Jeff Albinson has practiced law since 1985.  His practice is focused on professional liability law with an emphasis on issues facing lawyers and law firms.  Jeff also defends claims brought against the Directors & Officers of non-profit organizations.

 His law practice has always been focused on litigation.  Following graduation from Stetson College of Law, Jeff served as an Assistant State Attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida.  He served as a lead trial attorney over a misdemeanor division and also handled serious felony cases, including trials involving murder, arson, white collar crime and child abuse.

After nearly five years of service as an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Albinson was recruited by former US Attorney Robert Merkle to enter the private practice of law.  Once into private practice, Jeff utilized his extensive trial experience to handle complex commercial litigation including civil conspiracy actions and may other types of large dollar commercial disputes and he began to develop a professional liability defense practice coupled with the defense of clients before The Florida Bar and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  Jeff’s trial experience includes handling such complex matters as first degree murder, professional liability, personal injury, commercial contract and non-contract disputes and state tax cases.  In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Albinson has utilized his knowledge of litigation based issues to also develop a consultative practice focused on managing and controlling the risk inherent in professional practices and other commercial enterprises.

 During his professional career, Jeff has also served as general counsel to a large professional liability insurance brokerage and President of a statewide professional liability insurance agency.  This experience allowed Jeff to develop a strong understanding of the underwriting, marketing and administrative side of professional liability insurance.

 In sum, Mr. Albinson’s practice focuses on professional liability defense, risk and practice management for professionals (including the formation, merger and dissolution of firms), general commercial litigation, and all aspects of litigation regarding the commercial nature of professional practice.  The firm also defends grievance cases before The Florida Bar and Bar applicants before the Board of Bar Examiners and represents licensed professionals before the DBPR and all licensing bodies.

Mr. Andrews is board certified as a specialist in civil trial law by the Florida Bar, maintaining that distinction since 2003. He is also admitted to practice in the State of Georgia. He practices in the areas of professional malpractice defense with a special emphasis on insurance agents and brokers, construction defect litigation, insurance coverage disputes, product liability, and general insurance defense.

Mr. Andrews received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Florida in 1985. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law with honors in 1988. Beginning in 1988, Mr. Andrews served as a law clerk to Judge Maurice M. Paul, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida. Since 1989, Mr. Andrews has worked primarily in the representation of insured professionals, business owners, and individuals defending their interests in all types of civil litigation. He currently works as a partner with Pennington, P.A., which has offices in Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida.

He is admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts, all Georgia State Courts, and in the United States District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida. His membership in professional associations include: The Florida Bar, State Bar of Georgia, The CLM, Professional Liability Defense Federation, Tallahassee Bar Association, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and Defense Research Institute.

Michael Born is a Vice President and Account Executive for Lockton Companies in Kansas City, providing expertise in the areas of data security, privacy liability, media and specialty errors and omissions insurance. He is also a member of Lockton's Global Technology and Privacy Practice.
Mr. Born has over 20 years of experience in the professional liability insurance industry including positions as Senior Vice President and Manager of Underwriting at ThinkRisk Underwriting Agency, Vice-President of Claims at Axis Pro and Media/Professional insurance and in-house counsel for Zurich American and American Family Insurance. Before entering the insurance business directly, Mr. Born spent several years in private legal practice focusing on insurance related matters.
Mr. Born is a graduate of Boston University School of Law, where he earned his J.D., and Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas where he earned a B.A. Cum Laude in philosophy and political science.
Mr. Born is based in the Kansas City offices of Lockton at 444 W. 47th Street in Kansas City, MO. His e-mail is mborn@lockton.com and phone is 816 960 9975.
 

Sheila Brune is a registered nurse with 42 years of experience in healthcare. She is currently Director of Service Excellence at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, Illinois. Sheila is certified in Case Management and Healthcare Quality, and is a graduate of the University of St. Francis with a master’s degree in health services administration.

In 2001 following the death of her father as a result of a sentinel event, Sheila discovered a need to be an advocate for patients and their families. She worked as a Quality Director for several years following her father’s death. She approached risk management and patient advocacy with compassion and empathy. She absolutely believes in being honest and saying “I’m sorry” after bad things happen.

