I am delighted to welcome you to the Fall Edition of the ACCC Newsletter, which contains a lot of great information about ACCC’s projects and programs for the year. This report highlights some of our progress. We recently had our first full board meeting of the year. The Board of Regents reviewed reports of the various committees. I was so impressed by these reports which reflect the hard work of our members. The Committees are the heart of our community - The place where things get done. We have all been in organizations where committees are dormant. Not so here! I heard Committee reports about writing compendiums, scheduling webinars, and coordinating panels for the Symposium and the Annual Meeting. Thanks to all Committee Chairs! While each year we have special events, Committees sustain the College on a continuing basis. What I find most gratifying is the participation of our younger members, whose enthusiasm is remarkable.
Now to a report on our upcoming projects. You will see an article in this newsletter
calling for papers for the new Insurance Law Journal we are publishing with the University of Connecticut Law School. We are looking at a January publication date. Please review the Article written by Mike Aylward and Doug Skelley about the Journal and requirements for papers.
Next, registration looks good for our Annual Insurance Law Symposium to be held in Hartford, Connecticut on November 7. The program is entitled “Insurance Coverage for Mass Disasters with a Focus on Cyber Risk and Cyber Insurance.” It will be an outstanding and timely event. Please look at the program’s agenda and register for it. Don’t forget to sign up for our optional tour and dinner at the Mark Twain house the night before. Hats off to Steve Goldman and Tracy Saxe for their efforts to put together what promises to be an outstanding event.
The “Silver Tsunami” Task Force was created so the ACCC can tackle a problem that is arising with many bar groups - older members are retiring and not being replaced.
Steve Pate
Cozen O'Connor
President’s Message (Continued)
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I am happy to report that this Task Force, ably chaired by Alex Henlin and Creighton Page, composed of many of our younger Fellows, has met and begun to formulate plans to locate younger attorneys as potential members. The group has already developed a candidate list and shared it with the Membership Committee.
Finally, the ACCC is increasing its collaboration with other organizations that share similar goals. With that in mind, the College has been asked to
highlight the re-birth of the American Chapter of AIDA (the Association Internationale de Droit des Assurances, aka the International Insurance Law Association). The American Chapter has been dormant, but recently there has been an impressive campaign to reconstitute the US chapter. Many of our members are involved with this re-birth. AIDA has pulled together a great list of advisors who are both academics and practitioners. They are actively planning a March conference
at Duke - Vanderbilt must have already been booked - that will be open to all interested. The program is entitled, “The Insurance Law Forum: Global Perspectives” and will be held March 11-13 at Duke Law School.
AIDA’ s leadership is extending a special invitation to this Conference to ACCC Members. More details will be provided later but save the date if interested.
Have a great fall, and I hope to see you at the Symposium.
Stephen Pate
Call for Committee Volunteers
Want to become more involved in the ACCC?
JOIN A COMMITTEE!
Our Committee Co-Chairs actively seek volunteers to join and participate on their committees throughout the year.
Click on the links below to learn more about each committee:
` ADR
` CGL/Excess Liability Insurance
` Communications
` Cyber, Computer & Emerging Issues
` D&O Management & Professional Liability
` Extracontractual and Bad-Faith
` Claims Litigation
` First-Party Insurance
` Outreach & Regional Meetings
` Pop-Up Dialogues
` Professionalism and Ethics
Press Here to Volunteer Now!
Questions? Contact us at info@americancollegecoverage.org.
ACCC Announces Fall Symposium: Insurance Coverage for Mass Disasters With a Focus on Cyber Risk and Cyber Insurance
Exploring the Evolving Landscape of Insurance Law, Technology, and Risk Management
The ACCC is proud to unveil its highly anticipated Fall Symposium, set to take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford. This day-long event brings together leading minds in the fields of insurance law, cyber risk, and risk management, presenting a rare opportunity for professionals, academics, and students to engage in comprehensive dialogue around one of the most pressing issues facing the insurance industry today: the increasing complexity and challenges of coverage for mass disasters in the digital age.
Setting the Stage: Why Cyber Risk and Mass Disaster Coverage Matter
Mass disasters - whether natural or manmade - have long posed significant challenges for insurers, policyholders, and the legal community. In recent years, the rise of systemic cyber threats, including ransomware attacks and coordinated cyber intrusions, has brought new
urgency to the conversation. The interconnectedness of modern business, government, and infrastructure means that the impact of a single cyber event can ripple across industries, nations, and even the global economy.
This symposium will delve into the theme: “Insurance Coverage for Mass Disasters with a Focus on Cyber Risk and Cyber Insurance,” setting the stage for a day of rigorous discussion, practical insights, and thoughtful debate. The agenda has been carefully curated to explore not only the legal nuances of cyber insurance policies but also the broader implications for risk management and resilience in an era of everevolving digital threats.
Leadership and Collaboration
Co-chaired by Tracy Alan Saxe of Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. and Stephen Goldman of Robinson & Cole, the Fall Symposium promises a dynamic exchange of perspectives. The event’s panels will
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Stephen Goldman Robinson & Cole LLP Hartford, CT
Tracy Alan Saxe Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. Trumbull, CT
feature an impressive roster of policyholder and insurerside counsel, academics, and industry professionals - voices that together represent the full spectrum of expertise needed to navigate the labyrinthine world of cyber risk coverage.
