Speaker Bios

I started my insurance career as an Underwriter Trainee for Specialty Lines, at Philadelphia Insurance back in 2001.  I worked my way up at PHLY and was asked to join my largest retail client as a producer in 2004.  At HUB International, I led their Lawyer’s Professional book and a team of seven brokers placing business in all fifty states.  In 2007, I was asked to start up a wholesale book of Lawyers Professional by Rob Roth, a former co-worker who had been recently been promoted to Profit Center Leader at ECC Insurance Brokers.   Starting a ground-up book of business is never easy, however maintaining contacts throughout the country assisted in building the foundation of a strong practice.  With ten years now at ECC, I assist in mentoring our Broker in Training program as well as continue to strive for excellence on our team in Oak Brook, IL.  I believe in being a specialist rather than a generalist.  I try to forge strong relationships with all underwriters and not flood them with submissions that fall out of their underwriting box.  I am surrounded by specialists in all arenas of P&C and happily refer risks that are not LPL.  The success of the team is more important than the strength of any individual.  My two children are the reasons I wake up each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.

Lisa provides creative, cost-effective and resolution-focused solutions to her clients. As an insurance and litigation defense attorney with over 20 years’ experience, she handles litigation defense of property and casualty matters in both Federal and New York State courts, including trials and appeals. Areas of focus include construction and property damage-related litigation, premises and professional liability, retail, insurance, general personal injury and negligence. In addition, Lisa is a certified mediator.

She previously served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Division of the New York City Law Department. In that capacity, she defended the NYPD, FDNY and NYC Department of Corrections against Federal Civil Rights claims.

As a firm founder, Lisa creates an inclusive and collaborative work environment that fosters innovation and excellence. On a personal level, she is motivated by a drive to help students and younger professionals find their own passion for the law and volunteers as an alumni-student mentor for New York Law School and Binghamton University. Lisa is active in several professional organizations, as well as with her alma mater and is on the Board of Directors for the NYLS Alumni Association. She is also a co-founder of the New York Law School Moot Court Alumni Organization Support Network.Additional leadership roles have included serving as Secretary of the USLAW Network National Construction Practice Group for 2016-2017 and Chair of the USLAW Network Women's Connection Practice Group for 2015-2016. 

Outside the professional realm, Lisa has served as the Commissioner of the Scarborough Fire District since 2009. In addition to coaching Little League softball, she plays recreational volleyball and softball and is an avid New York Yankees fan.

Anthony Burrows is Vice President and Claims Counsel at Sompo International where he is  Head of the SompoPro Commercial E&O team.  His team oversees claims involving insurance agents/brokers, design professionals and all miscellaneous classes of professionals. Anthony has over 15 years’ experience handling claims and has worked as Claims Counsel for four other leading insurance carriers.   His legal career began at a law firm located in Buffalo, New York where he handled large commercial loan transactions.  Anthony is a member of the New York Bar.  He received his BA from the University of Vermont and his JD from Albany Law School.

 

Jody N. Cappello is a partner with Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg, LLP. His practice focuses primarily on professional liability litigation as well as securities defense litigation and arbitration, focusing on the representation of financial service industry professionals, securities broker-dealers and registered representatives. In addition, Mr. Cappello practices in the areas of labor and employment litigation and general liability.

Mr. Cappello is a 1999 graduate of Connecticut College, where he earned his B.A. in economics and history. He attended the Boston University School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 2002.

Mr. Cappello is admitted to practice law in Connecticut and is also licensed to practice before the United States District Court of Connecticut. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association.

Vin has over 30 years of experience in the Insurance Industry handling and managing Professional Liability claims. He obtained his RPLU designation in 2014. Vin has been with XL Catlin for 13 years managing and handling Realtors’ Errors and Omissions claims in Hartford, Connecticut. Vin also worked for Travelers/St. Paul’s Insurance company handling complex litigation claims.

Prior to that, Vin was part of Kemper Insurance’s claims handling team for their Realtors’ E & O program. Additionally, for the 15 years prior, Vin was with CNA Insurance handling all lines of Professional Liability claims as well as becoming a Regional Claim Manager of CNA’s Medical Malpractice group.
 
Vin began his claims career in 1986 with Aetna in Property and Casualty.
 
 

Ken Cesta is an experienced commercial litigator with more than 30 years of litigation experience in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and several other states. Ken’s practice focuses on defending insurers in insurance coverage disputes and bad faith litigation involving commercial general liability, errors and omissions, employment practices liability, professional liability, directors and officers liability, cyber and media policies, as well as representing employers in actions involving all forms of employment discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and workplace harassment. He was previously part of a national trial team representing two public financial institutions in employment litigation throughout the United States. Ken also maintains a diverse litigation practice including class action securities litigation and enforcement, commercial disputes, consumer fraud, professional liability, and shareholder/partnership disputes.

Ken also has extensive experience in the e-discovery field, implementing cost-effective e-discovery and litigation readiness plans for his clients. He holds an eDiscovery Executive Certificate (eDEx) from and is a member of the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) and is a frequent lecturer on e-discovery topics including managing e-discovery costs and document retention policies.

Ken is a former chair of the New Jersey District VB Ethics Committee and has been appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve as a special ethics master in several complex disciplinary actions brought by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. He is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) and the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey.

Education:
Quinnipiac University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1986)
Muhlenberg College (B.A. in Political Science, 1983)
 

Bridget Choi is a cyber, privacy, and technology legal professional who joined Kivu Consulting to provide guidance and advice in the payment of ransoms, collections of threat intelligence, work with agencies such as FinCEN and OFAC on collection of financial intelligence to thwart future cybercrime. 
Before joining Kivu, she was a claims handler first-party, third-party and regulatory claims involving cybersecurity and privacy, media, and technology matters, as well as, advising on policy language and best practices for cyber claims at Navigators. Bridget previously was an Assistant Vice President of professional liability claims at Sompo International where she handled high exposure technology, privacy, media, and professional liability claims. Before becoming a claims professional, Bridget practiced law in New York City litigating commercial and insurance matters. Bridget received her J.D. from New York Law. She is licensed to practice law in New York.

Jim Connors is a Partner at Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles LLP, a respected New York trial firm.  Jim has 19 years of experience defending clients in cases sounding in professional and general liability including matters involving nursing home liability, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction accidents, vehicular negligence, attorney malpractice, religious institution liability and products liability.  He has handled all aspects of defense litigation from inception through trial in New York State Supreme Courts throughout the City of New York, Long Island and Upstate Region.  Jim has successfully tried cases to verdict and has argued extensively before the Appellate Division, Second Department.  He frequently is called upon by nursing home clients to assist with risk management and conduct staff education seminars.  Jim is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the State of Connecticut.  He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.  He earned a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Jim has attained Martindale Hubbel’s highest attorney rating of AV Preeminent for 2017 and 2018.  He is a nominated Member in the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).  He also volunteers as the Attorney Advisor for the St. Mary's High School Mock Trial team in Manhasset, NY.  He coaches little league in his home town and is an active Member and a Former Director of the Board of the Community Association of Greater St. James.   
 

