| Time (Eastern) |
Session |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Registration & Coffee Service
|
| 8:30 a.m. |
Corporate Counsel Coffee Meetup
|
| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions
Ford Stephens, Christian & Barton, Richmond VA
Courtney Britt, Teague Campbell, Raleigh, NC
|
| 9:15 a.m. |
Extreme Weather Events, Climate Change and the Evolving Coverage Issues
As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, insurers are facing an evolving array of complex coverage challenges. This presentation will examine how climate change is reshaping the risk landscape, with a focus on recent high-profile events, including the Maui and California wildfires, Hurricane Helene and the Texas floods. Gain insight into how courts and regulators are responding, including recent setbacks in sustainability-focused policies. Explore emerging trends in first- and third-party coverage disputes, causation complexities, subrogation strategies, and regulatory developments, providing practical guidance for navigating claims and underwriting in an increasingly volatile environment.
Laura Foggan, Crowell & Moring, LLP, Washington, DC
Dawn Jones, Illinois Farm Bureau/Country Financial, Bloomington, IL
Michael B. Gelfound, Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, Los Angeles, CA |
| 10:15 a.m. |
Coffee Break |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Excess Exposure: Approaching High-Stakes Claims with Strategy and Civility
High-risk cases frequently expose excess insurance. From disputes over defense obligations when the underlying carrier declines coverage, to allegations that excess insurers must “do more” even when the primary carrier is defending. This session will examine recurring issues, including demands for excess carriers to drop down, erosion of underlying limits, late notice, and appellate bonds as well as the value of professionalism, courtesy, and civility in claims communication and coverage litigation, and how a respectful, measured approach can avoid downstream conflicts and ultimately support better resolutions.
Peter Thompson, Thompson Gassler LLP, Washington, DC
|
| 11:30 a.m. |
Ticking Clocks and Bad Faith Traps: Navigating Time-Limited Demands in a Shifting Legal Landscape
Time-limited demands are becoming more prevalent and raise many challenging issues for coverage counsel. This presentation will address strategies to mitigate bad faith risk; emerging issues in bad faith; litigation of the bad faith case; carrier v. carrier bad faith; and trial set-up, all through the lens of time limited demands.
Ilana Olman, Segal McCambridge, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cori Cable, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN
|
| 12:30–2:00 p.m. |
Lunch (On your own) |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Strategies for Managing Mandatory Arbitration and Appraisal Clauses and Overcoming Insurance Disputes
As mandatory arbitration and appraisal provisions continue to have a significant impact in the industry, insurers and coverage counsel must be prepared to navigate the complex procedural and strategic issues they present. Learn how to effectively manage coverage disputes, including mandatory arbitration clauses, scope disputes, timing challenges, confidentiality concerns, discovery, limitations, and the enforceability of awards. Also, gain insight into emerging trends, recent case law developments, and jurisdictional variances that are shaping how courts and arbitrators approach these clauses.
Steven Peiper, Hurwitz Fine, Buffalo, NY
|
| 3:00 p.m. |
Mastering Mediation: Advanced Topics in Mediation for Insurance Coverage Cases
Explore some of the most challenging situations we face in mediations, such as (1) multiple claimants and insufficient funds; (2) how to work with, or around, a recalcitrant carrier in the middle of a tower; (3) how to get multiple carriers (or defendants) to stop bickering among themselves and instead focus on settling with the plaintiff; (4) the weaponizing of confidentiality; (5) eroding limits; and (6) closing techniques that work.
Joanna Young, Kennedys, New York, NY
Jeff Kichaven, Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation, Los Angeles, CA |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Follow the Money: Unpacking the Influence of Litigation Funding on Coverage Litigation and Claims Strategy
As third-party litigation funding becomes an increasingly influential force in insurance litigation, understanding its impact from discovery through trial is essential. Examine key discovery challenges, including the ongoing debate over the discoverability of funding agreements, privilege issues, and evolving judicial views. This presentation will also address how litigation funding can affect settlement dynamics, trial strategy, and insurer exposure, sometimes dramatically altering the risk landscape.
Danielle Waltz, WVU Medicine, Charleston, WV
Phil Goldberg, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP, Washington, DC |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Adjourn
|
| 5:00 p.m. |
Insurance Law Committee Meeting (Open to all) |
| 5:30–6:30 p.m. |
Networking Reception
Join fellow seminar attendees at our Networking Reception. More details to come. |
| 7:00 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).
|
| 7:30–10:30 p.m. |
Annual Women's Dinner | Medi Wine Bar
Join us for for a fun-filled night with great food and better company at Medi's Wine Bar, located at 811 9th Avenue in New York City.
Price is $115 per person; payment can be made via Venmo, Zelle, or check (click on the link for payment info).
RSVP for the women's dinner today!
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