General Counsel. In these roles, Mr. Slimowicz was involved in a broad range of international and domestic M&A, turnaround, business structure, risk management, claims, and litigation management. In addition, Mr. Slimowicz held the positions of Department Director of Zurich Pollution Claims, Department Director of Specialty Environmental Claims, and Claims Director for Environmental Surety Claims. Mr. Slimowicz has extensive experience with Brownfield, Closure/Post Closure risks, and Superfund projects, as well as Capital Cost and Alternative Finance programs. Before joining Zurich, Mr. Slimowicz was Department Director and Attorney with American International Group in New York, supervising a staff of attorneys and providing counsel on all aspects of corporate, insurance, environmental, and construction law. Early in his career, Mr. Slimowicz worked in public accounting with Ernst and Young where he gained a solid financial and accounting foundation. Mr. Slimowicz has held clerkships and internships with The New Jersey State Superior Court; The United States District Court of Connecticut and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Slimowicz holds a graduate Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University and is a licensed attorney in the State of New Jersey and the District of Columbia. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Seton Hall University.  

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Larry is speaking in the following sessions:

Larry is a founding partner in Southern Trial Counsel | PLC, a Florida litigation boutique firm which defends primary and excess insurance companies, global product manufacturers, theme parks, airports, small to Fortune 10 companies, and other corporate “target” defendants in catastrophic or high profile personal injury cases. Larry has been named a Florida Super Lawyer and one of Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” multiple times. For more than a decade, Martindale Hubbell has conveyed both of its most distinguished recognitions, the AV-Preeminent rating and inclusion in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Larry has been selected by his peers to membership in prestigious defense organizations including the Council on Litigation Management and International Association of Defense Counsel. He is a recognized leader in substantive law areas as well as diversity and professionalism arenas, having been appointed, for example, to the Florida Code and Rules of Evidence Committee, the Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and The Florida Bar Equal Opportunities in Law Section and several positions of leadership within the American Bar Association. He has been recognized for his efforts in LGBT and diversity advancement at the state and national level but is also active in his local community, having earned the Honor of Person of the Year for his role in passing legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He is a charter member of the CLM and serves on its Diversity Committee and Product Liability Committee.

Non-professional: Larry and his life partner, Clayton, recently celebrated their 14th anniversary together. They have two beautiful daughters –Jennifer, who is a lawyer, and MaryBeth, who is working on her second Masters Degree at Larry’s alma mater, The University of Alabama.

You can learn more about Larry by visiting www.southerntrialcounsel.com or the firm’s Facebook page, Southern Trial Counsel | PLC.

Non-professional: Larry and his life partner, Clayton, recently celebrated their 14th anniversary together. They have two beautiful daughters –Jennifer, who is a lawyer, and MaryBeth, who is working on her second Masters Degree at Larry’s alma mater, The University of Alabama.

 

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John is speaking in the following sessions:

Education  St. Joseph's College (B.A., 1984); Hofstra University School of Law (J.D., 1987). Medaille Scholarship  Professional Associations  Member, Staff Writer, 1985-1986 and Associate Editor, 1986-1987, Hofstra Law Review. Member: New York City New York State and American Bar Associations. Member on Committees on Litigation, Tort and Insurance Practice and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law. Member of the Defense Research Institute.  Member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance since its inception. Admitted to Practice  Admitted to bar, 1988, New York and United States District Court, Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of New York.  Areas of Practice  John Sparling is a senior equity partner of the law firm London Fischer LLP for over 15 years. He has been handling complex litigation in the insurance, construction, products liability and mass tort litigation fields for over 20 years.   Mr. Sparling's practice includes the representation of construction contractors, general contractors and owners in all aspects of construction litigation including, personal injury, property damage, construction defect, and delay claims as well as the drafting of construction contracts and insurance policies and endorsements. Some of the more recent construction projects for which John has defended include the new Yankee Stadium, the recent renovations of Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden and the Hearst Tower in New York. Mr. Sparling is also involved in the defense of and is on the Defense Steering Committee of the mass-tort litigation arising out of the World Trade Center 9/11 Disaster and the cleanup litigation involving over 10,000 lawsuits.   In addition, Mr. Sparling's practice involves insurance coverage and declaratory judgment actions. Litigation of large catastrophic fires, floods, construction and building claims. Some of the representative products for which John has defended include all aspects of industrial and construction equipment as well as the representation of tractor and agricultural product manufacturers and manufacturers of power press equipment on a national and local basis; manufacturers of, among other things, automobiles, motors, heating and ventilating equipment, aluminum bus bars, chairs and stools, tampons, excavation, construction and industrial machinery, boats and boating equipment, knitting machines, kerosene heaters, traffic signals, street lights, flue gas desulfurization units, forklifts, snowmobiles and snow throwing equipment, printing presses, fire extinguishers, fabric and sleep wear, golf carts, chainsaws, medical devices, and a myriad of consumer products; defense of toxic tort claims including manufacturers of asbestos, silicone and latex products and chemicals. John handles trials and appeals in all courts.   John is a member of the New York State, New York City and American Bar Associations (Member, Committees on Litigation, Tort and Insurance Practice and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law). He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and enjoys sitting on a number of Claims and Litigation Management Alliance committees.    