Senior Claims Examiner at Markel Corporation with many years of claims handling experience (since 1986). The most recent years (since 2001) have been with Markel in its Deerfield, Illinois professional liability claims office where she currently specializes in Architects & Engineers matters.  Sarah is also experienced in handling Agents & Brokers, Employment Practices Liability, Products, and Miscellaneous Errors & Omissions claims.  Prior to Markel, she worked in a worldwide claims capacity for Aon Re (3.5 years).  Prior to that, she began her insurance career at Kemper Insurance Company in Long Grove, Illinois handling GL, Products, Environmental, Asbestos, Premises Liability, and Excess matters (11 years). 

Alona Croteau is the Chief Claims Officer at Berkley Management Protection. She has over two decades of experience in the insurance industry as chief claims officer and claims counsel for a number of national/global insurance carriers and brokerage firms Her deep claims and litigation management experience includes areas focused on specialty lines including professional lines, healthcare, financial institutions, public and private D&O, EPL, surety, fidelity, construction and general liability lines of coverage. 

After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education from University of New Orleans, Alona attended the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, obtaining her Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 2005. Alona served as the Managing Print Editor of the Loyola Law Review and a member of the Moot Court staff. 

David represents insurers in complex disputes with respect to D&O, A&E, miscellaneous professional, fiduciary, general liability, bad faith and first party matters. He also provides direct defense to insurers and other corporations when their business practices are challenged, including in class and mass actions.

While much of David’s practice involves litigated disputes, he frequently provides advice in a monitoring role. In that capacity, he helps his clients understand their coverage, defense and settlement obligations and assists with the evaluation of the exposures presented by complex underlying disputes and with strategies for their successful and efficient resolution.

David is recognized for developing unique approaches for efficiently moving matters towards resolution through either focused litigation or settlement. When matters are not amenable to an early resolution, he shapes disputes for favorable resolution through effective discovery strategies and dispositive motion practice and, if necessary, trial and appeal.

David has been consistently recognized by Chambers, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and other legal services rankings as a leading lawyer for insurance. As noted in recent editions of Chambers, David “is respected in the field as an excellent litigator” and “clients describe him as ‘a very smart and hard-working trial lawyer.’”

Education:
J.D., magna cum laude, Catholic University of America, 1995. Class salutatorian, Executive Editor and staff member of Catholic University Law Review.
B.G.S., University of Michigan, 1989

Anne Marie Davine is a Managing Principal with Integro Insurance Brokers based in the New York City area.

Anne Marie has over thirty years of insurance experience. She began her career in claims before moving to underwriting with a focus on professional specialty and financial products. After working on behalf of the insurer, Anne Marie has held various positions within the insurance brokerage community representing professional services firms for their errors and omission exposures, management liability issues; employment practices risks and cyber liability. In this role she has been responsible for policy and endorsement drafting, complex insurance program design, negotiation and placement and the coordination of claims advocacy and risk management services.
She is a licensed Property & Casualty broker in all states and a surplus lines broker in all states except Florida, Kansas, Nebraska and Oregon.

EDUCATION:  Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Psychology, Drew University, Madison, NJ

 Margie spent the first 17 years of her legal career as an insurance defense litigation attorney representing design and construction professionals in Illinois State, Federal and Appellate Courts. Margie now handles design professional claims for Architects & Engineers, Construction Managers, Contractors, and Real Estate Developers in her role as Sr. Claims Counsel for Hiscox USA.

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.

Constance A. Endelicato, is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 30 years of litigation experience in defending professional liability claims. She defends physicians, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities, as well as legal and accounting professionals, among other service providers. She also defends employers in wrongful termination and discrimination actions. She is experienced in handling class actions, mass tort litigation, appellate and federal matters. She is admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California.
 
 Ms. Endelicato's accomplishments include her extensive trial experience has afforded her membership in the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, among a nominal number of women in the United States. Ms. Endelicato is a recipient of the 2017 Business Insurance and CLM Women to Watch Award. She also received Lawyer Magazine's 2017 and 2018 Legal Award for Elder Abuse Litigation and 2018 Women in Law Award for Litigation. Additionally, Ms. Endelicato has been named by the Los Angeles and San Francisco legal newspaper, The Daily Journal, as one of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in California. She has been honored by Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers. She has been recognized by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the Top Women Attorneys in Southern California.
 
She is currently the President of the Southern California Association of Healthcare Risk Management and is the Deputy Chair of the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management Education Development Task Force. She has also received the designation of Super Lawyer in Southern California by Los Angeles Magazine, Super Lawyer in Orange County by Orange Coast Magazine, and Top Lawyer by Pasadena Magazine. She also holds an AV-Preeminent Rating which is the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. Ms. Endelicato is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management.
 

Daniel Fallon specializes in civil litigation in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, general liability, professional liability and business litigation.  Admitted to practice in all California state and federal courts, Mr. Fallon has significant experience developing and executing litigation strategies to the benefit of his individual and corporate clients. He served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Defense Lawyers and is a Trustee for a foundation supporting non-profit organizations throughout the country.  Mr. Fallon was raised in New York where he worked at a multi-national law firm on Wall Street before obtaining his law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law.

ATTORNEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Secured judgment in favor of real estate professional clients following successful motion for directed verdict in trial arising from alleged fraud and negligence related to a real estate dispute.

Obtained dismissal with prejudice of traumatic brain injury case in defense of a well-known historic business following successful demurrer to complaint.

Successfully drafted and argued motion for summary judgment in favor of general contractor client in multi-party wrongful death lawsuit.

Negotiated beneficial settlement on behalf of a high-profile Los Angeles real estate broker in a contentious lawsuit involving allegations of toxic torts and intentional misrepresentation related to a multi-million dollar mansion sold by a Grammy-winning artist to a noted cultural institution.

Achieved substantial judgment on behalf of professional clients following several successful demurrers to complaints alleging breach of fiduciary duty with requests for punitive damages, which judgment was upheld on appeal.

Michele has been at Beazley Insurance in Farmington, CT since July 2015 where she is a Claims Manager for the US PE London binders and programs team. She handles a variety of claims involving insureds such as lawyers, insurance agents, architects & engineers, nursing homes, personal trainers, and mortgage field inspectors. Prior to joining Beazley, Michele was a Senior Claims Analyst on the E&O team at Allied World Insurance Company where she dealt with lawyers, insurance agents, and miscellaneous policies. Michele was also a lawyer at Mendes & Mount, LLP in New York City where she practiced insurance defense. Michele graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 2002. She lives in Avon, CT with her husband and three children.

Philip Grennan joined WSHB in 2014, after many years at a general defense litigation firm in Seattle, Washington. His practice concentrates on complex, general civil litigation, including defense of personal injury claims, professional liability, construction accidents, automobile tort and underinsured motorist claims, premises liability, and environmental/toxic torts. Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory conferred an “AV” rating, its highest, on Philip. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in Economics and earned his J.D. degree from the University of Washington Law School in 1977. Philip has practiced in trial courts throughout the State of Washington, the Washington Court of Appeals, the Washington Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Philip is also a member of the Oregon State Bar.

