Adeola I. Adele is the Director of Integrated Cyber Solutions & Thought Leadership at Willis Towers Watson. She works with cyber risk teams, human capital experts and other resources across her firm to identify risk issues, assess organizations' Cyber capabilities and determine how to implement strategies designed to create a cybersmart workforce. Prior to her current role, Adeola was the National Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Thought and Product Leader, and Cyber Thought Leader in the Financial & Executive Risk (FINEX) Practice. In that capacity, in addition to developing employment practices liability risk solutions, Adeola was responsible for FINEX's Cyber thought leadership strategy.

Nicole Barna is a Senior Claims Examiner, Professional Liability with Markel Global Insurance. Nicole manages complex claims on both the primary and excess levels for the Bermuda Professional Lines Claims Team in the areas of Employment Practices Liability, Wage and Hour Insurance, Financial Institutions (Directors & Officers, E&O, Cyber, Fiduciary and Bond/Crime), and Errors & Omissions Insurance (Lawyers, Accountants, Architects). Previously, Nicole was a litigation associate in New York City, where she practiced in the areas of securities litigation, complex commercial litigation, and professional liability insurance.

Rajiv K. Batra is a claims professional with experience handling a broad range of products including Professional Liability for Lawyers, Accountants, Architects & Engineers, GL, Environmental, Mass Tort and Specialty products. Prior to joining the insurance industry, practiced law, raised dachshunds, developed and managed plastics recycling operations and extrusion facilities, and despite generations of Velcro, can still untie a double knotted sneaker. At various times a poet, a play write, an elegant vagabond.

David L. Brandon with the Clark Hill firm in Los Angeles is AV rated and represents professionals in Los Angeles in malpractice and ethics matters. He is a past chair of DRI's Professional Liability Committee, is a past Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Ethics Committee, is a member of the California State Bar's Committee on Professional Liability Insurance, and teaches appellate advocacy at Loyola Law School.

Matthew W. Breetz with Stites & Harbison PLLC in Louisville, KY is recognized as a Best Lawyer in America(r) and maintaining an AV-Preeminent(r) rating from Martindale-Hubbell(r), Matt maintains a sophisticated trial practice routinely defending professional liability claims - including those against lawyers and insurance agents, among countless others - in courts across Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. He also chairs the practice group in his firm that handles all such cases across many state lines. Matt frequently lectures on issues related to legal malpractice and legal ethics. He is also well versed in both insurance coverage work as well as bad faith litigation, including claims arising from professional liability policies.

Dove A. E. Burns is Co-Chair of Goldberg Segalla's Employment and Labor Practice Group and a partner in the Professional Liability Practice Group in New York and Hartford. She defends a wide range of clients — from international restaurant chains to hospitals, nonprofits, directors and officers, and prominent professionals — in high-exposure employment law and professional liability cases. A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, Dove is a frequent speaker to national audiences on a broad array of topics. She possesses an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Dane S. Ciolino serves as the Alvin R. Christovich Distinguished Professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. His principal scholarly and teaching interests include Legal Ethics, Trial Advocacy, and Evidence. Professor Ciolino graduated cum laude from Rhodes College in 1985, and magna cum laude from Tulane Law School in 1988, where he was inducted into Order of the Coif and served as Editor in Chief of the Tulane Law Review. After graduating from law school, Prof. Ciolino worked as a law clerk for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, and as an associate with Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City, and Stone, Pigman, Walther & Wittmann in New Orleans. Professor Ciolino has served as reporter to the Louisiana State Bar Association Ethics 2000 Committee, as a chairperson of a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Hearing Committee, as a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association ("LSBA") Professionalism Committee, as a member of the LSBA Lawyer & Judicial Codes of Conduct Committee, as chairperson of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Lawyer Disciplinary Committee and as a member of the LSBA Ethics Advisory Service. In addition to teaching at Loyola, Professor Ciolino represents lawyers and judges in disciplinary proceedings, and provides consultations on legal-ethics issues. His blog, Louisiana Legal Ethics, is at lalegalethics.org.

