Best's Insurance Professional Resources

Your Online Portal for Claims Industry Information

Best's Insurance Professional Resources

Your Online Portal for Claims Industry Information



Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys

General Defense

10 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603-1098

Established: 1936

Practice Areas

  • Fidelity and Surety
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Professional Liability
  • Subrogation
  • Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Employment Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Transportation
  • Appellate Practice
  • Banking
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Litigation
  • Corporate Law
  • Directors and Officers Liability
  • Environmental Coverage
  • Estate Planning
  • Toxic Torts
  • Securities
  • Reinsurance
  • Real Estate
  • Municipal Law
  • Municipal Liability
  • Mass Tort
  • Insurance Coverage
  • International Law
  • Health Care Liability
  • Insurance Law
  • Insurance Litigation
  • Insurance Policy Enforcement
  • Insurance Regulation
  • Insurance Claim Analysis and Evaluation
  • Insurance Corporate Practice
  • Insurance Defense
  • First Party Matters

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About Us

Clausen Miller combines the resources, talent, strength and maturity of a large, long established firm, with the responsiveness and efficiency of a smaller firm providing you with effective results within your budget. We have invested over seventy years creating a successful and broad-based insurance practice to serve your needs in insurance and complex business litigation from coast to coast and abroad. We can quickly assemble a multi-disciplinary team to address the largest of issues or call upon a highly specialized and seasoned professional to engage in a single issue. All of Clausen Miller attorneys will collaborate to provide you with the most comprehensive and efficient representation required to resolve your issue.

Our insurance defense attorneys, historically and today, have excelled in the practice, handling, and trial of complex claims, such as casualty, class action, construction, professional liability, property, toxic tort, and all types of general liability matters. Our attorneys have represented clients in ground-breaking federal and state court litigation in all areas of insurance.

Clausen Miller's firmly rooted experience in insurance representation has grown to expand across a multitude of disciplines. The accomplished attorneys in our first-party property insurance department are considered among the premier attorneys in this field, achieving outstanding results on behalf of insurers in first-party claims for decades. Our subrogation recovery department has acquired substantial recoveries on behalf of insurers for many years. Our insurance coverage department regularly and successfully litigates cases involving environmental, toxic tort, construction defects, professional liability, personal and advertising injury, and general liability. Our attorneys have achieved great proficiencies and outstanding results for insurers in these various practice areas.

We also represent various other business classes from the small to very large. We provide legal counsel, advice and, if needed, litigation representation to businesses, including, but not limited to, insurance issues. We welcome the opportunity to serve your business needs and develop a mutual, long lasting, relationship as we have with our many clients over the decades.

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Additional Locations

  • Irvine, CA
  • Florham Park, NJ
  • New York, NY
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Rome, Italy
  • Paris, France
  • Michigan City, IN
  • Appleton, WI
  • Tampa, FL
  • Stamford, CT
  • San Francisco, CA

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Client Information

Insurance Clients

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Personnel Information

Partners


W. Gregory Aimonette

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1998
Education:
  • DePauw University, B.A., 1994
  • Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D., 1997

Ivar R. Azeris

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1974
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.A., 1970
  • Boston College, J.D., 1973

Diane M. Baron

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1984
  • New York, 1997
Education:
  • Northwestern University, B.S. (with high honors), 1981
  • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1984

Colleen A. Beverly

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1999
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.S., 1996
  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D. (Dean's List), 1999

James J. Bigoness

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1982
Education:
  • St. Joseph's College, B.S., 1976
  • DePaul University, J.D., 1982

Patrick L. Breen

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1991
  • Wisconsin, 2016
Education:
  • The University of Kansas, B.A., 1988
  • IIT, Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1991

John De Filippis

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New York, 1997
Education:
  • Bucknell University, B.A., 1983
  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., 1997

William Dickinson

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2009
Education:
  • Kalamazoo College, B.A., 2005
  • Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., 2009

Scott J. Dornstein

Orlando, FL and Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2004
Education:
  • Florida State University, B.S., 2001
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2004

Michael L. Duffy

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2000
Education:
  • Miami University, B.A. (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), 1997
  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 2000

Ramy P. Elmasri

Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2010
Education:
  • Texas Tech University, B.A., 2001
  • Texas A&M University School of Law, J.D., 2005

Paul V. Esposito

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1975
Education:
  • St. Norbert College, B.A., 1972
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1975

Margaret Hupp Fahey

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1986
Education:
  • University of Missouri-Columbia, B.J. (with high honors), 1983
  • University of Illinois, J.D., 1986

Ian R. Feldman

Irvine, CA
Admitted
  • New York, 1997
  • New Jersey
  • California, 1999
Education:
  • State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A. (cum laude), 1993
  • Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., 1996

Joseph J. Ferrini

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2007
Education:
  • Loyola University Chicago, B.A., 1999
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2007

Dennis D. Fitzpatrick

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1989
  • District of Columbia, 1991
  • Minnesota, 1992
  • Wisconsin
Education:
  • Marquette University, B.A., 1986
  • DePaul University, J.D., 1989

Steven J. Fried

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New York, 1991
Education:
  • Yeshiva University, B.A., 1987
  • New York University, J.D., 1990