Adam Guttin is a Financial & Professional Lines Claims Manager for Starr Adjustment Services, A Member of the Starr Companies. Prior to his time at Starr, Adam was a Partner in the Boston law firm of Melick & Porter where he concentrated in the areas of insurance coverage and the defense of insureds and large self-insureds in employment litigation. Adam received his B.A. from Boston University and his J.D. from New England School of Law in Boston. 

Bari Handwerger joined York Pro, Inc. in 2016 following nearly 10 years of experience in claims handling and civil litigation.  Immediately prior to joining York Pro, Ms. Handwerger worked for a major international insurance carrier handling professional liability claims, specifically in the areas of Insurance Agent and Broker/Dealer E&O, and Employment Practices Liability.  Before she entered the insurance industry, Ms. Handwerger’s legal practice focused primarily on the defense of financial industry professionals and institutions before New York and New Jersey courts and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).  Ms. Handwerger received a B.A. in History and French from Columbia University, and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.  She is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.

Robert focuses his practice on the defense of employment, professional liability and commercial litigation claims. As part of his employment practice, Robert has handled and resolved hundreds of sensitive discrimination, harassment and wage claims for his clients and in multiple jurisdictions across the country. In the area of professional liability litigation, Robert has successfully defended attorneys, accountants, insurance agents and design professionals. Robert is also an experienced commercial litigator, regularly appearing before the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court for the County of New York (Manhattan), as well as handling litigated matters involving massive electronically stored information (ESI) discovery disputes. Across all areas of his practice, Robert and his team leverage their knowledge of cutting edge e-discovery technologies for tactical advantage.

Robert and his team advise employers on issues involving non-competes, trade secrets, intellectual property, as well as best practices for social media usage and anti-discrimination and harassment training. In his practice, Robert frequently litigates disputed claims under the ADA, Title VII, FLSA, FMLA, FDCPA, FCRA, as well as state and local laws, such as the NY Executive Law, the NY Labor Law and the New York City Administrative Code.

Robert is an invited speaker on topics including e-discovery litigation strategies and emerging employer liabilities under the Affordable Care Act, and has provided detailed advice to liability carriers and employer groups on the impacts of Sections 1557 and 1558 of that act.

Education

University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 2005, Journal of Technology Law & Policy)

Carnegie Mellon (B.A., 2001, University Honors)

Licensed to Practice in:

New York
Connecticut


Practice AreasEmployment
+Defense of ADA and sexual harassment matters in public hearings before the EEOC…

Brian Hoffman’s practice focuses on matters involving hospital care, elder care, radiology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, orthopedics, plastic surgery, urology, dentistry, chiropractic and physical therapy. He defends individuals, insurers and institutions facing claims of medical malpractice, elder abuse, negligence and fraud. His clients include nationwide professional liability insurers, hospitals, physicians and allied healthcare providers.
Brian has successfully tried and arbitrated more than 70 cases to verdict. In addition to providing his litigation skills in malpractice and elder-abuse claims, he provides legal counsel to managed healthcare organizations in medical-litigation matters addressing standard of care, billing and compensation. He has defended multinational product manufacturers and litigated many general liability matters involving catastrophic injuries and damages. Brian was recently an invited speaker to the annual Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction “SUFU” conference in Miami, FL where he discussed the legal impact of the Pelvic Mesh litigation upon the healthcare providers.

Kelly Hopper Moore is a claims leader who manages the Claims Department for the State of Oregon, which handles multi-line claims for over 100 State agencies. She has served in positions as a Senior Director of Claims, Litigation Manager, and Home Office analyst. She has handled and managed multi-line claims in all 50 venues, both commercial and personal lines, including excess and surplus. She has led claims departments and teams both in the field and within corporate offices.    She has participated in CLM via conference presentations, claims college faculty and school executive council, ADR committee co-chair, and article authorship. She is past president of the PNW Chapter of CPCU. 

Assistant Vice President, Claims & Liability, at Corporate Solutions, Swiss RE America Corporation since 2005, handling insurance agent’s and attorney’s liability claims. Previously employed as a Senior Claims Attorney at Executive Liability Division, Great American Insurance from 1998-2005, handling varied professional liability claims, including director’s and officer’s liability claims, financial entity’s liability claims, non profit executive ‘s liability claims, and employment practices liability claims. Additionally, held various management positions in human resources and risk management at W.H. Smith and Federated Department Stores. A graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Government and Economics and of DePaul University School of Law, receiving a Juris of Doctorate in law. Presently, resides in Chicago with her family and remains active in numerous community projects and youth focused volunteer activities.

Jason currently handles a wide range of high exposure and complex claims in Munich Re Specialty Insurance’s (MRSI) Complex Team.  Prior to joining MRSI in 2022, he handled professional liability claims at Markel Corporation, focusing primarily on Architects & Engineers matters nationwide.  He has also handled construction defect claims and complex coverage matters while working in the Complex Casualty group at AIG.  Before working in claims, Jason practiced law in New Jersey and New York while working at Methfessel & Werbel - a mid-sized insurance defense firm.  While in private practice, he handed property damage, bodily injury, insurance coverage, contract, and commercial issues.  Jason attended Rutgers University and received his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law.  Between college and law school, Jason worked in the construction industry, drafting bid proposals for a construction management company and an architectural/engineering firm.

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.

Alicia specializes in the litigation of claims involving employment practices, professional liability, and construction-both defect and catastrophic personal injury. She is a fierce advocate for individual, public, and private clients facing allegations of unfair employment practices, negligence, and products liability. She likewise has a proven track record in her defense of physicians, nurses, hospitals, dentists, optometrists, veterinarians and insurance professionals whose professional credentials and skills have been called into question by former clients and patients. She is widely known for her success in handling complex employment issues, both at the counseling stage and after a legal or administrative process has been initiated, for businesses ranging from small shops to Fortune 500 companies. Alicia is regarded by peers, clients, mediators, and judges as being a creative pragmatist that is adept at assessing risk and formulating legal strategies that yield positive results for her clients.

Alicia also provides HR counseling and training to various business entities and non-profit associations. She assists in the development and implementation of policies, protocols, and procedures that minimize risk and exposure on employment related matters including but not limited to wage/hour violations, medical leaves, and sensitivity training.

Alicia is an active member of the DRI Construction Law Committee and CLM. After successfully completing CLM’s Litigation Management Institute at Columbia Law School, Alicia received the designation of Certified Litigation Management Professional. She is also an Associate Member of the National Association for Professional Employer Organization (NAPEO).

Reed Kleinle is Senior Vice President, Claim Officer of Large Commercial D&O at Chubb North Americal Financial Lines Claims.

Reed's team manages complex claims under policies for Public Company Directors & Officers Management Liability, Financial Institutions Liability, Fiduciary Liability, and Insurance Company Professional Liability.  Matters under management include shareholder class actions, securities litigation, derivative litigation, fiduciary and ERISA litigation, and regulatory matters involving the SEC, DOJ and others.  Prior to joining Chubb, Reed spent over 14 years at another global insurance carrier managing similar subject matter and, before that, 10 years as an attorney in private practice handling all aspects of the investigation, negotiation and litigation of insurance defense and insurance coverage matters, including jury and bench trials, appellate proceedings, arbitrations and serving as a party-appointed arbitrator in insurance actions.

