Let’s face it. Most cases settle with insurance money.
The job of a mediator when insurance money is in play is to create an environment for a productive negotiation between insurance companies and those seeking money from insurance companies. Who better to do that than someone who has worked at every level of one of the world’s largest insurance companies. I began my insurance career handling complex claims and progressed to Global Head of Casualty Claims, running an organization of 2,000 professionals that paid nearly $10B in claims annually. My organization was also a very large user of mediation services. The mediation marketplace is filled with former lawyers and judges. But there are actually very few mediators who made significant settle or fight decisions on high dollar cases on a regular basis. I relate to decision makers in a unique way. By training and by temperament, I am uniquely suited to get your dispute resolved.
“You are successful because you are so thoughtful in your presentation and so well prepared. Not all mediators do that.”
Let’s break this down
Broad and Deep Inside Insurance Experience. I am former Global Head of Casualty Claims at AIG and spent 17 years evaluating cases and making final decisions about them. This experience has helped me relate to all kinds of decision makers in mediations and also allows me to get up to speed quickly on insurance related matters.
National (and International) Reach. I currently have a national U.S.-based practice and I travel wherever I am needed for mediations. In the past year, I have mediated in New York, California, Tennessee, Connecticut, Minnesota and Illinois. I have mediated cases that were pending in New York, California, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Ohio and New Jersey. I have also mediated disputes involving European and Latin American policyholders and insurers.
Mediation Breadth. I have settled a wide range of coverage disputes involving E&O, D&O, cyber, pollution, CGL, excess, umbrella, commercial property and construction defect, as well as significant accountant, lawyer and broker malpractice cases, along with some catastrophic injury cases.
Temperament and Style. I enjoy working with the best lawyers on challenging cases. This often means I am in tense situations. And I am comfortable there. I have been told I have one of the highest boiling points possible which to me is critical when other people are in stress and I am trying to help them find a way forward.
Preparation. I enjoy immersing myself in the submissions and coming prepared for an in-depth discussion of the merits of the case and any other factors impacting the dispute.
Flexibility. The mediation is about you, not me. The process will be designed for you to feel comfortable, not because I like a particular way of doing things.