Particular gratitude is extended to Professor Travis Pantin, Director of the UConn Insurance Law Center, whose thoughtful leadership have helped craft a sophisticated agenda. UConn Law, home to a nationally recognized insurance program, stands as the ideal venue for a gathering dedicated to advancing the conversation at the intersection of law, technology, and risk management.
Symposium Program Highlights
` Distinguished Panels: Throughout the day, panels will tackle the evolving challenges in cyber insurance coverage, from the legal mechanics of coverage for cyberattacks and ransomware to the practical considerations of managing and mitigating systemic cyber risk.
` Interdisciplinary Dialogue: The Symposium bridges the gap between theory and practice, inviting perspectives from legal counsel on both sides of the aisle, seasoned industry experts, and leading academics. Attendees can expect rich discussions on
the interplay of coverage across various insurance products, including but not limited to cyber-specific policies.
` Focus on Systemic Risks: While cyber insurance is the central theme, the program will also explore how coverage responds to other mass disasters - natural catastrophes, pandemics, and manmade crises - highlighting the role of technology and data in shaping new risk landscapes.
` Opportunities for Networking and Engagement: The Symposium is designed to foster connections with law students, collaboration, and community among professionals at all stages of their careers. Whether you are a student eager to learn, a seasoned attorney, or an industry leader, you will find both inspiration and actionable insights.
A Special Evening: Celebrating Hartford’s Heritage
The ACCC understands that community and culture enrich the experience of professional development. In addition to Friday’s programming, attendees are invited to a special Thursday evening event - an exclusive opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of Hartford.
` Private Tour of the Mark Twain House: Step into the world of Samuel Clemens, better known
as Mark Twain, whose literary legacy is woven into the fabric of Hartford.
The private tour offers attendees a glimpse into the life and times of one of America’s greatest writers.
` Dinner in the Historic Hal Holbrook Room: Following the tour, guests will dine in the Hal Holbrook Room, named for the celebrated Twain scholar and performer, providing an atmosphere of elegance and inspiration. This event pays homage to Hartford’s vibrant culture and invites attendees to connect in a setting that transcends the boundaries of law and insurance.
Gratitude and Acknowledgments
The planning and execution of an event of this scale require vision and dedication. The ACCC extends its heartfelt thanks to ACCC President Stephen Pate, whose leadership and unwavering support have been instrumental in bringing the Symposium to fruition. President Pate’s commitment to advancing thought leadership in insurance law is reflected in every detail of the event, from the choice of venue to the structure of the program.
Why the ACCC Fall Symposium Matters
Insurance law stands at the crossroads of public policy,
private enterprise, and personal protection. The rapid evolution of technology, coupled with the increasing frequency and severity of mass disasters, has made the question of coverage more critical - and more complex - than ever before. The ACCC Fall Symposium offers a forum for deep exploration of these challenges, equipping participants with the knowledge and networks needed to respond to emerging risks and shape the future of the field.
Whether you are new to the world of insurance law or a seasoned practitioner, the Symposium is an invitation to think boldly, collaborate widely, and contribute meaningfully to the ongoing evolution of coverage counsel.
Who Should Attend?
` Attorneys specializing in insurance coverage and litigation
` Insurance industry professionals focused on risk management and product development
` Academics and researchers in law, cybersecurity, technology, and policy
` Law students interested in building expertise in insurance law and cyber risk
` Policyholders, insurers, and brokers navigating the complexities of coverage
` Anyone with a stake in the future of risk management and resilience
What to Expect
` In-Depth Learning: Sessions will provide both foundational knowledge and cuttingedge updates on cyber risk, insurance law, and the interplay between traditional and emerging coverage products.
` Real-World Insights: Presenters will draw from recent case studies, regulatory developments, and industry best practices, offering practical guidance for managing risk and responding to claims.
` Interactive Q&A: Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with panelists and speakers, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual learning.
` Networking Opportunities: The Symposium is designed to encourage connection, with informal gatherings, meals, and social events that build professional relationships and collegiality.
How to Register
Registration details for the ACCC Fall Symposium is available via the ACCC website. Early registration is encouraged, as spaces are limited and demand is high. Be sure to secure your spot for this landmark event, which promises both intellectual stimulation and professional growth.
Conclusion
As Hartford prepares to welcome students, ACCC members, colleagues, and friends this November, the excitement is palpable. The ACCC Fall Symposium is more than just a conference - it is an opportunity to learn, connect, and contribute to the future of insurance law in the digital age. With its stellar lineup of speakers, rich programming, and engaging social events, this gathering stands poised to become a highlight of the season for all who care about the intersection of law, technology, and risk.
Mark your calendar for November 7, 2025, and join the ACCC, UConn School of Law, and the broader insurance law community for what promises to be an enlightening and collegial event, shaping the conversation that will define the years to come.
Thank you to our Symposium Sponsors
2026 Annual Meeting
Save the Date – May 6-8, 2026, for the 14th Annual Meeting of the American College of Coverage Counsel at the InterContinental on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile!
By Conference Planning Committee Co-Chairs, Karen Dixon and Michael Levine
Socialize with fellow insurance colleagues as we share delightful food and drink, while experiencing two days of presentations on cutting-edge claim negotiation and dispute issues led by ACCCmember policyholder and insurer’s counsel, arbitrators, mediators, and judge panelists.
