A native of Washington, D.C., George obtained his degree in Economics from Duke University in 1978. He began his multi-lines claims career at Travelers Insurance Company where he worked for 19 years and attained the position of Senior Vice-President in charge of Workers Compensation Claims and Managed Care. He then joined Kemper Insurance’s executive ranks where he was responsible for workers compensation claims, performance management, unit costing and claim systems.

George was hired into Liberty Mutual in March of 2003 as Senior Vice-President and General Claims Manager for the Business Market. In July 2012, George was named Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer, Commercial Insurance. He oversees a staff in excess of 5,000 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dorothy G. Capers is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of National Express, the North American subsidiary of a publicly traded transportation company on the London stock exchange whose brands include Durham School Services, Petermann LLC and National Express Transit Corporation.  Dorothy oversees a diverse legal team that supports the Company in areas of corporate governance, employment, labor, litigation, environmental, real estate and corporate contracts.  Dorothy also has Compliance reporting in to her.

Prior to joining National Express in June of 2015, Dorothy was Associate General Counsel for US Foods, Inc., a $22 billion dollar privately held foodservice distribution company that has over $1billion in publicly traded debt securities.  There she had primary responsibility over the Litigation and Bankruptcy/Finance teams within the Legal Department.  She was also a member of the team leading US Foods through a proposed merger with Sysco Corporation, their largest competitor.  Before joining US Foods, Dorothy has worked extensively as a litigator in the state, county and local government as well as in the private sector for law firms and corporations.  Her government experience includes her leadership as a Deputy Corporation Counsel with the City of Chicago and as a prosecutor for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.  Dorothy’s first in house role was as Senior Counsel with Metra Railroad.
  
Dorothy has lectured on legal topics related primarily to internal investigations, attorney client privilege, development of convergence and alternative fee proposals and best practices for developing in- house litigation strategies.  Dorothy sits as a member of the board of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, Children’s Home & Aid, The Claims and Litigation Management Association and the Black Alumni Network for the University of Illinois.

Dorothy earned her J.D. from Howard University School of Law, Washington DC and her B.A from the University of Illinois, Champaign, IL.

Michael J. Daly

Michael is a member of the XL Insurance Legal Team and serves as a liaison with XL Global Liability Claims Management.  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.

Krista Glenn is Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer for Westfield Specialty and brings 30 years of insurance claims and management experience to the role. At Westfield Specialty, Ms. Glenn is building a new, full-service claims organization in order to support all of Westfield Specialty's lines of business which currently include E&S Casualty; E&S Property; Financial Institutions; Management Liability and Westfield Pro (Cyber, E&O and Professional Liability).     

Prior to joining Westfield Specialty, Krista spent five years as EVP, Chief Claims Officer at a North Carolina-based insurance carrier.  Krista also spent more than 21 years at the ACE/Chubb companies where she held many roles in Chubb, ACE North America and ACE Group Claims.  She ended her career at Chubb as the Head of Multinational Claims with dual reporting to the Global Accounts underwriting division.  Krista began her career handling claims and declaratory judgment actions at AIG in New York.

Krista is a member of Chief, a 2019 Women to Watch and a 2015 Woman on the Move award winner, a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and APIW, and an advisory board member for the CLM.  She is a graduate of Seton Hall University and Delaware Law School and is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  In her most important role, Krista is the proud mother of two adult daughters.

Mr. Koonce is the Chief Claims Officer, for Sedgwick’s Casualty Division.  In this role, Koonce is responsible for product development and innovation, industry analysis and thought leadership, best practices and compliance standards, legislative and regulatory relationships, and continued involvement in client programs for Sedgwick’s U.S. workers’ compensation and liability lines of business.

Prior to his current role, Koonce was the Managing Director responsible for Sedgwick’s casualty retail business unit in which he oversaw program results and service execution across the company’s retail customer base.  This included use of innovation and technology to improve client outcomes and customer experience.

Prior to joining Sedgwick, Koonce was senior director of risk management for Walmart Stores, Inc., the nation’s largest private sector employer.  In this role, he managed the retailer’s domestic property and casualty claims program. He simultaneously served as president of Claims Management, Inc., Walmart’s wholly owned third party administrator.

An attorney by trade, Koonce was previously an administrative law judge for the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission and an appellate court justice for the Arkansas Court of Appeals.  Koonce has served on various state self-insured association boards, as well as the National Council of Self Insurers (NCSI), and National Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation (UWC).   He continues to serve as a member of several local non-profit boards and industry risk management advisory boards. 

Koonce earned his BBA degree in economics from Harding University and his JD degree from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.  He is licensed to practice law in the State of Arkansas and is a member of the American and Arkansas Bar Associations.   
 

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 where he had responsibility for staff counsel, panel counsel, coverage counsel, environmental and extra-contractual litigation. In 2010 John re-entered private practice as a partner with a national defense firm where he concentrated on national program management, insurance coverage and general liability litigation and in 2013 he was appointed General Counsel for the CLM. John was also of counsel to the Wood, Smith, Henning and Berman firm and is now Head of Litigation and Vendor Management for AXA XL.

An attorney for over 30 years, he is "AV" rated by Martindale and is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and  the United States Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College, University of New Hampshire Law School, and has completed management training programs at the Wharton School of Business and the London Business School. He was the 2008 Chair of the ACC Insurance Staff Counsel Committee and a Boston 2012 Top Rated Lawyer (insurance coverage)

 

Preston McGowan is an accomplished insurance executive with expertise in transforming core, legacy operations at some of the world’s largest financial services companies.  As the Senior Vice President – Digital and Customer Experience at AIG, he is responsible for delivering the Private Client Group’s new digital sales and services capabilities.  He is also responsible for collaborating with various service teams to develop new customer experience strategies and product roadmaps.  Prior to joining AIG, Preston spent over 30 years in the commercial insurance marketplace and held senior leadership positions in information technology, corporate strategy, marketing and legal operations. 

Preston earned an MBA from The Wharton School and a BS in 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.

Ms. Ginamarie Alvino is an Assistant Vice President and Associate General Counsel at RiverStone Claims Management, LLC. In her role at RiverStone, Ms. Alvino manages litigation risks and resolves complex and volatile claims on behalf of the Company and its clients.

An attorney with over 21 years of experience in the insurance industry and private litigation practice, Ms. Alvino directs and oversees various forms of commercial disputes including arbitrations and commercial litigation in courts nationwide involving disputes related to insurance issues arising from environmental, asbestos, excess workers compensation and pharmaceutical risks. Ms. Alvino also counsels her corporate client and has spoken at numerous national conferences on emerging risks, such as climate change, environmental liability, and risk modeling.

Ms. Alvino joined RiverStone in 2002. Prior to joining RiverStone, Ms. Alvino was an attorney at the law firm of Rivkin Radler LLP in Uniondale, New York, specializing in complex insurance coverage litigation. Ms. Alvino received her J.D. degree from St. John’s University School of Law and is a member of the New York State Bar. She also serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Association (CICLA).

Partner with Horwtiz, Cron and Armstrong, LLP, handling insurance defense, insurance subrogation, professional liability defense, construction defense, corporate director and officer liability defense, business defense, intellectual property defense, insurance bad faith defense, insurance coverage, and general counsel and self-insured counsel services to private companies and to non-profit HOAs.

PLRB Speaker for 2012 Regional Conferences

Past PLRB Speaker on Handling Intellectual Property Claims

Past Speaker for CNA re Handling Mold Property and Personal Injury Claims

Member of Great American Insurance Company's approved Insurance Defense and Subrogation Panels

Author of California Insurance Defense law blog at http://californiainsurancedefense.blogspot.com

Law firm website is http://hcalaw.biz

Kelly joined Canal Insurance Company at its company headquarters in Greenville, SC as its Senior Staff Attorney in July 2011. Kelly’s duties include management of the company’s Compliance Department. Kelly provides oversight and management of the rate/rule and form filings for the company; market conduct; managing Canal’s compliance with regulation and legislation, and interacting with industry trades and other stakeholders.

Before joining Canal, Kelly served as Senior Staff Attorney at SafeAuto Insurance Company in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to SafeAuto, Kelly worked as a Trial Attorney for the Cincinnati, Ohio law firms of Freund, Freeze & Arnold, where she focused on insurance defense litigation and insurance regulatory work product, and Cors & Bassett where she focused on commercial litigation. Kelly is admitted to several state and federal bars and is active in the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, and the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES). Kelly has received her Market Conduct Management (MCM) designation from IRES and is actively working towards her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Mr. Arnold joined Cummins & White, LLP in 1974 and became a partner in 1978. Mr. Arnold practices in the areas of insurance, real estate, and business law, with emphasis on insurance coverage, civil litigation, real estate and business transactions. Mr. Arnold represents insurance companies and their insureds in first and third party coverage disputes, including concurrent cause, force placed, environmental, fraud, errors and omissions, and duty to defend issues. He handles all aspects of litigation arising out of insurance and bad faith issues and in such areas as professional liability, property damage and subrogation. In addition, he has substantial experience in many types of real estate and business transactions and litigation, including formation, purchases and sales, financing, and leasing. From 1985 to 1987 and from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Arnold served as Cummins & White’s managing partner.

Insurance Catastrophes
Mr. Arnold has an extensive background in providing legal advice on claims catastrophes such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Mr. Arnold has handled more than 100 earthquake claims and has tried several. He also has handled more than 25 earthquake appraisals. He has served as a consultant to insurance carriers in drafting their earthquake policies. The Cummins & White insurance practice, led by Mr. Arnold, serves as panel counsel to the California Earthquake Authority.

Bar Admissions
U.S. District Court (Southern, Central, Eastern & Northern Districts of California)
U.S. District Court of Arizona
U.S. District Court of Nebraska
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Education
BA (Political Science), University of Southern California
JD, United States International University, California Western School of Law

Mr. Beemer has 46 years in the insurance industry and is retired but continues to do consulting and expert witness work through Suite 200 Solutions.  Previously he was the VP of Claims at Tokio Marine HCC Insurance Group.  Prior to TMHCC, Mr. Beemer worked at IAT, QBE, Aetna, CNA, Home Insurance, Risk Enterprise Management and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.   At QBE Mr. Beemer lead the liability claims department and the Litigation Management department for QBE.  He had direct oversight of Litigation Management, Transportation, GL, CD, TPA Services and Environmental claims.  Prior to QBE Mr. Beemer was 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 serves on  the Advisory Board for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, has served as Dean of Litigation Management at Claims College and is a Chancellor and Professor at Litigation Management Institute. Mr. Beemer has authored numerous articles for Claims Management Magazine and Litigation Management Magazine. Mr. Beemer received the CLM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 at the Annual Conference in Tampa Florida. 

Paul Berne joined the Lancer Financial Group in 1992. He has over 38 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 a member of the TIDA Endowment Committee, having initiated the committee and serving as Chair for 10 years. Paul is a member of the Counsel on Litigation Management Bad Faith Committee and Transportation 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. Paul is now Executive Vice President of The Quaker Project, a Claims data and analytics company working with Lancer Insurance Company and other organizations.

Marla Bigeleisen has over 18 years of experience in the insurance industry, including claims management, insurance defense and regulatory litigation. Marla began her career with Pennsylvania’s MCARE focusing on medical malpractice litigation, then entered private practice representing insureds and insurers in liability claims and bad faith litigation. Marla has also served as Department Counsel with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Marla returned to medical malpractice litigation with ACE where she specialized in hospital, facility and allied health practitioner claims, including Long Term Care claims. Her responsibilities at ACE included management of “out of territory” hospital claims venued in Puerto Rico. Marla then worked ewith a TPA and is currently Assistant General Counsel with Nationwide. Marla holds a BBA in International Marketing and is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Steven J. Brams is a game theorist and political scientist at the New York University Department of Politics.  Dr. Brams is best known for his work on applying game theory to voting systems and to systems involving fair division.  He is one of the independent discoverers of approval voting and was a co-discoverer, with Alan Taylor, of the first envy-free solution to the n-person cake-cutting problem, which had previously been one of the most important open problems in contemporary mathematics.  With Taylor, he is a co-inventor of the "Adjusted Winner" system, a patented fair-division procedure.  He is the author or co-author of fifteen books, the most recent being Mathematics and Democracy: Designing Better Voting and Fair-Division Procedures (2008), and Game Theory and the Humanities: Bridging Two Worlds (2011).

Dr. Brams earned his B.S. at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Politics, Economics, and Science in 1962.  In 1996, he went on to earn his Ph.D. in Political Science at Northwestern University.

Dr. Brams worked briefly in U.S. federal government positions before taking an Assistant Professor position at Syracuse University in 1967.  He moved to New York University in 1969, where he is a Professor in the Department of Politics.

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.   

Michael is a 25+ years veteran of the healthcare risk management and insurance industry. He is currently the Director of Insurance for NYU Langone Medical Center where he is responsible for managing the various line of liability insurance.  His primary focus is professional liability insurance and claims related to professional liability.  While at NYU Langone Medical Center, Michael was instrumental in merging the nonprofessional liability lines of insurance back with the University and help the Medical Center realize an initial $1 million in premium savings.

Prior to joining NYULMC, Michael was the Director of Risk and Compliance at St. John's Episcopal Hospital, a small community hospital in southern Queens, where he initiated various risk management programs and instituted the hospitals initial Corporate Compliance program and HIPAA Compliance program.

Michael started his risk management carrier in 1986, working for a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. In 1990 he moved to Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC as the Associated Risk Manager where he spent 9 years honing his risk management skills before spending a year at the North Shore-LIJ Health Systems's Risk Management Department where he was responsible for all risk and claims management activities for 3 of the systems smaller community hospitals.

Prior to entering the healthcare risk management industry, Michael was a Registered Nurse earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SUNY - Downstate.  Michael also holds an MBA in Healthcare Administration from CUNY - Baruch College/Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Healthcare Administration Program

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 ReutersWest 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.

DONNA L. BURDEN is the founding member of the law firm of Burden, Hafner & Hansen, LLC in Buffalo, New York and practices throughout New York State.   She is a member of CLM and a member of the CLM Transportation Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of TIDA and a former member of the Board of Directors of DRI, as well as the former Chair of the DRI Trucking Committee and former Program Chair for the Trucking Law Conference.  She is the past Chair of the IADC Transportation Committee as well as the past Chair of the IADC Trucking Subcommittee.  She is also a member of the TLA and CTLA.  Ms. Burden has many years of experience litigating large loss cases in trucking and transportation, product liability, labor law, premises toxic tort, municipal and school law, medical device, Employment Practices Law and other catastrophic injury matters. She is the head of the firm’s 24-Hour Emergency Response Team.  Burden, Hafner & Hansen, LLC is a proud member of THEMIS ADVOCATES GROUP and is WBENC certified as a Woman Owned Business.
 
 

Bill Burns is Vice President of Liability Claims for Landstar System, Inc., a Jacksonville, Florida based transportation company. A 1968 graduate of the University of Kentucky, Mr. Burns has been with Landstar System for 40 years. He has experience in every aspect of claims handling and is licensed as a Property and Casualty Adjuster in many states. He also has training in the areas of accident investigation, accident reconstruction, personal injury evaluation, and litigation preparedness. Mr. Burns’ responsibilities at Landstar include supervision of personal injury claims with his personal interaction in catastrophic cases, and the oversight of claims in litigation. He works closely with defense counsel in negotiating settlements and preparing cases for trial.
 

Mr. Carlton represents business clients in complex civil litigation. He provides consultation and representation in numerous areas of insurance coverage and defends insurers and third-party administrators with respect to coverage disputes and claims of insurance bad faith, deceptive trade practices and insurance code violations. He also defends insureds in business and personal injury litigation, including attorney professional liability, auto liability, premises liability, products liability, construction defect, catastrophic injury, and first party property claims; and maintains a commercial liability practice representing construction companies, self-insured employers and other business entities.

Pamela W. Carter is the Managing Partner of the Louisiana offices of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. She concentrates her practice in litigation and represents clients in a wide variety of areas in federal and state courts in Louisiana and Texas. She litigates discrimination and harassment claims under state and federal law, complex disputes, insurance claims for corporate clients, employment disputes, commercial litigation and other matters including insurance defense, coverage claims, bad faith litigation and race/gender discrimination cases. Ms. Carter has represented clients as coordinating counsel for asbestos and hurricane-related claims.

In over 27 years of litigation, she has handled numerous matters involving products liability, medical devices, trucking, toxic exposure, and food products. She also has experience in drafting and implementing employment policies, as well as discipline and termination processes, in order to comply with the latest federal, state, and local law.
 
Ms. Carter has attained the highest rating of an AV ® Preeminent™ from Martindale Hubbell Law Directory. With a seasoned practice spanning over 27 years, Ms. Carter does indeed have her pulse on ever-changing legal trends and insights. This, along with a keen understanding of her client’s goals and continuous communication, drives her defense strategies. 

Nancy Collins, Vice President, Risk Management has been with ABM since 2009 when the organization transitioned its risk department from San Francisco to Atlanta. In this role she oversees Claims, Insurance Services, and Safety. Nancy received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Auburn University and her Juris Doctor from Georgia State University. Her law practice consisted primarily of insurance defense in the areas of workers’ compensation, premises liability and professional liability matters.

She began her career in Risk Management in 2001 when she became Vice President and Senior Corporate Counsel for Centennial Healthcare where she managed all aspects of its insurance program, as well as its workers’ compensation and professional liability claims. She later joined OneSource Facility Services as Counsel, Litigation and Risk which was acquired by ABM in 2007.
 

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.

Licensed as a resident adjuster in Louisiana, with non-resident licenses in Florida and Texas.

Prior to arriving at Gray, he served at Gallagher Bassett Services, Bankers Insurance Group (where he served as Claims Manager to Louisiana Citizens Insurance - most notably during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) and American International Group in both managerial and claims functions.

CLM Worker’s Compensation Committee Co-chair.Member of CLM Fire and Explosion Committee

He has obtained Associate in Claims and Certified Workers' Compensation Professional designations.  He has completed coursework in Aviation Insurance for both Aircraft and Airport FacilitiesHe is a certified firefighter and has provided expert testimony in Fire Cause and Origin testimony in state district court.  Former Fire Chief of a metropolitan fire department. Is POST Certified in Law Enforcement

Past 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, International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and Infragard.

Was a speaker at the 2006 American Claims Exposition, 2013 WCI360 Conference, as well as the 2012 and 2013 CLM Annual Conference, and a speaker at the LASIE Medicare Secondary Payer certification seminar.

Member of Advisory Council to Louisiana Association of Self Insured Employers.

Attended Louisiana State University and Delgado Community College.

Domenic Di Noto is an associate with Brady, Vorwerck, Ryder & Caspino, based in the firm’s Orange County, California office. His practice with the firm has consisted of defense of Workers’ Compensation matters. Domenic is currently serving as a claims specialist as part of a one-year secondment program with Arrowpoint Capital in Charlotte, NC. He is a licensed North Carolina claims adjuster. Domenic received his Certified Litigation Management Professional designation after completing the LMI course in October, 2012 at Columbia Law School. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and Whittier Law School.

Following college, Samantha attended New York Law School and received a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude and served as an editor of the New York Law School Law Review. After six years of practicing as an attorney in insurance defense, insurance coverage and bankruptcy litigation, Samantha transitioned to a claims career at Zurich NA where she managed environmental claims for two years. Samantha joined Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers as claims attorney in July 2011. She is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, the District Court for the State of New Jersey and the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of New York and is licensed as an insurance adjuster in fifteen (15) states.

Ms. Domanski has been actively involved with the construction and architectural industry for the past 20 years. With an emphasis in project management and construction administration, Susan’s experience includes a variety of large and small scale commercial and residential projects in both the private and public sectors. These projects include municipal, educational, assisted living, multi-family and retail developments.

Susan began her career working extensively with apartment renovation projects and eventually moving to larger, commercial projects. She has worked on the construction administration team for the $490 million Phase V Orange County Convention Center. Unique project management experiences have given her the perspective of the Owner, the Contractor and the Architect. This knowledge, teamed with strong coordination and research skills, allow her to provide effective support services involved in complex construction disputes and/or litigation.
 

Rachel Ehrlich is a nationally recognized mediator specializing in complex civil disputes. She mediates litigated and non-litigated matters in the following areas: construction defect, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, environmental, civil rights, real estate including landlord-tenant, and personal injury including catastrophic injuries. She has successfully mediated disputes in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Washington, London, and other jurisdictions. Prior to becoming a full-time neutral, she spent 20 years gaining an invaluable understanding of civil disputes and the insurance industry as a casualty and coverage attorney, insurance claims person, underwriter, and insurance executive. Rachel is also a mediator for several court programs including the Federal District of Northern California. She has been active with CLM, serving for several years in the Claims College as a founding Dean of the Claims Mediation School and on the founding Executive Council for the Construction School. She regularly presents seminars on mediation of insurance coverage, bad faith, and construction disputes, mediation confidentiality, and ethics to a variety of audiences.

Rachel is a graduate of University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J.D. 1996) and the University of California at Santa Cruz (B.A. Politics 1990).  She is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the US Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits, and the US District Courts of Northern California and Colorado.  www.ehrlichadr.com

Richard Eniclerico is a Senior Litigation Partner at Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP and has, for over 25 years, tried major cases on behalf of both corporate and insurance company clients. Before joining the firm, he served as both a homicide prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney's Office and Commercial Litigator. Mr. Eniclerico has a reputation as a well-prepared, creative and tenacious advocate who has achieved considerable success in the courtroom. His professional integrity has been essential to that success. Mr. Eniclerico has also lectured extensively to bar association groups, and published papers, on trial advocacy and substantive law issues. He is listed in best lawyers in NY/USA; Super Lawyers and has received Martindale Hubbell's highest [AV] rating.

Kimberly George is senior vice president and responsible for corporate development, M&A, and healthcare at Sedgwick. In this role, she is the senior healthcare advisor for Sedgwick, its clients, and investors.  Kimberly is a sought after expert in the areas of integrated disability and absence, employee health models, workers' compensation, managed care, and health reform.  Over her 15 year tenure at Sedgwick she has had lead operational divisions, product development, and client services.

Ms. George is a sought after speaker and thought leader. She is often featured in industry journals and publications and is a highly regarded authority in healthcare.

Helen is Vice President and Manager of Enterprise Legal Services for the Liberty Mutual Group.  She serves as Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  She is also a member of the ACC Law Department Executive Leadership Group.  Helen has had over 30 years of experience at Liberty Mutual Group including various management positions in the Claims and Legal Departments and the Field Legal Organization.  She assumed her current position in 2005, where her responsibilities include managing the outside legal expenditures for Liberty.  Her group is responsible for analytics on $1 Billion of legal spend.  Her responsibilities also include legal finance, technology, auditing and process improvement initiatives for the litigation management function.  Liberty Mutual is a diversified global insurer which ranks 71 on the Fortune 500.  Helen has a Bachelor of Science of Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Before entering the insurance industry, Lewis was a practicing licensed professional counselor and practiced law as a partner of a regional law firm – and in private practice – where his practice focused on defense litigation of licensed professionals; including healthcare litigation defense, the representation of healthcare enterprises and large physician practice groups, and specialized treatment facilities. He also served as the General Counsel for the Florida Physicians Association a sister organization of the Florida Medical Society.

Lewis has extensive experience as a healthcare attorney, with experience in insurance defense and administrative law with direct experience in insurance claims management with a focus on litigation management.

Mr. Harper is a member of DRI, TIDA, NRRDA, and, of course, CLM, where he serves on the Transportation Committee. He is admitted to the bar of Ohio and Florida, and is a Certified Litigation Management Professional.

Lewis earned two Masters Degrees from Denver Seminary – Denver Colorado, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron, School of Law.

Diverse commercial and business practice with expertise in litigation, casualty liability/insured risk defense, product liability, food and beverage, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, subrogation, insurance/coverage, employment, consultant and non-compete agreements, employment litigation defense, Architects & Engineers, Construction Law, Real Estate, Limited Liability Corporation (formation, compliance and dissolution), licensing and distributorship agreements, trademarks.

Entered on CLM profile today:

Born New York City, April 17, 1957. Married to Maura Donovan Hunter, 3 sons.Manhattanville College, BA 1979, Pace University School of Law, JD 1985Admitted New York and Federal CourtsLaw Department, Texaco, Inc., White Plains, New YorkAssistant District Attorney, Westchester County, New York 1986-1990Associate, then Partner, Wilson Elser, New York, New York 1990-1996 Partner, Luboja & Thau, LLP, New York City, Hackensack, NJ, Pleasantville, NY (Westchester Co.) 8/1996-3/2016, Partner, Law Offices of John G. Luboja, LLP

Daniel I. Jaeger
Worldwide First Party SIU Manager
Chubb & Son, a division of Federal Insurance Company

Daniel I Jaeger, CPCU, AIC- Dan Jaeger began his career with State Farm Indemnity Company as a Catastrophic PIP Claim Representative. Within 18-months Dan transferred into State Farm's SIU where he investigated suspicious BI, UM/UIM, PIP and PD losses. During his tenure with State Farm, Dan was also assigned to State Farm's Organized Activity Unit where he investigated suspicious claimants, attorneys and healthcare practitioners in New Jersey. In 1998 Dan was hired by American International Group to investigate suspicious auto and homeowners losses in Philadelphia, Maryland and Delaware.

He was hired by Chubb in November of 2001 to investigate suspicious property losses for Chubb’s Mid-Atlantic Zone, which encompasses PA, DE, MD, VA, DC and WV. Dan has directed complex investigations for Chubb involving, Arson, Art Theft, Auto Theft, Commercial Property and Valuable Articles.

In November of 2010, Dan was promoted to Worldwide First Party SIU Manager where he manages 8 US field investigators and 4 investigators outside of the US.

He is a graduate of the University of Delaware where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, June 1994.

Dan is a member of the CPCU Society and the International Association of Special Investigation Units.

He is a past President of the Brandywine Valley Chapter-CPCU and from 2009-2012 held the position of CPCU Society Regional Governor supporting 5 CPCU Chapters in Eastern Pennsylvania.

He has presented on the topics of SIU and the Bottom Line, Property Fraud Awareness & Recognition, Body Shop Fraud and Application Fraud.