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Thomas is speaking in the following sessions:

Thomas Speyer is a 1985 graduate of the Detroit College of Law in Detroit, Michigan. He received his undergraduate degree in 1982 from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a member of the firm of Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C. where he started with the firm as an associate shortly after graduating from law school. The firm itself is one of the oldest firms in the City of Buffalo and traces its origins back to 1896. His practice concentrates in matters involving complex commercial litigation as well as disputes in the areas of construction, products liability, premises liability and legal malpractice at both the trial and Appellate levels. Thomas has been admitted to practice in the State of New York since 1986, the United States Bankruptcy Court since 1987 and the United States District Court for the Western District of New York since 1991. He is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Buffalo School of Law and Jurisprudence where he has been teaching in the Trial Technique Program for a number of years. He is a member of the Erie County and New York State Bar Associations as well as the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. 

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Adam is speaking in the following sessions:

Adam H. Springel received his Juris Doctor degree in 1993 from the University of San Diego School of Law in San Diego, California and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1990 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Mr. Springel was admitted to the California State Bar in 1993 and the Nevada State Bar in 1999.  Mr. Springel's practice areas include the representation of developers, general contractors, and subcontractors in construction defect litigation. In addition, his other areas of concentration include litigating matters involving bodily injuries, business disputes, insurance, professional liability and real estate litigation. 

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Joseph is speaking in the following sessions:

Joseph A. Starr has earned a solid reputation with his extensive experience in the area of labor and employment law. His litigation experience includes the defense of race, religious, national origin, age, sex and disability discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. On behalf of his clients, he has defended cases of wrongful discharge, invasion of privacy, employment-related defamation, Whistleblowers Protection Act and Family and Medical Leave Act claims.   As a founder of Starr, Butler, Alexopoulos & Stoner, PLLC, Mr. Starr specializes in the defense of Professional Liability (Employment Practices, Attorneys, Architects & Engineers, Accountants, Directors & Officers, Insurance Agents / Brokers and Real Estate Brokers) claims, commercial litigation and insurance coverage disputes.   Joseph Starr regularly counsels businesses with regard to workplace violence, unemployment claims, OSHA investigations, EEOC/Michigan Department of Civil Rights charges and Department of Labor wage and hour disputes. He also works with employers to develop customized employee handbooks, employment agreements, covenants-not-to-compete, sexual harassment policies and electronic privacy policies.   Mr. Starr is an “A-V” directory rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys. In 2007, 2009,  2010 and 2011, the publication Law & Politics selected Mr. Starr as a Michigan Super Lawyer. Mr. Starr was listed in the 2008 - 2011 Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition for Employment & Labor Law.  DBusiness, a bi-monthly Detroit area business publication, included Mr. Starr in their 2009 list of top lawyers in the State of Michigan.   He received his law degree from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, where he served as a Notes & Comments Editor for the Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and graduated cum laude.   An active member of the legal community, he is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (Council member, Labor and Employment Law Section), the Oakland County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute (Employment Law Steering Committee member), the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (Chairperson for the State of Michigan) and the Professional Liability Underwriting Society.   In September 2007, Mr. Starr was elected to serve a two year term (renewed for two years in 2009) as a Council Member for the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He also serves as an Employment Panel Mediator for the Oakland and Wayne County Mediation Tribunals.   Speaking Engagements:   "You Can’t Tweet or Post That! How Carriers, Risk Managers and Defense Counsel Can Manage Evolving Employment Practices Liability Claims and Risk Management Concerns Arising From Both Employees’ and Employers’ Use of Social Media," Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference, in San Diego, CA (March 2012) "How Carriers, Insureds, and Defense Counsel Can Best Work Together to Ensure Ethical Conduct in the Management, Litigation, and Settlement of EPL Claims," American Conference Institute’s 17th Annual Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance, in New York, NY (January 2012) "You Can't Do That to ME! Developments in Whistleblower and Anti-Retaliation Laws," Professional Liability Underwriting Society's (PLUS) 24th Annual International Conference, in San Diego, CA (November 2011) Co-Chair of the 6th Annual National EPLI ExecuSummit in Uncasville, CT, including a presentation entitled: Panel Counsel Relationships - Do's & Don'ts (September 2011) "Employment Terminations," National Audio Conference Series Presented by ePlace Solutions, Inc. (September 2011) “Social Media and Employment Law,” State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting (8th Annual Solo & Small Firm Institute) (September 2011) "EPL Claims Handlers Can Work Together to Minimize Damages in Employment Cases," Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference, in New Orleans, LA (March 2011) "Addressing EPL Concerns Arising From Employee and Employer Use of Social Networking/Social Media," American Conference Institute’s 16th Annual Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance, in New York, NY (January 2011) "Employment Terminations - Reduce Your Risks," National Audio Conference Series Presented by ePlace Solutions, Inc. (November 2010) “Risk Management: Can We Quantify the Value of the Add-On to the EPL Product?” 5th Annual National Employment Practices Liability Insurance ExecuSummit (Co-Chair), Uncasville, CT. (September 2010) Round table Discussion of topics including “Using Oral Arguments Effectively,” “Managing Client Expectations,” “Achieving Favorable Resolutions,” and “Drafting Persuasive Dispositive Motions and Case Evaluation Statements,” for State Bar of Michigan Labor and Employment Law Section Springboard, Birmingham, Mich. (June 2010) “Employment Practices Liability Insurance - The Top 10 Myths Debunked!”, 35th Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute, The Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education (April 2010) “How Carriers, Insureds, and Defense Counsel Can Best Work Together to Reduce EPL Risks and Minimize Costs,” American Conference Institute’s 15th Annual Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance, in New York, NY (January 2010) “Employment Terminations,” National Audio Conference Series Presented by ePlace Solutions, Inc. (October 2009) Co-Chair of the 4th Annual National EPLI ExecuSummit in Uncasville, CT, including presentations entitled: “Ethical Dilemmas between Defendant Counsel, Claims Counsel and the Insured” and “Handling Tough Insureds” (September 2009) “Layoffs, RIF’s and Terminations,” National Audio Conference Series Presented by YourHRDepartment.com (October 2008) “Mediation Best Practices,” State Bar of Michigan - Labor and Employment Law Section’s Annual Meeting in Dearborn, MI (September 2008) “Beyond the Position Statement: Limiting Exposure When an EEOC or State Agency Investigation Goes Sideways,” 3rd Annual National EPLI ExecuSummit in New York, NY (September 2008) In-house E-Discovery Presentations: Monitor Liability Managers, Inc. (June 2007); CNA (January 2008); U.S. Risk Insurance Company (February 2008); Great American Insurance Company (February 2008); AIG (June 2008); Professional Indemnity Agency (June 2008); and Travelers (October 2008). “How to Terminate Employees with Confidence,” National Audio Conference Series Presented by YourHRDepartment.com (September 2007) “The Impact of the Electronic Revolution on EPLI”, Professional Liability Underwriting Society - Employment Practices Liability Symposium in Los Angeles, CA (May 2007) “Employment Practices Liability Insurance: What Every Employment Lawyer Should Know,” State Bar of Michigan - Labor and Employment Law Section’s Annual Meeting (September 2006) “Avoiding Potential Conflicts of Interest between Insureds and Defense Counsel,” Professional Liability Underwriting Society - Employment Practices Liability Symposium in New York, NY (April 2006) “Employment Practices Liability: Issues, Trends & Loss Control,” Presentation for Philadelphia Insurance Company (September 2004) “How to Make the Right Hiring Decisions in Michigan,” Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) - Small Practitioners Group (January 2004) “Avoiding New and Treacherous Legal Risks in Hiring Employees: Implementing Careful Background Checks and Other Practices to Ensure a Secure and Profitable Workplace,” Council on Education in Management - Michigan Personnel Law Update (November 2003) “The Electronic Workplace: Successful Management of Employee Internet Abuse and Privacy Issues in the Public Sector,” Council on Education in Management - Public Sector Employment Law Update Seminar (September 2002)   Articles: “Employees Beware: The CFAA Provides Employers with a Cause of Action Against Employees Who Destroy Company Digital Data,” State Bar of Michigan’s Labor and Employment Lawnotes (December 2006) (co-author)  “Retaliatory Co-Worker Harassment in Michigan,” Oakland County Bar Association’s monthly magazine, Laches (August 2001)