We are now accepting panel proposals through September 18th at Noon ET for the conference, which will focus on “Coverage Issues on the Horizon.” The Planning Committee is seeking advanced, instructive, and informative proposals that address this subject. We welcome a variety of topics, including:
` Emerging issues in first- and third-party coverage matters
` Extracontractual exposures
` Practical pre-trial and trial tips
` Navigating ethical issues in a coverage practice
All panels should include at least four presenters and may have up to five presenters if one is a moderator.
As always, panels must be diverse and balanced in terms of:
` Coverage practice
` (Policyholder and Insurer)
` Gender
` Race/national origin/ethnicity
Only Fellows of the College may be speakers, apart from judges or professors. We encourage you to submit a full slate of diverse presenters, though the planning committee can assist you in filling vacancies. Please refer to the ACCC Speaker Reimbursement policy regarding related expenses. Registered Annual Meeting attendees will obtain approximately 8-10 hrs. of CLE credits, including 2 hrs. of ethics credit (Subject to state accreditors’ receipt and review of program materials).
Conference registration is now open at the Fellows’ $625 early bird rate (available until 12/31/25 before increasing to $675), with an April 14, 2026, at 5 pm CT deadline to obtain the InterContinental’s $329/night reduced conference rate.
2026 Annual Conference Co-Chairs:
Karen Dixon, Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP
Michael Levine, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
2026 Annual Conference Vice Chairs:
Christina May Bolin, Christian & Small LLP
Vince Morgan, Winstead PC
Thank you to our conference sponsors for their generous support:
Karen M. Dixon Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP Chicago, IL
Michael S. Levine Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Washington, DC
Committee Spotlight Insurance Law Journal Task Force
Calling All ACCC Authors!
The American College of Coverage and Counsel and the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal have entered into a strategic partnership designed to provide greater visibility for ACCC member scholarship and greater depth to the content of the CILJ’s publications.
The Connecticut Insurance Law Journal is the world’s only academic law review dedicated exclusively to the publication of original research on insurance law. Since its founding in 1994, the Journal has succeeded in attracting articles that are theoretically sophisticated and of practical importance. Since 2008, the Washington and Lee University’s survey of law journals ranked the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal as its toprated periodical for insurance law.
Now, starting in January 2026, the CILJ’s publications will include a special issue comprised entirely of scholarly articles authored by ACCC Fellows.
The ACCC is looking for 6-8 articles for our January 2026 issue. Each article should be between 3,000 and 15,000 words in length. The articles should be of original content but may be based upon material that has previously been used for ACCC symposia if it can be reworked to meet an appropriate scholarly standard. All submissions we will reviewed and edited by ACCC Fellows Michael Aylward and Doug Skelley.
If you have material that you would like to submit for inclusion in this special issue, please submit it to Michael and Doug at journal@americancollegecoverage.org by no later than October 25. Similarly, if you have questions concerning this initiative, please contact the editors and ACCC President Stephen Pate at the email address provided above.
Michael F. Aylward (formerly of Morrison Mahoney) Boston, MA
Douglas P. Skelley Shidosky Law Firm Austin, TX
Co-Chairs
Meet New Fellows
By Meghan Moore, Flaster Greenberg PC, Boca Raton, FL
Jean Daly is a partner at Walsworth in Los Angeles, California, where she was born and raised. As the daughter of a prominent trial lawyer, Jean was destined to be a litigator. Her father told her to be a doctor instead, but she couldn’t fathom the idea of spending Friday nights in the library playing with molecule sets. Her first stint as a lawyer was in criminal law. She interned in her first year of law school at the District Attorney’s office. By the time she graduated in 1992, however, there was a hiring freeze among district attorney offices throughout California.
Jean went to work for Stone and Feeley. Within a month of being hired, the Rodney King verdict was announced. Stone and Feeley represented one of the other officers involved in King’s arrest, so the firm was busy. Jean proved to be an immediate asset, trying six civil cases in her first year of practice.
The next year, Jean was hired by the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, where she worked until 2000, before moving to Los Angeles to serve as Assistant District Attorney in charge of the arson unit. After
years of trying arson cases, Jean began prosecuting murder cases in the hard core gang unit. By the beginning of 2011, Jean had tried five murder cases in a row without a break and been greenlighted by the Mexican mafia. It was then that a friend suggested Jean leave the District Attorney’s office and join an insurance defense firm where she could use her experience to try civil arson cases for insurance companies. Jean did so.
Jean’s first big insurance case was actually a criminal case. The owner of a hotel in Hollywood, California hired his brother to set it on fire. After bringing some 40 gallons of gasoline into the hotel, a water heater engaged, causing premature ignition. Dozens of people were trapped in the hotel. Despite firefighters’ best efforts, four people died. The owner was convicted of murder.
In the last 20 months Jean has tried five bad faith cases and received four defense verdicts and one verdict that came in under the number the plaintiff was seeking.
When asked about the biggest changes in the practice of law,
By Meghan Moore, Flaster Greenberg PC, Boca Raton, FL
Bryan Freeman was born and raised in Minnesota, where he practices law. An accomplished insurance recovery lawyer at Maslon LLP in Minneapolis, Bryan has helped countless policyholders resolve disputes and recover millions in insurance
Jean said: “It is hard to overcome the hurdles of the way the media is portraying insurers, let alone dealing with younger attorneys and jury pools.” The other thing she has observed: “The majority of coverage attorneys are older. Someone needs to follow us.” Jean strives to introduce associates to insurance law in fun and interesting ways and to get them excited about coverage.
