PHILADELPHIA — In a move that expands the firm’s litigation capabilities in the insurance industry, Stradley Ronon has added a four-lawyer team of seasoned litigators across the firm’s Washington, D.C., and New York offices. The team joins from Mintz and is led by partners Deirdre Johnson and Paul Kalish, who are based in the Washington office, and includes managing counsel Marc Haas and senior counsel Elaine Panagakos, who are based in the New York and Washington offices, respectively. The team will continue to focus on insurance coverage, reinsurance and regulatory matters.
“Deirdre, Paul and the team will be a force on day-one to help us expand our insurance/reinsurance-related services as the demand for sophisticated legal counsel has increased given the current challenges facing the industry,” said Jeff Grossman, co-chair of the litigation department at Stradley Ronon. “Together, we counsel some of the largest insurance companies worldwide and a variety of other industry participants, including financial services firms that play a key funding role within the insurance market.” Stradley Ronon’s insurance team now stands at nearly 30 lawyers, and represents insurers, reinsurers, and other industry members in complex coverage disputes and other insurance matters throughout the United States.
The firm’s record growth over the past year in key legal services and regions across the country is demonstrated by a string of hires, including most recently partner Amy Vulpio, who represents both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy-related litigation and out-of-court restructurings; the firm’s earlier addition of a New York-based partner trio in investment management; and the 10-litigator team to launch the firm’s office in Southern California, to name a few.
About our new team:
Deirdre Johnson is a highly accomplished litigator focusing her practice on representing insurers, reinsurers and captive insurers with coverage disputes, litigating insurance and reinsurance matters and handling arbitration proceedings in the United States and globally. Recognized by Chambers USA, she also handles life reinsurance treaty disputes and defends public corporations in class action lawsuits, securities litigation and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement actions.
Paul Kalish has counseled some of the largest insurers in the world over the past 36 years. He is well-versed in a wide array of insurance and reinsurance matters, regularly handling complex class actions and international arbitrations, coverage disputes involving mass tort and environmental claims, and liquidations. He has served as national coverage counsel for cases stemming from Hurricane Katrina, Deepwater Horizon and other high-profile matters. Ranked by Chambers USA for his premier practice, Paul is focused on advising insurers in complex litigation and arbitration matters in federal, state and bankruptcy courts.
Marc Haas represents domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers in a wide array of insurance and reinsurance disputes. A trusted adviser to clients and seasoned litigator, Marc provides a tailored, practical approach to mitigating risk and navigating complex coverage matters in state and federal courts nationwide and alternative dispute resolution forums.
Elaine Panagakos has focused her practice on insurance and reinsurance matters for more than three decades, including complex coverage disputes regarding environmental, toxic tort and alleged misconduct by institutional policyholders. She is well-versed in advising insurers with litigation disputes, resolving coverage concerns and preventing recurring issues.
About Stradley Ronon
Counseling clients since 1926, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies — from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations — achieve their goals by providing pragmatic, value-driven legal counsel. With offices in nine locations, our lawyers seamlessly address the full spectrum of our clients’ needs, ranging from sophisticated corporate transactions to complex commercial litigation.