Dan has had two articles published in the Philadelphia Business Journal:

October 2, 2003-“Protect yourself with a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy”

October 4, 2002-“How to protect your valuable articles”

Fred Keeton is Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer for Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the world’s largest gaming-entertainment company. He oversees operationalizing diversity and inclusion (D&I) in Human Resources, Supplier Sourcing, Community Reinvestment, Design and Construction, Marketing, Innovation and Continuous Improvement. He leads Caesars’ senior executive team in applying cognitive diversity to drive business outcomes through Diverse by Design (DbyD) Teams. In 1975, Keeton began his career with Allstate Insurance Company, and concurrently attended Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi working towards a 1979 bachelors of Science degree in political science. He has worked in progressively advanced corporate and operational roles over the past 31 years.

Matthew P KerisScranton, PennsylvaniaShareholderphone (570) 496-4602fax (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:"What's It Worth? Best Practices in Defending Economic Damages in the Catastrophic Accident," Co-Author, Litigation Management Magazine, Fall 2012

"Reducing Medical Malpractice E-Discovery Issues and Costs," The Legal Intelligencer, February 14, 2012

"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:

Co-Presenter-Working with Experts post-Barrick and Cooper, Panelist, PDI/NEPATLA Regional CLE, Mohegan Sun Casino, Wilkes-Barre, PA November 14, 2012

Panelist-Defending the Electronic Medical Record Deposition, ASHRM Annual Conference & Exhibition, National Harbor, MD, October 9, 2012

Panelist- OMG?!-The Impact of Social Media on the Tripartite Relationship, Moderator/Co-Presenter, Claim & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 27, 2012Moderator--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, MemberLackawanna County Bar Association, 2000 - PresentPennsylvania Defense Institute, Board of Directors, 2007 - 2009Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Secretary, 2009 - 2011Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Treasurer, 2011 –2012

Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Executive Vice-President-2012-2013Secretary, PBA Health Care Law Committee, 2010-PresentPresident  Central PA Association for Health Care Risk Management -- 2012Chairman of PBA Healthcare Law Subcommittee on Civil Litigation, 2011-Present

Carol Kreiling
Attorney
Swiss Re

Carol Kreiling is a Vice President at Swiss Re. She is a Claims Expert in Swiss Re's Property and Casualty Business 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 Canada's claims team for Swiss Re.
Ms. Kreiling has written a number of publications, blogs and white papers on emerging risks, including social media, cyber liability and drones.  In addition, Ms. Kreiling has been a speaker at numerous industry events on the subject of social media, technology, and cyber liability.

Kirk A. Lauby has a varied and comprehensive background in business management which is of particular benefit to the firm's business and business litigation clients. Mr. Lauby was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1978, and has combined his legal practice with business endeavors in the food marketing industry, oil and gas exploration, and real estate building and development.

Mr. Lauby is an experienced trial attorney with a focus on business litigation, construction defect litigation, construction injury litigation, premises liability, contractor general counsel assignments and personal injury. He has the distinction of having represented the developer defendants in what was at the time the largest construction defect jury trial held in Riverside County. Mr. Lauby has vast experience representing plaintiffs, developers, manufacturers and subcontractors in all construction trades.

His published opinion in Lopez v. C.G.M. Development, Inc. (2002) 101 CA 4th 430 is an established and often cited authority which limits liability of owners, developers and general contractors for injuries sustained by subcontractor employees.

Additionally, Mr. Lauby has had the opportunity to participate with multiple insurance carriers in their special investigation unit (SIU) automobile defense activities. He has tried and arbitrated several hundred SIU cases. Mr. Lauby recently had the honor of being recognized by The Riverside Superior Court as one of the most successful mediators on the Court's Civil Mediation Panel for 2009-2010.

Mr. Lauby is licensed to practice in the State of California, and before the United States District Court. He is available to represent appellants in the California Appellate Court system.

He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court and a former member of the American Bar Association, and the Los Angeles and Orange County Bar Associations.

Fernandez & Lauby LLP strongly supports alternative dispute resolution programs as the best means to control litigation costs and exposure. Mr. Lauby has successfully completed the mediator's training certificate from the Strauss Institute for Mediation at Pepperdine University School of Law. Mr. Lauby serves as a private mediator for construction, business litigation, real estate and personal injury disputes and is on the panel of mediators for Dispute Resolution Services. He also serves on the panel of arbitrators for the Riverside County and San Bernardino County courts.

Mr. Lauby received his Bachelor of Arts degree from U.C.L.A. in 1974 and his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University in 1978.

Prior to joining CNA in 1996, Bob spent twenty years as a police officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and was assigned to numerous prestigious positions, including Internal Affairs, Special Investigations Unit and Executive Protection, Governor’s office. Additionally, he served as a field supervisor and in various command staff positions. Bob is a member of the International Association of Special Investigations Units and he earned the designation of Senior Claims Law Associate from the American Education Institute. In September 2007, he was promoted to his current role as Manager of the Fraud Case Management Team, which assigns, coordinates and monitors fraud and surveillance investigations for all lines of business. 

Ron Mazariegos is Head of Public Entity and Non-Profit claims at Ambrdige Group.  Ron manages a claims unit handling complex, high impact commercial auto, municipal liability, E&O, MPL, EPL, workers' compensation, excess casualty and reinsurance claims on behalf of insured municipalities, school districts, public risk pools, religous organizations and higher learning institutions.

Previously, Ron was VP of Claims and Vendor Manager with Arrowpoint Capital, (formerly Royal and SunAlliance Insurance), where he led a team of Workers Compensation, No-Fault and PIP claim adjusters and supervisors. Ron also managed professional lines, including Architects and Engineers' Errors and Omissions claims in the U.S. and Canada.

Ron has extensive experience representing the insurance industry on both the claims and defense side. Prior to joining Arrowpoint, Ron was an attorney 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 lawsuits on behalf of major insurance carriers, self-insureds, third-party administrators, reinsurers and municipal entities.

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 defended and resolved hundreds of lawsuits filed against the City of New York, the New York City Police Department, the Board of Education, the Department of Transportation and the NYC Sanitation Department.

Ron is a licensed attorney in New York and North Carolina. He also a licensed adjuster in NC, SC, FL, TX and GA.

Michele Newman's Claim handling career began in 1985 with Aetna Life & Casualty and continued with Connecticut Medical Insurance Company in 1988 and has over 30 years’ experience handling bodily injury and medical professional liability claims and lawsuits. She brings a wealth of experience to her position as Litigation Manager at Hamlin & Burton with a significant record of managing and resolving claims of the highest settlements with the greatest savings based upon fair resolution values. 

Ms. Newman graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.  Ms. Newman also earned her Certification in Mediation from the Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Law School in 2006 and in 2011 she achieved her Certification in Claims Litigation Management from Claims & Litigation Management Alliance hosted by Columbia Law School; November of 2015 completed the Program on Negotiation Master Class at the Harvard Law School; has earned her ACP and CCP designations and currently serves as Co-Dean for the School of Mediation at CLM's Claims College. 
 

David M. O’Connor of O'Connor & Associates, LLC, an AV-rated six-lawyer Boston firm, defends claims against policyholders and represents carriers in coverage and unfair claims practices litigation. Mr. O’Connor is recognized in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and has been  a Massachusetts Super Lawyer in mulitple practice categories. Mr. O'Connor regularly presents to industry groups on contractual risk transfer; insurance coverage; extra-contractual exposures; and defending unpopular corporate targets.  He obtained a B.A. from Georgetown University and is a cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School, where he was Articles Editor for the B.C. Environmental Law Review. He is admitted in Massachusetts; the  U.S. District Court, Districts of Massachusetts, Connecticut and  Arizona; and the  U.S. Court of Appeals, First and Ninth Circuits.

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@oslaw.com.

Tina Zink Pernie serves as the Head of Strategy, Operations, & Compliance at the CLM. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing strategic initiatives, operational efficiency, compliance management, and implementing innovative solutions.
 
Before rejoining the CLM, Tina served as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at North American Risk Services (NARS). In this role, she provided vision and direction for service relationships, partnerships, and product development. From 2014 to 2021, Tina was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the CLM. She was responsible for overall operational efficiency, strategic vision implementation, talent acquisition and empowerment, as well as IT innovation and implementation. Prior to 2014, Tina served as Claim Manager for Litigation & Vendor Management at Arrowpoint Capital. She oversaw and directed claims professionals, vendors, and defense attorney contracts and billing. From 2000 to 2007, she held various positions at Arrowpoint Capital, including managing the legal bill review division, where she maximized legal bill savings and law firm compliance through the application of litigation management billing guidelines according to all company, state, and federal regulations and practices.
 
Tina graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned the dual degree Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Leadership (MBA/MSL) from Pfeiffer University in North Carolina.

Bill is a partner in the Mobile, Alabama office of Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.  He has a civil defense practice, focusing on the defense of personal injury, workers' compensation, premises liability and general liability matters. 
 
 Admitted to practice in Alabama and Florida, he is an experienced trial and appellate attorney in both state and federal courts throughout Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  He is AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell.  He is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute (Construction Law, Trucking Law and Workers’ Compensation Committees) and the Florida Bar.  He is past Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Defense Research Institute and is a frequent speaker at professional education seminars.  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 WCI Conference. He co-authored the CLM Workers' Compensation Claims Handling Guide for the State of Alabama for use by claims professionals and members of CLM.  He served as chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Alabama State Bar from 2006-2007He 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.
 

Mark Popolizio, Esquire is Section 111 Senior Legal Counsel for ISO Claims Claims Partners. Mark is a nationally recognized authority in Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance.

Mark practiced insurance defense litigation for ten years concentrating in the areas of workers’ compensation and general liability. During this time, he developed a national Medicare practice that included Medicare Set-Asides (MSA) and general MSP compliance. While in private practice, Mark represented numerous carriers, third party administrators and self insureds. Since 2006, Mark has dedicated his practice exclusively to MSP compliance working with carriers, self-insureds, TPAs and other claims professionals in addressing MSP compliance issues.

Mark is a regularly featured presenter on MSP issues at national seminars and other industry events. He provides presentations and educational training on a wide array of MSP topics, including Medicare Program Basics, MSAs, Medicare Conditional Payments, Medicare Part D (prescription drugs), and Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid & SCHIP Extension Act. Mark has authored numerous articles addressing several topics related to MSP matters, including a chapter in the California Bar CLE publication, Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting and Administration.

Mark also served as Vice President of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals (NAMSAP) from 2006-2008 and is currently a NAMSAP board member. Mark remains active with NAMSAP concentrating on education and legislative matters. He was also a featured instructor on Medicare and Life Care Planning issues with the former University of Florida/Medipro LLC program.

Mark grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut with Bachelor of Science degrees in Legal Studies and Sociology. Mark relocated to South Florida in 1992 to attend law school at Nova Southeastern University School of Law in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. While at law school, Mark served as a Judicial Clerk to the late Honorable John D. Wessel (15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida) and was a research assistant for Professor Leslie Larkin Cooney. Mark graduated from Nova in 1995 and is licensed to practice law in Florida and Connecticut. He resides in Miami, Florida.

Kenneth A. Puig is a founding shareholder of McCumber Daniels and practices from the firm's Tampa office. The focus of his practice is general liability, insurance, nursing home, hospital, medical malpractice, products liability and professional liability defense.

After completing law school, Mr. Puig became and Assistant State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida from 1995 - 1999, where he prosecuted various misdemeanor, juvenile and felony crimes, and tried more than 45 jury trials. Mr. Puig also served as lead trial attorney for felony division A.

After leaving the state Attorney's Office, Mr. Puig joined the law firm of Gunn, Ogden & Sullivan, P.A. and practiced in the areas of general liability and disability insurance defense.

Prior to founding McCumber Daniels, Mr. Puig practiced nursing home and hospital defense with Quintairos, McCumber, Prieto & Wood, P.A., in the firm's Tampa office.

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. 

Brenda Radmacher specializes in construction and real estate law, regularly counseling general contractors, construction managers, design professionals, contractors, and owners on contract negotiations, risk management and disputes. Her practice emphasizes resolving complex construction disputes through negotiation, mediation, and, when necessary, arbitration and litigation, on projects in California, nationwide, and internationally. She frequently addresses claims involving breach of contract, construction/design defects, liens, delays/impacts, construction defects, bonds/insurance issues, and represents many of the nation’s largest contractors and developers in the commercial, multifamily, and residential markets. She also provides advice regarding franchise/corporations issues, ADA, and California's Proposition 65. She also has developed risk management protocols for her clients in both the construction, regulatory, and employment areas.

Brenda has been recognized in the industry with many awards including: Women of Influence - Attorneys (Los Angeles Business Journal); The Best Lawyers in America© - Construction Law (2020); Top 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers List (Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017); CLM Outside Counsel Professional of the Year 2016, Pasadena's Top Attorney list (2013-20), Martindale-Hubbell, Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2015-2021); Construction Dive, Industry Veteran Award (2021). 

Her Board and membership positions include: USC Alumni Real Estate Network; West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association; Associated General Contractors, California  - LA District; Women Construction Owners & Executives; and Women in Design + Construction. She is a past Co-Chair of the CLM Product Liability Committee, Advisory Member for CLM's Wiki Guide and Claims Handling Manual. 

She is a Certified Mediator and was an adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law for a decade teaching Negotiation and Mediation and is a frequent speaker on negotiation and mediation skills.

Sean Reidy is Counsel with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. in Bloomington Illinois.  Sean has been with State Farm since 1993.  He has worked in several different roles including 15 years dealing with corporate bad faith, class action and other litigation. 

Jim Ring is a partner in the Boston law firm of Chu, Ring & Hazel, LLP.  He is also a principal of Fair Outcomes, Inc. (www.fairoutcomes.com), a company founded by a small group of game theorists, computer scientists, and practicing attorneys.  The company provides parties involved in disputes or difficult negotiations with access to online bargaining mechanisms that can be used to manage and resolve conflict.  Jim has thirty years of experience as a practicing trial lawyer, primarily working for business clients involved in formal legal proceedings, crisis management, contractual negotiations and events involving a substantial risk of litigation. 

After graduating cum laude from Suffolk University Law School in 1983 and completing a judicial clerkship, Jim joined the law firm of Bingham, Dana & Gould (now known as Bingham McCutchen LLP) as an associate in that firm's litigation area, where he began working with his current law partners, John H. Chu and William A. Hazel.  The law firm of Chu, Ring & Hazel was formed in 1995, and Jim and his partners co-founded Fair Outcomes, Inc. in 2006.  He has served as a speaker to groups of economists, judges, and lawyers, and is the author of several published articles, on strategic issues relating to the management of conflict and crisis.

Mr. Rosenblatt is a detailed and aggressive litigator handling a broad and varied range of civil litigation including: complex medical malpractice, premises, automotive and general liability matters with multi-million dollar exposures. Mr. Rosenblatt is admitted in New York State and Federal Courts and also manages the litigation of various New Jersey matters. He chairs his firm's marketing committee (and was proud to have his firm co-sponsor the 2012 Women's Leadership Conference in NYC); is an invited member of CLM's Professional Liability Committee and a former Chair of it's Medical Malpractice Sub-Committee; a current member of the New York Bar Association's Medical Malpractice Committee.

Deborah Saunders is Senior Director, Claims Management for Comcast NBCUniversal. She is responsible for managing Comcast and NBCU’s Workers’ Compensation, Auto Liability, General Liability, Employment Practices and Media Professional E&O claims management programs. Prior to joining Comcast in 1998, Deborah was the Workers’ Compensation Claims Specialist for Campbell Soup Company. She started her career in claims as a representative for Travelers Insurance, where she handled both workers’ compensation and commercial liability claims.Deborah earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts. She also holds Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional (CWCP) designations and is a certified paralegal.

Brad Sharp is a specialist in the adjusting high exposure commercial property and complex claim handling strategy. He has extensive experience in commercial structures, but also in demolition and advanced mitigation, that combined with his thorough knowledge of building codes and their triggers, provides expert guidance in the initial stages of a loss to develop the most efficacious process. His expertise in complex coverage applications enables him to provide insightful consultation about the interdependence and impact of initial steps taken after a loss on the ultimate reconstruction scope, cost and time frame.

Brad began his 30 year career in construction where he learned project management and estimating skills that formed the basis of his expertise in efficiently handling commercial property losses. He has 16 years of experience in construction and related technical fields he brought to his 15 year property loss adjustment profession. These skills in the loss adjustment process allow quickly established scope and cost of repair following a loss to fully expedite the loss recovery process.

Working for insurance carriers, Brad has been involved in legal defense, coverage litigation and was involved in various claims management and audit activities. He has authored protocols for handling mold claims, consulted with Risk Management, performed preparatory database mining for response to hurricanes Charlie, Francis, Ivan and Jean; was the CAT Coordinator for hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma, was responsible for the adjustment of all large losses in New Orleans and the defense management of the ensuing litigation. He understands the needs and concerns of the insurance carrier and risk management.

Particular expertise is held regarding antiquated construction and historic buildings, high rise structures, educational and care facilities and he is recognized as a specialist in historic churches. He was a national large loss adjuster for one of the foremost church insurers in the United States.

Professional Organizations:

• Claims Litigation Management Association
• Property Loss Research Bureau
• Risk Management Society
• Arizona Insurance Claims Association

As of July 1, 2016, Mr. Shelonko is employed as a risk management consultant and continues to provide consulting services to his former employer and other clients in the areas of his expertise. Mr. Shelonko was employed in Risk Management at Lafarge since February of 1999. As of October 2006, Mr. Shelonko had 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 managed the self-insured and insured risks in North and South America, including two Vermont insurance captives.  He directed the marketing and purchase of commercial insurance for all of  North America and coordinates joint global programs in South America.  He reported directly to the V.P. of Finance - Americas.  He had served as Chair and co-Chair  of the Cement, Aggregates and Ready-Mix Risk Management Association Industry Group from 1999 to 2015.

Prior to joining Lafarge, Mr. Shelonko was a Regional Manager and Assistant Vice President for Cunningham Lindsey in Dallas, Texas where he managed five 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.

Gabriel S. Slominski, Esq., is a Vice President of Claims with the Surplus & Specialty Lines division at Crum & Forster, a Fairfax Company.  Mr. Slominski is based in Chicago and is a member of the Chicago Office Leadership Team.  His primary concentration involves claim management and underwriting support of various business segments in the Surplus & Specialty Lines, including Special Risk, Program Business and S&S’s Liquor Liability program.  Gabriel’s leadership encompasses multiple claim teams located across the entire country.  Gabriel works to facilitate and manage these claims teams through intricate liability and coverage analysis, strategic direction and precise ultimate exposure forecasting and reserving.  Gabriel has an extensive background in commercial general liability and over 20 years of insurance industry experience.  Throughout his tenure in the industry, Gabriel has organized two National Insurance Symposiums,  frequent speaker and co-chair at the CLM, DRI, and Perrin Conferences on topics ranging from Leadership, Toxic Torts, Product Liability, Hospitality and Dram Shop matters, as well as Litigation Management and Early Resolution.  Mr. Slominski is also on the Executive Council for the CLM’s School of Leadership and instructs at the Claims College each year. 

Prior to C&F, Gabriel was the Assistant Vice President of the Direct Claims Division at Resolute Management Inc., where he focused the majority of his time managing complex toxic tort/environmental claims and trials in various jurisdictions across the United States.  In that role, Gabriel was also very involved in mediations and arbitrations dealing directly with plaintiff’s counsel and other insurance companies, negotiating difficult settlements on behalf of the policy holder.  Aside from his management experience in the insurance industry, Mr. Slominski worked as a claims consultant in the EMTC Law Department for CNA Insurance Company as well as adjusting asbestos and environmental claims for Argonaut Insurance Company as a Claims Attorney. 

 

A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Mr. Smith has practiced in California since 1981. Stephen obtained his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from Suffolk University. He was a member of the personal staff of U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson. His practice is focused on products liability matters and, in particular, fitness equipment and sports-related injuries. Mr. Smith's practice is also centered upon complex litigation, including the defense of class actions and toxic torts,. He has tried numerous cases to verdict and has served as counsel of record in litigation in more than twenty states. He has served as an arbitrator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court, has been named as a Southern California Super Lawyer for the past ten years, and is a memner of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

The founding and managing partner of Springel & Fink LLP, Adam has been practicing law for nearly 20 years. An experienced and successful civil litigator, his practice has focused primarily on commercial and business litigation, construction and related insurance litigation, class action litigation, professional liability claims involving attorneys, accountants, architects and engineers, as well as the defense of personal injury and real estate matters. Adam has also handled copyright litigation and transactional matters for his clients and has been retained as an expert witness in various litigated disputes.

Adam received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan. He is admitted to the California and Nevada state bars, and is also licensed as a California real estate broker. Adam has been AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale Hubbell since shortly after founding the firm and can be found in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Adam is also a Certified Litigation Management Professional, as designated by completing the Litigation Management Institute at Columbia University, a program provided by CLM.

Chad L. Staller is president of the Center for Forensic Economic Studies. He has extensive experience working with both plaintiff and defense counsel in a wide variety of civil matters, quantifying loss sustained by many types of plaintiffs, including union members, state and federal employees, business owners and injured children.  He regularly analyzes claims brought in employment-discrimination matters, quantifying back-pay and front-pay damages and lost benefits.  Mr. Staller and frequently consults on commercial matters, analyzing lost-profit and business-interruption claims. He has testified in jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations in state and federal courts throughout the country.

He serves on the faculty of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law LL.M. in Trial Advocacy program and lectures regularly at Villanova University School of Law and Drexel’s Earle Mack School of Law.  Mr. Staller is a Certified Trial Advocacy instructor through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.  He frequently presents seminars and speaks on forensic economic topics at law firms, accounting continuing education seminars, and before professional organizations.Mr. Staller received his Masters in Business Administration, with honors from the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his Master of Accountancy from Villanova University and his Juris Doctorate from the Beasley School of Law, cum laude, at Temple University. He is certified as a Certified Valuation Analyst by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Dave joined West Coast Casualty Service in 1993, and currently has over thirty-nine (39) years of diverse experience spanning the insurer, self-insurer, third party administrator and independent adjusting arenas all across the United States, Canada, England and Austria. Dave’s central focus has been on the investigation of all aspects of construction defect claims, amongst other things. He has been involved in the creation of innovative methods for the reduction of claims handling expenses Dave is often called upon to testify as an expert in construction defect and insurance related litigation and has been asked to be a consultant on articles involving construction featured in the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Big Builder Magazine, Insurance Journal and the Orange County Register. Each year Dave coordinates our annual Construction Defect Seminar which is most highly attended construction defect event worldwide. Dave speaks at other seminars discussing vital issues. Dave has handled national multi-million dollar exposures including the coverage, liability and damage aspects of insurance related claims. He presently is the technical supervisor for all our TPA accounts. Dave is a past Vice President and past Secretary of the Construction Defect Claims Managers Association. In addition, he is a member of the Registered Professional Adjusters Program, the Society of Insurance Trainers and Educators and the National Association of Insurance Litigation Managers. Dave is on the President Circle of Habitat for Humanity, serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriffs Foundation (2011-present) and is an advisor to the Thousand Oaks Police Departments Charitable Foundation (2007-present).

Matt is a founding partner of Stone Kalfus LLP, a civil defense law firm in Atlanta, Georgia.  He focuses on resolving motor vehicle liability claims against companies, drivers, and insurers in the trucking and transportation industry, including motor carriers, specialty haulers, governmental and private bus lines and motor coaches, waste haulers, mobile cranes, and emergency and non-emergency transportation providers.Matt has extensive experience handling claims from the on-scene investigation through trial and appeals.

He leads the firm's 24/7 Rapid Response Team, which provides clients with immediate around-the-clock access to team attorneys and a network of qualified investigators and experts. The team quickly assesses an incident, determines the appropriate level of response, coordinates the on-scene investigation, and assists in achieving a prompt, cost-effective, positive resolution.
 

He also regularly represents automobile dealerships in litigation, consumer, and regulatory issues.  He served as lead defense counsel for the auto dealership in Melton v. General Motors, et al., the landmark case involving a defective ignition switch that led to GM’s recall of more than 2 million vehicles, a Congressional inquiry into GM's conduct, and record-breaking civil penalties levied against GM by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA).
 

Matt has tried cases in all of Georgia's federal judicial districts and many of Georgia's 49 judicial circuits, and he has represented clients in more than 75 appeals to the state and federal appellate courts in Georgia.
 

He is a member of industry-specific groups, including the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA), the Georgia Motor Trucking Association (GMTA), the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA), the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) and the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association (GADA).He is an instructor for the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI), which provides professional certification and training seminars for transit fleet professionals.

Kimberly Sullivan, Managing Director, Aon M&A and Transaction Solutions at Aon,  provides due diligence and risk management consulting for private equity and corporate clients.  Previously, Kimberly was Vice President of Exposure Management and led the overall coordination of exposure management for all lines of business for MiddleOak which included catastrophe and reinsurance exposure. In addition, Kimberly had oversight of entrance into new markets, emerging tort issues, and auditing/compliance of underwriting protocols. Previously, Kimberly held the position of Vice President of Litigation and Casualty Claims for MiddleOak, with responsibility for all lines of litigated claims and general oversight of litigation management.  She was also responsible for the management of the premises liability/GL claims units who handled losses in 33 states.  Kimberly earned a B.S., Economics, from Boston College and holds several insurance certifications. She has been in the insurance industry for 30 years with past leadership roles at The Travelers, OneBeacon, and MiddleOak.

Charles "Andrew" Tharp is a skilled litigation attorney with extensive experience in both state and federal courts. He has represented various insurance companies and their insureds throughout the state of Florida for over thirty years including the succcessful defense of claims and cases involving mult-million dollar losses. Andrew has attained an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review and has also been named to Florida's Super Lawyers (2018-2022) and Florida Trend's Legal Elite (2016).

Andrew concentrates his practice on insurance defense litigation. Specifically, his practice focuses on first party property coverage (including lender-placed coverage) and legal malpractice claims. Additional practice areas include Insurance Coverage, Construction Litigation, Insurance Agents and Brokers Malpractice, Accounting Malpractice, Product Liability Claims and General Liability Claims.  Andrew has also participated in hundreds of successful mediations as well as the arbitration of matters through the American Arbitration Association.

EDUCATION

J.D. - University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL -1987
A.B. - Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA - 1983

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/ACTIVITIES

Member - The Florida Bar; U.S. District Court - Southern, Middle and Northern Districts, U.S. Court of Appeals - 11th Circuit.
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) 2011 - Present.