When Jean is not trying cases or mentoring associates, she spends time with her spouse and their Labradors, Finley (1) and Rocket (7).
benefits. Most recently, Bryan secured a ruling in the Minnesota Court of Appeals on behalf of Life Time, Inc., which was
Jean Daly
Walsworth LLP Los Angeles, CA
forced to suspend operations at multiple fitness centers across 29 states during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Court reversed the district court and held that for purposes of determining the number of occurrences under the interruption by communicable disease endorsement of Life Time’s commercial property policy, governmental shutdown orders issued by separate jurisdictions constituted 29 separate occurrences. See Life Time, Inc. v. Zurich American Ins. Co., 2025 WL 2301277 (Minn. App. Aug. 11, 2025).
Bryan’s first big insurance case predated Life Time by 15 years, when Bryan was a young lawyer at Lindquist & Vennum. Bryan was part of a team of coverage lawyers which obtained partial summary judgment for St. Jude Medical, Inc. on batching issues under an excess products-liability policy.
Bryan decided to become a lawyer while he was an undergraduate at Yale University. According to Bryan, as a history
major, he loved to read and think and write, and “law seemed like a good way to develop those interests.” It turned out to be the perfect fit. To this day, Bryan loves to analyze a policy and notate it with Post-it notes.
Bryan jokes that he was admitted to Yale to play hockey. In reality, he graduated from Yale with distinction. In contrast, his hockey stint was not as illustrious. After scoring a hat trick in his opening debut, he played 106 games and never scored again. Bryan still loves the game. He plays what he dubs “old man hockey” on Wednesday nights. He also coaches his son’s hockey team.
Bryan’s first job out of law school was clerking for the Honorable David Minge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Following that, he clerked for the Honorable David Hansen at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
When asked about the changes in coverage litigation he has seen over his career, he said: “In
By Seth Lamden, Blank Rome LLP, Chicago, IL
Drew T. Gardiner grew up in Poway, a town in northeast San Diego County. Although Poway is only 15 miles from the coast, he somehow never learned to surf (it’s not too late!). After
spending eight years on the east coast, Drew moved back to San Diego in 2004. Drew worked at the White House after college during the last nine months of the Clinton administration. His
Minneapolis, MN
many ways, this practice has been steady. The same things that made it great when I started practicing make it great today. The world is changing, with new risks consistently emerging, but insurance continues to be at play in all of them. I love the insurance-recovery practice because it is a way to help deliver bottom-line value to my policyholder clients.”
When Bryan is not practicing law or playing hockey, he spends time with his wife and kids, pictured here.
time working at the White House convinced him that he wanted to go into politics or government service, so law school was the logical next step. Drew joined (Continued on the following page)
Bryan R. Freeman Maslon LLP
Meet New Fellows (Continued)
Latham immediately after graduating law school, which is where he has practiced for his entire career.
Drew’s first exposure to insurance law was drafting Montrose Chemical Corporation’s complaint against over fifty excess insurers in the long-running Montrose coverage litigation. Drew was immediately drawn to the complexity of the Montrose litigation and the cutting-edge legal issues involved. This was fortunate because he would end up litigating Montrose for the next 16 years.
In addition to Drew’s coverage litigation practice, he enjoys counseling clients and helping them develop unique insurance solutions. One of his most interesting matters was working with Meta to amend the Delaware Corporations Code to allow companies to place Side A insurance through captive insurers and then drafting the Side A policy for Meta’s captive insurer.
Outside of work, Drew is an avid golfer and currently serves as the President of San Diego Country Club.
By Seth H. Row, Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, OR
Hovsep Afarian is a partner in the policyholder-side Insurance Disputes practice of Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Prior to joining his current firm, he spent over 20 years with McCarthy Tétrault, which is where he began his career in private practice.
Hovsep is a Toronto native. He was drawn to law by many aspects of the field, including using language as a tool of persuasion. Immediately after law school he clerked for 45 Justices of the Superior Court in Ontario, before joining McCarthy Tétrault (Canada’s biggest law firm at the time). He describes clerking as “an invaluable experience.” He comments that although 25
years have passed since, he keeps in close contact with one of the Judges, who went on to become a Judge of the United Nations.
Hovsep’s first big insurance case (decided in 2008) is now Canada’s leading case on the issue of allocation. Ontario’s highest court ruled that an insurer is obliged to pay all costs associated with the defense of a covered claim, even if those costs further the defense of non-covered claims. Only the costs attributable exclusively to non-covered claims are excluded. Hovsep and his colleagues obtained a judgment for 95% of their client’s defense costs. The Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal. It is a decision he often leverages
San Diego, CA
in his policyholder practice. After that decision he has had the privilege of working on other precedent-setting insurance cases.
On the weekends, you will find Hovsep on the soccer pitch! He is a big European football fan.
Hovsep Afarian
Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb Toronto, ON, Canada
Drew T. Gardiner
Latham & Watkins LLP
By Seth Lamden, Blank Rome LLP, Chicago, IL
Jeff Kiburtz grew up in Southern California. After finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah he accepted a position in a pharmacology program at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he intended to get a PhD. But pragmatism led him to consider law school instead, which offered better opportunities in terms of income potential and let him stay in Southern California. He deferred the PhD program for a year to see if law school would be a good fit. It was, and Jeff pursued a career in law.