In 2007 Illinois Provider Trust presented Sheila with the Sidney A. Gross Risk Management Award for her dedication to education of nurses, students, physicians and healthcare leaders. Sheila shares a painful story of her father’s death, and the lessons learned, in hopes that others will never have to go through what she and her family did.

Sheila is also the creator and owner of the innovative Living History Program© which is used by dozens of healthcare organizations nationwide, including Yale-New Haven, Stanford and Duke. The Living History Program© uses patient life stories to enhance communication and deliver true patient centered care. She is the recipient of several awards for her efforts to improve the patient experience and has been honored by the American Society on Aging, the Health Care Service Excellence Association, Press Ganey and the Studer Group.

Mr. Charlton-Perrin has a strong background in Professional Liability claims, ethics and risk management. At The Hanover, Gawain focuses on claims and risk management for Professional Liability Programs (Lawyers, Accountants, Architects &
Engineers, Real Estate Agents & Brokers, Mortgage Field Services, Home Inspectors, Property Management Firms, Debt Collectors and Title Agents). 
 
Prior to joining The Hanover in November of 2012, Gawain was a Consulting Director in the CNA Risk Control Department focusing on risk management for attorneys and law firms. Gawain also handled lawyers’ claims at CNA. Formerly, Gawain prosecuted attorneys for ethical violations for the State of Illinois and later defended attorneys for a Chicago law firm in legal malpractice cases and ethics complaints.
 
He is a nationally recognized author and lecturer on professional liability, ethics and risk management.  Gawain is a former Advisory Member for the annual Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Legal Malpractice and Risk Management Conference. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, the Federal Northern District court and the U.S. Supreme Court.  Gawain has also passed the Illinois Real Estate Broker Exam in November 2015. 
 
Areas of Responsibility:  Lawyers, Accountants, Miscellaneous Professionals including Real Estate Agents & Brokers, Mortgage Fields Services, Home Inspectors, and Management Liability, Architects & Engineers, Fidelity and Schools Professional Liability
 

David Cohen is Director of Claims and Safety at JMB Insurance, a mid-sized broker in downtown Chicago. JMB primarily places insurance for hospitality, real estate management, mortgage banking, casinos and high net worth personal lines clients. David has over 30 years of claims, risk and litigation management experience. He has held claims related leadership roles including at Zurich and CNA. He was most recently with Aon in a leadership role providing risk and insurance advisory services to clients involved in complex construction and M&A projects. Prior to entering the insurance industry, David practiced law as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate and Captain in the U.S. Air Force and then as a coverage lawyer for a Chicago law firm. David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, and his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law.

Sally is Technical Director for Professional Liability Claims, currently focusing on Insurance Agents’ E & O (including Life Agents and Brokers), Securities Dealers and Registered Reps Professional Liability, Employment Practices, D & O and miscellaneous E &O. In that capacity, she is engaged in oversight of high exposure, unusually complex or “trend” claims, training and developing claims personnel, and working closely with business partners on product and coverage form development. Sally has been with Fireman’s Fund for over 25 years, with the majority of the time spent in the claims arena—both in the field and at the home office, where she currently works. 

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.

Relevant Experience/Specialization
Joe is a 30-year veteran in the insurance industry, with a focus on the cyber sector for the last 20 years. He began his career underwriting and broking Management Liability and Errors & Omissions risk transfer solutions, gained further expertise working with M&A Transactional Products and most recently, Cyber. He has held management and executive positions in underwriting, brokerage and MGA operations.   

Education and Credentials
Joe has served leadership roles in many organizations throughout his career. He is a current fellow for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and served as past chair for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance’s Cyber Committee, and Professional Liability Committee.  He is a frequent author and speaker and is considered an expert in the area of Cyber Liability. 