EDUCATION:  A.B. from College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA.  J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, New York, NY.

ADMISSIONS/LICENSES:  Bar Admissions: NJ.  Licensed insurance adjuster in New York and other states.

Ms. Erlich is a professional liability defense attorney specializing in defending professionals including, real estate brokers, attorneys, design professionals and insurance agents. She is a founding partner of Zelms Erlich LLP, a legal malpractice specialist, and a licensed real estate broker. Graduate of Tel-Aviv University (BA 1992, magna cum laude), Whittier Law School (JD 1997, magna cum laude) and California State University (MA, Philosophy of Law 1998). In the last 25 years she has defended many professionals through trial and appeal. Ms. Erlich is a member of the Real Estate Executive Committee of the California State Bar, a delegate to the House of Delegates, and a member of the Legal Affairs California Association of Realtors. She is on the steering committee of several Defense Research Institute committees, Professional Liability Underwriters Society Southern California Chapter, as well as, the Southern California Chapter of the Claim and Litigation Management Alliance. Ms. Erlich is a recipient of Rising Star and Super Lawyers awards, and is an author and frequent speaker on professional liability topics. Ms. Erlich is a former Israeli Defense Force officer.

Profiled in Who's Who in America and in A.M. Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys, this former law professor represents insurance carriers in high-exposure tort cases, professional liability claims, and coverage disputes. An outgrowth of his professional liability practice, Maryland attorneys have similarly called upon Mr. Kramer's expertise in legal ethics to assist with the defense of attorney grievances and professional disciplinary proceedings.  A past president of the CLM's Maryland Chapter, he has also published several articles in CLM Magazine and in CLM's Litigation Management magazine.

After graduating summa cum laude from Towson University, Mr. Kramer earned his Juris Doctor with honor from the University of Maryland School of Law, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif for high academic standing. He received a Master of Laws degree from Columbia University School of Law and served as a Vice President of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association of Washington, D.C. Mr. Kramer is a member of the bar in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and several federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

David Levesque joined Allied World in 2007. David is an Assistant Vice President in the North American Claims Group at Allied World in Farmington, Connecticut, and he is responsible for handling complex public and private directors and officers liability (D&O) claims. In addition, David handles fiduciary and crime (fidelity) claims. Prior to joining Allied World, David practiced law for more than eight years in the areas of commercial, construction and insurance litigation at two Hartford, Connecticut law firms.
 
David earned his A.B. in English at Middlebury College and his J.D. at Western New England University School of Law. David is a member of the Connecticut Bar.

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.
 

Joseph LoParrino is a Vice President for AmTrust Financial based in New York and has served in a number of leadership roles across the industry providing insurance claims and operations expertise. Joe has 20 years of experience and provides expertise with respect to organizational restructuring and transformation, complex large loss claims management, claims best practices and operational strategy and design.  Joe was previously associated with PwC's Insurance Practice as part of the Actuarial Services group, where he led a wide range of projects assiting P&C carriers and corporate risk management departments in assessing and transforming claims operations.  He has also has worked for a number of large carriers and as a Risk Manager, where he implemented risk management and compliance programs and restructured a complex insurance portfolio and managed all claims for GL, WC, Property, Auto, Cyber and Professional Lines.  Joe leads Claims for AmTrust E&S and provides claims and operational expertise and works closely with Claims, Actuarial, IT and Underwriting leadership. 

Doug has experience representing clients throughout South Carolina in all stages of civil litigation, alternate dispute resolution, and licensure matters, including serving as lead counsel in jury and non-jury trials that reached a verdict and defending clients at a contested hearing before the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

His practice involves the defense of professionals in legal, accounting, medical, insurance broker, and real estate malpractice lawsuits anddirectors and officers of homeowner associations. Doug also represents clients in general commercial litigation, transportation and premises liability cases, ERISA disability cases and he provides insurance coverage opinions.

In addition to his active litigation practice, Doug serves as general counsel for homeowners associations in South Carolina which involves assistance with drafting and revising governing documents and advising clients on the broad range of issues facing associations in South Carolina.

In 2014, Doug was appointed to the Community Association Institute (CAI) Tri-Counties Regional Advisory Council. He will serve as the Council President in 2016.

In addition, Doug was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic.

As Vice President of Claims for CPA Mutual Insurance Company of America, RRG, Wes Marston manages the claims operations, provides risk management, and handles claims made against insured members. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida in 1983 followed by a Juris Doctorate with honors in 1990 and an LL.M. in Taxation in 1992 from the University of Florida College of Law. Wes is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice in the United States Tax Court. After practicing primarily in the areas of taxation, estates and trusts and business law, Wes joined CPA Mutual in July 2002.

Dan is a Partner in L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, LLP’s Garden City office where he focuses his practice in the area of construction litigation including the representation of design professionals in state trial courts, state appellate courts, federal courts, mediations and professional disciplinary matters. Dan has experience defending architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors and material suppliers in a wide range of multi-party complex construction claims including personal injury, labor law, malpractice, property damage, delay and breach of contract.

Dan is admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of New York, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Chaminade Alumni Lawyers Association and holds the Preeminent AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.

Dan graduated from the University of Scranton in 1996, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.  Thereafter, he earned his Master of Arts degree in History in 1998 from St. John’s University and subsequently earned his Juris Doctor in 2003 from St. John’s University School of Law.

Sherry Merber has over 21 years of civil litigation experience and nearly 9 years of experience in the reinsurance industry. Ms. Merber joined Arch Re in January 2010 and took over management of the Claims Department in 2012. Prior to joining Arch, she was a practicing insurance defense litigator with extensive experience in the state and federal courts of New York, New Jersey and Illinois.    
 
She graduated from George Washington University Law School in 1989.  

Jeff Mokotoff has a broad employment law practice and routinely counsels clients on a myriad of employment issues, drafts and reviews employment, arbitration and noncompete agreements, conducts management training, and litigates and tries employment cases, both in court and in arbitration.

Before rejoining FordHarrison in January 2017, after a 16-year career with the firm from 1996-2012, Jeff held the position of Chief Administrative Officer and Counsel for Turner Enterprises, Inc. (TEI), Ted Turner’s private company that oversees all of Mr. Turner’s business interests. As Chief Administrative Officer, Jeff managed and oversaw all legal, administrative and employment aspects of Mr. Turner’s business interests, to include over 2,000,000 acres of land, numerous bison ranches and several hospitality venues.

In 2015, Jeff founded and developed Ted Turner Expeditions, a hospitality company that affords the public an opportunity to visit and explore over 1,000,000 acres of Mr. Turner's landholdings. While at TEI, Jeff also served as employment counsel for Ted’s Montana Grill, a restaurant chain owned by Mr. Turner with 46 restaurants in 18 different states.