Jeff was drawn to insurance law after taking an insurance class in law school taught by ACCC fellow David Goodwin. During both summers of law school Jeff worked in the legal department of a surety company. When that company went into liquidation, Jeff worked for the liquidator until a few months after he passed the California
Bar. Shortly after becoming licensed, he joined a policyholder boutique firm that later became the West Coast office of Anderson Kill and has represented policyholders ever since.
One of Jeff’s most memorable cases involved representing Kmart in a bad faith case against AIG for refusing to pay an indisputably covered $25M personal injury verdict. The challenging issues in this case involving bankruptcy, surety, and bad faith law, greatly deepened his interest in practicing insurance law. His favorite cases involve a combination of technical facts, challenging policy interpretation issues, the opportunity to be creative, and a compelling bad faith story that develops through discovery.
Jeff has litigated coverage and bad faith cases in at least twelve jurisdictions, including arbitrations seated in Canada and England, and
By Seth H. Row, Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, OR
Benedict (Ben) Lenhart is a partner at Covington & Burling’s Washington D.C. office where he has been for over 35 years. He serves as the Co-Chair of that firm’s Insurance Recovery Practice. Ben grew up in small town named Defiance, Ohio, which was named after a fort built there by Mad Anthony Wayne in the 1700s. He was steered to law because he’s always been very interested in the Constitution.
After graduating from University of Michigan and then Harvard Law, Ben worked as a “Lawyer from Abroad” at the Mexico City law firm of Barrera, Siqueiros and Torres Landa. He soon found his way to Covington in Washington D.C., where he has practiced ever since. Ben’s passion for the Constitution has not let up from his childhood days. He has taught Constitutional Law at Georgetown University Law Center
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Los Angeles, CA
has represented policyholders from at least thirty jurisdictions. Jeff notes that in the twenty-two years since he began practice, he has generally seen encounters with opposing counsel become more civil.
In his spare time, Jeff likes to snowboard, surf, play tennis and watch his teenage daughters play volleyball.
Washington, DC
Benedict M. Lenhart
Covington & Burling
Jeff Kiburtz
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Meet New Fellows (Continued)
for more than 25 years and regularly gives talks on the Constitution to civic groups. (We would imagine that Ben is in high demand currently!)
In Ben’s first big insurance case, he represented Conrail in a series of large coverage litigations in Pennsylvania federal court, each one involving dozens of insurers. The losses included asbestos, hearing
loss, repetitive stress and others. He reports that the case was a great introduction to big time coverage litigation with large losses and top insurer firms on the other side. This was the first of many cases that allowed him to get to know many lawyers on the insurer side very well.
The biggest change that Ben has seen in his practice is that
By Robert Allen, The Allen Law Group, Dallas, TX
Fellow Gaby Richeimer grew up in Urbana, Maryland, which is in Frederick County, Maryland. Law attracted her because she thought it would be an intellectually challenging profession. She also liked that it was three years of graduate school.
Out of law school, Gaby worked at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. for a year before moving to a firm then called Ross Dixon & Masback, later Ross Dixon & Bell. Her first big insurance coverage case at Ross Dixon involved an environmental coverage dispute in Florida. The parties engaged in months of extensive discovery, which included on-site review of (literally) moldy
boxes of files from the 1950s and other material available only on microfilm and microfiche. The case was decided, however, on summary judgment based on the insured’s breach of the policy’s cooperation clause and produced a fee award and sanctions award in favor of Ross Dixon’s client.
Now that she has been practicing insurance coverage law for a while, one thing that she is noticing that she is seeing more cases going to trial these days than historically.
his policyholder clients’ claims are larger and more varied now than they were two decades ago, running the gamut from R&W and cyber to D&O and E&O to large property claims to warehouse and trade credit claims. He is now also seeing more very large claims with losses now commonly running into the billions.
DC
For coverage litigation, she has litigated in over 20 states. For bad faith litigation, maybe half that number. She has handled a number of coverage and bad faith cases in Texas, so the Lone Star state state stands out to her the most.
Outside of her practice, Gaby is an avid gardener, and she loves pickleball.
By Seth Lamden, Blank Rome LLP, Chicago, IL
David E. Suchar grew up on the Northwest side in Chicago and went to grade school, high school, and college in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. After graduating college, David spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and grant writer for Habitat for Humanity. He then went to Georgetown for law school, promptly moving back to Chicago after graduation. Although he originally went to law school to become a politician, he soon learned that he hated politics and preferred to focus full-time on
Gabriela (Gaby) Richeimer Werner Ahari Mangel LLP Washington,
the law. After law school, David worked at large law firms in Chicago from 2002-2008, spending most of that time in the litigation department at Kirkland & Ellis. He then became a federal prosecutor before turning his attention to insurance coverage, primarily in the construction industry.
David worked on several insurance coverage cases in private practice in Chicago but did not specialize in it until he began working at Maslon with several very talented insurance coverage attorneys. David dedicates much of his practice to working on large insurance coverage cases in the construction industry. In recent years, he has worked on numerous high-dollar construction industry cases and claims, including on Las Vegas Raiders Stadium, LaGuardia Airport, Second Avenue Subway,
SeaTac Airport, Newark Airport, Millennium Tower and SalesForce Tower and the Florida International University Bridge collapse.