Will is currently a Senior Claims Manager at Providence Healthcare Systems, a non-profit faithbased healthcare organization located in seven states, including California, New Mexico and Texas. He was previously the Claims Manager at USC responsible for overall oversight of the claims operation and management of highly complex general liability, auto liability claims and litigation oversight. In all his position he is responsible for reviewing insurance coverages, investigating and analyzing liability and damages and develops resolution strategy, including negotiating settlement. Prior to USC he held a positionas the Senior Claims Representative for The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC), handling litigated proffessional liability and business liability exposures, with an emphasis on coverage issues. TDIC is a wholely owned subsidiary of California Dential Association. Will was formerly Direct Claim Handler in environmental, toxic tort, pollution and long term exposure (LTE) claims and litigation managment with Brandywine Holdings in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to joining Chubb he was with the University of Washington where he held the position of Healthcare Liability Claims Specialist. Prior to the UW position he was Director of Professional Liability Claims at Sedgwick in their Long Beach, CA office. He has also worked with ProAssurance where he managed medical professional liability claims and suits for hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers. He has actively managed claims and litigation in multiple jurisdictions throughout his claims career and held positions with Allstate, OHIC (now The Doctor’s Company) as well as a variety of Third Party Administrators.

Will graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, from Vanderbilt University Law School in Tennessee with a Juris Doctor degree and from AT Stills University in Missouri with a Masters in Healthcare Administration (academic honors). He holds the AIC, CLMP and CCLS designations
 

Carolyn W. Finch is a claim consultant with Munich Re Specialty--North America. She currently specializes in the successful resolution of professional liability claims on a nationwide basis, especially legal and accounting malpractice at both a primary and excess level.  Previously she specialized in product liability claims involving high risk product insureds include nutraceutical, medical devices, durable equipment, childrens’ products, recreational and construction devices/accessories, and food manufacturers and distributors. Carolyn has over 40 years claims experience handling primary, excess and reinsurance claims for leading excess and surplus carriers. She has been a frequent speaker on claims management topics at industry seminars.  She previously served as co-chair of the CLM Product Liability Committee.

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. 

Eric Gaum focuses his practice on complex intellectual property litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and related business torts and unfair competition. Eric has practiced exclusively in the area of intellectual property for the last 20 years and has extensive experience litigating and trying cases across the country. Eric has also completed the CLM's Litigation Management Institute and is a Certified Litigation Management Professional.

Eric has been the lead trial lawyer in jury and bench trials and successfully arbitrated and/or mediated settlements involving all types of intellectual property disputes. He has also argued appeals in intellectual property disputes before various federal appellate courts. Additionally, Eric counsels clients on strategies for protecting, enforcing, and licensing intellectual property rights.

Eric’s background as an electrical and software engineer has helped him to litigate complex patent and copyright disputes involving an array of technologies, including cell phones, personal digital assistants, location-based services, international call blocking, dental x-ray imaging, patient call-back systems, and electronic parts catalogs, among others. Eric also practices before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in post grant proceedings.

Eric has litigated copyright infringement matters related to product labels, books, photographs, websites, software, databases, blue prints, and architectural works. Eric has litigated trademark and trade dress infringement matters in state and federal courts across the country, and handled opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).

Eric has been recognized for his professional accomplishments in such publications as Ohio Super Lawyers, and he is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest available rating for legal ability and professional ethics. Eric formerly served as an extern for The Honorable Judge Peter C. Economus, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio. Since 2000, Eric has also served as a domain name dispute administrative panelist for the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Nick brings an outstanding combination of industry, software and risk management experience to the job. He came to Compli having successfully productized web-based risk & safety management software for a mid sized regional trucking company, where he was responsible for launching, scaling and maintaining the operations of the business. Prior to that Nick worked in the Property and Casualty insurance industry, working for the Pennsylvania National Mutual Insurance Company and the Crum & Forster Insurance Company as a claims expert. In addition to his trucking and transportation management experience, he sat on both the National Private Truck Council Institute Board of Governors as well as the National Private Truck Council Safety Committee (Technology Sub-Committee). Nick holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware, and an M.B.A. from the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh.

Dean Gournis is a co-founder and partner in the law firm of Kaplan Papadakis & Gournis, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois.  His litigation practice concentrates in the defense of business professionals including lawyers, real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, architects, engineers, builders, insurance brokers, appraisers, debt collectors and auctioneers.  He also represents employers in employment practices liability cases.  His clients include insurance companies, third party administrators and a variety of business professionals and firms that he has represented in state and federal courts in the Midwest.  He is a frequent speaker regarding professional liability insurance issues in the professional liability community.  He is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriters Society and has been elected by his peers as a Rising Star for Chicago Magazine in the area of professional liability defense for the years 2009 – 2011 and as a Super Lawyer in 2012 – 2013.