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Ian is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Stewart is a partner in Wilson Elser’s Los Angeles office.  He handles complex litigation matters in State and Federal Courts with an emphasis on professional liability, products liability and general liability.  Mr. Stewart frequently defends catastrophic multi-party litigation.  He has served as national coordinating counsel on behalf of insurance companies and private corporations.  Mr. Stewart also performs contract reviews for design professionals, and he is the designated attorney for this purpose on the west coast for a national insurance company.  He has been selected as a Super Lawyer’s “Rising Star,” and he is a settlement officer with the Los Angeles County Superior Court ADR Department. Mr. Stewart obtained his B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1993, and received his J.D. in 1996 from St. Louis University School of Law, where he served on the Law Review.  

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Thomas is speaking in the following sessions:

Thomas S. Thornton, III is a shareholder with the firm of Carr Allison, P.C., practices in its Birmingham, Alabama office, and serves as the firm's Retail and Hospitality Practice Group Chair.   Mr. Thornton   is a member and serves in a leadership capacity for various local, state and national legal organizations; including Counsel for Litigation Management, Defense Research Institute and the USLAW Network, for whom he is outgoing Chair of the Retail Practice Group.   Mr. Thornton has focused his litigation practice in representing and advising the retail, restaurant, hospitality, business and insurance industry in general in the defense of claims for his regional and national clients in Alabama, Mississippi and the panhandle of Florida. Mr. Thornton also serves as National CMS Compliance Counsel for many of his clients.

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Steven is speaking in the following sessions:

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION EDUCATION• Southwestern University (B.S., 1973)• South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1980)

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY• Attorney with Edward J. Hennessy & Associates, 1981 • Briefing Attorney, Hon. Robert M. Campbell, Justice, Texas Supreme Court, 1981-1982 • Attorney with Flahive, Ogden & Latson, 1982 to date. Managing Shareholder since January 1, 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS• Board Certified: Civil Appellate Law, Personal Injury Trial Law and Workers’ Compensation Law--TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION - MARTINDALE-HUBBELL AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated • Named a SUPERLAWYER® by TEXAS MONTHLY, and LAW AND POLITICS magazines, 2003 - Member, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance President, The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas 

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Robert is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Tyson was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. He is a 47-year-old graduate of Villanova University School of Law, class of 1989. Mr. Tyson graduated from Villanova University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He has practiced law in large San Diego defense firms since graduation. Mr. Tyson has primarily litigated cases in the areas of products liability, personal injury, commercial and general civil litigation, professional malpractice, environmental and employment law. He has represented individuals, corporations, partnerships, professionals and many other different types of businesses. Mr. Tyson was admitted to the California Bar June 1990 and to the District of Columbia Bar October 1993.