David’s first big insurance coverage case was representing The Shaw Group in a dispute over insurance coverage on pipe spools for a large construction project in Moses Lake, Washington. David worked against several ACCC Fellows on that case and had a great time reminiscing about that experience during his first ACCC annual meeting in Chicago earlier this year! David has handled coverage or bad faith litigation in at least fifteen states. During that time, he has noticed an uptick in disputes and litigation involving related claims and multiple claims, especially in the construction industry.
When he’s not working, David spends his time traveling across the country and world with family
By Robert Allen, The Allen Law Group, Dallas, TX
Peter Tracey was born in New London, CT, and I grew up in the nearby town of Old Lyme, CT wherein some of his friends were among the first people treated for a mysterious, arthritis-like ailment that later became known as “Lyme Disease.” Peter somehow managed to avoid the deer ticks. Peter can trace his decision to become a lawyer back to the ripe old age of nine. It was the famous “Summer of ’69,” and Peter was on a train from Philadelphia headed
back to Connecticut following a family visit. He sat across from a well-dressed gentleman who looked very impressive. They talked, and he told Peter that he was a lawyer for the Penn Central Railroad. (The gentleman probably spent the rest of his career working on the Penn Central bankruptcy.) But at that point, Peter’s destiny had been revealed to him. Twenty years later, Peter graduated from law (Continued on the following page)
and friends and spends 3-4 weeks a year with his family in a small town called Nisswa, Minnesota. David is a season ticket holder for both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Timberwolves. He also built a pickleball court in his backyard, where he and his family play as often as Minnesota weather permits.
Peter L. Tracey Perkins Coie LLP Washington, DC
David E. Suchar Maslon LLP Minneapolis, MN
Meet
New Fellows (Continued)
school and was admitted to the Delaware Bar.
Out of law school, Peter joined Potter Anderson & Corroon in Wilmington, DE. He was immediately put on the large Monsanto environmental coverage case, which was pending in Delaware Superior Court; thereby launching his career as a policyholder-side insurance coverage lawyer. The Monsanto environmental coverage litigation, which proceeded in Delaware from the late 1980s through 1995, was an excellent opportunity for a young associate to get significant “stand-up” experience, although he also paid his dues with enormous document productions and privilege log compilations. There were many great lawyers involved in that case, and it was a privilege for Peter to work with
and learn from Jerry Oshinsky, Dick Poole, Rich Horwitz, and many others.
Peter has been involved in coverage litigation and/or bad faith litigation in 13 jurisdictions. One of his most memorable cases involved a jury trial in San Francisco shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001. In that moment, an otherwise unremarkable duty to defend case took on great symbolism for all involved, because it demonstrated the importance of the judicial system as our society’s method of resolving conflicts.
Peter thinks that the biggest change in coverage litigation has been the manner in which technology has altered the way that we work. We have gone from the era of reviewing hard-copy typewritten memos in a storage facility to having
By Meghan Moore, Flaster Greenberg PC, Boca Raton, FL
William H. “Skip” White, Jr. grew up in Rumson, New Jersey, a small beach town along the Navesink River, where he spent his childhood sailing, which earned him the nickname “Skipper”. In high school, that nickname was shortened to “Skip,” which he is still called to this day.
After high school, Skip left the small town for city life, spending his undergraduate years at Georgetown. He majored
in Government, Georgetown’s version of political science, and always thought about law school as a possibility. He also majored in Spanish after studying abroad in Spain and writing a thesis in Spanish on the Shining Path in Peru.
Following college, Skip participated in Georgetown’s volunteer program for recent graduates to travel abroad and perform public service work. Skip went to Nicaragua where he lived
enormous electronic databases available at the stroke of a key on our computers. Technology has similarly changed the way in which we present information at trial or in a hearing. On a substantive level, Peter’s experience is that policyholder clients have generally become much more sophisticated in how they utilize insurance as a risk management tool, while insurance carriers are quicker to modify coverages and policy forms based on current legal developments
Outside of the law, Peter has been a reasonably competitive distance runner for 42 years. Along the way, he has run in all 50 States and the District of Colombia - he completed that goal in Alaska on his fiftieth birthday. To date, his knees have not abandoned him.
Washington, DC
William H. White Jr. (Skip) Kiernan Trebach LLP
in a rural farming community with no electricity or running water. There he worked on potable water projects for the community. It was also there that he decided to apply to law schools, a task made more challenging by virtue of his location.
Skip applied to the University of Miami School of Law, was accepted, and in 1996, graduated cum laude. Following law school, he went to work for a small boutique litigation firm in Miami doing commercial litigation. Skip’s first coverage case was representing Aetna, after Travelers had purchased Aetna’s property and casualty business.
After practicing in Miami for a little over a year, Skip convinced the firm to let him move to the D.C. office. After Skip’s first employer closed its doors, Skip joined the predecessor firm to his current law firm, Kiernan Trebach LLP, where he has been for 26 years.
Skip has enjoyed many successes over the years representing insurance companies. He described one of the most
gratifying as a young lawyer. Skip was representing an insurance company asserting late notice under an Employment Practices Liability Insurance policy. Skip’s much more experienced opposing counsel had attempted to make Skip look bad in front of his client. Skip not only won summary judgment, but also recovered attorney fees under Florida Statute § 57.105 (a sanctions for frivolous claims statute). Now Skip enjoys the opportunity to find a path to resolving difficult and complex claims, both as coverage counsel and as a mediator.
Skip enjoys handling insurance coverage cases because they are orderly and make sense. He is open minded and encourages others to challenge his evaluation. Skip’s clients hire him to tell them the right answer, and his goal is to do just that.