David A. Cole is the national practice group leader of Freeman Mathis & Gary's Data Security and Privacy Practice Group. Mr Cole speaks on a national basis at industry conferences, and has been featured on television and quoted in publications for his expertise. He was selected for the third time as a Georgia Super Lawyers "Rising Star" as published by Atlanta Magazine, and in 2014 was selected as one of the "Top 20 Rising Stars Under 40". He is a member of the CLM Technology Law committee and serves on the Executive Board of the Federal Bar Association in Atlanta.

Salvatore A. Collemi, CPA is the Partner-in-Charge of the Professional Standards Group at Marks Paneth LLP. To this role, he brings more than two decades of experience with US and international financial reporting, professional standards, corporate governance and risk management practices. The Professional Standards Group oversees overall compliance with and implementation of accounting, audit and attestation standards, independence and ethics and quality control standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the US Department of Labor (DOL) and US. General Accounting Office (GAO).

Claudia A. Costa is a partner in the New York office of Gordon & Rees and a member of the Employment Law and Professional Liability practice group. Her practice focuses on the defense of private and publicly held corporations in all aspects of employment-related matters. She also defends lawyers, accountants, architects and insurance brokers/agents in professional malpractice suits brought against them. Additionally, Ms. Costa defends municipalities and townships in civil rights and municipal liability claims. In addition, Ms. Costa's experience spans a range of other practice areas across the professional liability spectrum. She has represented private and charter schools in school leaders' liability matters. With a significant background in commercial litigation, Ms. Costa has also represented both publicly and privately held corporations in many aspects of their business litigation, including representing members of boards of directors in class action suits and shareholder derivative lawsuits, and she has represented clients in SEC investigations. Ms. Costa is also frequently called upon to represent the Board of Directors of Homeowner's Associations.

Thomas J. (T.J.) D'Amato is the founder of D'Amato Law Corporation, a California litigation firm with extensive experience in professional liability, business, real estate and general civil litigation. In addition to his work in the trial courts, Tom represents clients in administrative hearings and disciplinary proceedings. Tom is a past Member of the DRI Board of Directors and served in leadership positions on DRI's Professional Liability, Lawyers Professionalism and Ethics and Public Service committees. He is a member of the ABA's Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability and frequently presents on topics relating to professional services, law practice management and ethics.

Penelope M. (Penny) Deihl with the Clark Hill law firm in Los Angeles is a trial attorney whose practice emphasizes the defense of professionals including insurance brokers/agents, real estate brokers/agents, accountants, and financial advisors. Penny is Chair of her firm's Professional Liability Group. She is AV rated and is a licensed real estate broker.Penny is teh 2017 Professional Liability Seminar Program Chair.

Margaret M. Donnell spent the first 17 years of her legal career as an insurance defense attorney representing design professionals. She now handles design professional claims as Sr. Claims Counsel for the Architect & Engineer division of Hiscox USA.

Gale S. Dwyer is an Assistant Vice President in the North American Claims Group at Allied World. She is responsible for managing high exposure errors and omissions (E&O) liability claims, with an emphasis on lawyers, insurance agent liability, miscellaneous E&O and architects and engineers errors and omissions liability. Prior to joining Allied World, Gale was in private practice, in-house counsel for Travelers, and Division Counsel for AIG. Her primary areas of practice were commercial litigation and insurance coverage/bad faith. She is affiliated with the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the DRI and CLM.

Daniel G. Ecker is a partner at David B. Lever & Associates, PLLC, a law firm in White Plains, New York that represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice, construction/labor law, automobile and premises actions. Dan has tried numerous cases to verdict, in state and federal courts. He received his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 1996 and his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1993. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the NYSBA Trial Lawyers Section, and was the recipient of its 2015 Exceptional Contributions Award. Dan lectures frequently on risk management strategies for lawyers.

Mark A. Fahleson is a Partner at Remboldt Ludtke LLP in Lincoln, Nebraska. His practice centers on management-side employment and labor law, including the defense of discrimination and other workplace claims and counseling employers to prevent such claims. Since 2006 he has been listed as a leading employment lawyer in Nebraska in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Mark also acts as City Attorney for the City of Waverly and the City of Ashland in addition to appointments as Special Assistant Nebraska Attorney General. Mark is a member of DRI's Law Institute

Zandra E. Foley with Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons in Houston, TX is a seasoned trial attorney who represents clients in complex litigation matters related to products liability, mass torts, malpractice, and errors and omissions. She represents corporations, national product manufacturers, insurance agencies, law firms, accountants, financial advisors, doctors, nurses, engineers, and other professionals in both state and federal courts across the state of Texas. Zandra has first chair trial and arbitration experience. She currently serves as national trial counsel for a national product manufacturer and has extensive experience advising clients on a variety of complex disputes with an eye toward early and efficient resolution. Zandra is the 2017 Professional Liability Seminar Vice Program Chair.