Lecturer - CLE Courses include CLM Annual Conference, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Lee County Bar Association, Broward County Bar Association, Broward County Bench & Bar Conference and various client roundtable presentations for insurance adjusters.
Mr. Tharp has been approved to instruct insurance adjuster continuing education by the Florida Department of Financial Services.

COMMUNITY

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, South Florida Chapter - Committee Member/Chairman 1999 - 2013.
Boca Raton Youth Soccer Association - Coach
 

Theresa H. Touchton, JD, is counsel for Pella Corporation, headquartered in Pella, Iowa. Pella manufacturers windows and doors and has manufacturing and sales facilities throughout North America. Theresa oversees all product liability matters for the company as well as provides employment counsel for the company nationwide. Previously, Theresa was a partner with the Minneapolis-based law firm of Faegre & Benson and practiced in the litigation area. After earning her JD from the University of North Carolina, Theresa clerked with the Minnesota Supreme Court. She is a graduate of Iowa State University. Married, with one son, Theresa enjoys attending her son’s activities and participating in activities within the community.

 

Multi Line Professional –Designations CPCU, AIC, AIM

Principal, Casualty Claim & Mitigation Professionals, LLC,.  Previous roles include, Second VP Travelers, overseeing the Alternative Risk Divisions National Workers' Compensation, Broker Claim Relations, Strategic Planning, and also managing  the Liability and Claim Consulting functions for the Midwest, North Central, and Western regions.  Donna has in excess of thirty years of multi line property and casualty experience working with reinsurance, primary and excess property and casualty insurers, Captives, Agencies and TPA's.   Donna also served as adjunct faculty with the University of Connecticut, facilitating the Connecticut Claim Licensing Course, and has authored a text book for that course of study.  Strengths include technical expertise for all lines P&C, organizational restructuring, and program development and resolution strategies. 

Sonia M. Valdes, Esq. is Vice President of Claims at Medmarc. Ms. Valdes is responsible for managing a team of dedicated Claims professionals as well as overseeing technical and administrative issues within the Claims Dept. Among her responsibilities include directing mass tort litigation, training and development of staff, policy development, advising underwriters on risk management, and expanding Medmarc’s Litigation Management Services. Ms. Valdes joined Medmarc in August of 2013. Prior to Medmarc, Ms. Valdes was Assistant Vice President with Chubb & Son Inc. in its headquarters in Warren, New Jersey for 14 years.  She had worldwide responsibility for managing Chubb’s Life Sciences Claims Core. Ms. Valdes has extensive experience in evaluating coverage and liability issues in environmental, mass tort and health science litigation.  She has been an admitted attorney in NJ since 1992 and is and a member of the IADC, CLM and ALFA. She received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Rutgers University in 1984 and her law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1991.

Anne E. Viner heads the firm's Environmental, Regulatory & Redevelopment Law practice. She represents corporate clients in a broad range of environmental and products liability matters, including federal and state litigation, regulatory compliance, permitting and operational issues, and finance. Anne has extensive experience at the intersection of real estate and environmental law, and regularly counsels manufacturers, consultants, developers, banks, financial institutions and other clients regarding the impact of environmental issues on transactions, investments and other strategic initiatives. An experienced negotiator and litigator, she takes a proactive approach to the complex issues involved in government investigations, law enforcement actions and other scientifically challenging business conflicts.

Anne has prosecuted and defended a number of environmental disputes (including class actions) on behalf of manufacturing clients in a wide range of industries. She has represented Superfund potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and has served as common counsel for a CERCLA PRP group with respect to remedy negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, implementation of landfill remedies, operations and maintenance activities, allocation determinations and contribution litigation. Anne advises clients in the manufacturing, chemical, fuel and other industries on regulatory and compliance matters, including day-to-day operational issues, responses to violation notices and "no further remediation" letters.

Anne regularly counsels real estate developers, buyers and sellers during the acquisition and sale of industrial properties, including conducting due diligence investigations and negotiating and drafting the environmental provisions of deal documents. She also negotiates and drafts environmental services contracts with consultants and supervises consultants' work on environmental projects, including closures under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Superfund remedial actions, asbestos abatements, and the removal and cleanup of underground storage tanks. She frequently advises clients regarding voluntary environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance audits.

Anne draws on her dispute resolution experience to help clients identify risks and minimize the likelihood of potential disputes. When litigation is identified as the most appropriate option, she defends products liability and complex environmental cases in federal and state courts nationwide. Anne manages all aspects of such cases, including developing litigation strategies, identifying subject-matter experts, administering product inspections, implementing internal root-cause analyses and recall evaluations and representing clients at trial. She also regularly oversees local counsel and takes the lead in discovery and settlement negotiations.

Anne is Co-Chair of the firm's Women's Initiative and serves as a Much Shelist delegate to the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law Firms.

Pamela Webster is the Senior Claims Manager for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. based in Roanoke, VA where her primary responsibility is to manage and develop the workers’ compensation, general liability, property and auto claims program and strategies; her secondary responsibility is to provide direct assistance to the Director of Risk Management in the areas of risk financing and risk control. Pamela has over 25 years of experience in the Corporate Claims and Risk management profession. She most recently worked in Risk Management with Furmanite Corporation in Richardson, TX and previously held corporate Claims/Risk Management positions with Mary Kay Inc., CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese’s) in Dallas, TX and Macy’s Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Pamela received her BBA from the University of Cincinnati with a dual degree in Finance and Management and is a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS).
 

Gene A. Weisberg is a name partner with GladstoneWeisberg, ALC , in Culver City, California. He has more than 41 years of trial and appellate experience focusing on insurance coverage and complex litigation involving insurers and other businesses. His extensive experience includes 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 Preeminent" 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 and is repeatedly named to the list of Best Lawyers. He is admitted to practice in the State and all Federal district courts in California, Texas state court and the Southern District of Texas, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits and the United States Supreme Court.

A graduate of Duke University and Rutgers School of Law - Newark, Chris spent 10 years in private practice focusing on general litigation, labor and employment and government law before moving in-house.  He is currently Senior Counsel at LG Electronics USA, Inc. in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey where he handles all employment and HR matters, including employee discipline and termination, leave issues, harassment and discrimination complaints, wage and hour issues and employment litigation, as well as serving as counsel for the company's 401(k) committee.

Mr. Wise is the Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Secretary for Cyberonics, Inc., a medical technology company with core expertise in neuromodulation, where his responsibilities include Legal, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Government Affairs. He joined Cyberonics in 2003 following nine years at the Sulzer Medica group of medical device companies (later know as Centerpulse), where he served as Group Vice President and General Counsel. While at Sulzer, he managed the Sulzer Hip and Knee Recall to a successful national class action settlement. Prior to his responsibilities at Sulzer, Mr. Wise spent 12 years in private legal practice focused on intellectual property, products liablity, and commercial litigation.

Robert Wonnell defends national and local clients throughout Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. He has handled cases in multiple federal and state district courts, as well as before the Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Mr. Wonnell’s primary area of practice is insurance defense.

The Kansas Court of Appeals, after a review of his brief submitted regarding complex medical causation issues, stated that Mr. Wonnell had "provided [the Kansas Court of Appeals] with an extremely well written brief(s)." Stutzman v. City of Lenexa, 33 Kan.App.2d 160, 99 P.3d 145 (2004).

Mr. Wonnell often speaks at seminars providing legal updates on various areas of insurance law and litigation management, offering an opportunity to discuss the practical application with clients, as well as providing educational presentations on updated case law and statutory changes. He, or a member of his staff, will return your call or email within 24 hours.

Mr. Wonnell is a shareholder with McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, P.A. He also serves in a variety of positions for Fellowship Bible Church in Gardner, Kansas. Mr. Wonnell is a state chair for the CLM.

Practice Areas: Insurance Defense Litigation

Accomplishments: Certified Litigation Management Professional, LMI 2012 Super Lawyers - Rising Stars 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014. Editorial Board, The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. 2001 American Board of Trial Advocates (Kansas Chapter) Award for Outstanding Performance in Trial Advocacy.

Professional Organizations: Kansas Bar Association The Missouri Bar Nebraska Claims Association Johnson County Bar Association Claims & Litigation Management Alliance™

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:

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

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.

I have worked in various claim capacities since 1966. 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.
 

Daniel M. Anders is the Chief Compliance Officer for Tower MSA Partners where he oversees the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance program.  In this position, Dan is responsible for ensuring the integrity and quality of the MSA program and other MSP compliance services and products.  Based upon his more than a decade of experience in working with employers, insurers, TPAs, attorneys and claimants, Dan provides education and consultation to Tower MSA clients on all aspects of MSP compliance.

Dan is an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He was formerly the Senior Vice-President of MSP Compliance for ExamWorks Clinical Solutions and has extensive litigation experience from his prior position with the Chicago law firm of Wiedner & McAuliffe.

He is a member of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals where he serves on the legislative committee. Mr. Anders holds a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Loyola University Chicago.

Rich Arlington is a Certified Snow Professional (‘CSP’) and Landscape Industry Certified Manager (‘LICM’). There are less than 250 CSPs in the United States. He is a Trailblazer with the international landscape association PLANET, a select group of approximately 100 individuals who are chosen to be mentors in the industry.  Rich possesses over 25 years of experience providing landscape and snow and ice maintenance services. He is still actively involved in snow and landscape operations.  To view Rich Arlington's CV please visit: http://www.richarlington.com/our-professionals/richard-d-arlington-iii/

Originally from Switzerland, Ms. Arn is a graduate of the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and is fluent in English, French, and Conversational German.  She also holds CCEP, CCEP-I, CRM, ARM and AIC professional certifications.
 
In 2006, Ms. Arn joined Graebel Companies, Inc., a full service domestic and international relocation company, where she now handles high risk liability claims. She currently holds a senior position in Graebel’s Corporate Compliance and Risk Management Department, handling all related compliance and risk issues, including OFAC/BIS compliance.
 
Ms. Arn is co-author of “Five Things – Candid Insight Into the Attorney-Client Professional Relationship”, CLM Litigation Management Magazine, Spring 2014.
 
She is also a frequent guest speaker at the CLM National Annual Conference including:
04/11/2013: Recent Developments, Challenges and Best Practices in Motorcoach and Trucking Claims and Litigation
04/10/2014: Protecting the Trucking Industry Client During the Discovery Process
04/11/2014: Collecting and Preserving Evidence Following a Truck Accident and Avoiding Spoliation Claims
 
She was a key speaker at the CLM Greater Denver Chapter seminar on 06/10/2013: Avoiding the Bad Faith Claim: Best Practices for Claim Adjusters
 
In 2015, Ms. Arn was awarded CLM’s prestigious Claims Professional of the Year award
 
In addition to her other achievements, Ms. Arn has previously held the CLM Region 8 Chair, and the CLM Colorado State Chair position.  Ms. Arn is active in the mentoring and advancement of entry and mid-level insurance adjusters in the Region 8 area which includes Colorado and Wyoming.
 

Mr. Baker has thirty three years experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining ICAT in 2003, Mr. Baker was an Assistant Vice President and National Account Executive for Crawford & Company’s Western Region where he was responsible for managing Crawford’s relationships with many of their large national insurance company accounts. His previous roles include responsibilities in the areas of business development, claims management and adjusting.

Mr. Baker has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Kansas University. Mr. Baker also holds an Associate in Claims designation.

At ICAT, Mr. Baker is responsible for Boulder Claims, a subsidiary of ICAT Managers, LLC. His responsibilities include monitoring the performance and loss experience of ICAT’s book of business, providing appropriate underwriting and claims mitigation recommendations, and managing ICAT’s claims.
 

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. 

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.

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. 

Ms. Bryan currently acts as the Regional Underwriting Manager for excess construction liability coverage for the Western Region at AIG. This includes supervising the underwriting of both wrap-up and practice program coverages for a wide variety of developers, contractors and trade subcontractors involved in all types of construction.

Ms. Bryan spent 13 years as an adjuster handling construction defect, complex coverage and severe exposures in the Construction Defect and Major Case Units at Aetna and Royal Insurance Companies. She also spent four years as an insurance broker, working on program placement for construction risks and acting as a consulting resource throughout the country on coverage and claims issues. Ms. Bryan is routinely consulted and has testified at trial for her expertise in coverage and claims issues. She is a regular speaker at legal, construction and insurance industry conferences and seminars.

Kenneth P. Carter, CPCU is Chief Claims Officer for Concert Group and formerly Vice President - Claim Operations with Merchants Insurance Group. Mr. Carter started his career in insurance after graduating from the University of Rochester with a degree in philosophy in 1989. He has a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership and has obtained the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter professional designation. Mr. Carter has been engaged by local and national insurance and legal organizations to lecture and write on a variety of topics including; ethics, tripartite relationships, complex decision analysis, negotiation best practices, good faith claim handling, risk transfer methodology, the use of technology in litigation management, and post-catastrophe legal and regulatory challenges. In 2012 the national Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) honored Mr. Carter as Litigation Management Professional of the Year. Ken lives in Orchard Park, NY. 

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, ME FCLA and CCLA designations Microbiology Certificate Developed 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/Recalls Worked with Business Torts, Underwriting, Industry Edge to ensured best practices in claim handling and advise of potential exposures within Mass Torts Supervisory experience. Training Counsel Lead Emergency Response Team for major catastrophes Mentor in professional development. Employee Spirit Committee Strong communication skills. Q&A Conferences Word of the Day Training Assist in Department Self Audits Travelers Insurance Company 2008 -2011 Mass Torts Lead/Major Case Specialist Responsible 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 – 2008 Technical Claim Specialist/Unit Manager Responsible 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 Unit Assist in developing supervisor response within other areas (Auto Department) to improve department results and continue training of adjusters Continuing education to maintain adjusters licenses for all states requiring licensing Maintain individual State knowledge regarding current case law, State law affecting the claim Notify appropriate authorities, when necessary, MCU, SIU, Lab, Forensic Engineers Litigation management of all case files Mentor claim adjusters professional development Conduct Training Claims through the Training Counsel Assist the Auto Claims and GL Claims Department when necessary Complete reporting requirements for specific insured accounts; Word of the Day training; Q&A

One Beacon Insurance Company, Mansfield, MA 2003-2004 Claims Litigation Examiner/SIU Litigation Coordinator/Fraud Coordinator with SIU & Police Departments Responsible 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 2003 Assistant Supervisor – Claims Supervise five Auto Examiners in the investigation of coverage issues and determination of liability, including Bodily Injury claims (litigated and non-litigated), Medpay and PIP Perform 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 – 1997 Claims 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 1981-1995 ClaimsAdjuster/Associate Underwriter/Customer Service/Assistant Supervisor EDUCATION ?? Bristol Community College – course study in Business Management/Accounting ?? Fraud Claims Legal Specialist (FCLS) ?? Claims Casualty Law Specials (CCLS) ?? Microbiology Certificate

15 years experience as a Claims Manager for Stage Stores. I administer our Texas Injury Benefit Program for Texas Associates. I also coordinator all our Workers Compensation claims and General Liability Claims. I supervisor two Claims Coordinator. I have a Property/Casualty Adjusters License and have had so for 14 years.

Prior to working as a Claims Manager for Stage Stores I taught an At Risk Program for High School Seniors in California.

I served in the United States Air Force from 1978-1983.

Susan Clemson has over 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, with over 20 years in a managerial or senior management role.  Currently, Susan is the Senior Vice President and Chief Claim Officer of Berkley Luxury group  which provides all-inclusive insurance solutions for luxury condo, co-op, rental properties and fine dining restaurants. Ms. Clemson has also held positions with Western Litigation, Everest National, Atlantic Mutual, AIG and Travelers.  Her diverse background includes supervising and managing General Liability, Property, Construction Defect, Medical Malpractice, Errors and Omissions, Directors and Officers, Senior Care Liability, Environmental and Toxic Tort claims.  Susan is a graduate of Lehigh University with a B.A. degree in Economics. 

Mr. Cornetto received his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics, and his Master of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He specializes in vehicle accident reconstruction, vehicle kinematics, and night visibility. He is also experienced in computer simulation and image analysis. He has expertise in 3D solid modeling and is knowledgeable in 3D animation.

Surveying experience includes computer modeling of surface data. Mr. Cornetto's background is in solid mechanics, rigid body dynamics, fluid mechanics, and biomedical engineering. He is also experienced in the design of ophthalmic devices, including prototype testing and failure analysis.

Mr. Cornetto is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists (NAPARS), and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International).

Dan's practice is focused on all legal aspects of the construction industry. He advises owners, contractors, and developers in various phases of the construction process, including negotiation and arbitration of contract disputes and contract development. Dan has successfully litigated cases for construction and commercial clients in state and federal court, as well as before numerous administrative agencies. Dan has also handled litigation cases involving real estate and land use matters. Practice Areas Construction & Public Contracts Franchise Real Estate Land Use & Development Education State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law, J.D., 2001 Cum Laude Buffalo Law Review, Articles Editor Buffalo Moot Court Board, Senior Editor 2000 Dean's Fellowship Award Recipient

State University of New York at Albany, B.A., Biology and English, 1996

Bar Memberships New Hampshire, 2001 U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire, 2001

Over the course of his career, Macdonald Devin co-founder Clayton Devin has provided clients with sound guidance and effective representation inside and outside the courtroom.

A trial lawyer with experience in commercial and personal injury disputes, Clayton has been recognized for his skill and professionalism in litigation matters. Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he has appeared in state and federal courts in over 100 counties in Texas and Oklahoma, representing Fortune 500 Companies as well as individuals and closely held businesses.

His construction practice is focused on representation of general contractors, subcontractors and material providers seeking to minimize their exposures from contract disputes and defaults. Representing national and local trucking companies, Clayton helps them manage the catastrophic consequences that sometimes follow from the combination of large machines and human error. General counsel to a statewide medical specialty organization, Clayton’s health law practice focuses on assisting physician practice groups in navigating the intricate web of commercial and governmental relationships that encompass today’s medical practice.

Clayton is a frequent speaker at State Bar of Texas events, including the Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, one of the State Bar’s most highly attended educational events. He graduated with honors from Texas Tech University before earning his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Clayton is admitted to practice in all Texas state courts, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

Tracey Dodd is a Senior Managing Principal at EFI Global.  She has lead teams that are respected for exceptional success addressing complex mattersin various locations arund the globe.  She has overseen a multi-talented group of professionals who collectively bring years of technical field experience to provide consulting services in construction and related fields, including environmental, safety and industrial hygiene services.  Tracey Dodd has  expertise ranging from environmental risk evaluation or facility compliance assessments to full-scale remediation design, litigation support services, and environmental catastrophic response. Her experience includes clientele such as facility owners, design firms, governments, insurance companies, contractors, attorneys or developers to help 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 graduate degree, Tracey Dodd has managed a litany of projects across the U.S., 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.  In her current role she supports EFI Global's Large and Complex Loss practice.

Kelly Donaldson has practiced construction law since 1986. He has been a member of the construction law sections of the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas since the sections were founded in 1987. Mr. Donaldson has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America in construction and surety law. He has also been recognized as a Superlawyer in construction and surety law. Mr. Donaldson is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts in the Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas. He is also admitted to practice before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Donaldson represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, fabricators & manufacturers, architects & engineers and sureties in all manner of claims that arise on construction projects.

Mr. Donaldson received his JD from Southern Methodist University in 1986, and his BA from Southern Methodist University in 1979. He has been married for 31 years, and has 2 sons and a grandson.

Joe, one of the founding members of Clark, May, Price, Lawley, Duncan and Paul, represents clients ranging from family companies to Fortune 500 businesses at both the trial and appellate level. His practice consists of the defense of claims relating to personal injury, product liability, contractual disputes, trucking and insurance coverage. Joe spends much of his time working with clients, contractors and trade groups to proactively reduce the risk of liability using lessons learned from litigation.

Joe has helped to mold Alabama law in both the legislative and judicial branches. He assisted in authoring legislation relating to contractor liability and argued to the Alabama Supreme Court on the subjects of indemnity, personal injury and product liability. In Hosea Weaver and Sons, Inc. v. Balch, the Alabama Supreme Court recognized the “accepted-work doctrine” based on arguments made by Joe as amicus counsel on behalf of the Alabama Road Builder’s Association. The Court’s decision reversed a $7.5 million verdict in favor the plaintiffs and rendered a judgment in favor of the defendant. More recently, in DISA Industries, Inc. v. Bell, Joe also successfully argued for the Court to reverse a $500,000 in favor of a plaintiff and rendered the verdict in favor of the Defendant.

Joe and his wife, Ellen, live in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, with their children Porter and Sophie. In his spare time, Joe coaches youth baseball, runs half marathons, travels and volunteers at Children’s Hospital as Santa Claus.

Joe earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University and his juris doctor from The University of Alabama School of Law.

Mr. Eichler joined the firm of Margolis Edelstein in 1997 as a partner. He has been a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bars since 1985. He is admitted to practice before all PA and NJ state and federal courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers College and his Juris Doctor degree is from Delaware Law School. Mr. Eichler is a member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and American Bar Associations. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the PA Defense Institute. He is a former Big Brother of the Year and has served on the Board of Directors of Performing Arts Tours, Inc. He volunteers for The Legal Clinic for the Disabled and for Volunteers for Indigent Defendants. He serves on the legal committee of the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing, Inc. He is the author of the ABA Publication: Public Education: A Constitutional Right to Equal Funding? Mr. Eichler represents a wide spectrum of defendants in civil litigation matters. He frequently serves as an arbitrator in complex civil cases. He specializes in litigation management and frequently advises the insurance industry on litigation management and ethical issues.

Randy Evans is the chair of the Financial Institutions practice. He handles high profile, complex litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States for some of the largest companies in the world.

In addition, Mr. Evans served as outside counsel to the Speakers of the 104th-109th Congresses of the United States. He represents former Speakers of the United States House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert and Newt Gingrich, respectively, as well as J.C. Watts, former Representative to the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma. He also represents several current Members and former Members of Congress, as well as elected officials in Georgia.

Mr. Evans is a frequent lecturer and author on the subjects of professional liability and ethics, government ethics and politics. Among numerous articles and publications published, Randy is the Author of two books, The Practical Guide to Legal Malpractice Prevention (Eighth Ed. 2000) and The Practical Guide to Purchasing Legal Malpractice Insurance (Third Ed. 1999).

Mr. Evans negotiates speaking, broadcast and literary contracts including three New York Times bestsellers for political clients.  He also advises clients on corporate governance issues.

Mr. Evans has been named in Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Legal Malpractice Law.  Atlanta Magazine has recognized him as a “Georgia Super Lawyer” in the area of Business Litigation. JAMES Magazine has recognized Randy as one of Georgia's Most Influential People.

Carolyn joined The Related Companies in 2016, as Director of Construction Risk Management.  Her role involves providing a sophisticated level of risk management services, including management of several CIPs, with innovative and efficient solutions to global development and addressing risks associated with construction, ensuring that the programs are managed effectively.
 
Prior to joining The Related Companies, Carolyn specialized in Construction Risk Management and CCIP/OCIP programs managing both private and public sectors.
 
Carolyn received her undergraduate degree from St. John’s University / School of Risk Management in NYC and has continued her education by obtaining several professional designations including CPCU, AIU, AIC.
 

Tom Fee represents companies and individuals in high exposure and high profile disputes in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Mr. Fee has been litigation and lead trial counsel for clients in a broad range of matters including personal injury torts, construction defect matters and commercial business litigation. Mr. Fee litigates lawsuits involving major transportation accidents, construction accidents and defects, premise liability and inadequate security cases, products liability, and matters involving commercial and business disputes. He regularly serves as lead trial counsel for companies and individuals facing multi-million dollar exposures.

Mr. Fee is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV preeminent rated attorney and was selected as a Texas Super Lawyer (top 5%) in the years 2005 through 2011. Mr. Fee is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Tom Fee has been lead trial counsel in excess of 60 jury trials in multiple State and Federal Court venues. Mr. Fee’s trial experience has allowed him to develop the ability to accurately evaluate his outcome for success in a lawsuit, which provides a solid foundation for him to counsel clients on their potential resolution of disputes through alternative dispute mechanisms, such as mediation. Mr. Fee is regularly retained directly by clients who are either self-insured or maintain a high self-insured retention to protect their interests in high profile and high stakes litigation.

Mr. Fee has extensive experience in litigating cases arising from major commercial transportation accidents involving allegations of Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations violations, construction accidents involving allegations of OSHA violations, road construction accidents involving issues concerning the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and accidents arising from the installation and operation of various private and public utilities, including electric, gas, water and broadcast tower utilities services. Mr. Fee has also litigated numerous, large exposure cases across Texas involving products, professional and premise liability matters. Due to his courtroom experience, Mr. Fee is regularly retained as lead trial counsel for a number of the firm's corporate clientele to represent them in various commercial business disputes. Tom Fee’s ability to assess the value of a case in the early stages of litigation and to implement an aggressive strategy in order to litigate the case at the time of trial or to force settlement are appreciated by his clients.

Brian joined WRIMS, Inc. (now USI Holdings), in 1989, after obtaining his Bachelor of Science Degree in Insurance & Risk Management from Penn State University (Pennsylvania). Brian has in excess of 24 years claims experience, specializing in homeowner’s, commercial property, and transportation lines. After relocating to Florida in 1997, Brian managed the personal lines & homeowner division of Fleming & Hall. Brian has piloted F&H into one of Florida’s leading property claim management firms, having handled in excess of 35,000 claims (with CAT) for multiple clients including Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and Florida Insurance Guaranty Association.

Steven brings to CLM Advisors’ clients more than 30 years in the insurance and reinsurance industries.  His practice with CLM Advisors focuses primarily on elevating the claim audit to predictive analytics, helping claim organizations to predictively identify the 20 percent of claims that drive 80 percent of loss.

Steven’s background encompasses the management of primary and excess claims with an emphasis on primary, excess and reinsurance asbestos and pollution claims, excess liability claims and professional liability claims.  He also has extensive structured settlement and loss structuring experience.

Prior to joining CLM Advisors, Steven was Vice President, Senior Risk Specialist, for Swiss Re America, responsible for internal worldwide claim quality review.  In prior roles he assisted Swiss Re clients to assess and improve their claim department performance.  He has extensive experience in claim audit design and implementation, process analysis, redesign and change management.