Jeff has extensive experience in representing clients concerning cases involving non-compete agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, employment/business torts, and wage and hour litigation. During law school, Jeff was the Executive Notes and Comments Editor of the Emory International Law Review.

Jeff has served as lead counsel in several multi-state wage/hour class and collective actions, as lead counsel in a defense verdict win at trial defending against a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, and as lead co-counsel in a five year multi-million dollar trade secret litigation, where after a two-week trial, the firm obtained a directed verdict in favor of the defendant on all damage claims.

Alex Niederman is Coverage Counsel and Litigation Manager in Amerisure Insurance's Office of Legal Counsel, where he serves as in-house counsel for claims, product, and underwriting matters. Alex drafts coverage opinions for the claims department; manages the company's declaratory judgment, bad faith, and extracontractual litigation; and advises the company's underwriters on matters of policy drafting, statutory requirements, and risk transfer provisions in their customers' work contracts.

Alex has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry. From 2008-2015, Alex worked in private practice as an insurance defense attorney for multiple firms in New York City, focusing on the defense of attorneys, design professionals, developers and contractors, accountants, broker/dealers, insurance agents, directors and officers, condos/HOAs, and healthcare professionals. From 2015-2021, Alex worked as a complex liability claims adjuster for YorkPro and then Liberty Mutual, focusing primarily on matters involving construction professionals. In 2021, Alex transitioned into a role as in-house coverage counsel in Liberty Mutual's Legal Department, where he managed insurance coverage and claims handling practices litigation. Alex worked at Liberty until his recent move to Amerisure in the Spring of 2024.

Alex is admitted to practice law in New York and Massachusetts, and he lives outside of Boston, MA with his wife and two daughters.

Mitch is a founding member of Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C., in Chicago, which was formed in 1984. His practice is devoted to the defense of professional and general liability claims and to the resolution of insurance and reinsurance disputes. He has represented lawyers and other professionals in various courts across the United States and has been active in litigation, arbitration and other methods of alternative dispute resolution where he has served as both advocate and arbitrator. He has been listed in all editions of Guide to the World’s Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers and in Who’s Who Legal, Insurance & Reinsurance. He has also been named as an Illinois “Super Lawyer” and to the Illinois Network of Leading Lawyers in recognition of his achievements and professional standing. 
 
Mitch has devoted more than 35 years of service to the American Bar Association, holding numerous leadership positions and organizing and participating in numerous conferences. He recently completed his three-year term on the ABA’s Board of Governors and served for many years on its policy-making body, the House of Delegates. He was the chair of the ABA’s Section Officers Conference, where he represented the approximately 240,000 members of the sections of the American Bar Association. Previously, he served as chair of the ABA’s 30,000 member Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section and of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Continuing Education of the Bar. He was also vice chair of the ABA’s Presidential Commission on the Unintended Consequences of the Billable Hour (Justice Stephen G. Breyer, chair).
 
Mitch has also served as a member of various committees and task forces dealing with lawyers’ professional liability and cyber security. He has been a frequent author and speaker on cyber and professional liability topics here in the U.S. and abroad.
 
 

Fred Perez is Vice President and Executive General Adjuster for McLarens Global Claims Services, an adjusting firm with more than 300 offices in over 80 countries.  Fred entered the insurance industry in 1978 after graduating from UCLA with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. Later, he attended Southwestern University School of Law and joined McLarens in 1990. 
Fred is a licensed adjuster in California, Nevada, Idaho & Utah. He has been involved in a number of losses spread between various lines of business. Fred also serves the specialty market by attending mediations and settlement conferences on behalf of insurers’.
His liability experience encompasses all aspects of casualty claims. He has adjusted numerous multi-million dollar claims. Fred has acted as the Third Party Claims Administrator on several programs for domestic Insurers and London Underwriters.
Fred has served as Chapter Secretary, Vice Chair & Chair of the Southern California Chapter of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) He is also past president of the Southern California Insurance Professionals (SCIP) and has served as a member of the Board of the Latin American Agents Association (LAAA).

Maurice is a Partner in the Basking Ridge office. He has represented domestic and international insurers in connection with insurance coverage and liability issues arising under major professional liability lines, including directors and officers (public and private company), banker and financial professional liability, errors and omissions and fiduciary liability. Maurice has worked with insurers in resolving hundreds of these matters through mediation, domestic and international arbitration, and in coverage litigation before State and Federal Courts across the country.

His work includes advising insurers on coverage and liability/damages issues in securities class actions, shareholders derivative actions, private equity disputes, regulatory investigations/proceedings, transactional litigation, and bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Insurance company clients have sought Maurice for advice and guidance on many of their most significant matters, including some of the most high-profile D&O/FI matters of the past two decades. Maurice also counsels insurance company clients with respect to claims and underwriting issues, and works with insurance company clients on developing new insurance products and drafting policy forms and specialized endorsements.

Maurice is a frequent speaker and author on issues of interest to professional liability insurers, specifically with respect to exposures faced by directors and officers and how those exposure can impact professional liability insurers. Maurice is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS).

Ms. Quarles has been in the insurance business for 25+ years, having practiced law before joining the insurance industry as a Claim Attorney. She focuses on Professional Liability exposures and the unique cyber risk insurance needs of Professionals.
 
Before joining the Finex U.S. team, Ms. Quarles was responsible for a $25,000,000 lawyer’s malpractice program within Willis. In this role, she was responsible for risk management, claim coordination, program development, and strategic planning.
 
Prior to joining Willis in 2000, Ms. Quarles was responsible for developing a 50 state professional liability program for the Berkley Group. In that capacity, Ms. Quarles formulated departmental guidelines and procedures; drafted and implemented underwriting guidelines, initiated product development, drafted policies, evaluated new business opportunities, and analyzed underwriting results. 
 
While employed with Virginia Surety, Ms. Quarles was responsible for restructuring several unprofitable professional liability programs and returning them to profitability. Product lines included: Lawyers, Insurance Agents, and Specified Professionals.
 
As a Senior Attorney at Shand, Morahan, Ms. Quarles supervised a caseload of Lawyers, Products Liability, Architects and Engineers, and Realtors claims.

Cathleen is a partner and shareholder at Rebar Kelly. She has been advising and counseling clients in complex litigation matters for over two decades. She represents leading insurance companies and their insureds in multi-faceted matters involving violations of professional standards of care. Cathleen’s representation extends to design professionals, architects, engineers, contractors, surveyors, appraisers, environmental consultants, agents, brokers, service providers, medical professionals, business professionals, food manufacturers and distributors and property owners.

Cathleen has represented clients in the following types of claims:

duty to represent dangerous conditions inadequate security failure to advise, failure to implement design specifications failure to supervise, failure to inspect design defects errors in professional judgment and failure to refer failure to meet/inform of deadlines failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis emergency medical care and nursing mistakes mental health issues corporate liability subcontractor responsibility/indemnification indemnity and obtaining coverage under additional insured status failure to warn

Cathleen has defended one of the nation’s largest healthcare providers in claims of medical malpractice. She has also represented design professionals in legal matters stemming from defective design of electrical equipment resulting in multiple claims and lawsuits. Cathleen has been defending one of the region’s largest real estate brokers in errors and omissions matters for over a decade. She has also represented physicians in connection with allegations of failing to properly diagnose, as well as long-term care facilities against allegations of inappropriate preventative measures for the avoidance of pressure sores. Cathleen also defended one of the country’s largest retail suppliers of electronics in claims of product defects and premise liability matters.