Ashley L. Hart is a Claims Specialist for CNA's Cyber, Media & Technology Group. Ashley handles both primary and excess first-party cyber and third-party specialty professional liability, security and privacy, and media claims. Her primary responsibilities include evaluating coverage obligations and providing detailed analysis of security and privacy crisis management, technology, media and internet professional liability policies. She works closely with Insureds, risk managers, corporate counsel, and outside counsel in all aspects of data breach incident response and litigation. Prior to joining to joining CNA, Ashley worked at AIG as a Senior Claims Analyst in their Cyber, Media & Technology Group.

Jonathan R. Harwood is a partner at Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP. Mr. Harwood has represented lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, manufacturers, corporations and religious institutions in all phases of litigation. Mr. Harwood has also analyzed coverage issues raised by professional liability and D & O policies, as well as represented Directors and Officers, directly, in various types of litigation. See more about Mr. Harwood at http://www.traublieberman.com.

William N. (Bill) Holmes, CPA is a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner with offices in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, California. Mr. Holmes has over 25 years of combined experience in public accounting (Deloitte), private industry (public companies), and complex litigation matters. He serves on the Oregon Board of Accountancy Complaints Committee and assists trial lawyers (plaintiff and defense) in many jurisdictions nationally in cases covering a broad range of industries and topics, including accounting malpractice and related regulatory investigations, construction, shareholder disputes, forensic accounting, valuation issues, and economic damages. Mr. Holmes can be reached at www.pdxcpas.com and 503-270-5400.

Cassandra Jean-Baptiste is a Specialty Lines Claims Manager for Starr Companies with over 10 years of experience handling claims for several major insurance carriers including ACE, CNA and Freedom Specialty Insurance Company. Over the past 10 years, Mrs. Jean-Baptiste has been involved in the management of employment practices liability, private company directors & officer's liability claims and professional liability. Ms. Jean-Baptiste previously worked as a Public Finance Associate for the law firm of Pullman & Comley, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Ms. Jean-Baptiste received her B.A. from the City College of New York and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.

Melody J. Jolly is a partner at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP in Wilmington, NC. She leads the Firm's Professional Liability Section, and concentrates her practice on the defense of professionals including design professionals, attorneys, real estate professionals and others. Melody is the Vice Chair of the Professional Liability Committee.

Courtney Kasper is a Senior Claims Technical Specialist with QBE North America where she handles and provides oversight for claims involving accountants, wealth management advisors and real estate professionals. A licensed Texas Attorney, Courtney's practice prior to joining QBE focused on insurance litigation and coverage matters involving both standard and professional lines. Courtney is a graduate of Southwestern University and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Kristin Ann Kraiza is Claim Counsel at Travelers Bond & Specialty Insurance in Hartford, CT where she manages claims against Insurance Professionals around the country. Prior to joining Travelers, Kristin was in private practice, defending clients in civil litigation matters from inception through trial. She attended Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, CT. She is a licensed attorney in the State of Connecticut.

Seth L. Laver is a partner in Goldberg Segalla whose practice primarily involves professional liability defense and employment litigation. He represents attorneys, design professionals, and accountants in professional negligence claims. Seth is Chair of DRI's Professional Liability Committee and the editor of Professional Liability Matters, a blog focusing on the professional liability community.

Laurie Mandell is a Claims Manager overseeing a team of specialists who handle Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Claims for Chubb Insurance. Laurie started her career at Chubb as a Senior Claims Specialist, handling EPL claims for public and private entities nationwide. She joined Chubb in December 2013 from CNA Insurance where she handled both EPL and Not-for-Profit D&O Claims in the Commercial Accounts/Specialty Lines group. Laurie previously practiced as an attorney for several years defending General Liability and Medical Malpractice matters in New York. Laurie has a B.S. from Cornell University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Susan K. McIntosh is Of Counsel with Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S., where her practice emphasizes the representation of attorneys in professional liability cases, and to a lesser degree, accountants, insurance brokers, and real estate professionals.