Victor Hertz is the president and CEO of Legal Language Services. Victor joined Legal Language in 1984, and has helped the company evolve into one of the largest litigation support firms in the United States.

Mr. Hertz was formerly Director of Frost & Sullivan’s International Political Risk Division. Frost & Sullivan pioneered international risk analysis including country profiles and strategic analysis. Mr. Hertz was educated at Columbia College and Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, his Ph.D. dissertation was on international conflict resolution. He was a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Fellow, a National Science Foundation Fellow and a winner of a Ford Foundation Fellowship.

Mr. Hertz is currently active in the ASTM task force developing standards for interpreting and translation companies in the U.S. with a special emphasis on legal settings.

Kevin Huff is the Assistant Vice President - Director of Property Services with Crawford & Company. Most recently, Kevin has served as the Corporate Representative for Crawford's United States Property & Casualty Operations division.

His 30 years of insurance experience includes: worker's compensation, vehicle physical damage, auto and general liability, large loss property, as well as quality audit and claim file analysis.

Mr. Huff has a Bachelors Degree from Texas Tech University and holds an Associates in Claims designation.

Heather has been the HIPAA Privacy Officer at U.S. Legal Support, Inc. since 2006 and she has over nineteen years experience in compliance for both healthcare entities and a national consulting firm. She has been the HIPAA Privacy Officer for a large private healthcare company and two litigation support firms and has published several papers on "HIPAA and Discovery".  Heather presents continuing legal education seminars on HIPAA and HITECH across the country and provides HIPAA consulting services to law firms and corporations.  She received her Bachelor of Science from Florida State University in 1991 and her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law in 1999.

U.S. Legal Support, Inc. is a national litigation support firm with offices in 40 cities across the country.  U.S. Legal Support provides deposition services, records retrieval and ESI to law firms, insurance companies and corporations.

With over 20 years of increasing responsibilities in the risk and insurance field, Alonzo brings a wealth of experience to the field of risk and insurance management.  Alonzo leads in Risk Management strategies in the government public sector in his role as Risk Management and Liability Manager with the City of North Las Vegas.  Previously, he held various positions in the private sector including entertainment/hospitality, transportation and a national insurance carrier for over 14 years.

Alonzo has been a contibuting leading member of CLM for over 10 years and actively serves on several committtees.  He also serves on the Board of Directors with the Nevada RIMS Chapter and is active within his community volunteering with special projects and engagements with his local church and other non-profit organizations. 

Alonzo has a MBA from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, BS in Organization Management from Central Michigan University and Management Certificate through James Madison University. He holds designations as Certified Risk Management Professional (RMIS-CRMP) through Risk and Insurance Management Society and an Associate in Safety and Health Management (ASHM) through Institute for Safety and Health Management.

Lisa Jurski is the Director, Workers’ Compensation Programs for HCR ManorCare. HCR ManorCare is a long term care provider with approximately 60,000 employees in over 30 states. HCR ManorCare is both insured and self-insured for its workers’ compensation program with 70% of the claims population self-administered by Lisa’s team in Toledo, Ohio. HCR ManorCare has also integrated its non-work related disability benefit plan with Workers’ Compensation and it is also managed by Lisa’s team.

Lisa began her workers’ compensation career in 1980 when she took a position with the Industrial Commission of Ohio Appeal Board. Since that time she has worked with two TPA’s as an employer’s representative as well as benefits administrator of a self-insured/self-administered health care and workers’ compensation program for another Toledo employer. She joined HCR ManorCare in 1994.

Lisa resides in Toledo, Ohio and previously presided as the President of the Northwest Ohio Self-Insurers Association and a board member of the Pennsylvania Self-Insurers Association and the National Workers’ Compensation Coalition (NWCC). Lisa is deeply committed to providing a safe workplace for the employees of HCR ManorCare as well as a workers’ compensation program that is responsive to the needs of all 60,000 employees
 

Brian E. Koegle is a partner in the employment and labor law department of Poole & Shaffery, LLP.

With a focus on labor and employment law, he provides counsel to employers in a large number of industries with regard to hiring practices, employment contracts, wage and hour issues, compensation, discipline and termination matters.

He has represented employers in union grievance, arbitration and dispute resolution procedures and has defended a wide range of employment discrimination and fair employment practice cases in both federal and state courts. In addition, he has assisted employers in the design, drafting, modification and implementation of personnel policies, procedures and employee handbooks and with performance of personnel policy audits. Mr. Koegle has guided employers in respect to all aspects of wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, including family and medical leaves, alcohol and drug rehabilitation leaves, and leaves involving pregnancy-related disabilities. He also has written several published articles on labor and employment-related matters and is a frequent speaker on these issues.

Mr. Koegle is a member of the Labor and Employment Sections of the California State Bar and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, an Associate Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, and a member of the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Koegle has been recognized as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers/Los Angeles Magazine in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and as one of the “40 Under Forty” by both the San Fernando Valley Business Journal (2005) and the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal (2009), which recognize outstanding achievement by young professionals under the age of 40 in Los Angeles County.

Neil Kornfeld's practice focuses on the counseling and defense of hospitals, physicians, podiatrists, dentists and other health care professionals. Neil has been an active trial lawyer since his days as a prosecutor at The New York County District Attorney's Office. He has successfully tried more than 75 cases to verdict in courts throughout New York State. Neil represents doctors before the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct and the Office of Professional Discipline. He has also represented attorneys and other professionals against professional liability claims. Neil has defended virtually all medical specialties. Recent representative defense verdicts include: wrongful death action involving the suicide of a psychiatric patient; wrongful death action involving failure to communicate finding of small bowel obstruction; wrongful death action involving failure to diagnose uterine cancer; negligent performance of bunion and hammertoe surgery; anesthesia complication resulting in permanent nerve damage; failure to properly treat a diabetic foot ulcer resulting in amputation; and failure to diagnose a fracture resulting in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Neil has been invited to speak at medical and insurance conferences throughout the country and at many metropolitan hospitals on issues relating to medical malpractice and risk management. He has conducted mock trials and lectured on topics ranging from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to expert testimony. Since 1998, he has been a faculty member at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and teaches a class on issues related to malpractice. Neil began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York County from 1988-1993. He was a partner at a large New York based law firm prior to founding FKB. Neil graduated from Northwestern University and Boston University School of Law. He is a member of the New York County Lawyers' Association, New York Medical Defense Bar Association and Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell.

William H. Lambros, Vice President, XL Catlin, has been in the insurance industry for 30 years.  He began his career in National Account Claims in the 1980's with the Aetna Casualty & Surety in New York City.  In 1992, Bill moved to Hartford, Connecticut, to work in the Aetna Home Office Claim Department as a Claim Consultant overseeing Large Losses for designated Claim Service Centers.  With the Aetna/Travelers merger in the 1990's, Bill began working in the Travelers Products and International Unit and ultimately became a Director in the Travelers Home Office Claim Department where he assisted field offices with managing catastrophic losses.  In 1999 Bill moved to Discover Re, an Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) insurer, where he began managing losses for individual risk clients and captive programs and eventually ran the entire Liability Claims area for Discover Re as Vice President.  In the Spring of 2010, Bill began working at SPARTA Insurance Company as Senior Vice President & Claims Officer.  In September 2014 Catalina purchased SPARTA Insurance where Bill was also a Senior Vice President.  As Vice President for XL Catlin, Bill is a Liability Claim Line Lead for TPA Claims – North America.
 

Bryce Larrabee spent the majority of his 15 year legal career in various aspects of nationwide litigation. He spent the first 3 years in private practice working at a New York City law firm, Bigham Englar Jones & Houston, specializing in maritime/admiralty law. Subsequently, he moved to New Hampshire and worked at the State’s largest law firm McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, focusing on various types of commercial litigation.

Bryce joined RiverStone in 2003 where he was initially involved with the claims department. He spent the majority of his time resolving claims related to long tail exposures such as toxic waste, mold and benzene. In 2006 he moved to what ultimately became the General Counsel’s Office where he continued to focus on long tail exposures with a further emphasis on coverage. RiverStone manages claims and litigation for a host of affiliated companies, including TIG Insurance Company, General Fidelity Insurance Company, Fairmont Insurance Company, U.S. Fire Insurance Company, North River Insurance Company and Valiant Insurance Company. In his current position, Bryce spends the majority of his time managing coverage litigation. He also spends time working on traditional corporate matters such and mergers, acquisitions and contract reviews, among others.
 

BARBARA LASKARIS-LORIGAN has held various risk and claims management positions in the construction and insurance industries and is currently the Vice President and Head of Claims for Golden State Claims Adjusters headquartered in Carlsbad, California.  Ms. Laskaris-Lorigan was previously an Assistant Vice President for the Construction Defect Specialty Unit at Arch Insurance; a Construction Claims Manager and Large Loss Specialist at Gallagher Bassett Services; the Regional Manager of Claims, Contracts and Credit for SelectBuild, a subsidiary of Building Materials Holding Corporation; Southwestern Regional Team Manager for construction defect claims for Zurich North America; and the Construction Liability Claim Manager for the former Arrowhead Claims organization. Ms. Laskaris-Lorigan has over twenty-six years of experience in the construction defect industry, including investigations, complex claims handling, and management of losses throughout the United States, and has lectured before various legal and trade organizations. Ms. Laskaris-Lorigan is currently the President of the San Diego Chapter of CLM.  In her spare time, she enjoys running and has captained a relay race team that has raised over $110,000 for Taking Control of Your Diabetes, a charity that promotes education for those suffering from diabetes.
 

Rich Lenkov brings a killer instinct and unparalleled focus to representing his clients. He partners closely with his clients, ranging from Fortune 50 Corporations to small businesses, to achieve successful litigation outcomes.

Jarret Lewis is a Director of Litigation Services for The Hartford Financial Services Group.  Jarret is responsible for the retention, evaluation and management of firms that work with The Hartford's Claim organization. Jarret previously managed errors and omissions and directors and officers claims at The Hartford. He practiced law in New Jersey prior to joining The Hartford.

Jarret is a graduate of The George Washington University and earned a JD/MBA from Rutgers University.

Robert Luskin is an accomplished litigation defense attorney representing clients in both federal and state courts throughout Georgia and Tennessee. Robert maintains a vast practice defending corporations and individuals in various complex litigation matters. He has extensive experience in the areas of product liability, premises liability, professional negligence, questionable insurance claims and other insurance coverage matters. Robert also represents various companies with regard to employment related matters including discrimination and harassment issues.

Robert is a recognized thought leader often presenting at national risk management and claims litigation conferences throughout the country.

Heather is  Vice President of Claims and Risk Management for Swift Transportation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Most recently, Heather was the Vice President of Risk Management and Claims Counsel for Ralph Lauren Corporation in New York, where she has global responsibility for the ERM, Insurance and Claims functions. Prior to joining Ralph Lauren Corporation, Heather was 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 was responsible for managing the Company's litigation, including transportation, premises, product liability, and commercial litigation. Heather also managed a team of in-house claims adjusters.

Heather is a member of the State Bar of Texas,  the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Phi Delta Phi, 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. She has also participated as a panelist at the last two CLM Annual Conference.

Brian R. Masterson,  admitted to State of NJ Bar (2007), State of NY Bar (2008) and is a member of the American Bar Association. Brian has also been admitted to practice in Federal Court (Southern District of New York). Education: The State University of New York at Oswego (B.A. 2003); the University at Buffalo Law School (J.D. 2007).While in law school, Mr. Masterson interned for the Schoharie County District Attorney’s Office where he gained trial experience and drafted appellate briefs (People v. Kearney, 24 A.D.3d 1105 (2005);  People v. Yellen, 30 A.D.3d 634 (2006)).  Mr. Masterson was also a member of the Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal where he served as the Executive Editor of the Sports and Entertainment Law division.  Mr. Masterson also worked for Callahan & Fusco, LLC, as a law clerk.Following law school, Mr. Masterson became associated with the firm in 2007, and specializes in constitutional law and civil rights litigation, insurance coverage and defense, personal injury, and construction law.Mr. Masterson is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. As part of his involvement with these groups, Mr. Masterson serves on the Commercial Litigation Committee of the Defense Research Institute and the Committee on Association Insurance Programs of the New York Bar Association.

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 named General Counsel and  Chief Claims Officer for Armed Forces Insurance in 2011 and Chief Underwriting Officer in 2013.

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.

Ian Matyjewicz is an Assistant Vice President with Herbert L. Jamison & Co., L.L.C., in West Orange, New Jersey, where he focuses on the risk management and insurance needs of law firms throughout the country. Prior to joining Jamison, Ian practiced for 15 years as a litigator. During that time period, he was lead counsel in over 60 cases tried to verdict. Ian’s experience includes: insurance coverage issues; complex commercial litigation; and intellectual property. He is a frequent speaker on attorney ethics, social media, and privacy and security exposures confronting law firms.
 

Bob McDade is the Vice President of Litigation Management CNA where he is responsible for all litigation programs and processes on behalf of CNA and its customers. Prior to joining CNA in 2022, Bob was at QBE, Zurich North America and prior to that he was in private practice for nearly two decades where he tried several cases focusing primarily on commercial litigation and coverage bad faith matters.Throughout his career, Bob has created and presented seminars to claims personnel, underwriters, third party administrators and insureds. He received his bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from LaSalle University and his juris doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law.

Bill McDaniel has over 30 years of insurance industry experience on a national scale with carriers (including home office assignments), brokers and in Risk departments of large companies.

He joined ABM Industries in April 2010. He is responsible for the oversight of all casualty claims for ABM, who employees over 100,000 in the Janitorial, Parking, Security and Facility Services industries nationwide Bill heads up a team of seven Claim Managers with average industry experience over twenty years, working with our carriers and TPAs to provide technical oversight and direction to ensure claim costs are mitigated for ABM.

Prior to joining ABM, Bill served as the Southeast Director of Claims for the Strategic Outcomes Practice for Willis. In that role he oversaw a team of Claim Consultants or worked directly with the largest clients in the region, advocating on their claim needs, managing their claim programs and assisting on severe claims to get the best results. He was also part of a national leadership team responsible for ensuring the quality of claim consulting provided to clients and developing new, innovative approaches to claim program management.

Prior to ABM Bill heading the Claim Department of Allied Automotive, the world’s largest car hauler, with annual developed claims exposures exceeding $65 million. He directly handled their catastrophic losses and oversaw an internal TPA unit of twenty-five adjusters and supervisors. Bill continued in this role as the entire Risk department was outsourced to USI Insurance Services, where he took on additional duties as the Director of Claims for the Southeast, consulting on their largest clients.

Bill was the VP of Claims in the Home Office for Reliance National in New York, overseeing three of the five US regions. He had team of twenty-one claim professionals handling over 400 Risk Management (large retention) accounts exclusively using TPAs to adjust claims. We provided Home Office Examiner oversight as well as TPA program management. Bill worked directly with the largest accounts in those regions, including Citibank, ARAMARK, Southwest Airlines, CSX, US Air, Allied Automotive, Unisys and Playtex.

Bill began his career with Liberty Mutual cross training on Liability, WC and Property claims handling and later worked as a Litigation Examiner with Chubb.
 

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.

Tom Noles has been a claim professional since 1988. Over the years he has developed his communication, investigative and negotiation skills using every tool at his disposal. He has worked for numerous companies both standard and non standard as an independent adjuster, mostly in auto casualty and litigation. He is currently employed by National Adjustment Bureau for the last 9 years as a casualty/litigation adjuster.

A lawyer at Gallagher Sharp since 1980 and a Partner since 1987, Joe Pappalardo is a trial attorney who represents public and private companies, insurance carriers, and individuals in cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, employer intentional torts, industrial accidents, cargo, and property damage.  He has litigated and tried cases in a wide variety of industries, including trucking, automobile, motorcycles, hand and power tools, aviation and automatic pedestrian doors. He concentrates his practice on trucking, motor coach, aviation and product liability matters.  Joe is admitted to all state and federal courts in Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Joe received his law degree from The Ohio State University and his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University. He is Martindale-Hubbell AV rated, listed as an Outstanding Lawyer of America, listed in the 2015-2021 editions of Best Lawyers in America® for Transportation Law (2021, 2018, 2016 Cleveland Transportation Lawyer of the Year), and an Ohio Super Lawyer since 2004. 

Joe is a member of and the 2018 recipient of the John T. Biezup Memorial Service Award from the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) (former Board of Directors, General Counsel), Transportation Lawyers Association, Ohio Trucking Association, (Legislative Committee), Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) (Co-Dean of the Claims College, School of Transportation, Co-Chair Transportation Committee), Federal Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, a Life Member of the Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, and a Master Bencher, Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court.  He serves on the Board of Directors of Themis Advocates and the Cuyahoga Community College Truck Driving Academy Advisory Board.

Joe frequently speaks at national seminars regarding trucking, transportation, and litigation topics and is an author for national publications.

Lesley is now self employed.  She was previously Vice President of Claims and an Officer at Providence Risk & Insurance Services, Inc. She spent 22 years managing non-subscriber claims to help her clients not only save money but to provide excellent benenfits for their injured workers. She has been active in discussions and lobbying efforts for expansion of non-subscription and opt out programs in other States.

Lesley began her career as an adjuster with Aetna Life & Casualty. She has worked for insurance carriers and third party administrators in various capacities. Her experience includes handling general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation and non-subscriber claims. She also taught several Texas Department of Insurance approved CE courses along with an adjuster pre-licensing class. She previously served as senior adjunct faculty at San Antonio College. Lesley holds a multi-line adjuster license, the AIC designation and received her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University. Feel free to contact her at: perryllesley@gmail.com.

Combined background in international law, corporate and investment banking and insurance, Tienneke Petit has been assisting clients around the globe, working on projects involving international business, governance, legal and regulatory compliance, strategic positioning, insurance programs, claims and litigation management, risk portfolio review and many more.

Holding prior positions as independent attorney with Cottyn in Brussels, legal and regulatory counsel at Euronext-NYSE in Paris, international claims manager at AXA Corporate Solutions in Paris and New York and currently owner and CEO of PetitConsult as well as being Governance Lead at BNP Paribas USA, Tienneke has been and still is very actively involved in international claims and litigation management. She has acquired in-depth experience unravelling the intricacies of (international) litigation management and is focused on proactively searching for resolution while creating an environment of integrity and trust.

Tienneke holds Master in Laws degrees from the Catholic University of Leuven (BE) and the University of Sceaux-Paris (FR) and a LLM European Company Law from the University of Exeter (UK). She also holds the Associate in Risk Management Certificate (USA).

Will’s primary practice areas are Civil Trial Law, Commercial Law, Legal Malpractice, Insurance Defense, Products Liability, Real Estate, ADR, Labor & Employment, Oil & Gas, Non-Subscriber Law, Construction and Admiralty/Maritime Law. He has tried over 100 cases in these practice areas.

Will is the Managing Partner for the law firm’s San Antonio Office and he has been practicing law in the State of Texas for over 30 years. Since 2009, Will has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America and a Texas Super Lawyer. In addition, Will has been admitted to the United States District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Further, Will is a member of Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Inc, the San Antonio Claims Association and The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.

Jim is a shareholder in the Pittsburgh based law firm, Poerio & Walter, Inc. His practice is concentrated in the defense of workers’ compensation and Federal Black Lung claims. Jim was defense counsel in the landmark case of Republic Steel Corporation v. WCAB (Petrisek), which fundamentally changed the law in Pennsylvania eliminating most claim petitions filed by retirees, saving Pennsylvania employers and carriers literally millions of dollars. Jim is active in the National Counsel of Self-Insurers  in addition to the CLM, where he has served as Co-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee, and is a member of the Workers' Compensation Community Advisory Board.  He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1981. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in workers’ compensation law and for inclusion in “Best Lawyers in America” since 2006. Jim is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell.   Jim's firm, Poerio & Walter, Inc., has been recognized as well as a Tier 1 Firm for workers' compensation defense by US News & World Report Magazine.

Michelle R. Prud'Homme is Counsel in the Health Care and Insurance industry groups, focusing primarily on litigation. She practices out of the Firm's office in Denver, Colorado.

Michelle is well versed in the areas of complex civil litigation, including medical malpractice and general insurance defense. In 2010, Michelle was awarded the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Professionalism award, which is given to an attorney within the defense bar who has displayed competency, ethics, and professionalism on behalf of their clients and when dealing with their adversaries. Rest assured, she can keep her composure while representing her clients in even the toughest situations.

Prior to joining Jackson Kelly, Michelle spent over 30 years as partner of a firm providing defense of primarily personal injury and professional liability claims, including a specialty in veterinary malpractice. She has defended high profile cases and assisted hospitals with sensitive issues, such as diversion. In addition to civil litigation, she represents professionals in disciplinary actions before the Colorado Medical Board, the Board of Nursing, and the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. She is a past President of the Colorado Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national organization of experienced plaintiff and defense trial attorneys dedicated to preserving the 7thAmendment right to a civil jury trial and to promoting civility and professionalism in the practice. She brings with her extensive trial experience.

Michelle earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School in 1983.  She is also a graduate of the Masters Advocates Programs from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Colorado College in 1979.

JOHN ANDREW RAMIREZ.  Admitted to bar: 1997, Texas. Admitted to practice before: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas; all Texas State Courts.

Education: Texas A&M University (B.S., 1993); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1996).

Speaker/Lecturer: Personal Injury/Wrongful Death Litigation; Bad Faith; Litigation Following Catastrophes.

Member: Houston Young Lawyers Association; Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston; State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA); also named Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly (2011, 2012).

SpecialtiesBoard Certifications: Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Ramirez is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mary has been a Senior Investigator with the auto and home division of MetLife Insurance for 22 years.  Mary serves as team leader for her group.  Mary is also a Director of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) and serves the Board as Chair of the Certification Committee.  Mary holds an MA from the University of Texas at Arlington in Urban Affairs.  Mary resides in the Dallas, Texas area.

Derek Steffen is the Assistant Vice President/ Senior Claims Manager at Berkley Alliance Managers where he handles Design Professional and Contractors Professional claims.  Derek has over 20 years experience in the insurance industry, having worked in claims, underwriting, and as a producer.  Derek earned a JD from Widener University and a BS in Environmental Health from Stockton University in Pomona, NJ.

Rick is responsible for planning, designing and implementing an overall risk management process for Ulta Beauty. His responsibilities include claims litigation management, enterprise risk and business continuity. Rick has more than 30 years risk management experience in the retail manufacturing and transportation industries. Ulta Beauty has 1,200 retail locations, 5 distribution centers and 45,000 employees in all 50 states.
 

Tony is a Global Client executive for Marsh USA assisting global businesses create leading edge risk management strategies. He designs insurance programs utilizing traditional, alternative risk management, captives, loss portfolio transfers, finite risk; integrated risk related programs and implements state of the art risk mitigation strategies. Tony’s portfolio includes clients within the Retail, Technology, Healthcare, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Chemical, FI and Professional Services industries.

Tony’s industry experience includes management and leadership positions with The Travelers and Royal and SunAlliance. His experience includes all phases of the industry: claims, underwriting, marketing and brokerage. .

Tony joined Marsh’s National Casualty practice in 2003 as Regional Sales Leader and in 2005 became the National Sales Leader. In 2007 he joined the Global Risk Management Client Executive Practice serving Fortune 500 clients.

He is a graduate of Manhattan College, has previously served on the board of Old City District in Philadelphia
 

Peter M. Waldeck practices exclusively in insurance defense matters, including construction law, product liability, insurance coverage, no-fault UM/UIM, auto liability, professional liability, employment law, day care, health clubs and liquor liability. This includes all phases of litigation from pre-suit investigation and evaluation through trials and appeals. Mr. Waldeck has tried cases throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin and has successfully argued cases at the appellate level.

Daryl Wigington, CSP, ARM, ALCM, CPCU

Daryl is the Vice President of Risk Management for the Ben E. Keith Company, a 106 year old private company in Fort Worth. The company is the eighth largest full service institutional food distributor in the US. They are also the second largest Anheuser Busch distributor in the US and the largest distributor of imported and specialty beers in Texas. The company is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 144th largest private company in the USA.

Daryl is a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and past President of the Fort Worth Chapter; Past President and member of the Dallas Fort Worth Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS); and Current Vice President of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society (CPCU). Dallas CEO Magazine in October 2012 ranked Daryl as one of the top eight Risk Managers in Dallas-Fort Worth.

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.

Tom Anderson currently serves as senior counsel for CSX Corporation in the Corporate & Transportation section of the Law Department.  Mr. Anderson’s areas of responsibility include asset transactions, public and private debt offerings, information technology, legal spending management and corporate governance matters.  He joined the Law Department of CSX Transportation in January 2005.  Before joining CSX, Mr. Anderson was an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Arnold & Porter LLP, working primarily in the environmental practice group.  Mr. Anderson received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D, magna cum laude, from Washington & Lee University School of Law in Lexington, VA.  Mr. Anderson is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia and is an authorized house counsel in Florida.

Rachel Azriel is the Director of Risk Management - Claims for Cox Enterprises, a media/broadcast and automotive services company. Her responsibilities include overseeing the program and managing the casualty litigation along with other lines of coverage including property, media liability, and reps & warranties. Rachel has been with Cox Enterprises for over 24 years and has held various roles within the Cox risk management department in both insurance and claims. Rachel has a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Paralegal Certificate, a Senior Claims Law Associate (SCLA) Designation, Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP).

Kevin E. Wolff, Esq. is a shareholder of the firm of Kinney, Lisovicz, Reilly & Wolff, PC., located in Parsippany, New Jersey and New York, New York. He is admitted to practice in NJ and NY.  His practice concentrates in the areas of insurance and reinsurance coverage, including general liability, property, environmental, employment, errors and omissions, directors and officers, marine, technology matters.  Kevin’s insurance and reinsurance practice is limited to the representation of insurers and reinsurers.  He also counsels and advises clients on the drafting of policy language, contracts and agreements, claims handling, and represents parties in commercial litigation. He has extensive experience in handling bad faith claims.  Kevin is a member of several organizations, including CLM, and is active in its Northern New Jersey Chapter.  Kevin has been recognized as a Band 1 coverage attorney by Chambers USA for 2018. 
 