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Gary is speaking in the following sessions:

Gary Douglas Van Lieu received a B.S. degree in mathematics (cum laude) from Muhlenberg College in 1987 and his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law (1990) where he was a member of the Law Review. He has 15 years experience in the defense of labor and employment, complex litigation, mass/toxic torts, and product liability claims in state and federal courts of New Jersey. He has consulted insurance clients on coverage/policy interpretation matters.

Mr. Van Lieu heads the firm’s Appellate department. He can be reached at gvanlieu@ofwvlaw.com.
 

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Gregory is speaking in the following sessions:

Mr. Victor's practice encompasses all aspects of the defense of property, casualty, personal injury insurance and general civil litigation matters in state and federal court. This includes cases involving product liability, coverage disputes, bad faith, wrongful death, automobile, trucking, premises and commercial liability, negligent security, intentional torts, and property loss. He has extensive trial experience.   Mr. Victor has served as National and Regional Supervising and Coordinating counsel for major insurance companies. He began his career as a Prosecutor for the Dade County State Attorney’s Office working under Janet Reno and is a former Division Chief and Major Crimes Prosecutor. He is an "AV" rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell Lawyers Directory.

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Timothy is speaking in the following sessions:

Timothy W. Waldeck of Waldeck & Lind, P.A. located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is licensed and practices law in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. He is a 1970 graduate of Bradley University and a J.D. graduate of Drake University in 1972. He is a member of the Hennepin County and Minnesota State Bar Associations; the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association; the State Bar of Wisconsin; the Twin Cities Claims Association; and is Vice Chairman of Eagle International Associates, Inc. AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Waldeck has practiced exclusively in insurance defense throughout most of his career providing defense to both surplus lines and standard line carriers with primary emphasis in defense of products liability, professional liability, and clergy abuse claims. Mr. Waldeck has been a presenter for continuing education for adjusters and continuing legal education for lawyers throughout the years, including the following: Discovery in Liquor Liability Cases-Minnesota CLE; Employers Coverage B Exposure in 3rd Party Claims- Minnesota Claims Association; Bad Faith Litigation in Minnesota and Wisconsin-Eagle International Association; Construction Coverage Issues-Eagle International Association; Evaluating and Negotiating of Claims-Eagle International Associates; and was most recently a presenter for the CLM Annual Conference 2011 Roundtable - Commercial Litigation: Two's Company, Three's a Crowd. In addition, he's a contributing author for Engineering Testimony published by the Biomedical Engineering through the University of Iowa. Mr. Waldeck has been involved in the trial of hundreds of lawsuits and has over 50 appellate court decisions from the State of Minnesota, State of Wisconsin and the 8th Federal Circuit.

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Heather is speaking in the following sessions:

As national counsel in medical device multi-district litigation cases, Ms. Weakley has extensive experience in supervising and managing numerous attorneys from comprehensive electronic document productions through significant trial preparation. She is also local counsel regarding asbestos litigation for a Fortune 500 company which has an international presence. She has first and second-chaired several jury trials with the potential for multi-million dollar awards resulting in successful verdicts, hung jury or favorable resolutions. She has spoken at Fortune 500 company meetings on national litigation strategies. Ms. Weakley also maintains a construction practice which concentrates on representing contractors and subcontractors in construction defect litigation. Her general civil litigation practice specializes in wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, burn injuries, sports, amusements, fairs and festivals. She handles and supervises cases from inception through case evaluations, settlement negotiations and trials.  

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Steven is speaking in the following sessions:

Steven A. Weiner holds an undergraduate degree in chemistry.  He is a former Assistant County Prosecutor and Acting Special Deputy Attorney General.  With over 30 years of experience in the Courts of New Jersey and New York, Mr. Weiner is a recognized and respected litigator.  He maintains an active litigation practice in product liability, toxic tort, environmental and maritime matters and has represented corporate clients in the courts of New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. Steve, who is also a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), is a former Director of Litigation with Home Insurance Company; a home office claims position where he had responsibility for management of the Company’s litigation in the northeast United States.  He is a member of the state and federal bars in New Jersey, New York and Washington D.C. and is a retired Captain, U.S. Naval Reserve and a former member of the District Ethics Committee. 