Education: Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1998 & Long Island University, B.A., 1995, magna cum laude
 

 

Tim is the managing partner of WSHB’s Seattle office. He handles a variety of complex civil litigation matters and practices primarily in the areas of construction, employment, environmental, professional liability, and insurance coverage. Tim regularly represents builders and developers in a range of residential and commercial construction matters and has litigated large-scale environmental contamination cases brought under state and federal environmental laws and other environmental exposure and toxic tort cases. He handles cases in state and federal court in Washington and Oregon, at the trial court and appellate levels.

Tim has served as lead trial counsel in complex litigation matters and has tried high exposure jury cases to verdict with great success. Additionally, he frequently acts as an arbitrator in King County Superior Court. Tim attended the CLM Litigation Management Institute in 2013 and earned the designation of Certified Litigation Management Professional. He has also been selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine.

 

Nicole is licensed in Oregon and Washington, and has been a litigator her entire career. She has tried and arbitrated numerous cases in Oregon and Washington ranging in value from a few thousand dollars to in excess of twenty million dollars. Among her areas of expertise, Nicole has extensive experience handling cases involving sex abuse, employment, professional liability,
liquor liability, and medical malpractice. She is a regular speaker and educator on various topics. Nicole has served on two non-profit boards and is currently President of CLM Oregon. Nicole is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Recent Examples of Cases by Practice Area

Employment
Dismissal of employment claim: Sexual orientation discrimination
Motion for summary judgment granted: Age discrimination
Dismissal of employment claims: Race discrimination/sexual harassment/whistleblowing/retaliation
Dismissal of claims: Intentional interference with economic relations/"aiding and abetting"/
retaliation for taking leave protected by the Oregon Family Leave Act

Liquor Liability/Professional Liability/Product Liability
Affirmance in Oregon Supreme Court on liquor liability claims
Dismissal: $8 million personal injury/negligence case
Motion for summary judgment granted: $10 million liquor liability case
Spoliation of evidence sanction against plaintiff in products liability case leads to nuisance value settlement
Punitive damages motion for summary judgment granted

Sex Abuse/Vulnerable Person Claims
Dismissal: $1 million sex abuse/negligence case
Six-week sex abuse trial: Insured found only 15 percent liable and no punitive damages awarded
Motion for summary judgment granted: Abuse of vulnerable person claims/negligent supervision
and retention
Abuse of vulnerable person claim: Defense analysis lead to no contribution being offered toward
settlement by carrier and no suit filed against insured

Medical Malpractice/Medical Intensive Cases
Week-long trial of neck injury/surgery case results in verdict over $900,000 less than plaintiff's last demand
Dismissal: Department of Health complaint against therapist
Dismissal: Nursing board complaint
Dismissal: $2.5 million medical malpractice/wrongful death case
Defense verdict: Brain injury/personal injury claim
Dismissal: Department of Health complaint against physician
Medical malpractice/wrongful death claims: Dismissed on motion for summary judgment
Dismissal: Department of Health complaint against physician

Erin M. Ringbloom is a Vice President of North American Claims at Allied World Insurance Company in Farmington, CT. She manages the team responsible for handling the company’s employment practices liability and governmental liability claims nationwide. Before assuming this role, Erin was an Assistant Vice President and Senior Claims Analyst with Allied World, handling complex employment practices and governmental liability claims. She is a graduate of Western New England University School of Law and a member of the Connecticut Bar.

David is Chief Claims Officer for Trium Cyber U.S. Services, Inc., overseeing all aspects of Trium's claim department. Prior to joining Trium, David was Head of E&O Claims and Cyber Claims Response Team for the Allied World North American Claims Group. In this role he oversaw claims professionals handling claims for cyber, lawyers liability, insurance agents/brokers liability, architects & engineers liability, contractor's professional liability, and miscellanous professionals liability. Prior to joining the insurance industry, David was in private practice where he ran a general litigation law firm in Springfield, Massachusetts.  His primary areas of practice were civil litigation and criminal defense. David graduated from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona and earned his J.D. from Western New England University School of Law where he was a member of the Law Review.  David is a member of the bar in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States District Court District of Massachusetts, and United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit.  

Stephanie S. Rojo is a commercial litigator and is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  Stephanie has been repeatedly named a Texas Super Lawyer and Texas Rising Star, and in 2017 and 2018 was named one of 50 Up-and-Coming Women Rising Stars by Texas Super Lawyers.  

Labor & Employment (Litigation & Counseling) – Stephanie represents employers and their leadership in discrimination and retaliation lawsuits and charges of discrimination, wage claims, suits for breach of contract and various employment-related torts, and suits for violation of state and federal statutes, such as the FLSA, the FMLA, WARN, and the Texas workers’ compensation retaliation statute. In addition, Stephanie has prepared hundreds of employment contracts, severance agreements, non-competes and other restrictive covenants, arbitration agreements, and employee handbooks and policies.  Stephanie advises clients daily on handing complex HR issues, compliance with various employment statutes, and proactively avoiding employee complaints. 

Commercial Litigation – Stephanie also represents businesses, non-profits, and their directors and officers in a variety of commercial disputes, including breach-of-contract claims, claims of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and misrepresentation, Deceptive Trade Practices Act cases, and community association and condominium governance issues.

Karen Salmon, Esq. AIC, AIS, is VP at GB Healthcare, currently working as the client liaison between GB Healthcare and one of their most prestigious healthcare client partners.  Working directly with C-suite level program executives, she provides direct oversight of large exposure complex professional and general liability claims, and directs the strategy of the program; from evaluation, retention and direction of counsel, as well as cases strategy and finances.  Karen is key in ensuring their program is at the forefront of industry standards. Karen is an IronMan triathlete, ultra marathoner, and yoga teacher, further marrying discipline with her mindset to aid client parters in achieving their program goals. By engaging in these activities, she has the space to think strategically, and align this with her client service model. Karen is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, and New England School of Law. A member of the South Carolina Bar, Karen holds insurance adjuster licenses in multiple jurisdictions, and has earned the Associates in Claims (AIC), and Associate in Insurance Services (AIS).  She previously served as the Regional Manager, NC and VP of Hospital and Allied Claims for MagMutual Insurance Company. 
 

Zoe Schneider is a passionate singer, speaker, and poet whose moral compass points her in the direction of service to her local and global communities. A recent Music Business and Management graduate from Berklee College of Music, Zoe involved herself in on-campus initiatives during her undergraduate career, such as HeForShe and the Time’s Up movement, two organizations fighting against gender inequality, while acting as a student ambassador and working in the Africana Studies Center, just to name a few. Zoe was honored as a Bill Pierce MLK scholar, as well as a recipient of the Berklee Social Justice award for her extensive work in empowering and supporting underrepresented groups on campus. She has expanded her volunteering to the Amala Foundation in Austin, Texas for events such as the Global Youth Peace Summit, and International Peace Initiatives in Meru, Kenya, which provides homes for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as training in peace education and conflict resolution. This fall, she will begin a dual master’s degree program in Contemporary Bass Performance and Global Entertainment Music Business at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain.
 