Skip has seen the practice of law evolve over time. When asked how, he said: “Doing what we do it is not easy. It has gotten harder over the course of my career with the advances in
technology, which have increased the demands of the job. Email has transformed the profession. We used to get letters in the mail, and you would have a week to respond. If you received a fax, you had 24 hours to respond. Now you get an email and you have 24 seconds to respond.”
Skip believes that being able to have a little levity is good, especially given the demands of the job. He said, “It doesn’t matter that what we are doing is insurance coverage; people don’t call their lawyers when they are having a good day.” Selected by his peers as one of the top 50 attorneys in the District of Columbia in 2023, Skip prioritizes being responsive and available to his clients and guiding them to make the right decisions.
When Skip isn’t overachieving at law, he is cycling (thousands of miles), playing the guitar, or spending time with family. Skip has two sons, a rising junior at the University of Maine studying to be a marine biologist, and a rising senior in high school.
The Legacy of John C. Trimble
We are sad to share the news of the passing of College Fellow John C. Trimble. John was inducted into the College in 2017 and served as chair of the Extracontractual & Bad Faith Claims Litigation Committee. His colleagues shared the information below with us. We extend our deepest condolences to John’s family, friends, and colleagues.
John C. Trimble, a luminary in Indiana law and a deeply beloved mentor, husband, and father, passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of July 2, 2025, with his family by his side. His loss leaves a great void in the legal profession and the hearts of those who knew him, and all of us at the firm.
John forged his career over four decades at Lewis Wagner—now Lewis Wagner & Trimble in his honor—where he was noted as “one of Indiana’s most soughtafter legal minds,” especially in complex litigation and mediation. A prolific insurance coverage lawyer and mediator, he was repeatedly ranked No. 1 in Indiana by Super Lawyers (2011–2021), honored as DRI’s 2021 Louis B. Potter Lifetime Professional Service Award recipient, and named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 2024. Throughout his career, John held leadership roles as President of the Indianapolis Bar Association, Chair of DRI’s Judicial Task Force, President of the Indianapolis Legal
Aid Society, and helmed the Board of Visitors at IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He frequently lectured at conferences— his presentations described as “excellently delivered”—and he wrote the “Eye on the Profession” columnist series, transparently sharing insights on ethics, trends, and legal practice.
But John’s legacy extended far beyond accolades. He was renowned for his generosity—always making time for young lawyers, law students, and anyone seeking advice, regardless of how busy his docket. Colleagues inside and outside the firm remember his warm, accessible mentorship and his ability to tell compelling stories that both entertained and enlightened. His speeches inspired countless legal professionals nationwide.
His deep commitment to bettering the profession and supporting its future led to his name being added to the firm’s masthead in May 2025—a testament to his instrumental impact. Yet, John’s proudest roles were personal. He was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Ann, and a loving father to two daughters, Laura and Marie. For John, family always came first.
In Celebration of a Life Well-Lived
John’s life was one of service—to his clients, colleagues, community, and family. Generous and
C. Trimble
Lewis Wagner & Trimble Indianapolis, IN
principled, he approached every challenge with integrity, mentors with patience, and each courtroom with clarity and conviction. His gift for storytelling—whether during a mediation, a speech, or a counsel session—made complex legal concepts accessible and memorable. His life’s work advanced not just in cases, but the character of the legal profession itself.
As we say goodbye, we honor a remarkable man and a good friend whose legacy endures in the countless young lawyers he nurtured, the legal reforms he championed, and the ideals he embodied. John’s life stands as a testament to the power of mentorship, the importance of generosity, and the enduring impact of a loving family. May his memory continue to inspire and guide us.
John
Nominate a Fellow
The ACCC Membership Committee routinely vets new prospective Fellows for the College. To maintain the prestige of membership, entry to the College is exclusively made through referrals made by current Fellows (NOT from the same firm as the nominee).
ACCC seeks the nomination of qualified candidates practicing law in the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda.
Qualified candidates are lawyers who are actively engaged in the private practice of law, with a concentration primarily in the fields of insurance coverage, bad faith and/or extracontractual claims, licensed to practice in the highest court of their respective states, and
who have engaged substantially in the practice of insurance law for at least 15 consecutive years. Time spent as a judge or law clerk may be considered in determining whether the 15-year requirement has been satisfied.
Nominations should be submitted to membership@americancollegecoverage.org. Please include your nominee’s name, basic contact information, and a link to the bio on his or her firm’s website. The Membership Committee will conduct initial vetting, including contacting other local Fellows for references, and will then send an application to the candidate as a next step.
Candidates should not be aware of their nomination until a member of the ACCC membership committee reaches out to the individual with an invitation to apply. If a candidate is nominated and does not progress to the application stage, the nominator will be advised accordingly.
Steven Burgess Davis Rejoins Stradley Ronon as Partner
Stradley Ronon has welcomed Steven Burgess Davis back to the firm as a partner in their Philadelphia office. A former chief counsel of the Pennsylvania
Insurance Department and most recently a team lead of the insurance and reinsurance industry group at Duane Morris, Steve rejoins Stradley Ronon to
extend his 18-year tenure with the firm.