Susan started her career in 1997 serving as trial attorney and panel counsel representing various property & casualty insurers, including Fortune 100 companies. She is now an attorney with the firm of Daniel P. Costello & Associates, LLC, one of the most progressive defense firms in the country, after spending the past 17 years working in the Property & Casualty Insurance Industry managing staff/panel counsel organizations, assisting large claims operations and finding effective and innovative ways to manage litigation.

Most recently Susan served as the Claims Counsel for Acuity Insurance Company. In this role she was responsible for worker’s compensation, property, liability and litigated claims  throughout the Midwest, as well as overseeing the panel counsel, electronic billing program. Additionally, she was responsible for formulating the Medicare Compliance Program involving conditional payments and future medical for the claims department. Prior to working at Acuity Susan worked as a Staff Attorney for Traveler’s Insurance Company. The staff counsel organization was responsible  litigation on complex and specialized claims.  

Susan is a top flight litigator and has a wealth of experience to construction litigation, premises liability, worker’s compensation, medical negligence and insurance coverage matters.  Her healthcare background has always allowed her to aggressively attack damages. She is also a member of the Counsel on Litigation Management, and was chosen for the prestigious position of Advisory Board Member from 2010-2012, one of only a few dozen attorneys from across the country.

Laura Cornish is the Vice President of Risk Management for Madison Square Garden Entertainment, with a primary focus on establishing the risk strategy for the construction, entertainment, and sports organizations. Formerly, Laura was the Claims Manager at Lightstone, responsible for managing and overseeing Lightstone's Claims and Loss Control programs. Before joining Lightstone, Laura helped CLM establish ClaimVets, a 501 (C )(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing veterans and military spouses with a pathway to a career in claims. PBeforeher working with ClaimVets, she was a Director in Honeywell International's Corporate Risk Management Department, primarily responsible for managing Global Property and Casualty claims. In her role, Laura established the organization's strategic goals for claim handling, complex claim resolution, and litigation management. Before joining Honeywell, Laura was the Domestic Risk Manager for Colgate-Palmolive, responsible for U.S. policy placement and worldwide claims. As the Director-Global Claims for Tyco Intl., Laura managed the in-house claim staff and partnered with counsel, insurers, and TPAs to establish a Litigation Management program encompassing industry Best Practices, billing guidelines, and review processes, reducing durations, claim costs, and legal fees. Before transitioning to Risk Management, Laura was a Vice President; Senior Casualty Claims Consultant/Team Leader at Marsh. PBeforeMarsh, she held various claims positions within AIG's Home Office, Aetna, and Liberty Mutual.  
Laura is a Certified Litigation Management Professional, a Certified Claims Professional, and a Fa faculty member of The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Claim College. She is a member of the NY RIMS Chapter Advisory Committee. In addition, Laura is the President of the CLM Northern NJ Chapter and a member of the Advisory Board of CLM's Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Committee. Laura is a Graduate of the University of Scranton with a B.S. in Public Administration and Accounting. 

Dan Costello, Founder and Managing Partner of Costello Ginex & Wideikis,  is currently recognized as a national expert in litigation management, complex case litigation, and trial practice.  In 2014 he was one of four finalists for the Claim and Litigation Management (CLM) Outside Counsel of the Year, selected from nearly 40,000 members. He is a Advisory Board member for CLM, Co-Chair of the Anti-Nuclear Verdict Task Force, Co-Chair of the Litigation Management Symposium (LMS), and a Chancellor of Litigation Management Institute (LMI) held at Loyola Law school in Chicago.

Over the last three years, Dan's litigation practice has continued to grow, as has the firms growing portfolio of litigation based solutions.   Dan has been retained as lead counsel in complex cases including lead trial counsel in two cases of first impression in Illinois  including the loss of opportunity to have a biological child for 66 plaintiffs in a Cryogenic tank malfunction, and a class action lawsuit in litigation of Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) dealing with statutory/punitive damages.  He has also been retained in complex litigation including the collapse of a tent resulting in multiple fatalities and 19 plaintiffs' claims and recently resolved construction litigation brought on behalf of a national retailer that spanned seven states, and involved insurance disputes with twenty-two separate insurers. 

He also acts as a litigation consultant, billing fees expert, and expert in litigation of complex and construction defect disputes.  He has recently been retained as an expert witness in multiple party litigation in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, among other states.   Dan also maintains an active practice in consulting with carriers on litigation management strategy, implementation, and improvement.  

Specialties: Construction Litigation, Litigation Management, Expert Fees, Complex litigation, Insurance Coverage, products liability, and construction/design defect

Janet practices in the areas of insurance coverage, professional liability and construction litigation. She represents and counsels insurers on a wide range of issues and policies including errors and omissions, directors and officers and general liability. She represents lawyers, architects and engineers in litigated and arbitrated matters and also provides design professionals with general corporate counseling on issues including contract drafting, insurance, fee disputes and employment. Janet successfully defended an architect in the second sick building syndrome case tried in this country and has litigated claims involving Chicago landmarks such as the Amoco Building, 900 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago Skyway and McCormick Place.

Janet is a frequent lecturer on a variety of topics including insurance coverage, design professional liability and the role of counsel retained by insurers.

Janet's most recent presentations include:

Steve Donnelly is currently the Chief Claims Officer for Amerisure Insurance.  In that capacity he is responsible for all aspects of Amerisure Claims Operations and a member of the C-Level Executive Team responsible for the strategic direction of the Amerisure organization. 

Prior to working at Amerisure Steve was the Regional VP for QBE's Midwest Claims Region.  He also headed up the Litigation Management Group for Liberty Mutual’s Regional Companies. The Lit Management Group was 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.

Kevin is responsible for overseeing the Medical Malpractice, APA/Psych, and Health Care Management Liability Claims Teams. Prior to assuming this role Kevin managed the Employment Practices Liability and Governmental Liability Claims team. Before that, Kevin was a senior claims analyst with Allied World Assurance Company, handling employment practices, governmental liability and directors and officers claims. Before joining Allied World in 2008, Kevin litigated a variety of cases including tort claims, governmental liability issues, employment related claims, insurance coverage claims, medical malpractice and professional liability claims while practicing law with Jackson, O’Keefe and Phelan in Hartford, Connecticut. 
 
Kevin earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he also served as the Notes and Comments Editor of the Connecticut Journal of International Law. He is a member of the bar in Connecticut and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Patrick T. Hoey is the Worldwide Manager of the House Counsel department of Chubb & Son, Inc, a division of Federal Insurance Company. Mr. Hoey manages a group of 13 law offices in the U.S. and Canada representing Chubb insureds on cases pending before Federal and state courts and administrative tribunals.

Prior to joining Chubb in 1992, Mr. Hoey practiced at a New York City law firm specializing in litigation and regulatory matters. Earlier in his career, he held several high level positions in New York City government including First Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, Deputy Coordinator of Criminal Justice in the Office of the Mayor and the Coordinator of New York City Arson Strike Force. Mr. Hoey started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office where he served from 1976 to 1981.

Mr. Hoey secured a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in New York City in 1976 and a B.A. from LeMoyne College, in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1973. He is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, where he is Vice Chair of the Committee on Premises Liability and Labor Law. Mr. Hoey is Past Chair of the Insurance Staff Counsel Committee of the Association of Corporate Counsel.
 

Simon Keshishian is a risk lawyer and risk manager with nearly three decades of experience in the insurance, legal  and corporate sectors. He currently serves as Vice President of Risk Management & Counsel for Red Bull North America, Inc., an Austrian multinational company with an annual turnover exceeding $12 billion. At Red Bull, Simon oversees insurance, risk management, and claims strategies for the company's diverse portfolio, which includes energy drinks, a record label, a media house, action sports, soccer, and  Formula 1 teams. His responsibilities include managing insured litigation, claims management, risk finance, and event safety from Red Bull's North American Headquarters in Santa Monica, California.

Simon previously had a role in risk management at UCLA and spent a decade in claims and litigation management with carriers such as The Travelers, The Hartford, ACE-USA (now Chubb), and HDI-Global. A licensed attorney, Simon holds a Juris Doctor from Texas A&M Law School (formerly Texas Wesleyan SOL) and a Master's from Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. He also holds  several insurance-specific designations, including CLCS, CLMP, and RIMS-CRMP and is also licensed as an adjuster.

Simon was named CLM Litigation Manager of the Year for 2018-2019 and continues to contribute to the industry as an advisory board member of CLM, the Sports and Entertainment Risk Management Alliance (SERMA), and the RING (Recognizing Inclusion for the Next Generation) certification program.

Lisa has worked for over 23 years for the insurance industry. Her career in claim includes work for Zurich from 1998 -2004 as a senior claims adjusters handling commercial transportation claims. In 2004, she joined AXIS Insurance Company where handled GL claims and rose in the claims management to Vice President of Primary and Excess Casualty Claims.  She also started the A&E claims unit for AXIS.  In early 2019, she accepted a position as the Senior Vice President of Houston International Insurance Group Claims where she leads the Construction and Internal Claims departments. 

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, Colorado, Illinois.  He has been with Fred Loya Insurance for 10 years and in that time the company has grown from $42 million in annual written premium to well over $400 million for 2010. 

William T. “Bill” Mitchell is a founding partner of Cruser Mitchell. Bill was selected as CLM Outside Panel Lawyer of the Year in 2024. Bill has co-written 2 leading books on claims specifically The Disruptive Lawyer’s Little Black Book of Litigation Management and The Dispruptive Lawyer's Little Black Book of Negotiation.  He does a seminar series annually on both books premised on the concept that given 92% of all cases settle (and 1% go to trial), the industry should be hiring/training Dealmakers with the "Right Mindset and Skill Set" to resolve claims.   Bill consults nationwide with insurance companies and large corporations on how to enact a metrics-driven litigation management program leading to the saving of millions of dollars in legal and indemnity fees.  Bill also serves as negotiation/monitoring counsel for several carriers representing them in mediations across the nation.  You can reach out to Bill for a free copy of the books.

Matthew Morrison has years of experience focusing on complex claims, litigation management and insurance coverage issues from both the perspective of an insurer as well an attorney in private practice. In his current position with American Faminly Insurance he is responsible for all litigation outcomes across the enterprise including claims and corporate litigation. He is admitted to practice before the state courts of Illinois and Wisconsin, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Wisconsin State Bar Association, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance Advisory Board and serves as a professor at CLM’s Litigation Management Institute. In 2013 Matt was named Litigation Management Professional of the Year by CLM.

As Director of Analytic Consulting at LexisNexis, Kris leads the LexisNexis® CounselLink® team’s efforts to advise corporate legal department managers on improving operations with data driven decisions. Kris is an expert in managing the business of law and in data mining. Areas of expertise include matter pricing and staffing, partner compensation, practice area metrics and scorecards.

Prior to joining LexisNexis CounselLink, Kris honed her legal industry knowledge by advising and consulting with leaders in large law firms for over 10 years. Most recently she led unbiased data-based research efforts as Director of LexisNexis’ Redwood Think Tank. From 2000 to 2005, Kris managed Redwood’s consulting efforts as director of its Analytic Services group. She has authored numerous articles and speaks regularly at legal industry conferences and events.
 

I am a Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Bank of America. I manage litigation related to residential mortgage loans. I am board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I serve on the Advisory Board of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M. I received my undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and my law degree from the University of Illinois.

Mark Stephens is Senior Vice President, Claim Legal for CNA Insurance where he is responsible for the general oversight, direction and strategy for CNA’s in house staff (31 offices) and coverage counsel (8 offices) involving CNA insureds across all Commercial and Specialty Lines Business Units. Mark provides strategic litigation management direction for staff and panel attorneys nationwide. His group is also responsible for the E-Invoicing system and centralized bill review of all outside legal fees for property and casualty. Mark has been a frequent speaker at Defense Research Institute (DRI) and American Corporate Counsel seminars.

Prior to joining CNA, Mark was Deputy General Counsel with the United States Small Business Administration in Washington, DC. He had oversight of the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) litigation and liquidation as well as home office and legal field operations for 67 offices. Prior to joining SBA, Mark was in private practice in Washington, DC and Washington, Pennsylvania.

Mark was Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Ohio Northern Law Review. He is a Past Chair of the Staff Counsel Committee of the American Corporate Counsel Association. Mark is a member of the DRI Insurance Roundtable Steering Committee. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, D.C. Bar and American Bar Association. He received his B.A. cum laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Ohio Northern University.

Wade joined Argo Group US, Inc. in May 2010 as in-house counsel primarily responsible for managing extra-contractual litigation against Argo Group US entities, and assisting with complex litigation, discovery, and subpoenas.He was a Panelist for “Bearing Witness: Navigating the Bad Faith Minefield During Trial” at the CLM Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Conference, September 14, 2012.Previously, he was a complex business litigation attorney with an emphasis in coverage and defense of commercial general liability and property policies. Wade has represented insurance companies in state and federal trial and appellate litigation matters.Wade currently is Province 22 President for the International Legal Fraternity Phi Delta Phi and has been an Adjunct Professor of Advocacy at South Texas College of Law, his alma mater, where he has coached numerous moot court teams to state and national championships.Wade earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and minor in Economics from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega.He graduated magna cum laude from South Texas College of Law as a member of South Texas Law Review, Order of the Lytae, the Langdell Scholar program, and was Magister of Phi Delta Phi’s Wood Inn. Wade also earned numerous awards as a member of South Texas College of Law’s nationally recognized varsity moot court program.

Mark Vorder-Bruegge, Jr. is a partner in the Memphis Office of the regional law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP.  He currently chairs the Firm’s Intellectual Property practice, is the Firm’s Chief Technology Partner, is an Ethics Counseling and Loss Prevention Partner for the Firm, and is the Account Manager for the Firm’s membership in DuPont’s Primary Law Firm network.  He has concentrated his practice on resolution of complex problems of intellectual property, accounting and securities fraud, banking, professional liability, and commercial transactions.

Mr. Vorder-Bruegge received his B.A. degree in 1975 from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree in 1978 from Vanderbilt University, and served as Law Clerk to then-U.S. District Judge Harry W. Wellford.  He is a past President of the Memphis Chapter of the American Inns of Court.  He is named in Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Intellectual Property, Securities, and Commercial Litigation, and in Mid-South Superlawyers in the field of Intellectual Property Litigation.  He has also been recognized as a "Top Lawyer" in the American Lawyer/Corporate Counsel Annual Guide to Commercial Litigation.  He is a member of The Sedona Conference, the Electronic Discovery Reference Model ("EDRM"), and the Computer Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and served on the TBA’s Legal Opinion Accord Committee.  He is a past chair of the Memphis Bar Association’s Ethics Committee.  He lectures and writes frequently on intellectual property, legal technology, complex litigation strategy, strategic planning, legal ethics, loss prevention, and law practice management.

Mr. Vorder-Bruegge also has been active in a number of civic and charitable organizations, including the Memphis Rotary Club, Junior Achievement's Economics of Staying in School Program, the Central Gardens Area Association, the Historic District Alliance, Memphis Heritage, Inc., the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the University of Virginia Fund.  He a Director and past President of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, Inc., which houses patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  He is also a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court's Commission on Lawyers Assistance and is the Commission's Secretary-Treasurer.

Bassil Aish, M.D is a UCLA bred Sports Medicine Physician and Family Physician. Dr. Aish received his degree with honors from the University of California at Berkeley and completed internship, residency and sports medicine fellowship programs at UCLA. Dr. Aish served as a UCLA medical school clinical instructor and team physician for UCLA football, track and field, soccer, and swimming, leaving to work with U.S. Olympic national athletic teams and enter into practice in his hometown, Huntington Beach, California. Dr. Aish also proudly serves as team physician for Goldenwest College and Huntington Beach High School in his hometown and is a member of the faculty at the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Aish has an impressive and unique set of career accomplishments in the field of traumatic brain injury. Personally, he has evaluated and managed over 1500 concussion cases including professional athletes from many sports. Dr. Aish is widely recognized as a national expert in the fields of traumatic brain injury and sports related concussion. He is well published nationally and internationally in standardized methods of concussion assessment and has presented on traumatic brain injury to several national societies including the AMSSM, ACSM, Emergency Department Physicians and internationally on ESPN and Fox Sports.

Dr. Aish is a regular on camera and the Chief Medical Advisor for the ESPN/Fox Sports show "Sport Science" where he pioneered general public education on concussion and participated in recommendations to the NFL safeguards committee and NFL referees association to institute rule changes to minimize traumatic brain injury risk. “A work in progress” feels Dr. Aish. He is also a leader in the field of concussion prevention and management in soccer and football in youth athletics.
 

Dr. Aish has the rare distinction of being an Emmy Award Winning Physician in 2009 winning his Emmy for innovative sports programming on "Sport Science” which included a vivid presentation of traumatic brain injury in sports. He is also on camera and a physician advisor for the acclaimed show "Fight Science" on Discovery Channel.
 

Dr. Aish also serves as the medical director of the Surf City USA marathon (and kids run) for the past 10 years. He is the proud father of 2, Quincy and Mia.

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.

Rick Baker is a partner with Owen, Gleaton, Egan, Jones & Sweeney, LLP, in Atlanta.  His practice focuses on the defense of manufacturers in product liability cases, tort defense and business litigation.

Rick has achieved a peer review rating of AV Preeminent.  He also has been named a Rising Star by the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Georgia Super Lawyers magazines, an honor limited to no more than 2.5 percent of the state's lawyers each year.While in law school, Rick was recognized by the Oklahoma Law Review with the Outstanding Note Editor Award and the Outstanding Second-Year Member Award, and he received the college's Student Bar Association Prize for service to the student body.

Gary F. Baumann is a founding partner of Baumann, Gant & Keeley, P.A., a Florida statewide defense firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Jacksonville. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1996, receiving the Book Award in the Trial Advocacy Program. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1996 and is a member in good standing. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1990. He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Baumann’s primary areas of practice involve catastrophic injury, wrongful death, automobile negligence, construction defect litigation, construction bodily injury claims, products liability, bad faith litigation and general negligence claims. He has successfully tried to verdict and litigated numerous complex claims including class action lawsuits.

He was appointed on August 7, 2009 by the Honorable Eldon Fallon to serve as a member of the National Defense Steering Committee (DSC) for the thousands of Chinese Drywall claims being litigated in the Eastern District of Louisiana (MDL 2047).

He has been a panel member, chairperson and moderator at numerous national seminars including The Defense Research Institute (DRI), West Coast Casualty Seminar, The East Coast Region Construction Defect Seminar, The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference, and the CDCMA. The events have been attended by Federal Court Judges and State Court Judges from Florida, California, South Carolina, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada as well as attorneys from across the country. He regularly presents accredited seminars to clients on topics such as current events in Florida Construction Defect Law and Claims Adjuster Ethics.

He is admitted to practice law in all Florida State Courts since 1996 and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Federal Court for the Southern and Middle District of Florida.

Construction Defect Law; Premise Liability; and Claims Adjuster Ethics. 

Ms. Beck was awarded CLM's Outside Counsel of the Year in 2018.  She is the leading author of CLM Magazine's award-winning Blame Game series which analyzes verdicts in cases across the country.  She has joined the powerhouse firm of Klinedinst Law as a shareholder with an entire team of lawyers, paralegals, and staff covering CA, AZ and NV, as she and her team practice in all three states.  She co-chairs the firm's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with Sacramento Office Managing Shareholder Natalie Vance. She was formerly Chair of Arizona Litigation and Co-chair of California Litigation with Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, an AM Law 100 firm.  Exemplar clients include LEGO, Inc., the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Walsh Construction, Chipotle, the San Diego Tourism Authority, McDonald’s Corporation, Sprouts Farmers Markets, various insurance companies, and many others.

Admitted to CA Bar (1990); U.S. District Court (Southern District of California) (1990); admitted to AZ Bar (2005); admitted to NV Bar (2019).

Preparatory Education: San Diego State University (B.S. 1986).Legal Education: University of San Diego (J.D. 1990, Magna Cum Laude).

Memberships: President-Elect, National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations; VP of the National Diversity Council's Southern California Diversity Council; Co-creator of GOOD Guys (GOOD=Guys Overcoming Obstacles to Diversity); San Diego County Bar Association; CLM; American Bar Association (Woman Advocate Committee, co-chair of the Book Sub-Committee); Lawyers Club of San Diego (founder and past co-chair of the Professional Advancement Committee and past co-chair of the Balance Committee); Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council, Inc. 

Other: Extern to Justice Howard B. Wiener, California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District (1990); Internship and Clerk for Office of the United States Attorney, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (1986-1988).

Ms. Beck is deeply committed to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is an active organizer, speaker, and writer on these issues.

I am an experienced litigator who, for the past ten years have been investigating and defending claims and lawsuits against companies and individuals alike. My experience in this area is not limited to the courtroom or conference room. I have been actively involved in investigating losses by speaking to witnesses, consulting with experts and attending examinations. This approach enabled me to grasp the entire potential loss exposure in a claim or lawsuit and consequently properly advise the client about the true nature and extent of a loss so that costs can be managed and minimized.

  If a claim reaches litigation, I have been actively involved in the decision making and participation in motion practice and discovery. I strongly believe that constant client interaction and participation is imperative in the management of litigation. Understanding the expectations of counsel and the claims manager must occur to garner a successful result. Often times, the hardest thing to do as a competent attorney is to acknowledge the weaknesses of a case and advise that the most cost effective way to end a claim or lawsuit is to settle. When warranted however, I have had success deposing and excluding expert witnesses, developing defense strategies based on witness and expert depositions I have taken and significantly reduced exposure based on testimony at deposition or successful pre-trial motions. I am a regular author of the products liability column for the Illinois Association of Defense Counsel and Defense Research Institute. 

Bar Admissions

Illinois, 2006

Northern District of Illinois: 2006

Central District of Illinois: 2011

Sandra Bland Burgess has been a member of the CLM since 2007.  Sandra is the Risk Manager for the City of Memphis, Tennessee.  Memphis is the largest city in the state of Tennessee.  She is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a major in Insurance.  Sandra has over 25 years experience in the insurance and risk management field.  Her initial career started as a Commercial Underwriter for Nationwide Insurance Company and she later transferred to the Claims Department where she handled personal lines and commercial liability claims for Nationwide Insurance.  Contract analysis, coverage interpretation, litigation supervision and loss control were some of the skills utilized.  She is also a member of PRIMA, Tn PRIMA, RIMS and Memphis RIMS Chapter.

Larry is the Executive Director of the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA), a municipal risk pool of 70 municipalities and special districts in northeastern Illinois. IRMA was one of the first municipal risk pools when it began operations in 1979. IRMA’s members rely on IRMA for coverage and risk management of all property and casualty exposures, including auto, property, general liability, and workers’ compensation. Larry has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from the University of Chicago and has earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Certified Litigation Management Professional designations.

Issy Bustamante is Vice President and Construction Claims Team Leader with Willis’ New York Construction Practice.   Issy is responsible for a team of dedicated Claims Consultants. Together they compromise the largest specialized claims team within Willis; solely dedicated to New York construction clients and the management of their claim portfolios.Prior to the role of Construction Claims Team Leader, Issy served as a Senior Claims Consultant for Willis from 2012 – 2014 where she provided consultative services to clients by working hand in hand with Willis’ loss control and safety consultants to create tailored programs for new and existing traditional and wrap up projects.   Issy has a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from CUNY Queens College.

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, personal injury, 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 “Birmingham’s Top Attorneys”, Birmingham Magazine, “Top Lawyers” by the Birmingham Business Journal, Alabama Super Lawyers, and is consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. Clay is a frequent lecturer, speaking throughout the Southeast on the topics of employment law, industrial accident litigation, and workers’ compensation.

Marc is an Assistant Vice President at Arch Insurance Group, managing the company's Middle Market Construction Claims Program. He also serves on Arch’s Voice of the Customer team. He was previously a Design Professionals Manager at RLI Insurance Company, where he handled complex construction design claims and managed the company’s pre-claim unit. Prior to RLI, Marc was a Risk Manager for CORE Construction Group, Ltd. where he managed the company’s claims, assisted with managing the group’s captive, conducted contract reviews, and supervised the group’s legal matters. Before working for CORE, Marc was with the Cincinnati Insurance Companies for 10 years, his last position being Regional Casualty Claims Supervisor.  He holds the ARM, AIC, and CPCU designations, and has a Master’s Degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University.

Dennis Cotter is a senior partner in SmithAmundsen’s Litigation Practice Group and member of the firm's Executive Committee. Over the past 24 years, he has represented clients as lead trial counsel in cases involving professional liability, commercial litigation, construction, health care, product liability, municipal liability, breach of contract, class action, real estate, insurance, extra-contractual issues, general liability and more. He is an accomplished trial attorney and his cases routinely include the representation of business and commercial entities in matters involving multi-million dollar exposures. Dennis is also a frequent lecturer on a wide array of litigation-related legal topics and emerging legal trends. A founding partner of SmithAmundsen, he also established and developed the firm’s Construction Practice Group. Thus, in addition to his general litigation practice, currently Dennis serves as the Chair of that Group. In that role, Dennis has served as Chair of the national USLAW Construction Practice Group (2007), and authored both the USLAW Illinois Construction Law Compendium and the DRI Illinois Construction Desk Reference (2009).

Dennis takes pride in the fact that SmithAmundsen can fully serve the business and litigation needs of its clients by working closely with other practice groups in the firm including labor and employment, creditors’ rights, financial services, family law, corporate, health care, insurances services, and more.

In addition to an aggressive trial practice, Dennis is also a trained arbitrator for Illinois Mandatory Arbitration Programs, is trained as a Certified Mediator through Northern Illinois University, and has mediated cases in the 17th Judicial Circuit Major Civil Mediation program and in Cook County, Illinois.

Tim Crawley is one of the founding members of Anderson Crawley & Burke, pllc, with offices in Jackson and Oxford, MS.  Mr. Crawley is admitted to practice before all courts in the States of Mississippi and Tennessee, and before the United States Supreme Court.  He has annually received the highest rating from Martindale Hubbell since 2013 and has reported more than 40 appellate decisions.  Mr. Crawley has authored several articles and served as a faculty member for many continuing education and client training seminars in his areas of practice, recently presenting on Unmanned Aerial Systems (“Drones”) to the LMA Under 35 group at Lloyd’s of London; at the RIMS Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA; at the ACE Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC; and at the 72nd Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference in Orlando, FL. Mr. Crawley is considered to be a leader in the industry regarding drones, their liability profile, and insurance coverage issues.  He is a member of the Mississippi and Tennessee Bar Associations; Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit; DRI; IADC; TIDA; TLA; CLM; and the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Crawley received his undergraduate education from Duke University in 1982, his Juris Doctorate from The University of Mississippi School of Law in 1985, and he currently resides in Jackson, MS.
 