Daily, Zoe aims to use her art as a way to bring people together, with the goal of fostering deep mutual love and respect capable of awakening the sense of shared humanity. She is a proponent of approaching all people and situations with an inquisitive mind and open heart. Zoe believes that it is the power of vulnerability, incessant curiosity, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity and truth, that provides the foundation for an extraordinary life.

Barbara Serafini is a Senior Vice President at GB Specialty – a division of Gallagher Bassett, where she manages a complex caseload of professional liability claims against lawyers, insurance agents and brokers and title agents on behalf of several different carriers. Barbara’s claims include several matters with considerable exposure and significant coverage issues. Barbara enjoys analyzing coverage and formulating resolution strategies for her claims and cares deeply about getting the best possible result for each claim as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective manner. Toward that end, Barbara negotiates settlements with claimants and their counsel and manages defense counsel for policyholders. Barbara participates in numerous mediations and settlement conferences and monitors trials, providing detailed reports to management concerning witness testimony, potential for exposure, coverage issues and any settlement opportunities. Barbara is also responsible for overseeing and training junior claims counsel in the non-medical professional claims department.
Prior to joining GB Specialty, Barbara was the Assistant Vice President of RPS Plus Companies, formerly known as the Plus Companies, Inc., handling multiple professional liability claims for various product lines. Previously, Barbara was a Senior Claims Specialist at Liberty International Underwriters where she also handled professional liability claims against attorneys and insurance agents and brokers. Barbara started her insurance career as an associate at Wilson Elser, LLP working as coverage and monitoring counsel for a London-based insurer.

Jennifer Sherber, JD is the Claims Director of Senior Care and Miscellaneous Medical at ProAssurance. In this role she leads senior care liability professionals working with national counsel to manage senior care and miscellaneous medical claims. Prior to joining ProAssurance, Jennifer was a Claims Attorney for the Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund and most recently Mrs. Sherber was the Vice President of Claims at Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company (KAMMCO).

Jennifer received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Kansas and a licensed Casualty Adjuster for all lines except Workers' Compensation in Connecticut. In 2014, Jennifer completed the CLM’s Litigation Management Institute and is a Certified Litigation Management Professional. 




 

Mark D. Shifton focuses his practice in the areas of complex civil and commercial litigation in the state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York. Mark routinely represents owners, design professionals, and contractors in cases involving construction disputes and catastrophic property losses, and has extensive experience representing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of a wide variety of industrial, consumer, and recreational products, including green building products, in both individual and class actions. Mark is regularly called upon to speak to various legal, insurance, and industry organizations on various topics such as investigating and defending catastrophic property loss claims, construction defect litigation, and risk management. Mark also routinely defends professional liability actions brought against attorneys, architects, and engineers, as well as insurance industry and healthcare professionals. 

In addition to his complex litigation practice, Mark also maintains a practice in the area of green building and sustainable development, and routinely advises developers, design professionals, and contractors about the rapidly-evolving standards and developments in green building. Mark has been accredited as a LEED Green Associate by the Green Building Certification Institute, and is the editor of Green Building/Construction Law (www.greenbuildingconstructionlaw.com), a blog dealing with the legal issues surrounding green building, sustainability, and the construction industry. He has spoken widely on green building and construction issues, before a variety of organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, the Defense Research Institute, and the Property & Liability Resource Bureau.

Mark currently serves as the Marketing Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Construction Law Committee, and recently completed a two-year term as the Chair of the Product Liability Committee’s Building Products Specialized Litigation Group.

Shannan Smith joined Lockton in July 2012 and is the Director of Claims for the Mountain West Series. In addition to managing the claims department, Shannan focuses on client accounts in the healthcare, hospitality, risk managment and real estate industries. Shannan handles claims in all lines of coverage including worker’s compensation, general and professional liability, auto, property, D&O and employment practices liability. Before joining Lockton, Shannan spent the first twelve years of her legal career as corporate counsel for a Denver-based travel nurse organization. She received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, then went on to earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law and finally obtained her M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.

David is a Claims Manager in the Financial and Professional Lines unit for Starr Adjustment Services, A Member of the Starr Companies. In this role he handles various Professional Liability claims including lawyers, accountants, debt collectors, real estate professionals and cyber. Prior to his time at Starr, David was a Claims Analyst in the Errors and Omissions department at American International Group. David received his B.A. in Politics from Brandeis University.
 

Jennifer Stancil joined Beazley Group in 2014 in the Group Claims – Specialty Lines Division as an Employment Practices Liability Claim Manager. Beazley Group is a Lloyd’s of London syndicate and a global insurer with an expertise in specialist products. In this capacity, Jennifer manages employment practices liability claims for both U.S. and London markets.  Prior to joining Beazley, Jennifer was an attorney in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing in the areas of insurance, general liability, and employment defense litigation.  Jennifer earned her B.A. from Wake Forest University and J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. 

Gary Strong focuses his practice in the areas of construction litigation and professional malpractice defense including representation of design professionals, insurance brokers, real estate agents, lawyers, and accountants in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York. He has represented a variety of clients in the construction arena, including project owners, developers, design professionals, general and prime contractors, and specialty trade contractors, in all phases of construction and commercial litigation. He regularly counsels clients during the pre-construction and construction phases on issues including contract negotiations, risk management, and disputes. His representation extends to both public and private projects, and addresses payment claims, delay and impacts, acceleration, design issues, lien law, bond claims and surety issues, defective work, and wrongful termination. He has extensive experience in construction lien foreclosure actions involving the New Jersey Construction Lien Law and New Jersey’s Municipal Mechanics’ Lien Law.

Gary is a member of the Young Leadership Committee of the ACEC. He is editor of the Construction Law Newsletter of the Construction Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar.
 
 

Lisa Unger began her career in insurance in 1990 working for Chubb & Son, Inc., in New York City. She was responsible for handling various types of general liability claims including Labor Law, Products Liability, Premises Liability, Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Advertising Injury and Personal. She joined AIGTS as a Complex Director in 1996, responsible for handling excess construction defect cases, most of which were located on the West Coast. In 1998, Lisa moved to California and was a Claims Supervisor for Zurich N.A. handling mostly construction defect primary and excess claims in California, Nevada, Colorado and Texas as well as handling complex general liability claims. In 2002, Lisa begain working Markel as a Senior Claims Examiner handling construction defect claims, high exposure general liability excess/umbrella, environmental claims and coverage cases nationwide. Lisa later became part of the Global Management Liability Team handling a wide array claims involving Employment Practices and Third Party Discrimination Liability and Fiduciary Liability, Directors and Officers Liability and Tenant Discrimination. In addition to working on specialty projects, Lisa served as the west coast mediation specialist. Lisa accepted the position of Director of Casualty Claims at Hallmark Financial Services located in Dallas, overseeing a team handling construction defect and general liability claims. Lisa is currently an independent claims advocate who continues to utilize her claims, negotiation and mediation skills to effectuate meaningful case resolutions on a national basis. Lisa is a graduate of Colgate University where she was a double major in English and Fine Arts. Lisa currently served as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of The CLM, is a Chair of the CLM ADR committees, was the Treasurer of the Construction Defect Charitable Community Foundation (“CDCCF”) and remains involved with many charitable organizations.