During the course of his 20 years of insurance experience, David has held various leadership and senior management positions. In 1992, following eight years of service in the office of the governor of Illinois, he began his insurance career at Aon. While at Aon, David oversaw the launch of online E&O sales for allied healthcare providers, accountants and lawyers program business. In 1997, he took a new position marketing and new product development for the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) insurance programs. While working on the IASB programs, David introduced two new insurance programs and oversaw implementation of a web-based claims reporting system. Following a brief sojourn with an association and affinity group focused start-up internet company, David joined Zurich North America’s Financial Keyosk division as Director of Marketing, where he was charged with developing carrier relationships, advertising and marketing campaigns, agent recruitment and the development of a professional liability insurance brokerage. From 2003 - 2008, David served as Assistant Vice President of Risk Placement Services, overseeing their technology E&O and cyber insurance practice.

David joined CNA in 2008 as Director of Underwriting for NetProtect 360, where he oversees product development and sales for CNA's security and privacy portfolio.

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.
 

A partner in Deasey, Mahoney & Valentini, Ltd., Carla brings twenty years of experience as a litigator and is Co-Chair of the Employment Law team, Civil Rights team and Cyber Security team. As an experienced jury and bench trial litigator, as well as appellate practitioner, Carla represents municipalities, schools, small businesses, for profit and non-profit corporations.

As Co-Chair of the Civil Rights team, Carla handles a wide variety of civil rights suits, including cruel and unusual punishment, Equal Protection, state created danger and special relationship doctrines, IDEA, RLUIPA, Pre-emption, and First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment claims.

Carla also co-chairs the Cyber Security team which focuses primarily on coverage issues, breach coaching and third party litigation.

Carla has earned widespread respect among clients and opposing counsel and was selected as a 2006, 2007, 2008-09, 2010, 2011 and 2014 Super-lawyer for her excellence in employment law.

A frequent lecturer, Carla is regularly invited to present seminars and continuing legal education. Carla also serves as a judge pro tem for the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, and on the panel of employment law arbitrators and mediators for the Philadelphia region of National Arbitration & Mediation (NAM).



 

Stephanie Mason is a Senior Manager, Specialty Claims in the Risk Management Department at Marriott International’s Corporate Headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland.

Stephanie’s primary responsibility is to oversee and handle claims and litigation management involving Employment Practices Liability and Fidelity Insurance claims. These claims involve both international and domestic locations for Marriott International worldwide. Among other things, Stephanie’s role is to assist and guide outside defense counsel through each phase of litigation strategy and decision-making including, but not limited to, answering the complaint, engaging in discovery, filing dispositive motions, attending mediations and settlement conferences, and preparing for and attending trials and arbitrations. Stephanie’s 17 years of Marriott claims handling experience has also included the management of workers’ compensation and general liability matters for all of the Company’s domestically managed locations.

Stephanie is a graduate of Tuskegee University’s School of Business and she ultimately plans to pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in law.
 

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. 

Alan Parker is Counsel and  Vice President of Claims with Special Claims Services, Inc.  The company offers claims consulting, claims analysis, data management, and litigation management for complex, high volume claims.

As a civil litigator, Alan's practice included intellectual property, medical negligence, personal injury, professional liability, employment discrimination and breach of contract disputes. Several of his cases have been included among the most significant defense verdicts in their respective years by the ABA Journal or the National Law Journal. Alan also advises clients on intellectual property, management and protection strategies and internet and web-based commerce issues.

Alan frequently lectures and writes on trial practice, medical negligence and risk management, and the use of technology in civil litigation. He is also active in national and local professional organizations, especially those focusing on legal issues involving the internet and technology. Alan has organized and moderated seminars on civil litigation, trial tactics, electronic discovery, and technology issues for private industry and for continuing legal and professional education programs.

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.

Matt has significant experience in a wide array of civil litigation practice areas, including:

 

• Medical malpractice defense
• Product liability defense
• Employment litigation defense
• Premises liability defense
• Contract breach
• Restrictive covenant disputes
• Secured lending
• Appellate practice

 

He has successfully represented clients before state and federal trial courts throughout the country and in appeals before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia.