Lisa R. Midkiff, CPCU, RPLU is the Director of Claims for B&B Protector Plans, Inc. d/b/a Lawyer's Protector Plan (LPP), a nationwide lawyers professional liability program. For over 13 years, she has specialized in lawyers professional liability claims. Prior to joining LPP, Ms. Midkiff was engaged in private practice and primarily handled medical malpractice and general insurance defense cases. Ms. Midkiff is a member of The Florida Bar and holds the CPCU and RPLU designations.

Todd Nordstrom is the Director of Content for the O.C. Tanner Institute, Author of Appreciate: Celebrating people. Inspiring greatness. He is a weekly contributor to Forbes and Inc., and host of the Great Work Insights Podcast. He has spent his entire career, researching, interviewing, speaking and writing about workplace best practices. Throughout his career, Todd's words have reached an estimated 10 million readers around the world.

Ashley T. Parrish is a partner in the Dallas office of Cantey Hanger LLP. Mr. Parrish has extensive litigation, trial, arbitration and risk management experience related to professional liability matters. He has represented attorneys, real estate professionals, accountants and appraisers as well as foreign and domestic insurance and reinsurance brokers. Mr. Parrish has regularly represented London based brokers on issues relating to placements in the Lloyd's market, recently getting a take nothing judgment on behalf of a Lloyd's broker affirmed by the Texas Supreme Court in a suit seeking damages of more than $20 million.

Sean C. Pierce is a founding attorney of Harbuck Keith & Holmes LLC and practices across Alabama and the Southeast from its Birmingham office. Mr. Pierce has over 15 years of experience in handling professional liability claims and litigation in Alabama state and federal courts where he represents a variety of professionals. He is on the DRI Professional Liability Steering Committee and has served as the Chair and Vice Chair of its Real Estate and Design Professionals Substantive Law Groups. He is also the co-author of the Mississippi Chapter of DRI's 2012 "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage: A Compendium of State Law."

Andrew C. Sayles is a Partner with Connell Foley LLP in Roseland, New Jersey. He litigates in New York and New Jersey and focuses on professional liability defense, consumer financial services litigation, commercial law and class action defense. He is a member of the DRI Professional Liability Committee, where he serves as its Webcast Chair.

The Honorable Larry S. Schachner (Ret.) served as a judge in the State of New York for nearly 20 years. He began his judicial career presiding over New York City residential landlord-tenant cases before being elected Judge of the Civil Court, where he oversaw myriad types of civil litigation, including professional liability matters. In 2007, Justice Schachner was appointed Acting Justice of the Supreme Court and, in 2014, elected as a Justice of the Supreme Court. His experience has given him a broad range of knowledge in numerous areas, including professional liability. He currently serves as a mediator/arbitrator with NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation), based in Garden City, New York.

Andrea Schillaci As head of the Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. Business & Commercial Litigation Department, Ms. Schillaci's practice includes matters in the areas of contracts, healthcare, professional liability, and regulatory and compliance matters. She also has extensive experience in the directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, insurance coverage, and environmental areas. She serves on the firm's Board of Directors. Her practice includes the representation of governmental entities and agencies, publicly and privately held companies and of individuals in the prosecution and defense of civil litigation, administrative and regulatory matters. She handles all types of legal disputes in the business setting and has appeared on behalf of clients in state and federal court.

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 all phases of the construction arena and commercial litigation. 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 editor of the Construction Law Newsletter of the Construction Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar.

Jennifer R. Weinstein is an AVP - Management Liability Claims for OneBeacon Insurance Group. Jennifer currently manages a group of claims professionals who handle EPL, private D&O and E&O claims in OneBeacon's Boston, MA office. With 20+ years of experience in the insurance industry, Jennifer has handled claims for several large carriers with increasing complexities and responsibilities. In addition, she previously served as a senior attorney for the New York State Department of Health, handling employment law issues in the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Ithaca College and a juris doctor from Hofstra University School of Law. Jennifer is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and New York.