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Andrew is speaking in the following sessions:

I am licensed in Louisiana and Texas. My practice covers Products Liability/Toxic Tort, Personal Injury and Insurance Coverage. I have tried over 70 cases in both Federal and State court. For the past three years I have served as the defense liaison counsel for the FEMA Trailer Formaldehyde Products Liability Litigation. I have taken the lead or participated in 2 of the 3 bellwether trials and 1 of the 2 Summary Jury Trials. I have co-authored several articles in several legal journals including most recently: "The Mass Action Provisions of CAFA:Where Defendants Fear to Tread?" DRI's For the Defense (April 2009).

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Gene A. is speaking in the following sessions:

Gene A. Weisberg is a name partner with Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane, ALC, in Los Angeles, California. Gene has 32 years of trial and appellate experience focusing on insurance coverage and complex litigation involving insurers and other businesses. He has extensive experience analyzing insurance coverage issues, investigating insurance fraud and litigating insurance coverage, bad faith and subrogation lawsuits in California and throughout the United States. An accomplished speaker, Gene has designed and presented seminars on numerous insurance issues including coverage, fraud and bad faith. Gene is "AV" rated by Martindale Hubbell; a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization of the most experienced trial attorneys in the nation; and a Southern California Super Lawyer since 2007. Gene is admitted to practice in the State and all Federal courts in California and in the United States Supreme Court. 

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Lauren D. is speaking in the following sessions:

Ms. Wilkins is the President and Managing Director of Langlois, Wilkins, Furtado & Metcalf, P.C. with offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She has litigated cases in Massachusetts and Rhode Island State Courts as well as the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.  Ms. Wilkins' practice focuses on defense litigation, including insurance coverage, fraud, and bad faith claims. She has a wide range of cases concentrating in motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, landlord/tenant, premises liability, dealer and rental car liability, products liability and employment cases.  Ms. Wilkins is currently acting as neutral arbitrator and/or mediator in a wide variety of matter. Ms. Wilkins has lectured extensively on insurance and legal issues at seminars for clients and the insurance industry throughout the United States.  A list of these seminars and programs is available upon request.

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Michael is speaking in the following sessions:

After receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Abilene Christian University in 1981, Mr. Williams earned his Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University in 1984 and attended the Maritime Institute at the University of Southampton in England in 1983-84 as a scholarship student. He later earned an L.L.M. in Admiralty from Tulane University in 1986.   He is licensed to practice in all courts in Texas and admitted to the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.  Mr. Williams is a Member of the Defense Research Institute, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the Maritime Law Association of the United States, The Propeller Club of the United States and is an arbitrator with the Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association. He has spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars presented by national and regional companies and for several corporations and insurance companies. Mr. Williams believes that the most effective way to succeed in litigation is to forge a true partnership between client and counsel. Such a relationship involves understanding the client’s concerns and communicating advice in a clear and concise manner. Our objective is to provide counsel so that the client all has the necessary tools to make a fully informed decision on what is best for it as an individual or company. Our role is to implement a litigation strategy designed to achieve the client’s goal, whether through trial or settlement. His dedication to the service of his clients has helped him achieve Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) for legal ability and professional ethics as reflected by the opinions of his peers and members of the judiciary as well listed in Martindale-Hubbell's Preeminent Lawyers. He has also been honored by Texas Monthly and and Super Lawyers as a Texas Super Lawyer. Mr. Williams has successfully defended clients in a variety of maritime, international, commercial and civil litigation matters for over 20 years. He has also represented companies and insurers in commercial disputes, including multi-million dollar recoveries in cases involving maritime liens and insurance coverage. He also developed the legal argument for an international air carrier client, recently affirmed by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case of first impression, precluding claims against the carrier arising under state law.   Rfec Recent victories      

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Timothy is speaking in the following sessions:

Tim Wolf earned his J.D. degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 2001 and his B.A. degree in 1998 from Westminster College in History and Political Science.  He has concentrated his practice in the areas of complex business litigation including class action matters, insurance coverage litigation and insurance bad faith cases. Mr. Wolf is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the Missouri Organization of the Defense Lawyers, the Defense Research Institute, Property Law Research Bureau and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Mr. Wolf is admitted to practice before all Missouri State courts, all Illinois State Courts, all Arkansas State Courts, the United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri, the United States District Court Western District of Missouri, and District Court of Kansas. Mr. Wolf focuses his practice on catastrophic and mass tort personal injury cases, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.  He provides advice to his clients on primary and excess liability policies, including complex coverage and class action lawsuits. He has lectured and published articles on class actions and how to manage the class action lawsuit.  Mr. Wolf routinely publishes articles and speaks to industry professionals regarding insurance regulations and proper claim handling procedures. He is co-author of "Class Actions: Plaintiffs' Attorneys' Dream, Insurance Carriers' Nightmare."  His broad based insurance background includes litigating all aspects of insurance cases involving property and casualty insurance. Mr. Wolf has tried numerous lawsuits to successful conclusion in state and federal courts. He has deposed hundreds of experts on liability, causation and damages. He has represented clients in mediations and arbitrations in various venues and jurisdictions. 

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Bruno is speaking in the following sessions:

Bruno Wolfenzon, Esq., is the founder and managing partner of Wolfenzon Rolle, which has offices located in California, Nevada and Arizona. He has over 22 years of experience as a trial attorney and has litigated a number of cases involving construction defect, casino security breach, products liability, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and personal injury cases related to exposure to mold. He is highly respected throughout Southern California and Nevada legal communities as a capable trial attorney with great integrity. Mr. Wolfenzon has also successfully tried over 25 significant cases, including one wherein he obtained the only true defense verdict while representing a national builder in a multi-family construction defect case in Nevada. He has also successfully argued before the Nevada Supreme Court; Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the California Fourth District Court of Appeals. Mr. Wolfenzon works closely with his clients to mount a vigorous defense on their behalf. He has represented developers, general contractors, large subcontractors, casinos, hotels, and commercial entities. The wealth of experience he has acquired in the defense of his various clients is used to help develop risk management and prevention programs. He makes himself available to lecture to audiences throughout the United States in the areas of construction defect litigation, as well as hotel and casino related litigation. For more information, you can contact him either via phone (858.646.0071), email: bruno@wolfenzon.com; or view the firm’s website: (www.wolfenzon.com).

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Karen is speaking in the following sessions:

Karen Woodward is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on the defense of class actions as well as complex product and professional liability matters.  Ms. Woodward has extensive experience coordinating national and statewide litigation against tobacco, medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as defending these entities and other product manufacturers in individual products liability actions involving catastrophic injuries. She has also successfully handled actions against directors, officers, broker-dealers and attorneys. She heads the Los Angeles office’s Professional Liability group and is active in Sedgwick’s Class Action Task Force and Co-Chairs the Drug & Medical Device Practice Group. Ms. Woodward works in collaboration with her clients to serve their business and strategic objectives.  It is her professional mission to provide legal services that are value-based.  To this end, Ms. Woodward’s case management practices are specifically tailored to the demands of a particular action, in conjunction with her client’s needs, and with an emphasis on forward thinking and efficiency at all times.    Litigation Matters Ms. Woodward’s litigation experience includes: Obtaining dismissal on Summary Judgment in favor of product manufacturer on high profile, statewide consumer fraud class action involving claims of deceptive practices and conspiracy and seeking disgorgement of profits and restitution. Summary judgment was obtained after the class had been certified, all discovery (including all experts’ depositions) had been completed, and just prior to commencement of trial. Coordinating statewide pharmaceutical litigation involving over 4000 plaintiffs and a defense team of over 40 individuals, including development of case management guidelines and court orders, direction of case-specific discovery, expert preparation, depositions of plaintiffs and treating physicians, as well as pre-trial preparation.  Managing nationwide litigation involving allegedly defective medical device, including oversight of local counsel, coordination of all discovery, and working with company personnel and scientists to develop the corporate story of the case. Obtaining Judgment on the Pleadings of consumer fraud claims against commercial lending entity, saving the client from production of information relating to its other customers and what would have been massive discovery relating to those customers. Obtaining Summary Judgment in foodborne illness case involving brain-damaged infant, with damages claims in excess of $30 million. Obtaining nominal settlement against director in breach of contract case on the eve of trial. Successfully resolving broker-dealer actions after aggressive motion practice. Handling matters relating to attorney breaches of loyalty, fiduciary duty, and other acts of alleged negligence. She has also procured favorable results for her clients — from negotiating early settlement to prevailing on dispositive motions to obtaining defense verdicts at trial — in numerous individual products liability and general liability actions. Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments Ms. Woodward is admitted to practice in Texas (1996) and California (1999).  She is also admitted to practice in the Fifth and Ninth Circuit Courts as well as various U.S. District Courts in California and Texas. Ms. Woodward is a proud member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, for which she serves on the Live Standards Training Program Committee and is a State Chairperson for California.  In this capacity, Ms. Woodward worked with other committee members to develop a “Trial Practices” program that has been offered throughout the country. She also Co-chairs the ABA Mass Torts Committee’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Subcommittee. As the Chairperson of Sedgwick’s Los Angeles Women's Forum, she is dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of female attorneys.  She has facilitated and/or presented a variety of programs aimed at serving this constituency, including career advancement, business development, and networking seminars. Since 1998, Ms. Woodward has served as an attorney for the Something of Value Program, sponsored by the National Panhellenic Conference.  She travels to college campuses around the country to present a mock trial program and facilitate conversation among students about avoidance of risky behaviors. Presentations and Publications Panelist, “Successful Strategies for Managing Mass Torts,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference 2011 (March 23, 2011). Panelist, “What to Do When Your Case Becomes a Mass Tort,” American Bar Association's 2011 Environmental, Mass Torts & Products Liability Committees Joint CLE Seminar (January 29, 2011). Panelist, “Navigating the Fall-Out from Preemption: Preserving the Defense in Your Device Cases and Developing Strategies for FDA Testimony in Drug Litigation,” American Conference Institute’s 15th Anniversary Drug and Medical Device Litigation (December 7-9, 2010). Panelist, “How to Value a Case,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference (March 24, 2010); Speaker, “Legal Ethics for the Modern Lawyer,” co-presented at the offices of a Sedgwick client (October 29, 2009); Speaker, “Tales From the Trenches - Lessons Learned from Broker Dealer Trials,” co-presented at the offices of a Sedgwick client (August 26, 2009); Co-author, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Statutes chapter; Iowa Consumer Fraud Act chapter, 50 State Survey of Consumer Fraud Law, American Bar Association, (Fall 2009). Speaker, “Creative and Strategic Use of Written Discovery,” Sedgwick U. (February 18, 2009). Moderator, “Help Us Help You: The Medical Device Case from an Expert’s Perspective,” ABA Medical Device Conference, Fort Worth, Texas (October 7, 2008). Education Ms. Woodward graduated cum laude with a B.A (1992) in government and religion from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Woodward received her J.D. (1996) from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers and named Outstanding 3L Advocate. She participated on ten state and national mock trial and moot court teams.

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Jeffrey is speaking in the following sessions:

Jeffrey Zehe is a partner with Nielsen, Zehe & Antas, P.C. and concentrates his litigation practice in the areas of casualty defense, the defense of various professionals, employment law, municipal liability defense, and property subrogation.  Mr. Zehe specializes in the defense of municipalities, school districts, lawyers, construction professionals, insurance executives, agents and brokers, and corporate directors and officers.  After he was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1979, followed by seven years experience in the public sector as a prosecutor for the Cook County States Attorney's Office, Mr. Zehe joined private practice.  During a varied practice, he has successfully tried several multi-million dollar cases to defense verdict of behalf of his clients in many different venues, both state and Federal.  On the plaintiff side, in 2007, Mr. Zehe tried an insurance subrogation matter to a $63 million verdict in Wisconsin, one of the largest 100 verdicts in the country. 

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