 

Matt also represents clients in a number of non-litigation matters, including medical staff credentialing disputes, investigations by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, and HIPAA privacy violation complaints.

 

Matt brings to his representation of physicians and other medical providers a motivation that is personal: A number of his own family members are active or retired medical professionals, including a grandfather and uncle who were orthopaedic surgeons, a grandmother and aunt who were nurses, and his father, who is a respiratory therapist.

 

Matt was recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers magazine in 2009 as a Rising Star in the area of medical malpractice defense. In addition, he is admitted by the Supreme Court of Georgia as a Mentor for new lawyers participating in the State Bar of Georgia's Transition into Law Program. He is a frequent speaker before medical professionals, insurer trade groups, and other lawyers on topics relating to his areas of practice.

 

Matt lives in Newnan with his wife, Cindy, and his son, Everett. 

William Thompson is a Claims Manager with Monitor Liability Managers, LLC. He has more than 25 years of experience in claims management with a broad background in Lawyers and Accountants Errors & Omissions, Employment Practices Liability, Directors & Officers Liability and Fiduciary Liability claims (among others). He currently manages the lawyers and accountants E & O claim book for Monitor and has file management authority for hundreds of claims from across the country as well as supervisory responsibility for a dedicated claim handling unit. Bill regularly works with product development and underwriters to contribute to product enhancements and the development of new products and endorsements.

Prior to joining Monitor, Bill worked for Travelers Casualty & Surety and Aetna Life & Casualty. He received a Master of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelors of Arts Degree from the University of Alabama.
 

Panos Topalis concentrates in professional liability matters, including agents and brokers liability, and general tort defense work. He is active member of the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly and a member and speaker for the Tort Law Committee of the ISBA. Mr. Topalis is currently the Co-Chair of the Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability subcommittee of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, and is a member of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC) Professional Liability Committee, and recently served as its co-chair. Mr. Topalis has written articles for the IDC Monograph concerning agent and broker liability and wrote the “Venue and Forum Non Conveniens,” chapter in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s handbook, Illinois Civil Practice.

Dave Zehner is a founding partner of Zehner Trial Consulting. Zehner Trial Consulting is a provider of superior mock trials, focus groups and jury selection services. Zehner Trial Consulting uses the latest research in cognitive theory to design research exercises to test the essential elements of cases and determine what will shape the verdict of the jury. During his career, Dave has consulted on more than 800 cases in 42 states and over 180 venues in all areas of the law, specializing in professional negligence, employment, intellectual property, white collar criminal, capital crimes and complex commercial cases. Dave has also assisted clients in selecting over 120 juries in venues throughout the country. Before becoming a trial consultant, Dave taught high school history for five years and coached the freshman and JV basketball teams. Dave also coached the Academic Decathlon team to three San Diego County championships and one fourth place finish in the state of California. Dave also appeared on Jeopardy!, and his crushing defeat was made even more enjoyable by being called "evil" by Alex Trebek for working as a jury consultant. 

A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in History and International Political Economies, Dave was a University Fellowship recipient while earning his master's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and ABD status for his PhD in the Public Policy Analysis Program. 

Jonathan S. Ziss is co-chair of Goldberg Segalla firm’s Management and Professional Liability practice, chair of its Aviation Litigation practice, and a member of its Commercial Litigation and Cybersecurity practices. He devotes much of his practice to the representation of professionals, including accountants, attorneys, bankers, design professionals, insurance agents/brokers, directors and officers, and fiduciaries, before administrative licensing boards and civil courts. He counsels and defends not-for-profit entities such as museums, homeowners’ associations, faith-based organizations, and others, in management liability litigation as well as non-litigated disputes. Jonathan counsels clients and litigates, arbitrates, and mediates commercial disputes in a wide range of industries, from healthcare to hospitality. In addition, as a member of the firm’s cyber incident response team, he manages compliance and loss mitigation campaigns in the aftermath of data breaches. Based on Jonathan’s extensive experience with the ethics of the accounting and legal professions, he is frequently hired to represent individual practitioners and firms in civil and administrative matters arising from ethics complaints. He chairs the firm’s Professional Guidance Committee, which addresses professional ethics across the firm’s more than 400 attorneys.