Monica, legal counsel for Suitsupply, is the sole US attorney responsible for the North American market. Monica advises the business and provides strategic guidance on a wide range of legal issues relating to intellectual property law, employment law, commercial contracting, E-Commerce, property law, privacy law, insurance, commercial tenancy, and various corporate legal matters. Monica graduated from The George Washington University Law School in 2009.

Kelly Waters is a Partner in Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP’s New York office and Managing Partner of the firm’s New Jersey office. Ms. Waters has built her practice around an enviable record of success defending businesses and employers in complex litigation matters in the area of construction, employment practices, product liability, professional liability and commercial related matters.  Ms. Waters’ employment practice includes defending employers and management-side employees against claims of discrimination and wage and hour violations under state and federal laws. She also serves as General Counsel to a number of small and medium sized businesses where she provides advice on personnel issues, risk management strategies, litigation management, employment and general commercial best practices. Additionally, Ms. Waters serves as a Municipal Court Judge in the Townships of Union and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. As a Municipal Court Judge, Kelly routinely presides over trials involving DWI, domestic violence, violations of New Jersey motor vehicle laws and municipal ordinances. Ms. Waters has been rated an AV Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.  

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.

Lee Weatherly has been lead counsel in over 75 jury trials and is a member of both the South Carolina and Kentucky Bars. He has tried cases to verdict involving medical malpractice, premises liability, food contamination, automobile and motor carrier liability, business and commercial litigation, employment litigation, and property disputes.  Lee’s current practice focuses on cases involving medical malpractice and defending commerical entities in personal injury matters. 

Lee is a graduate of Centre College and the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was a member of the Kentucky Law Journal (Law Review).  He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) an invitation only organiation of experienced trial attorneys and judges.  Lee lives on the Isle of Palms with his wife and two daughters.  

Brian Weeks focuses his practice on all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, trade secret, competition, and wage and hour issues. He represents all types and sizes of employers in a variety of employment issues, including employee discipline and termination, workplace investigations, and adherence to federal and state family and medical leave laws.

Brian's practice includes counseling employers on preventative practices by working with them to focus on how to maintain proper and low-risk work environments, training and helping them adapt to legal changes, and ultimately, working to minimize their exposure to litigation or investigation.

Should litigation become necessary, Brian has successfully represented employers in Oregon and Washington in state and federal courts, as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, and the Washington Human Rights Commission.

To help prevent employer-related labor problems, Brian regularly provides presentations and training seminars to businesses and trade organizations on important employment law issues affecting employers. These training seminars have covered areas such as supervisor and manager training, anti-discrimination and employment leave laws, documenting employee performance and discipline, human resources processes, social media, and worker classification.

Education:
University of Oregon, School of Law - J.D., 2003
Central Washington University - B.A., 2000

Gwen P. Weisberg is a Partner in the Professional Practices and Immigration Groups at Donovan Hatem LLP. Gwen has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts, through trial and appeal, including construction, corporate, commercial, real estate, surety, federal receivership and insurance defense litigation matters. She provides proactive risk management services to clients to assist in effectively operating their practices and avoiding litigation, including presenting industry innovations and legal developments, restructuring and redrafting contracts, and negotiating matters in advance of litigation to enable project delivery.Employing her multi-state knowledge base, Gwen creatively and efficiently manages and resolves claims for design professionals throughout the United States. She evaluates realistic exposure to enable productive settlement negotiations, manage expectations and establish budgetary goals. Additionally, she manages all administrative aspects of claims management programs for insurance clients including developing billing protocols, ensuring billing reconciliation, and negotiating billing disputes.

Moreover, Gwen develops legal and fact-based defense strategies for success in alternative dispute resolution and trial. She has litigated student loan bankruptcy discharge proceedings, and mediated and arbitrated commercial and construction disputes. Representing clients before federal and municipal agencies and administrative boards, Gwen engages in all aspects of employment-based immigration, including non-immigrant visas, permanent residency petitions, immigration compliance, and I-9 employment verification audits. She provides employment-based immigration solutions for clients including developing compliance methods to meet ever-changing statutory and regulatory requirements, effectively maintaining immigration-based employment data, delivering strategic immigration advice to assist in the operation of corporate environments, identifying trends in the field, and preparing and filing petitions and appeals.

Beth Whitney is the Head of Small and Mid-Sized Lawyers Underwriting at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in Chicago, IL.  During her 16 years at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions she has also held positions as the Head of North America Lawyers & Agents Products, Lawyers Risk Manager and Client Operations Leader and other positions in the Lawyers Claims group.
 
Beth earned her Juris Doctorate at DePaul University.  Before joining Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, she practiced insurance defense at a large Chicago law firm where she successfully tried numerous jury trials to verdict.  Beth also holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.  Prior to attending law school, she worked for Raytheon Engineers and Constructors in Philadelphia, PA in their nuclear and environmental groups. 

I began my insurance career in 1989 after graduating from College of the Ozarks with a BS in Business Administration. I had a wonderful mentor and he encouraged me to obtain my CPCU designation, which I did in 2003. I followed this with additional insurance courses and designations including AIC-M, and SCLA.  I served as President of our local CPCU chapter in 2004 and 2005.   I have had the opportunity to work in agency, underwriting, claims and litigation.  Each area has provided me with opportunities and challenges, along with growth.  I am fortunate to really love what I do and this allows me to be engaged,  as well as be excited for the future opportunities the insurance industry offers.  Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, boating, and most anything outdoors where I can be with my family and friends creating a lifetime of memories.

Courtney S. Young, Esq., joined Medmarc in 2011 where she is now the Senior Attorney for Risk Management. Her primary responsibilities include the development of resources on products liability avoidance and regular correspondence with brokers, policyholders, and underwriters in efforts to evaluate and mitigate products liability risk. Ms. Young works with drug and device makers, component-part manufacturers, and raw-ingredient suppliers before and after products liability claims to identify and assess their products liability exposures and mitigate future liability. She has also spent significant time in the analysis and development of the products/completed operations and errors and omissions insurance policies. Prior to joining Medmarc, she garnered both law-firm and government-agency experience in Washington, DC.             
 
Ms. Young is a frequently-published author on products liability risk management for industry organizations and publications. She also maintains a blog on products liability issues for the life sciences industry, on which she discusses recent products liability litigation, FDA regulatory activity, and industry news.

Ms. Young received her law degree from the George Mason University School of Law, where she finished in the top quarter of her class; and, is a member of the California and District of Columbia Bars. She is also a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received dual bachelor’s degrees in Business Economics and Political Science.