I am Registered Nurse and Vice President of Clinical Operations for Sedgwick. I have a bachelors degree in both psychology and nursing and i am a certified case manager and a certified life care planner. I have a specific interest in chronic pain/legacy claims and the challenges associated with managing these files to closure. I am constantly searching the community for new opportunities to do “something different”.  As part of my job, I train and speak on medical management issues and trends as well as legislative updates. i have had the opportunity to speak on the opiate crisis and Evidence Based Pharmacy at SEAK, FWCI and the annual GA State Board Work Comp Conference.

Michael J. DeLonay joined AXIS as a Senior Claims Specialist in January 2021. Mike handles high exposure primary and excess casualty claims. Prior to joining AXIS, Mike was a Claims Expert/Vice President at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions based in Chicago. He is a CLMP. Mike's career has included handling all types of property and casualty claims with a focus on Public Entity claims including complex civil rights litigation. More recently, Mike's career has focused more on handling other high exposure GL claims such as product liability and premises security litigation.

After graduation from UW –Milwaukee, Mike started his career with Commercial Union and after 6 years moved to Providence Washington and then to Crum & Forster Managers. Mike served as a Village Trustee in Glendale Heights, IL (1983 to 1989) and Carol Stream, IL (1993 to 2001).

Mike is currently is member of CLM Coverage Committee & Extra Contractual Committee.

I am a Philadelphia Police Detective currently assigned to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Insurance Fraud Unit.  I have been detailed to the prosecutors office since December of 1998.  I have been a sworn officer since 1994.  Before being detailed to the prosecutors office I was in uniformed patrol, and then assigned to a Detective division.  In the prosecutors office I have been assigned to the Juvenile Crime Unit, the Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, and currently the Insurance Fraud Unit, where I have been since 2001.

Melissa Dixon is a Licensed ICC Practitioner and Property-Casualty Insurance Agent.
She has been involved in the transportation industry since 1984. She began her career with National Car Rental and Alsaka Airlines while living in Juneau, AK. Melissa earned her ICC Practitioner's License in 1991, and her Insurance Agent and Broker's licenses in 1989. She has been active in the truck insurance industry for over 25-years. Melissa is President of Dixon Insurance, Inc. and its sister organization, Interstate Truck Licensing (ITL). Both businesses cater to the trucking industry, and are dedicated to the success of their customers, partners and team-members.

Melissa is well-versed with the needs of the trucking and brokerage industry and has been consulting to these industry partners for over twenty years. She assists with the risk management needs of Dixon’s insurance customers, and also with the FHWA, DOT and tax needs of ITL’s clients.

She has held several offices within organizations catering to the transportation industry: SE Vice-President of CATRALA Alaska, President of the Fargo-Moorhead Transportation Club, and President of the Association of Transportation Law Professionals (ATLP). Melissa is currently Second Vice-President of the North Dakota Motor Carrier Association and an Ex-Officio Board Member of the Association of Transportation Law Professionals.
 

Jill Dulich received her B.S. and M.A. from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She also received her J.D. from Western State University College of Law.

Since 2015 Jill has been the Claims and Operations Manager for the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund.  In her role Jill oversees the TPA’s that manage the claims that have been assigned to the Security Fund due to the default of a self-insured employer as well as manages the daily administrative operations of the Fund.

Jill retired from Marriott in February 2015 after 32 years.  She was the Senior Director for Marriott Claims Services, as part of Marriott International. She was responsible for management of workers' compensation, auto and general liability losses for all Marriott managed operations within 8 western states and also manages 3 satellite offices in Hawaii, Oregon and Nevada.

Prior to Marriott International, Jill was a Continuing Unit Supervisor for Allstate Insurance Co., a Unit Supervisor in workers' compensation at Alpha Beta Co. and Vice President of Claims at R. L. Kautz & Company.

She was a former Commissioner and 2003 Chair of the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation having been appointed in 1998 by Governor Pete Wilson to be the private employer representative.

Jill is active in workers’ compensation in a number of states and was the former Chair of the Board and Executive Committee Chair of the California Self Insurers Association. She also served as the Treasurer and participated on the Nominating Committee, Board of Managers and Executive Committee.

Jill is an active participant in the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute CompScope Advisory committee and has been since 2007.
Jill served on the Board of Directors, Easter Seals Southern California for 15 years and was the former Chair of the Board.

Blaine Edwards is the Assistant General Counsel for Superior Energy Services, Inc. Superior is a major oilfield service company with operations in all of the major oil and gas producing states in the United States and in over 15 countries around the world. As the AGC for Superior, Blaine is responsible for global litigation, risk management analysis, and major job problems. Prior to joining Superior, Blaine worked for BJ Services Company as the AGC and Global Head of Litigation. Prior to finding his true calling as an in-house attorney, Blaine was a trial attorney and Partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP.

A. Janay Ferguson is of counsel with Scheer & Zehnder, LLP. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, the defense of professionals, and employment law. Ms. Ferguson’s legal practice benefits from her experience as a corporate financial analyst. As a financial analyst, Ms. Ferguson handled shareholder relations, analyzed production targets for a multinational telecommunications manufacturer, and developed comprehensive capital, revenue, and expense budgets for a national wireless telecommunications provider.

Ms. Ferguson’s business background enhances her ability to analyze conflicts and seek practical solutions. She has defended attorneys, accountants, realtors, and businesses from a variety of claims, including those arising from corporate dissolution, employment disputes, significant personal injury claims, and malpractice. Ms. Ferguson has investigated employment claims involving harassment and discrimination. She advises technology and financial companies on employment agreements, policy development and best practices.

Ms. Ferguson has successfully tried cases throughout Washington and successfully briefed and argued cases on appeal. A magna cum laude graduate of the Seattle University School of Law, Ms. Ferguson was a judicial clerk to Justice Charles W. Johnson of the Washington Supreme Court. Washington Law & Politics named her a “Rising Star” in 2005, 2006, and 2009.

Dennis Galvin is Assistant Vice President - Claims of Argo Pro, in charge of overseeing the Error and Omissions claims group, including Lawyers Professional Liability and Architects & Engineers claims.  Prior to joining Argo Pro, Mr. Galvin was Vice President – Professional Liability Claims for OneBeacon Professional Insurance, where he oversaw a group of claim attorneys handling claims in Lawyers Professional, Real Estate Professional, Insurance Agents Errors & Omissions, Content Technology and Cyber Insurance.  Prior to joining OneBeacon, Mr. Galvin worked for Lexington Insurance Company, where he was responsible for handling complex professional claims in a variety of areas including LPL, RPL, insurance agents, accountants, media corporations and government entities. Prior to joining Lexington, Mr. Galvin was in private practice in the Boston area where he specialized in civil litigation including insurance defense and coverage litigation.
Mr. Galvin received his Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, MA and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College in North Easton, MA.  Mr. Galvin is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He is a frequent speaker at various industry events and an active member of CLM.

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 as the Vice Chair to the Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Ethics 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. 

Cathy Gicker has 45 years with Allstate with the last 30 years in the SIU as a field investigator, manager and now the Litigation Specialist investigating all suit cases in Pennsylvania. This involves investigating and directing 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 was 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)

Current Responsibilities Coordinating claim services for Wells Fargo clients in WesternRegion. Advocacy for services for major clients and coordination on a National basis as needed. Conducting TPA and self insured audits, reviews and evaluations regarding loss sensitive programs and recommending solutions for reducing total cost of risk. Focus on Workers’ Compensation with knowledge of General Liability, Auto and other coverages. Special Areas of Expertise Workers’ Compensation Claims with multiple state experiences. Major focus in California, Nevada and Hawaii.

Public Entity consultant for LAUSD, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority and City/County of Honolulu. Development of large deductible and retro rated programs.

He has been a guest speaker for the California Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he has lectured at the USC School of Business, and for the UCLA Extension School of Business. He has conducted working sessions at several RIMS annual conferences, and local chapters in Los Angles and Honolulu. Prior Industry Experience: Bill Goldstein has over 35 years in the insurance industry. Bill joined Wells Fargo Insurance Services after 18 years working for another national broker. Prior to that he had spent 10 years with Fremont/Pacific Compensation Insurance Company where he was designated Assistant Vice President–Customer Services for the Southern California Region. Prior to this, he spent 11 years with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (New York, Oakland and Los Angeles) handling Property & Casualty as well as Workers’ Compensation claims.

I am a trial attorney with 20 years of experience handling a variety of cases in the state and federal courts of Virginia.  I have also been admitted pro hac vice to a number of state and federal courts outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  My areas of concentration are transportation, environmental and toxic torts, premises liability, and product liability.  My cases tend to involve catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths.

I am the current chairman of my firm's Risk Management Practice Group.  This requires me to manage 11 full attorney members and 14 adjunct attorney members of the practice group, as well as 12 staff members.

Geoffrey Griffin
Vice President

Proficiencies

Mr. Griffin has over 25 years’ experience in the Ski and Risk Management industries including frontline management; claim management; evaluation; settlement or defense.

• General Casualty
• Products Liability
• Premises Liability
• Workers’ Compensation
• Managed Care
• Integrated Disability Management (IDM)
• Data Management
• Risk Management Information Systems (RMIS)
• Project Management
• Level III Certified Ski Instructor
• Backcountry Guiding
• Avalanche Hazard Evaluation

Professional Affiliations

Claim and Litigation Management Alliance
Risk and Insurance Management Society
Disability Management Employers Coalition
Self-Insured Associations of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada and Idaho
Puget Sound Adjusters Association
Professional Ski Instructors of America
American Avalanche Association

Employment History

Partners Claim Services – Vice President
Crawford & Company - Director
CorVel Company – Regional Account Executive and PPO Developer
US Bank – Private Banker, Healthcare
Marsh – Broker
University of Washington Ski School – Technical Director
 

Mark Hanna is a graduate of Creighton University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 and a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University Law School in 1988. Mr. Hanna's areas of practice include governmental and municipal liability, defense of class action litigation, automobile and transportation, maritime and insurance litigation, products liability, SIU/insurance fraud litigation and commercial litigation. Mr. Hanna also has extensive experience in the area of toxic tort and asbestos litigation. Mr. Hanna has received Martindale Hubbell's highest "AV" rating.

He has participated in numerous trials both as lead counsel and second chair counsel in state and federal courts and has argued appeals in the Louisiana Supreme Court; First, Fourth, and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeal and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. Mr. Hanna is also a mediator following the completion of training at the Attorney Mediators Institute in Dallas and has participated in dozens of mediation.

Mr. Hanna has been active with the Defense Research Institute and its Governmental Liability Committee, where he currently serves as membership chair, Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance, the Louisiana Center for Law Related Education and has been a lecturer at Continuing Legal Education Seminars and to the Louisiana Public Risk Managers Association. Mr. Hanna has participated as a judge/mediator at ABA mediation competitions for law students.

Mr. Hanna is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the New Orleans and Jefferson Bar Associations and the Louisiana Bar Foundation.

Detta Hanson has 30+ years experience in the Claims and Litigation Management field, including Branch Manager, Unit Manager, Supervisor and Field Claims Adjuster with Crawford & Company Insurance Adjusters prior to joining Weyerhaeuser as Liability Claims Manager in 1998.

CJ Hester Inc – Adjusters/Investigators was incorporated in Mobile, AL in 2005 by Cathy Hester, Owner/CEO, following Cathy’s ownership in another Independent Adjusting Company for 10 years.

CJ Hester  is a regional independently owned and operated company, handling claims in the southeastern United States. CJ Hester offers   Residential/ Commercial Property and Casualty claim and investigative services. Customer service is the cornerstone of our business. We provide professional independent claim services at fair and equitable prices with integrity of work product, high ethical standards, attention to detailed documentation and skillful communication to insure unquestionable results and customer satisfaction. We recognize the importance of making ourselves readily available for our clients. We strive to be flexible to effectively represent our clients, in a professional and responsible manner.  We work hard to earn the confidence and trust of our clients on every claim.

We appreciate our clients who entrust us with their business and allow us to continue to do what we love. Please visit our website, www.hesterinc.net.

Jeff manages civil litigation in all courts but primarily in Oregon and Washington. He handles matters in areas of complex insurance coverage, particularly including environmental, directors’ and officers’ liability and products liability. He also handles casualty defense in areas including professional liability, products liability, liquor liability and fire cause and origin. He also handles commercial litigation primarily for financial and other professionals. Jeff has managed and tried complex matters, including trials lasting several months. He has been retained to handle cases in several western states in addition to Oregon and Washington. Jeff has participated in the management of the nationwide exposures to insurance clients in the areas of insurance coverage, environmental liability, products liability and securities law.

Thomas Newcomb Hyde is a 1967 graduate of the Seminary of St. Vincent De Paul in Boynton Beach, Florida. He received his Master of Education from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1969. He was a teacher on the elementary and secondary level for four years. He also taught at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida.

In 1974, Mr. Hyde received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, where he completed an internship as a prosecutor in the Miami Dade County State Attorneys office. He joined Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in 1975 and began working as a trial attorney at the Miami legal office. After ten years of trying lawsuits in Miami, he was named Resident Attorney opening up a new legal office in Tampa in 1986. He became the Director of Training for the Legal Department for Liberty Mutual, as well as Division General Attorney for the Southern Region in 1992.

Since 1985, Mr. Hyde has been responsible for the design, development and implementation of Liberty Mutual’s Attorney Development Program. Through this program, Mr. Hyde has presented training conferences and seminars in trial advocacy, expert witness testimony, deposition and discovery, workers compensation advocacy, attorney management, attorney anti-fraud advocacy, subrogation, marketing legal services, negotiations and mediation, bad faith law, attorney leadership, and legal ethics to lawyers throughout the United States.

Mr. Hyde has served as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, the Better Business Bureau, and the Florida Attorney General’s Office. He was appointed National Director of Legal Training for Liberty Mutual in 1999. He has served on the Ethics Committee of the Legal Department since 2003.

Christopher Iliff is a senior vice president for Claims Accounting and Liability Management at Swiss Re in Overland Park, KS.  He is a graduate of the University of Kansas Law School and practiced law for ten years in the areas of products liability and medical malpractice before being employed in the reinsurance industry.  Chris has spoken to insurance industry groups for over fifteen years on topics relating to exposures the industry faces from emerging trends and mass torts.

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.

Mr. Jackson handles litigation in the fields of construction defect, product liability, trucking liability, commercial litigation and personal injury litigation.

Jennifer Jordan is General Counsel and a founding member of MEDVAL, LLC, a national provider of Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance services. Ms. Jordan is recognized as a leading authority on MSP compliance and has been designated as an expert witness by several large insurance companies and the United States Department of Justice for her extensive knowledge of MSP issues. Additionally, she serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Medicare Secondary Payer Charitable Foundation, an organization committed to elevating MSP education and easing the regulatory, administrative and financial burdens of post-settlement MSP compliance by offering low or no cost legal, medical and financial services to disabled Medicare beneficiaries.

Ms. Jordan is Editor-in-Chief of The Complete Guide to Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance, published by LexisNexis, and is the recipient of a 2010 Workers’ Compensation Notable Person Award, as well as 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Top 25 Workers’ Compensation Blog Awards from LexisNexis. In 2012, she was appointed to the Larson’s National Workers’ Comp Advisory Board. Ms. Jordan received her J.D. from the University of Baltimore, School of Law where she was a member of the Law Review and Editor-in-Chief of the University of Baltimore Intellectual Property Law Journal. She also received an MBA from the University of Baltimore, Robert G. Merrick School of Business and B.A.s in Economics and Fine Arts from Virginia Tech. Ms. Jordan is certified as a Medicare Set-Aside Certified Consultant (MSCC) and a Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP). 

Regan joined Wortham Insurance & Risk Management in 2012 and was elected a Managing Director in 2014.  She currently chairs the firm’s National Law Practice Group.   Prior to that, she worked in public accounting and for a publicly traded insurance brokerage.  During her tenure in insurance, she has focused on professional service clients, providing advice on risk management for law firms, non-profit/social service organizations and retail/hospitality. She is actively involved in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and currently serves on the Board of Directors.

As a Claims Consultant for Aon Global Risk Consulting’s Broker Services Division, Kris’s expertise includes: Evaluating Casualty claim files for proper handling by the designated insurance carrier/TPA.  Conducting claim audits for best-practice purposes.  Participating in claim reviews to determine the most proactive action plan, reserving practices and settlement opportunitiesProviding claim advocacy on behalf of clients with carriers, claims administrators and jurisdictional/regulatory agencies.  Assisting clients in program development, training and vendor selections. 

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.

Paul Larimore is an AV® rated litigator and legal manager with 30+ years of experience. He specializes in defending employers and insurers in Missouri Workers' Compensation matters.  Paul's extensive background includes multiple professional perspectives, including developing a successful insurance defense trial practice and working in-house with large and small insurers. He managed staff counsel operations for national insurance carriers  CNA and AIG.  In addition, Paul was Director of Legal Services at Missouri Employers Mutual, where he was responsible for all in-house legal operations, including management of the firm’s in-house attorneys and outside counsel. Paul began his career in private practice, where he spent 15 years defending employers and insurers in all aspects of litigation including depositions, mediations, trials and appeals. As a partner he participated in leadership of a large regional law firm, while managing a profitable practice unit for which he was solely responsible.Paul's experience also includes serving as Audit Attorney at Sentry Insurance, where his efforts included innovative updates to the company’s legal auditing procedures and litigation management guidelines in addition to the development and presentation of training modules for the claims staff. In addition, Paul was a Program Director for Stuart Maue, a litigation management consultancy, where he worked to develop litigation and expense management solutions for corporate and insurance clients, and also assisted with the firm’s marketing and brand management initiatives

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.

Benjamin A. Leonard joined Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, LLC, in 2009, and his practice is primarily devoted to defending employers and insurers under Title 34, the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act.  He is a well-seasoned litigator, having litigated well over 100 claims to resolution in Georgia courts across the state, including matters at the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.  Mr. Leonard is also one of a handful of Georgia practitioners who has been trained and certified in Medicare Set Aside allocation and implementation, having received that certification from the University of Florida in 2010.Mr. Leonard has been honored with the distinction of being a GeorgiaSuperLawyer in Workers’ Compensation from 2007 through the current year, a distinction only awarded to the top 5% of all attorneys in their chosen field of law.  He was recently selected by his peers to serve on the executive council for the Atlanta Bar Association Workers’ Compensation section, and has previously served on the Steering Committee of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.  Mr. Leonard  is regularly chosen to present at state, regional and national seminars on a variety of insurance and litigation topics.  He has been rated as an “A” by Martindale-Hubbell peer reviewers, a rating reflecting the highest standard of work quality excellence and ethics in legal practice.Mr. Leonard grew up in Winston-Salem, NC and attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville for his undergraduate studies. While there he was a 4 time letterman on the Cross-Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track teams, a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, and was chosen for membership in Phi Alpha Theta honors society.  He attended law school at Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, GA, where he served on the Board of Governors, as a student editor of theJournal of Southern Legal History, and served as head coach of the Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country teams.  Mr. Leonard and his wife, Tracy, reside in Milton GA. They are active in community charity work including the Atlanta Circle for Children and Homeless Pets.  Mr. Leonard regularly supports the UNC-Asheville athletic program, and is also an avid fan of all Tarheel sports, Crimson Tide football, and the Carolina Panthers.http://www.boviskyle.com/attorneys/benjamin-a-leonard/

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.
 

2012 - Present   - Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Transportation Insurance Advisors, a regional transportation insurance agency with offices in Sanford, FL, Colchester, VT and Hilton, SC.

2007 - 2012  - President of Hub Transportation Insurance Services a $250,000,000 Company specializing in the Transportation Insurance Industry.

1982 - 2007 - Owner and President of Coburn Insurance Agency, specializing in the Transportation Insurance Industry. 

Certified Insurance Counselor since 1985

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 AssociationClaims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Scott's core practice is in transportation, trucking, cargo and logistics. In addition to defending catastrophic bodily injury and cargo loss cases (Carmack, COGSA, etc.), he litigates commercial transportation cases. His litigation experience compliments the transactional side of his practice by incorporating that experience and knowledge into the preparation of transportation agreements between motor carriers, brokers and/or shippers. In addition, he assists his clients in all aspects of regulatory compliance, including state and federal statutory and regulatory schemes, and the preparation of policy manuals to assist his clients in ensuring they have the necessary tools to meet today's rigorous federal regulatory compliance issues, such as compliance with CSA 2010. He is a frequent speaker on a wide range of topics pertinent to the surface transportation of goods.

Recognition

AV® Rated by Martindale Hubbell for the highest level of professional excellenceRated "5 Star Transportation Attorney" in Martindale Hubbell's Peer Review Industry Ratings

Education

Valparaiso University College of Law, 1986, Graduated with Honors, Moot Court, Law Review and Mock TrialIndiana University, 1983, Phi Beta Kappa., Degree from Indiana School of Business and Bachelors of Science

Bar Admissions

Florida Bar, 2000Illinois, 1988

Court Admissions

Florida Supreme CourtU.S. District Court, Middle District and Northern Courts of FloridaU.S. District Court, Northern District of IllinoisU.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh CircuitU.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh CircuitIllinois Supreme Court

Memberships

Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)Defense Research Institute, Trucking and Transportation CommitteeTransportation Law Association (TLA/International Transportation Group), Member of Casualty Litigation and Motor Carrier CommitteesFlorida Trucking Association, Litigation and Casualty and Insurance CommitteesTransportation Intermediaries Association ("TIA"), which subsumes brokerage and 3PL industry issuesHillsborough County Bar AssociationBoard of Directors for the North Tampa YMCA, including Fund Raising, Event Planning & Coordination

Publications, Seminars & Lectures

Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, January 22, 2012 in Miami: "How to Deal with Rambo Litigation Tactics and Opposing Counsel"

"CFC Conference"/Conference of Freight and Trucking Counsel. Speaker on my published transportation cases, June 22 to 24, 2011, ChicagoLeadership Conference of Freight Counsel, "The Motor Carrier Industry and Carmack". Keynote speaker: "Post Kirby International Bills of Lading/Damage Limitations contracted for in Freight Bills and Employee Free Choice Act", April 20, 2010

Heritage Management and Indian River Transport, Speaker, "CSA 2010 and Trucking & Broker Developments in the Law," April 1, 2010

National Business Institute Seminar and Speaker, "Statutory Framework of the Transportation Industry" and "Catastrophic Trucking Defense Litigation," March 19, 2010

PATCO Transport Inc. Conference, Speaker "CSA 2010 and the Future of the Brokerage and Trucking Industries," March 2010

Traffic Risk Management Counsel Conference, Speaker, CSA 2010 and Developments in Transportation Law, October 2009

Great West Casualty Seminar, Speaker, "Broker Motor Carrier and Cargo/Trucking Liability and General Florida Liability," Knoxville, Tennessee, November 2006

Speaker, "Trucking Motor Carrier Law," Tampa, Florida, October 2006

"Pure Several Liability Applicable to Trucking Liability," June 2006

Great West Casualty Seminar, Speaker, "Spoliation of Electronic Evidence, Joint and Several Liability, and Trucking Law Update," Knoxville, Tennessee, December 2005

Florida Bar Journal, Author, "Proposals of Settlement," Spring 2004

Formerly Vice President of Personal Lines Claims at Great American Insurance, Cincinnati, OH (1997-2001). Prior to joining Great American, he held a number of increasingly responsible positions at Travelers Insurance Companies, Hartford, CT (1981-1997), his last position being Second Vice President – Claims Services, responsible for outside Panel Counsel and Litigation Management. He began his insurance career in 1979 as an outside, multi-line claim adjuster with Safeco Insurance in Colts Neck, NJ.

He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law Justice (cum laude) from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) and a Juris Doctorate from Western New England College School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association. He has been active in various insurance organizations during his career, such as the American Insurance Association (former chair of the Liability Claim Subcommittee), the Central Claim Executive Association and the Excess & Surplus Lines Claim Association. He is currently active with the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, and a member of both the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.

Phyllis Modlin is a Director and Senior Counsel with the Construction Complex Claims team of Markel. Ms. Modlin received her B.A. degree from University of California at Santa Barbara and her J.D. degree from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She handles complex primary and excess construction claims (both defect and catastrophic bodily injury) in the United States. Ms. Modlin is responsible for all aspects of claims handling, including damages, liability, coverage, reserving, risk transfer, litigation management, expense control measures and claims resolution. 

In 2002, Catherine Muldoon joined BDP International, Inc. (“BDP”), a global logistics company with offices in over 114 countries, as General Counsel, US. In January of 2004, Catherine was named Chief Legal Officer. In this role, Catherine is head of BDP’s global legal department with direct responsibility for all legal and contractual considerations associated with all mergers and acquisitions, joint venture and business partner arrangements, tax planning, corporate structuring and strategy, business services, personnel, intellectual property, banking relations, and real estate. She is also responsible for managing litigation. Catherine takes a lead role in corporate governance and risk management programs within BDP, ensuring that best practices are identified to the Board of Directors and implemented by the business units.

In her tenure, which has been marked with an aggressive growth and integration strategy, Catherine represented BDP in 19 acquisitions (18 international and 1 US). Catherine authored and manages BDP’s Code of Conduct, including the anti-trust, anti-bribery, export compliance policies within BDP. Catherine is responsible for creating product offerings to BDP clients associated with the foreign tax credit and REACH.

Catherine earned a Bachelor of Arts from The Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. She is Chair of Corporate Counsel Forum of the International Bar Association 2011-2012, and a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel. She was also a finalist for ACC’s Outstanding Chief Legal Officer award. Catherine is also responsible for creating BDP’s Women’s Networking Group and BDP’s Legal Webinar Series. Catherine speaks regularly and has published an article in the ACC Docket.
 

William B. Oberts is a director at Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C.  He is a litigation attorney that focuses his practice on counseling and representing professionals in civil litigation and ethical issues before various courts and professional regulatory bodies, such as the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. He also represents municipalities, including police and fire departments and their employees, in tort, civil rights, labor, employment and class action litigation and has been appointed as a special assistant state’s attorney for various cities, counties and municipalities. Mr. Oberts also practices in other areas of civil litigation such as automotive, transportation, premises liability and construction, and has achieved successful outcomes for his clients as lead counsel in several jury trials and appeals in both state and federal court.
 