For more than 30 years, Steve has advised and represented insurers, reinsurers, and intermediaries
Fellow News (Continued)
on transactional and regulatory matters, including start-ups, mergers and acquisitions, affiliations, investments, intercompany matters and obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals. He also provides coverage-dispute counseling and related litigation and mediation/ arbitration services to propertycasualty, directors and officers (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), life, health and long-term care insurers and reinsurers.
Steve was previously a partner at Stradley Ronon from 2006 to 2023, where he also recently served on the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Transition Team’s Finance and Insurance Subcommittee.
Before that, he served as general counsel of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. He is a Fellow American College of Coverage Counsel and is ranked by Chambers USA.
Read the full press release here
Monica Sullivan Elected Managing Partner of Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP
Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP announced that Monica T. Sullivan became the firm’s managing partner, on June 1, 2025.
In addition to maintaining her active law practice, Sullivan continues to serve on the firm’s Executive Committee. She plays a lead role in further defining and implementing the firm’s strategic plans.
Sullivan helped launch the firm’s national insurance coverage practice in January 2014. With more than three decades of experience in litigating and arbitrating disputes in jurisdictions across the United States and abroad, Monica advises the global insurance industry on matters including pharmaceutical,
environmental, construction, and product liability claims. She has served on the firm’s Executive Committee since the firm’s inception and has earned broad industry recognition, including multiple rankings in Insurance: Dispute Resolution by Chambers and Partners.
“I’m honored to take on this role and build on the strong foundation that Richard and our leadership team have established,” said Sullivan. “Our firm has always been driven by collaboration, integrity, and a commitment to client service. I look forward to guiding our continued growth, particularly as we look for additional opportunities to expand our national footprint and the scope of our
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP Philadelphia, PA
IL
insurance law practice while upholding the values that define who we are.”
Under Sullivan’s leadership, the firm plans to build on its momentum by exploring opportunities to broaden its geographic reach and enhance its insurance coverage capabilities in emerging risk areas.
Robert Kole named Co-Managing Partner of Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
Robert A. Kole is a partner in the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Group. He has spent his entire career at Choate and has served in a variety of capacities during his time at the firm, including as a practice group leader, deputy general counsel and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Compensation Committee.
Kole’s legal practice focuses on representing domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers in both litigation (including substantial appellate work) and arbitration involving some of their most significant, cutting-edge exposures, including claims involving opioids, PFAS, silica, mass shootings, terrorism, asbestos, environmental damage, financial losses, food contamination, catastrophic property damage and catastrophe bonds. He has been named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation and one of the “Top 10 Most Influential Insurance Lawyers in Massachusetts” by Business Today, in addition to routinely receiving recognition by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who and Massachusetts Super Lawyers.
Kole received a BA from Lafayette College in 1993 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996. He joined Choate as a summer associate in 1995 and as a full-time associate in 1996.
Read the full newswire article here.
Charles W. Browning named as one of Michigan’s 2025 ‘Super Lawyers’
Charles (Chuck) W. Browning is a partner and Co-leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group, overseeing the firm’s nationwide practice as coverage counsel for several major insurance companies. He is also an experienced commercial and tort litigator, with specialized skill in the handling of high exposure tort claims and construction defect disputes. Chuck has been designated annually as a Michigan Super Lawyer and is listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America. Michigan Super Lawyers magazine recently named nine attorneys from Plunkett Cooney to its 2025 list of “Super Lawyers.”
Read their latest press release here
Plunkett Cooney, PC Bloomfield Hills, MI
Charles W. Browning
Robert A. Kole
Choate Hall & Stewart LLP Boston, MA
Fellow News (Continued)
Charles W. Browning & Kenneth Newa named among 2026 “Best Lawyers in America”
First published in 1983, Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which lawyers within their own geographic region nominate their peers. These lawyers are not allowed to select nominees from the same area(s) in which they practice. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered an honor because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed.
Read their latest press release here.
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Why Legal Finance Isn’t the Villain Insurance Says It Is
By G. Andrew Lundberg
“Although the interests of legal financiers and insurers can conceivably conflict at the margins of commercial disputes, the core businesses of the two groups are largely unrelated, leaving insurers largely unaffected by commercial legal finance.”
Read the full article here.
Los Angeles, CA
G. Andrew Lundberg
Burford Capital
Kenneth C. Newa
Plunkett Cooney, PC
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Charles W. Browning
Plunkett Cooney, PC
Welcome New Fellows!
Brian C. Bassett, Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP, Chicago, IL
Rebecca DiMasi, Shidlofsky Law Firm PLLC, Austin, TX
Drew T. Gardiner, Latham & Watkins, LLP in San Diego, CA
Daniel I. Graham, Jr., Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP in Chicago, IL
Jeff Kiburtz, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. in Los Angeles, CA
Peter L. Tracey, Perkins Coie LLP in Washington, DC
Jennifer C. Wasson, Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, Wilmington, DE
New Honorary Fellow:
Travis Pantin, University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, CT
Do you have news to share? ACCC publishes news of Fellows’ achievements, firm changes, awards, wins, and more. If you are quoted or published, please send us that as well. We seek content about our members for Member News, Articles of the Month, and social media posts. Submit news to us at info@americancollegecoverage.org.
Friday, November 7, 2025
University of Connecticut School of Law Hartford, CT REGISTER NOW ACCC 2026 Annual Meeting Save The Date Thursday, May 6 - Friday, May 8, 2026 The InterContinental Chicago Chicago, IL
For details about these and other upcoming ACCC events, please visit www.americancollegecoverage.org.