Mr. Oberts has been named a “Leading Lawyer” by Leading Lawyer Magazine, a distinction earned by fewer than 5% of lawyers licensed to practice in Illinois. He was also recognized as a Rising Star in Illinois by Super Lawyers magazine and was selected from over 700 nominees as one of the top "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty" by Law Bulletin Publishing Co. Mr. Oberts has received the Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the United States District Court and the Federal Bar Association for his successful representation of an inmate after securing a jury award of both compensatory and punitive damages for his appointed client. Mr. Oberts is the former Chair of the Council on Litigation Management’s Municipal Law Committee, a former member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Board of Managers and is a past Chair of the CBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section, an organization with over 9,000 members. He regularly presents and publishes articles on various issues involving municipalities, schools, professional liability, civility and professionalism.



 

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. 

Ms. Pechacek is the Risk Manager for Lake County, located 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.

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.

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. 

Cindy has been in the Commercial claims in arenas of General and Auto Liability and various speciality or niche markets such as Aviation, Employment Practices and Professional Liability, Trucking, Apartment Homes for over twenty years.  Her time in the industry has been spilt between carriers and third party administrators as well as an in-house claims manager for ABM. Prior to her career in Commercial Insurance Claims, she was a teacher.  She also possesses another degree in Fashion Merchandising and worked several years in Retail Management.  She enjoys Claims handling as a career, as the new Claim may appear ordinary, but there are always new twists to the same scenario.

In her spare time she volunteers for animal organizations and various other charities, she considers herself a bit of "foodie" and loves meeting new people.

As Vice President, General Counsel and a Principal at The Graham Company, Pete works with Producers, Account Managers and the Claims Services Department to maximize insurance coverage, aggressively handle claims, ensure accurate reserves and advise Graham Company insureds on coverage and claims matters. He is also a member of the company's Board of Directors.

Pete is a graduate of Villanova Law School and Penn State University, where he graduated with high honors. He practiced insurance defense and insurance coverage litigation with Duane Morris before joining The Graham Company in 1989. He has received numerous awards in trial advocacy, including the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award and the Lewis F. Powell Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy.

Pete is a frequent speaker on insurance-related topics. He is also active in various insurance related and legal organizations, including the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, and is on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley Association of Corporate Counsel and SquashSmarts which combines the sport of squash with academic tutoring and mentoring of underserved youth in Philadelphia. Pete is a licensed Insurance Agent, and is also a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) and has the Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) and Associate in Claims (AIC) designations awarded by the Insurance Institute of America.

Renée Ramirez is an experienced Claims Professional with more than 22 years in the insurance industry in the Casualty and Premises areas. She has handled claims and litigation involving catastrophic accidents, personal injury, construction defect, trucking, explosive, and propane matters. Currently Renée is a Liability Claims Manager with Darling Ingredients, Inc. Previously she was a Sr. Claims Analyst with American Airlines, a Sr. Claims Specialist with J.C. Penney Corporation, and a Claims Representative with Nobel Insurance Company.
Renée was born and raised in Texas and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is has served as President on the Board of Directors of the NRRDA organization, and is an active Fellow of CLM. Ms. Ramirez is pursuing her passion of the law and is currently working towards her law degree. She also volunteers as an advocate with her local CASA organization and attends many football games of her beloved Dallas Cowboy team.

Mark joined Reed Transport Services in 2009 as its President & CFO and also works closely with TMS Logistics, Inc., the asset-based sister company of Reed Transport Services. Collectively ReedTMS Logistics is a $70 million transportation services provider with locations in FL, WI and OH. Mark has responsibility for managing customer development, strategic direction, partnership and acquisition development, as well as financial responsibility. Prior to joining Reed Transport Services, Mark was the Audit Practice Leader for the two offices that comprise Grant Thornton’s Central Florida practice (Tampa and Orlando). He began his auditing career with Arthur Andersen before joining Grant Thornton in 2002. With more than 20 years of public accounting and management experience, Mark has extensive expertise working with boards of directors and management teams assisting with financial statement preparation, meeting SEC filing requirements, capital raising, due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, internal controls reviews, and general business advise. Mark has a broad range of industry experience including transportation, manufacturing and distribution, technology, construction, healthcare and service industries.

Qualifications and Memberships
• Junior Achievement of Hillsborough County, Board of Directors
• Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Tampa Alumni
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Four Year Letter Winner – University of South Florida Baseball Team, Academic All American

Education
• University of South Florida, BS Accounting
• University of South Florida, Master of Accountancy

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.

 JAMES A. SARRAIL graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois with a B.A. degree in 1965. He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California in 1968. As an AV rated (Martindale-Hubbell) and Super Lawyer, Mr. Sarrail is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court, United States District Court, Northern, Eastern Southern, and Central Districts of California, and the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He is a former faculty member and lecturer in insurance and business law at Golden gate University in San Francisco and has served as a judicial arbitrator for the San Francisco and San Mateo County Superior Courts. His background in civil litigation and trial is extensive. He has acted a a Judicial Arbitrator and Mediator for the counties of San Francisco and San Mateo. Mr. Sarrail is a member of the State Bar of California, San Mateo County Bar Association, Pacific Property Claims Association, Northern California Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, and the Claims Litigation Management Alliance.

Thomas F. Segalla, a founding partner of Goldberg Segalla, is a nationally recognized authority on bad faith, reinsurance, and insurance, and an ARIAS-U.S. certified arbitrator and mediator. Retained as counsel and as a consultant by numerous major insurance carriers and policyholders in more than 40 jurisdictions nationally and internationally, he has also served as an expert witness in more than 100 bad faith, coverage, and extracontractual cases across the country.
 
Tom is the co-author of the renowned insurance law treatise Couch on Insurance 3d and editor of the Reinsurance Professional’s Deskbook, published by Thomson Reuters and the Defense Research Institute (DRI). He currently serves on DRI’s Publications Board and Barrister Task Force and has previously served as chair of DRI’s Insurance Law Committee, chair of its Law Institute, and a member of its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and immediate-past president of the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel. An AV Preeminent-rated attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and other publications and organizations for his superior skills and accomplishments across numerous areas of the law, Tom is also the recipient of DRI’s Louis B. Potter Lifetime Professional Service Award, Best Lawyers in America’s Buffalo Insurance Law “Lawyer of the Year” Award, the Defense Association of New York’s (DANY) James S. Conway Award for Outstanding Service to the Defense Community, and the State University of New York at Buffalo Law Alumni Association’s “Distinguished Alumni Award for Private Practice.”

Ian is the Regional Managing Partner of Wilson Elser’s Los Angeles and Orange County offices. He is founder and co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis and Hemp Law practice, where he leads a national multi-disciplinary team of lawyers who serve all aspects of the cannabis and hemp industries, as well as financial institutions and insurance companies that service those industries.
 
Ian has achieved a national reputation as a distinguished cannabis attorney and has been named to the exclusive Band 1 of cannabis lawyers nationally by Chambers USA guide in Cannabis Law (2020-2024).  He is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) and has participated on the Policy Council of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Ian is chair emeritus of NCIA’s Risk Management and Insurance Committee. He is one of MG Magazine’s “30 Powerful Cannabis Attorneys You Should Know” and is listed within Cannabis Reports’ “10 Powerful Marijuana Lawyers in California.” Ian has also been named by National Law Review as “Go-To Thought Leader” in 2018 and 2021 for his publications on cannabis law and policy.

 

Program Manager, AmTrust North America. Bill Stewart has 30 years of insurance experience. Bill's expertise is focused in Professional Liability, Public Entity, General Liability, Contracts and Construction Defect. Bill is responsible for managing AmTrust's Public Entity high value claims.

Timothy W. Waldeck of Waldeck Law Firm 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; Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association; State Bar of Wisconsin; National Retail and Restaurant Association; 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 church 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; Construction Coverage Issues; Evaluating and Negotiating of Claims, and A Nationwide Review of 2012 Claims Issues (Minor Settlements) -  Eagle International Association, Inc.; Unfair Claims Practices and Dram Shop Law to Burlington Insurance Company; a presenter for the CLM Annual Conference 2011 Roundtable - Commercial Litigation: Two's Company, Three's a Crowd, and CLM Annual Conference 2012 – Claims Handling and Communications with the International Product Manufacturer: “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly,”  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.

Dax R. Watson is the Managing Partner of the Phoenix office of Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin P.C.

Education: Mr. Watson is a cum laude graduate with a B.A. in History from Arizona State University, graduating in 1994. He is also a cum laude graduate from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, receiving his law degree in 1999.

Background: Mr. Watson focuses his practice in commercial litigation with an emphasis in real estate matters and professional liability defense. In his capacity as a defense attorney, Mr. Watson defends professionals in the fields of real estate, law, accounting, architecture, and engineering. He also defends officers, directors and employers in employment practice liability disputes.

Mr. Watson is admitted to practice in Arizona’s state and federal courts and has appeared and represented clients in every county in the state. Mr. Watson has extensive litigation and civil trial experience, having tried dozens of jury trials.

Mr. Watson also regularly appears and represents clients in regulatory matters before the Arizona Department of Real Estate, the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions and the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Prior to forming MDW with his partners, Mr. Watson was a shareholder and managing member of Watson Law Firm for four years. Mr. Watson also has the unique and valuable experience of having worked as an attorney at the second-largest law firm in the state of Arizona.

Mediations and Settlement Conferences: Mr. Watson has been appointed by the Maricopa County Superior Court to act as a Judge Pro Tempore. In that capacity, Mr. Watson conducts Court-appointed settlement conferences as a Settlement Judge and also serves as a “fill-in” Judge on civil matters and short trials. Mr. Watson also conducts private mediations and settlement conferences for all types of civil disputes, with a focus on real estate and commercial litigation disputes.

Presentations, Seminars and Teaching: Mr. Watson is approved to teach legal issues, agency and disclosure, and property management by the Arizona Department of Real Estate. In this capacity, Mr. Watson regularly teaches risk-reduction classes and seminars to and for real estate Brokers throughout the state of Arizona. Mr. Watson’s classes are set up and delivered in a fun format, including mock trial classes and a Talk Show style class. Mr. Watson’s approved classes include:

Court is in Session: Short Sales & Distressed Properties. A mock trial focusing on issues that arise in short sales. The course includes addressing Arizona’s Anti-Deficiency Statutes and the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.Disclosures & Agency on Trial. A mock trial focusing on disclosure and agency issues for real estate licensees in Arizona.Property Management on Trial. A mock trial focusing on issues facing property managers and their leasing agents.Good Agents Gone Bad. A talk show “spoof” examining conduct of licensees that can create liability for the licensee in a real estate transaction.Court is in Session: Malpractice While Defending Malpractice. A mock trial examining lawyer malpractice and defending those lawsuits.

Mr. Watters is Senior Vice President at Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc. since 1989 and is responsible for environmental consulting activities.  He is a 1969 engineering graduate of Michigan Technological University and 1972 graduate of the University of Houston Business School.  His professional experience has been in the petrochemicals, refining, oil and gas exploration, and natural gas processing industries.  He has delivered hundreds of seminars on environmental remediation, chemical exposure, mold, hydraulic fracturing, and Chinese drywall, as well as expert reports and depositions during litigation proceedings.
 
Mr. Watters' principal areas of expertise include environmental remediation cost analysis, indoor air quality evaluations, business interruption, and economic evaluations. He has investigated business economic losses, industrial accidents, fires, explosions, toxic/hazardous waste evaluations, product contamination assessments, and subrogation evaluations.

Howard Wollitz is one a founding partner of Charlston, Revich & Wollitz, LLP, formed in 1988. He specializes in the representation of insurers in complex insurance coverage matters, including litigation among carriers, litigation against brokers for insurers, and litigation with insureds, including the defense of extra-contractual liability cases. He is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law, and is admitted to the California bar. His work for insurers includes advice on a national level for insurers in the areas of construction defect litigation, intellectual property coverage, first and third-party liability claims, professional liability, independent counsel disputes, mobilehome residency law, security guard liability, animal mortality, earthquake, docks and marinas, and reinsurance. He serves as lead trial counsel in high exposure trials and binding arbitrations. He has served as an expert witness in lawyer professional liability and insurance bad faith actions. He lectures on insurance coverage issues throughout the country, including presentation of his “CGL Boot Camp” and “Timing Is Everything in Construction Defect” for clients of the firm and related third-party administrators.

Overview

Harrison H. Yoss devotes his practice to the representation of insurers in coverage, bad faith claims handling and ERISA, life, health, accidental death and disability litigation in state and federal courts throughout the State of Texas and the Southwest.

Harrison has represented insurers on hundreds of coverage and bad faith claims handling disputes with insureds under general liability and excess/umbrella policies, professional liability policies, homeowners and commercial property/inland marine policies, directors and officers liability policies, workers' compensation policies, and life, health, accidental death and disability policies. He has also tried and handled on appeal numerous bad faith, Stowers and coverage lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout Texas.

Harrison has assisted insurers in drafting language for commercial general liability and errors and omissions insurance policies.

In addition, Harrison has presented speeches and papers on insurance issues for adjusters and lawyers at in-house training and at continuing education seminars.

Professional Recognition

“AV Preeminent" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Law & Politics magazine's Texas Super Lawyers® - Super Lawyer for Insurance Coverage 2010-2013

Marcus A. Banks is Senior Vice President - Litigation and Government Relations, for Wyndham Worldwide Corporation. Marcus oversees litigation for the Corporation and two of its three business units. Additionally, Marcus oversees Wyndham’s National Counsel Program, which represents approximately 35 law firms that provide outside legal services to the Company throughout the world. Marcus also oversees the Company’s Government Relations Program, which includes, among other things, the tracking of legislation around the world that could impact Wyndham’s operations and maintaining participation in various trade organizations germane to Wyndham’s businesses. Previously, Marcus served as Group Vice President – Litigation for Wyndham and Vice President – Legal for Cendant Corporation. Marcus started his legal career as an associate at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He received his J.D. from Columbia University and his B.A. from Stanford University.

Joseph Hanna is a partner of the firm and concentrates his practice in commercial litigation with a focus on sports and entertainment law, construction litigation and intellectual property law. As Chair of Goldberg Segalla's Diversity Task Force, Joe's dedication to diversity is demonstrated in his leadership in various organizations and outreach programs as well as the recognition he has received for his efforts, including the 2012 New York State Bar Association Diversity Trailblazer Award.

Joe graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law and summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

In 2010, Joe was awarded the New York State Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for his efforts to enhance diversity in the legal profession and effective leadership in community activities. The award is presented annually to a young lawyer who has rendered outstanding service to both the community and the legal profession. Joe also received the prestigious 40 Under Forty award given to Western New York's best and brightest future leaders in the community.

In 2011, he was elected President of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York (MBAWNY). In addition, he organizes and Chairs Success in the City, a diversity networking event geared toward bringing together business, corporate and community leaders, corporate counsel, local politicians and members of minority bar associations to celebrate the successes and critical importance of diversity in Buffalo's developing community. In 2007, Joe was named DRI's Young Lawyer of the Year for Outstanding Service for his work on the organization's Young Lawyer Committee. Joe was awarded this distinction and honor for his commitment to diversity in organizing various minority bar programs throughout the country, authoring articles on minority attorney retention and spearheading the creation of a comprehensive database of over 500 minority law organizations which have been established throughout the U.S. Joe is also the Founder and President of Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc. which is a non-profit that collects and ships new and used golf equipment to our brave soldiers around the world and also distributes equipment to wounded warriors all throughout the United States to aid in their rehabilitation. As a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Joe was chosen to participate in the prestigious Young Lawyer Leadership Program (YLLP). He was named American Bar Association's Outstanding Chair of 2010 for his work on the ABA's Minority Trial Lawyer Committee and is the Editor-in- Chief of the ABA's Minority Trial Lawyer newsletter.

LoriAnn is Responsible for the management of the distribution strategy, marketing, branding, p&l, and the regional management structure and operational oversight of Navigator’s 17 field offices in order to effectively matrix with the product line management structure that had been in place.

LoriAnn has over 20 years experience in the insurance industry, most recently as President of Lloyd’s North America.  During her tenure as President of Lloyd’s North America, LoriAnn restructured the North American operations to achieve greater productivity and created a shared services platform.  She was very active in promoting increased visibility for Lloyd’s in the United States, which accounts for 55% of Lloyd’s total business.  She has previously held positions as the Managing Director and National Practice Leader for Risk Management and Financial Products for Wells Fargo Insurance Services, as the Managing Director and Practice Leader for ERM, Alternative Risk Finance and Risk Solutions at Marsh and McLennan, and Global Director of Financial Products at Sedgwick, Inc.

LoriAnn is currently on the national board of Prevent Child Abuse America, and sits on the advisory board of St. John’s University.  She serves on the advisory board of Global Advance, Inc., which is one of her most intriguing activities (www.global advance.org), a nonprofit that deploys senior executives to equip and empower women leaders in their marketplace to advance their abilities and to reach their full potential. She serves on the advisory board of Graduate Studies at Robert Morris College, the TFG Educational Foundation which educates on talent pathing and diversity, overcoming personal constraints for maximum personal growth in education, charter schools and corporate sectors.  She is aMember of Global YPO (Young President's Organization).  In the past, she has served on the National Council of Ronald McDonald House, the Boards of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

LoriAnn served on the 2008-2009 P&C CEO Roundtable.  She served on the 2009 APIW Woman of the Year selection committee.  LoriAnn was chosen as a 2010 Reactions Magazine “Rising Star” award recipient.  She is a 2008 Business Insurance Magazine "Woman to Watch"

LoriAnn was the speaker at the national Rims/ALB 2009 CEO’s View From The Top.  She has been a speaker and panellist at multiple national Rims conventions, an APIW keynote speaker, FEI national keynote speaker, the keynote speaker at the Pink Inc.,  She has been a panellist and keynote speaker at multiple conferences and events to include: National Association of Securities Dealers, multiple state rims events, financial executives conferences throughout the country, AM Best, NY Economics Club, British American Business, Napslo, ALB, AAMGA, Prima and ABA.  LoriAnn has been the subject of feature articles in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Business Insurance, National Underwriter, Leader’s Edge, Reactions Magazine, Focus Magazine, and twice as the cover of Best Weekly.  A sample of LoriAnn’s most recent AM Best interview:

http://www3.ambest.com/ambv/displaycontent/MediaArchive.aspx?RC=168100

LoriAnn’s community service activities are extensive.  Most notable are mission trips for Habitat for Humanity in Louisiana, Georgia and Kansas; and serving between 1996-2002 as an Advisor for Service over Self, an organization bringing together African-American with Anglo Americans to learn tolerance and value diversity. Over the past few years, LoriAnn had made trips to Lebanon, South Africa, Israel and Mexico on mission trips that have involved teaching ethical business practices to women entrepreneurs in those countries. She will be working with women in Jordan, Syria, Ghanna and Mumbai in 2010.

LoriAnn, a sixth generation Texan, moved back to Dallas from New York last year when she married her husband Keith.  She resides there with her husband and 3 step-children.

In April 2018 after overseeing a successful acquisition of Cunningham Lindsey by Sedgwick, Jane was named the Vice Chair of Sedgwick. Jane joined Cunningham Lindsey in June 2014 as Global CEO from AIG Property and Casualty, where she served as Global Head of Claims Operations since 2012.

Previously, Jane worked as both Head of Americas Region and Executive Director of Global Insurance for Xchanging plc. Jane held several senior positions at Zurich Financial Services, including Global Chief Claims Officer and Chief Claims Officer, North America Commercial Division.

Jane began her time at Zurich in senior claims executive roles at its Farmers personal lines business, including as head of its auto claims division. She began her career as an attorney working for numerous insurance companies, later serving as in-house counsel at Hartford Financial Services.

Jane holds a Juris Doctor degree and is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.

Mary Anderson is Vice President, Claims Litigation for IAT Specialty, a business unit within the IAT Group of companies specializing in Excess and Surplus Lines products. She has over 32 years experience in the insurance industry, including underwriting, marketing and claims. Ms. Anderson oversees and manages claims operations associated with all classes of business generated by the IAT Specialty business unit. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing claims processes/procedures and management of a staff of claims professionals. The IAT Specialty claims unit handles a broad spectrum of excess/surplus lines products, including commercial general liability, products liability, dram, trucking, commercial auto, commercial excess/umbrella, public entity, property, professional liability and other surplus lines classes of business. The IAT Group of companies include Acceptance Indemnity, Acceptance Casualty, Occidental Fire & Casualty, Wilshire Insurance, Harco National Insurance, TransGuard Insurance and Service Insurance Company.

Linda has been in the insurance business since 1982. She started with American International Adjustment Company in Colorado as a small claims adjuster on personal property damages (homeowners and auto), commercial liability, and worker’s compensation losses. After moving back to the Chicagoland area, she became a part of the adjusting staff for Bekins Van Lines in 1987 as a National Account Adjuster for personal household goods shipments and then advanced to Catastrophic Adjuster. In 1992, she became a Senior Adjuster for Allied Van Lines handling catastrophic claims in the cargo claims area.

Linda joined Transguard in 1995. Her responsibilities range from high exposure, fatalities, serious and/or multiple injuries, general liability bodily injury, and suit files. In addition, her responsibilities as Senior Adjuster consist of training adjusters, monthly reporting, file reviews, and attending mediations, settlement conferences, and trials.

Linda is currently licensed in the states of Texas, Georgia, Maine, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Delaware, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, Rhode Island Connecticut, Georgia and Vermont. She has also been certified through the National Moving and Storage Association as a Certified Claims Analyst.

Linda also achieved designation of AIC and AIS in 2011.
 

Steve Bent serves as the Executive Director of TXANS and the Employment and Economic Policy Council (EEPC). TXANS business members provide employee workplace injury benefits outside of workers' compensation and the EEPC focuses on improving employment opportunities and innovative ways to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. During Steve's tenure TXANS has grown to represent business that have a direct impact of nearly $40 billion and total value added impact of $20 billion annually on the Texas economy. Steve speaks on workplace policy and benefit issues and some hosts have included the Risk & Insurance Management Society, Society of Human Resource Management, Self Insurance Institute of America, Institute of Business Law, Texas Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research and the World Research Group on Predictive Modeling in Workers' Compensation. Steve supported the first comprehensive analysis of workplace injuries and illnesses in Texas, led by the University of Houston Health Law and Policy Institute and co-developed a workplace safety training program for employers through the University of North Texas and supported studies on tort and moral hazard impacts by Princeton and the University of Minnesota. Steve is currently a member of the American Society of Association Executives and serves in an advisory capacity on the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health National Occupational Research Agenda. Steve holds a number of professional designations including certification as a Certified Association Executive, Certified Self-Funding Specialist and a Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional.

VP/Secretary of American Transit Insurance Company; New York's premier livery industry insurer; began working for ATIC in 1988, and is a member of its select team of managing ownership.

Christina Carroll is a partner in McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP’s Washington, DC office. Christina’s diverse practice focuses primarily on complex litigation, including insurance coverage and bad faith, environmental, toxic tort, and federal preemption litigation. Christina also counsels clients on the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

Christina represents a variety of clients in the insurance, chemical, healthcare, and technology industries. In the insurance realm, Christina represents insurance companies in coverage and bad faith disputes and also counsels them on strategic issues including emerging risks. Christina has handled matters involving directors and officers, property, commercial general liability, professional liability, and automobile liability insurance. Christina brings her environmental and scientific background together with her insight in insurance-related law to provide a unique skill set in developing strategies for monitoring and addressing climate change, hyrdraulic fracturing, green building, greenwashing, cybersecurity, and other emerging risks.

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.

Jennifer Edgeworth is a trusted adviser, leader in the community, and accomplished trial attorney with over a decade of experience. She has represented Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, individuals, and has defended multi-million dollar claims. Prior to opening her own law practice, she began her career at  Cozen O'Connor, and was then a partner at Hermes Sargent Bates, LLP.  Clients rely on and return to her because she is accessible, places their needs first, and finds solutions for the legal challenges they are facing.

Her practice areas include business litigation, 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.  She is also certified in Environmental Risk Management.

Mrs. Edgeworth is a Texas State Chair and Chair for the Southwest Region for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.  She often speaks on matters involving trial practice and litigation.  She was recognized as one of the Five Outstanding Young Dallasites of 2010 by the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce, and was honored as the Outstanding Young Professional of 2009 by the TCU Alumni Association. In addition, 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. She also served as the president of the 2700 member Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, and served on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Bar Association,

R. 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.

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.

John joined ABA Insurance Services directly from Progressive when Progressive’s Professional Liability Group split off in April 2010. Prior to joining Progressive, John had a long and diverse career as a trial attorney representing defendants in professional liability cases at Jacobson, Maynard & Tuschman Co., L.P.A., Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder, Co., L.P.A. and then at an AV rated firm that he founded. He tried many jury cases to verdict and argued cases on appeal. He has extensive experience representing parties in employment litigation. These included cases alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, and class action litigation regarding wage and hour disputes. John also has extensive experience with consumer class action litigation. John graduated from Bradford College and received his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Since becoming a member of the Georgia Bar after graduating from law school at the University of Georgia in 1986, Mr. Davis has focused his practice on the areas of professional/medical malpractice, automobile and transportation liability as well as insurance coverage/bad faith issues.  He has been lead counsel in well over 125 jury trials in the above scope of practice.  Over the years, Mr. Davis has specifically been involved in malpractice trials covering multiple medical specialties, including obstetric, pediatric/neonatology, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, all areas of surgical practice, anesthesia and hospital/nursing liability.  In addition to having joined CLM in its inaugural year, Mr. Davis is a member of several other defense organizations, including Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, DRI and the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association.

Partner Business Litigation (IP and Commercial Litigation) International/Cross-Border Practice Group Transportation Practice Group (Surface, Air, Marine)

Professional Experience: Ms. Devine enjoys providing domestic and international companies with an interest in transportation with advice to enforce and protect their interests. She has litigated disputes in the areas of: trade secrets, confidential information, patent and trademarks, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, breaches of contract and product liability. She specializes in representing companies with cross-border interests which requires coordinated litigation with foreign legal Counsel, and was lead counsel in an ICC arbitration where the damages awarded were Euro 8million.

Ms. Devine represents Canadian companies at all levels of court Provincial Court (defending regulatory compliance); Ontario Superior Court of Justice (injunctions, oppression remedies, torts, breach of contract, and some intellectual property rights); and the Federal Court of Canada (patent, trademark, admiralty and aviation). Ms. Devine has a particular fondness for issues arising in the transportation industry. Many clients enjoy the benefit of Ms. Devine’s extensive professional network, both within her firm and internationally; whatever the specialized nature of a problem, Ms. Devine will assist with identifying the best legal Counsel for a client’s needs.

Presentations/Articles: In 2012, Ms. Devine has spoken to audiences on the topics of Protecting Trade Secrets in Cross Border Discovery Bullies, Showboats, and Other Bad Apples: Dealing with Difficult Lawyers Five Key Canadian Developments Affecting Cross Border Businesses Updates in Canadian Law on Costs and Security for Costs for US Attorneys Multi Modal Update on Canadian Aviation Law

Professional Associations: Lawyer and Pilots Bar Association, Transportation Lawyers Association, Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association, Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, Hamilton Lawyer’s Association, Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society, Advocate’s Society, Canadian Owner and Pilot’s Association

Domenick C. DiCicco Jr., J.D., M.B.A., C.M.A.P., C.C.E.P.Senior Vice President, Global Head of Litigation ManagementAIGDomenick DiCicco joined AIG in August 2012 from his position as Executive Director of North American Insurance Services at Xchanging plc.  He had previous General Counsel, leadership and strategy roles for such organizations as CNA Insurance, Zurich Financial Services and Alexander Gallo Holdings.  Domenick is responsible for development and deployment of strategies that assure the most efficient use of legal services across the insurance and corporate enterprises. Domenick is a recognized industry leader serving as Chairman Emeritus of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Board Member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Member of the Board of the Business School of NJIT, where he also serves as an adjunct Professor of Corporate Finance, Member of the Association of Corporate Growth and Member of the American Bar Association Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, and is also an adjunct  Professor of Insurance Law and Regulation at Temple Law School.  Domenick holds a Juris Doctor Degree from Delaware Law School, a Master of Business Administration Degree from Pennsylvania State University and a NACVA designation as a Chartered Merger and Acquisition Professional, as well as being a current Masters Candidate in Economic Development from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Edward Donohue is a partner in the San Francisco office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. Mr. Donohue represents insurance and financial services companies in litigation and regulatory matters. Mr. Donohue handles professional liability defense and coverage matters. He is a co-author of “The Lawyer’s Desk Guide to Preventing Legal Malpractice” (ABA Standing Committee on Legal Malpractice 1999) and "E&O Insurance by Line of Business Exposure", Chapter 11, Life and Health Insurance (Thompson Reuters 2014).Mr. Donohue also has extensive experience in handling directors and officers’ liability, employment, agents and brokers and financial institution bond claims. Mr. Donohue received his B.A. from Fordham University (1978) and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center (1981). He is a member in good standing of the California and Texas State Bars. 

Based in New Jersey, Brad has been with the firm since July of 1991. Prior to forming PACE, Brad was an Aerospace Engineer for a major defense contractor. Brad has more than twenty years of experience consulting for the Center for Claims Resolution (“CCR”), a not-for-profit asbestos claims-handling facility and spent three years in London developing and managing a high-volume, claims processing facility for the London insurance market. Most recently, Brad has been responsible for the management of the PACE claims administration facility. The PACE facility assists mass claim defendants with their claims administration needs. He also has accumulated both expert and fact witness testimony experience through both deposition and trial.

Brad has managed the data analysis and reporting requests received from numerous parties including defendant companies, insurers, auditors and financial analysts. He has been responsible for the disbursement of indemnity payments to mass tort claimants and for the payment of the related defense costs incurred by the PACE clients.Brad helped to create and now manages the firm’s services related to claims data accumulation and delivery via web-based subscriptions. These services comprise the collection of voluminous data sets for the purposes of statistical analysis to calculate potential claim values. Subsequent to the statistical analyses the team developed several applications to perform complex financial analysis.

 He has complete knowledge of the processes involved with the operation of a high-volume claim processing facility and has implemented testing procedures for new system integration and development. He has been heavily involved in the implementation of cost-sharing models and process monitoring tools. This includes the design of allocation models and of efficient monitoring devices to report on the effectiveness of cost-sharing allocations. He has developed numerous analyses of future asbestos liability for various defendants and helped clients develop systems for tracking their mass tort claims.

Tad Eckenrode is the founder, managing officer and lead trial attorney for Eckenrode-Maupin, a boutique 8 attorney defense-oriented trial and appellate practice. He has tried almost 100 cases to verdict in both Missouri and Illinois state courts, and in Federal court. Several were listed as among the year's "Top Defense Verdicts" by Missouri Lawyer's Weekly. The firm's practice areas include all aspects of general insurance defense and civil litigation, while Tad's own personal focus is on complex and high-stakes death and injury claims, including medical malpractice, product liability and general / auto liability matters. Tad has been a frequently requested speaker at bar and professional seminars on topics related to trial practice, professional liability and general negligence matters, and he has authored several articles published both locally and nationally. He is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in "Best Lawyers in America" (for Personal Injury Litigation -- Defense and Medical Malpractice -- Defense), and has been selected as a Missouri-Kansas "Superlawyer" for six straight years. He received the 2018 "Lawyer of the Year" award for the area of "Medical Malpractice - Defense" in St. Louis by Best Lawyers.

Tad graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1983, and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for three years before transitioning to a general civil insurance defense practice, which has been his primary litigation focus for the past 35+ years.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Products Liability, Insurance Defense, Toxic Torts,Environmental Law, Admiralty, Trucking Claims, Construction Defects

BACKGROUND

Native of Detroit, MichiganLouisiana State University, B.S., 1968Louisiana State University, J.D., 1974Admitted to Practice, 1974Married, one child

BAR ADMISSIONS

Admitted to Bar, 1974, LouisianaAdmitted to Bar, 1993, TexasUnited States District Courts:Eastern (1974), Middle (1980), andWestern (1976) Districts of LouisianaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1981)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

American Bar AssociationLouisiana State Bar AssociationJefferson Parish Bar AssociationLouisiana Association of Defense CounselDefense Research Institute

HONORS/AWARDS

Moot Court Board, Louisiana State University

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Rotary Club of New OrleansLouisiana Lodge No. 102, F. and A.M.

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.

Elizabeth Ganiere has years of experience as In-House Counsel for both public and private corporations including construction developers, manufacturers, financiers, consumer products companies and and most recently the energy sector including, nuclear, alternative energy and oil & gas.

Ms. Ganiere currently works for McDermott International at its global headquarters supporting onshore and offshore projects in the Americas.  Formerly, she was onsite Senior Counsel with CB&I as a government contractor to build the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility. The MOX Project, has since been terminated, was at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina. 

Previously she was General Counsel of Oakland Enterprises (Gulf Stream Coach, Inc.), a privately-held consumer products manufacturing conglomerate located in the Midwest.  Formerly, Ms. Ganiere was Corporate Counsel for global commercial and consumer products manufacturer Champion Enterprises, Inc., and served as the advising attorney and negotiator of sponsor and media contracts for a professional extreme sport athlete (BMX) and his training center.  She also has served as Advising Counsel for select directors, producers and filmmakers.

Ms. Ganiere served on the Advisory Board of the CLM for several years.  Ms. Ganiere is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Indiana and the U.S. Supreme Court.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Southern California and Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University and in 2011 became a Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP).

Ms. Ganiere is a regular lecturer and speaker in an array of legal and insurance subject matters for CLM, ABA, USLaw, Eagle International & LatinoMediaVision – Filmmakers conferences.

James W. Hailey III is a Partner with the law firm of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith LLP, and operates out of its New Orleans office. For over the past two decades, he has assisted his insurance and corporate clients in detecting, defeating and deterring fraud. He has handled numerous first and third party fraud/bad faith claims, including trucking/transportation staged accidents, passenger stuffing incidents, uninsured motorist defense, suspicious slip and fall and other bodily injury claims, false builder’s risk claims, insurance coverage issues, fire cause and origin investigation, illegal practice of law by public adjusters, material misrepresentations, collusion and theft.

Mr. Hailey’s SIU work includes the investigation of the illegal corporate practice of medicine, which has resulted in guilty findings and the forced closings of several medical corporations in Louisiana. He has helped several clients in pursuing civil claims against the administers and owners of these medical corporations, seeking restitution from the corporations as well as individual claimants by various theories of liability, i.e., fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, federal RICO statutes, unjust enrichment and the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, among others. Mr. Hailey Co-authored, "Defending Against Insurance Fraud Claims", Author of featured article of CLM's Claims Management magazine, Speaker at 2013 CLM's Bad Faith Insurance Coverage Mini-Conference.  Mr. Hailey has given numerous speeches for industry and client conferences addressing the best techniques to detect, deter and defeat insurance fraud. In addition, Mr. Hailey is the founding secretary of CLM's Southeastern Louisiana Chapter and a member of the Insurance Fraud Committee where he acts as Adjuster-Training Chair.

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.

He has served as the Past President to the Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA) and to the International Amusement and Leisure Defense Association (IALDA) and is still a Board of Director of IALDA. He is an active member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI); Council for Litigation Management (CLM); International Association of Amusement and Parks and Attractions (IAAPA); Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA); Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA); Housing Authorities Insurance Group (HAI); National Restaurant and Retail Defense Association (NRRDA); Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Broward County Bar Association. He has spoken at conferences throughout the United States. He currently represents one of the largest privately owned amusement company in the United States in their litigation throughout the State of Florida.

Mr. Johnson is admitted to practice before the Florida Bar. 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).

Marcheta Leighton-Beasley is Senior Legal Counsel heading the Litigation Division for Wood Group. She has worked with both fully integrated energy companies and services providers to the energy industry before joining the Wood Group in 2008. Marcheta is responsible for managing litigation and dispute resolution affecting all of Wood Group’s business units in the Americas. She also provides legal guidance and support to the BU’s human resources and benefits groups and is tasked with providing training to management on litigation avoidance/mitigation and processes.

Director of Litigation American National Property and Casualty Company

Paula began her career with American National Property and Casualty Company in 1982, she has handled all aspects of claims in the Property and Casualty field for personal lines. In 1988 Paula began handling Litigation file assignments and in 1999 began managing the Litigation Department. In 2003 she was promoted to her current position, Director of Litigation.

Paula is responsible for litigation management in 43 states. She has handled catastrophic claims and Class Action Litigation.

As the company expanded Paula’s role included litigation management of Commercial, Construction Defect and Agriculture Litigation.

Paula is the mother of four sons and six grandchildren.

Rick Linville joined Custard Insurance Adjusters in 1982 and has held the position of President of the company since 2007 and has served on the Board of Directors since 1998. Mr. Linville began his career with Custard following graduation from Ball State University as an adjuster trainee and has risen through the ranks holding senior level positions in both Management and Sales before being appointed President of the company. In addition, Mr. Linville is a former president of the Atlanta Claims Association and continues to be actively involved in Regional and National Associations regularly serving as a speaker and on numerous boards and panels.

Risk Management Professional with 21 years of demonstrated ability to acquire and retain profitable accounts and enhance results. Expertise in: Staff Managing / Team Building Problem/Conflict Resolution Risk Management & Transfer Total Client Quality Service Pre-and Post-Sales Support Contract/Proposal Negotiation Strategic Planning & Execution Converting Competitive Accounts Major Account Cultivation
Process Analysis & Improvement Solution Implementation New Business Development

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Client Service Manager

Provide support for large National Market accounts. Build and manage collaborative client relationships and ensure smooth transition from sales to implementation as well as on-going account management.

Mr. Lutzke is the National Director of Claims and Workers' Compensation for Dean Foods, Inc. of Dallas, Texas.  He has over 22 years of claims experience and is a Certified Risk Manager, Insurance Counselor and proud member of the Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International.

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.

Sue has 25 years of experience in risk management and has almost 40 years of experience in the hospital industry. Since 2001, she has served as Director of Risk Management for Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Georgia. Prior to becoming Director, she served as the Clinical Patient Representative for Southern Regional beginning in 1987. She has worked with self-insured programs and in-house management of claims since 1984.

Sue received her Bachelor of Science in 1993 from the College of St. Francis. She received her diploma to work as a registered nurse in 1973 through a program affiliated with Northwestern University in Chicago.

Sue has been a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) since 2001 and has been a Certified Patient Safety Officer (CPSO) since 2009.

Sue has also served as Chairman of Southern Regional’s Patient Safety Committee since 2001. She has coordinated its Self-Insurance Oversight Committee and its quarterly review of claims since 2004.

Sonia Odarczenko, a 1988 graduate of Loyola University of Chicago School of law and 1984 graduate of Bradley University, magna cum laude, is Coverage Counsel at AmTrust, supporting all lines of business, addressing coverage issues and managing litigation against the Company.  Sonia joined AmTrust in September, 2019, after 18 years in private practice handling professional liability defense and coverage litigation as a partner at a large Chicago insurance defense firm and 13 years as in-house counsel at Markel and Navigators (a brand of the Hartford).   Sonia has been a speaker and panelist at both PLUS and CLM conferences and meetings. 

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 

Lindene Patton is Chief Climate Product Officer for Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich). She is responsible for product development and risk management related to climate change.

She is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Advisory Council on Measuring Sustainability. Ms. Patton serves as the Vice-Chair of the Climate Change and Tort Liability Sub-Committee of the Geneva Association. She is a member of the Advisory Council to the Resources for the Future’s Center for the Management of ecological Wealth (RFF’s CMEW). Ms. Patton serves on numerous government and non-governmental advisory boards, including the Executive Secretariat of the U.S. National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Financial Advisory Board. She is an advisory board member for the University of California at Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. She is a member of the ICLEI for Sustainable Governments Adaptation Experts Advisory Committee. Ms. Patton serves as an Advisory Board Member to the Bloomberg monthly publication, the Environmental Due Diligence Guide, and the US EPA Environmental Technology Verification Program.

Ms. Patton is an attorney licensed in California and the District of Columbia and an American Board of Industrial Hygiene Certified Industrial Hygienist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law.

Beth Popik is a consultant in litigation management, legal billing, legal operations and legal cost control.  She is an attorney with 20+ years experience in litigation management, legal auditing and legal cost control.  A former litigator, she was among the first professionals in the field of legal auditing and case management.  Starting with Law Audit Services (now Bottomline Technologies), she later spent 11 years running the auditing program at Mutual Marine Insurance. Until May of this year she was with Legal Fee Advisors.  Prior to that, she was a Vice President and Legal Specialist Manager in the Legal and Compliance Department of JPMorgan Chase. She received her CLMP (Certified Litigation Management Professional) as a member of the first graduating class of the CLM Litigation Management Institute in October 2011.

President and Managing Claims Attorney in the Chicago, Milwaukee and San Diego insurance claims consulting firm of Kalchik, Pratt & Associates, LLC. Mr. Pratt is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. 1971 and University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D. 1974. He is admitted to practice law in California and was formerly employed in San Francisco, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Chicago field claim offices by Fidelity & Deposit Co. of MD. He has been a claims consultant and independent adjuster since 1985 and formerly associated in such regard with Surety Support Services Corp. and Thomas Howell Kiewit.

Ronna Ruppelt is a dynamic leader with a distinguished career in the insurance industry, now bringing her expertise to Freeman, Mathis & Gary LLP as a Partner and Director of Client Relations. Before joining FMG, Ronna served as the CEO of CLM (Claims & Litigation Management Alliance), the nation’s largest association of claims professionals and attorneys.

Ronna's impressive career spans top 20 insurance carriers, where she held senior roles such as SVP, General Counsel, Secretary, Chief Claims Officer; VP of Claims and VP of Casualty Claims. She has led large teams, sometimes over 300 strong, driving organizational transformations and implementing comprehensive claims, litigation management, compliance, regulatory, and risk reduction programs.

Ronna began her career as a young lawyer in an insurance defense firm and quickly established herself as a thought leader in the industry. She is frequently sought after as a speaker and author and is a nominated member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ronna is a recognized champion for these values in the workplace.

Licensed to practice law in Ohio and Georgia, Ronna is also deeply committed to civic engagement. She has served as the chairwoman of the board of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and was a founding director of another arts organization, highlighting her dedication to the community beyond her professional achievements.
 

Claire Rush is a trial attorney who specializes in the defense of high exposure personal injury actions. She has received a Preeminent AV rating of 5.0 / 5.0 from Martindale-Hubbell and has been identified as one of the top personal injury defense attorneys in the Metro New York area by Super Lawyer Magazine, ALM, and Martindale -Hubbell. Ms. Rush has been recognized by the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, the New York Times and AVENUE Magazine as one of New York City’s top women lawyers in the area of trial practice.

Ms. Rush has successfully defended public and private entities against bus, truck, auto, railway, construction, premises, elevator, escalator, environmental, security, police and 42 U.S.C. §1983 actions for the last 25 years. She has tried more than 100 jury cases to verdict in New York State.

Ms. Rush began her career at the MTA/New York City Transit Authority in 1984. She was assigned to a trial unit in 1985 and began trying catastrophic injury claims and death actions shortly thereafter. She tried over 75 jury cases to verdict while at the MTA. Ms. Rush was made an Assistant General Counsel in 1989 and served as a supervisor in the Bronx Trial Unit and the Chief of the Major Case Unit in New York County.

 Ms. Rush is active in the New York City Chapter of  CLM and is a member of the Chapter's sponsorship committee.  She is also a member of  CLM's national Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In addition to CLM, Ms Rush is a member of the Defense Research Institute, The Defense Association of New York, The New York City Chapter of the International Association of Insurance Professionals, The Association of Professional Insurance Women, New York Women's Bar Association and The Catholic Lawyers Guild.

Jeff serves as the Director of Claims for Catholic Mutual Group, the largest provider of P&C coverage for the Catholic Church in the US and Canada.  Prior to this current role, Jeff served as Director of Claims for Advanced Disposal, a waste disposal provider reaching over 15 States.  He also served as Sr. Manager of Liability, Auto and Property losses for BILO/Winn-Dixie Stores, a retailer of over 500 grocery stores serving 8 States in the southeast US.  Jeff started his insurance career with Empire Fire and Marine/Zurich US.  He served 14 years with Zurich in various Claim and Operations leadership roles.

Jeff is the 2013 CLM Litigation Management Professional of the Year, has had the privilege to speak at many CLM local and National events and has published three articles in Litigation Management magazine.  He splits duties as the CLM Regional Chair for the Midwest region, is a Co-Chair for the CLM Religious and Non-profit Committee and serves on other various committees.

Jeff is a Cum Laude graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and holds the SCLA designation.

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.

Frank Smith began his insurance career with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in March, 1987. After completing claims training, he served as an adjuster, Senior Adjuster and Supervisor within Liberty Mutual offices in New York, Chicago and Des Plaines, Illinois. Areas of specialization included, Workers Compensation, General Liability, Auto Liability, Illinois Structural Work Act and New York Labor Law.In December of 1992, Frank joined Reliance National Insurance Company, New York, as a Claims Account Manager. He served in that role, and advanced to the position of Vice President. He was charged with leading a team that provided claims oversight on the largest account within Reliance National, the ARAMARK Corporation.

In March of 2000, Frank joined Kemper Insurance Company in Philadelphia, as the Vice President of Claims. He continued to manage the ARAMARK account through their transition to Kemper.In October of 2004, Frank joined XL insurance Company. He holds the position of Vice President – Head of US Risk Management and Program Claims. His responsibilities include management of these books of business, as well as all unbundled TPA relationships. He has developed the XL management approach to TPA’s, and has helped implement these principles across the globe in all areas where XL conducts business.

He has spoken at numerous industry events on topics relating to Claims Management , TPA Management and Medical Management. He has also authored several articles on these subjects.Frank holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from St, John’s University in New York. He resides in New York City.

Janeen Thomas is a litigation attorney with more than 15 years of experience advising businesses and insurers. She focuses her legal practice on contract analysis and complex torts, including litigation of high-profile transportation matters and traumatic brain injury cases. She also handles employment practices liability, miscellaneous professional liability and insurance coverage disputes.

Janeen began her career as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, NY, where she obtained top count convictions. Subsequently, she joined a boutique litigation firm where she established a fraud investigation unit that resulted in cost savings to insurers of several hundred thousand dollars. After gaining insurance claims handling experience at AIG Domestic Claims, Inc., she joined an international firm as an insurance coverage and litigation attorney where she provided advisory opinions to insurers and businesses and litigated complex insurance coverage matters.

Janeen is a frequent speaker across a variety of professional and community groups. In 2018, she spoke at Insurance Business America’s Women in Insurance Summit, co-presented on reputational risks at the Northeast Insurance Conference and gave a CLE on Smart Data – The Newest Tool in the Defense Attorney’s Toolbox. She also was selected by the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) to serve on the 2019 Leadership and Mentoring Program.

An active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Janeen has spoken on cutting-edge tactics for defense of large-loss transportation claims at the CLM annual conference. She also played an instrumental role in launching an online adjuster training course for the CLM, "Identifying Insurance Fraud." In 2017, she spoke on The Impact of Cannabis Legislation on the Insurance Industry and was published in Lexology on “Shrinking Damages with Smart Data.”

William Toles is recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent-rated attorney.

William is a trial lawyer with extensive experience handling high exposure litigation. He has handled more than 45 civil jury  trials to a successful conclusion and verdict. Mr. Toles has trial experience throughout the state of Texas in tort litigation ranging from simple negligence cases to more complex transportation, premises liability, DTPA, commercial and contractual dispute matters.

Mr. Toles is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars.  He currently serves as a Class Agent for his law school class, former President of the Law Council at Washington & Lee School of Law (2014-2015) and current member of the Washington & Lee University Board of Trustees.

William has been Selected to Texas "Rising Stars" and Texas "Super Lawyers" every year since 2008.  He has been named by D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas (Tort, Product and Medical Liability Litigation) and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. 

Mr. Trimble has been a partner then shareholder at our firm since 1996. Mark’s practice focuses on litigation which includes insurance defense, products liability, business matters and construction disputes. He has a very active trial practice in which he has tried over 175 jury trials. At one point, he won 72 consecutive jury trials. He has won over 95% of his jury trials. Mark has fostered an aggressive approach to trial preparation by developing a mutually agreed to strategy with each client for each case. This success has been achieved while attempting to minimize the cost to the client.

Born: Urbana, Ohio

Bar Admission: 1990 Supreme Court of Ohio 1990 U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio 2005 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio 2009 U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 2012 U.S. Supreme Court

Education: Bowling Green State University (B.S.B.A., 1983) University of Toledo College of Law (J.D., 1990)

Member: Toledo Bar Association (1990+), TBA Grievance Committee (1992 – 1994); Ohio State Bar Association; American Bar Association (1990+), Litigation Section; Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (1990+); Toledo Claims Association (1993+); Defense Research Institute (1996+); Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (2010+).

Speaker: Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention 2000, an analysis of the Scott Pontzer decision; National Business Institute Law Review Series, “Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Ohio,” 1999; National Business Institute Seminar, “Adjusting the Automobile Injury Claim in Ohio,” 2001 and 2002; Ohio Association of Trial Lawyers, “The Defendant’s Perspective”; 2004; Toledo Bar Association, “Trial Tips for the Practitioner,” 2005; Ohio Judicial Conference, “The Defense Perspective on Tort Reform,” 2005; Toledo Bar Association Common Pleas Court Committee’s Seminar “Trial Techniques II,” 2005; Tactics and Strategies for Preparation and Trial of the Ohio Soft Tissue Injury Case, 2005; PANO; “The Effect of Robinson v. Bates,” 2007; University of Toledo Paralegal Studies; “Evaluating Personal Injury Claims,” 2008; Ohio Joint Insurance Fraud Seminar; “Fair Claims Reporting Act,” 2010, NSPII Conference 2011 “Weather to Use or Not to Use an IME.”

Publications: Co-Author: Monograph, “Ohio Living Will and Durable Power-of-Attorney for Health Care, A Practical Analysis for Hospitals and Providers.”

Concentrations: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense Law; Products Liability, including Drug and Medical Device Defense; Corporate Litigation; Employment Litigation; Construction Law; Commercial Litigation; Banking and Foreclosure Law.

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 litigation and counseling, wrongful death, automobile, 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 also handles domestic and international internal corporate investigations. Mr. Victor 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. For approximately 25 years of his career, Mr. Victor was the National Chairman of the Tort and Insurance Department of the largest minority owned law firm in the country. He is an "AV" rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell Lawyers Directory. He has been designated a "Super Lawyer" and is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America." Mr. Victor is also a Florida Certified Circuit Court Mediator.

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 20 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.

ERIC L. ZALUD is chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group,focusing his practice primarily upon commercial litigation; transportation and logistics; e-commerce law; insurance defense, coverage and bad faith matters; and product liability matters including medical device defense. He was named Medmarc Insurance medical device Defense Attorney of

the Year for 2002. Mr. Zalud has successfully litigated a broad array of medical device and pharmaceutical cases that included products such as implantable morphine pumps, cardiac surgery equipment, aortic cannulae, laser hair removal implements, cold packs, loftstrand crutches, ear piercing apparatus, dietary supplements, forceps, thimerosal, wheelchairs, bed rails, blood pressure machines, weight loss devices, home health care equipment, contact lens solutions and home oxygen tanks.Mr. Zalud has litigated or arbitrated matters in 29 states, before state and federal trial and appellate courts in various jurisdictions, and before the Surface Transportation Board, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Olympic Committee.

He has coordinated nationwide product liability litigation for various clients. He also has significant experience in product liability prevention matters. He has served on internal product safety committees for consumer product manufacturers. He has assisted in orchestrating various product recalls. He has authored the warnings and instruction manuals for numerous products, and has reviewed many products in the prototype stage for product safety, adequacy of product testing and product warnings.He has had extensive dealings with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Trade Commission regarding product safety aspects and liability aspects of advertising relating to various products. Mr. Zalud also has expertise in manufacturing law, dealing with the interrelationships of manufacturers and their suppliers. Mr. Zalud received his A.B. cum laude from Miami University and earned his J.D. in 1985 from Vanderbilt University where he was associate editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. He also attended courses on Public International Law at the International Court of Justice in Den Haag, the Netherlands. Mr. Zalud speaks Spanish and Portuguese and is also licensed to practice in Indiana.