Mara Goltsman

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New York, 1998
Education:
  • Binghamton University, B.S., 1994
  • Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1998

Michael W. Goodin

Irvine, CA
Admitted
  • California, 1989
Education:
  • University of California, B.S., 1976
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 1989

Jay D. Harker

Irvine, CA
Admitted
  • California, 1993
Education:
  • Brigham Young University, B.S. (magna cum laude), 1990
  • University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D., 1993

David M. Heilmann

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1987
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.S., 1984
  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1987

Harvey R. Herman

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1982
Education:
  • University of Michigan, B.A., 1977
  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1982

Celeste A. Hill

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1986
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.A. (Phi Beta Kappa), 1982
  • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1986

Thomas D. Jacobson

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New Jersey, 2007
  • New York
Education:
  • Hartwick College, B.A., 2003
  • Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D., 2007

Daniel P. Johnston

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1997
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.A., 1993
  • Drake University, J.D., 1996

Edward M. Kay

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1979
Education:
  • Loyola University, B.A., 1974
  • Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D., 1979

Kimbley A. Kearney

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Louisiana, 1984
  • Illinois, 1991
  • New York
Education:
  • Saint Mary's College, B.A., 1980
  • Tulane University of Louisiana, M.B.A., 1984
  • Tulane University of Louisiana, J.D. (cum laude), 1984

Anne E. Kevlin

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Florida, 1992
  • Massachusetts, 2008
Education:
  • The University of Iowa, B.A., 1987
  • The University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 1991

Kathleen M. Klein

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2011
Education:
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A., 2008
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2011

Melinda S. Kollross

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1992
  • New York, 1999
Education:
  • DePaul University, B.A. (with highest honors), 1989
  • Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. (with high honors), 1992

Ilene M. Korey

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1983
Education:
  • University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A., 1979
  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1983

Matthew Leis

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New York, 2006
  • New Jersey, 2011
Education:
  • Lafayette College, B.S.M.E., 2001
  • Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., 2005

Carolina Lopez

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Florida, 2008
  • New York, 2012
  • New Jersey
  • Illinois, 2017
Education:
  • New York University, B.A., 2003
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 2007

Tyler Jay Lory

New York, NY
Admitted
  • Illinois, 1981
  • New York, 1989
Education:
  • University of Rochester, B.A., 1978
  • Boston College Law School, J.D., 1981

Mindy M. Medley

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2001
Education:
  • Washington University in St. Louis, B.A., 1998
  • Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., 2001

Thomas J. Moody

Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2016
Education:
  • University of West Florida, B.A., 2012
  • University of Florida, Levin College of Law, J.D., 2016

Maura Lutz Morgan

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1990
  • Michigan
Education:
  • Fairfield University, B.A., 1987
  • University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1990

Paige M. Neel

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2001
  • Indiana
Education:
  • Indiana University-Bloomington, B.A., 1998
  • Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, J.D., 2001

Valeri J. Nowik

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2012
Education:
  • Henry B. Tippie College of Business at The University of Iowa, B.B.A., 2009
  • Marquette University Law School, J.D., 2012
  • Marquette University Graduate School, M.B.A., 2012

Amy Rich Paulus

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1989
Education:
  • Northwestern University, B.A., 1985
  • Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1989

Erin E. Pellegrino

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1998
Education:
  • Illinois Benedictine College, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1994
  • The John Marshall Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 1998

Carl M. Perri

New York, NY and Florham Park, NJ
Admitted
  • New York, 1999
  • New Jersey
Education:
  • St. Bonaventure University, B.A., 1994
  • New York Law School, J.D., 1999

William P. Pistorius

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1987
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.A., 1984
  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1987

Daniel L. Polsby

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1999
  • Indiana, 2009
Education:
  • Bradford College, B.A., 1995
  • Northwestern School of Law, J.D., 1999

Gregory J. Popadiuk

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New York, 2007
Education:
  • University of Maryland, College Park, B.S., 2002
  • Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, J.D., 2006

Michael J. Raudebaugh

Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2011
Education:
  • University of Florida, B.A., 2008
  • Tulane University Law School, J.D., 2011

Robert L. Reifenberg

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1981
Education:
  • Saint Mary's College, B.A. (cum laude), 1978
  • Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D., 1981

Brian J. Riordan

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1996
Education:
  • Eastern Illinois University, B.A., 1993
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1996

P. Scott Ritchie

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1989
Education:
  • Purdue University, B.S., 1983
  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1989

Michael J. Rivero

Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2010
Education:
  • The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, B.A., 2006
  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 2010

Don R. Sampen

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1975
Education:
  • Northwestern University, B.A., 1972
  • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1975

Christopher T. Scanlon

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New Jersey, 1997
  • New York
Education:
  • Fordham University, B.A., 1988
  • St. John's University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1996

Martin C. Sener

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1984
Education:
  • Northwestern University, B.S.E., 1981
  • The John Marshall Law School, J.D., 1984

Scott R. Shinkan

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Wisconsin, 2005
  • Illinois, 2006
Education:
  • Wabash College, B.A., 2002
  • Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D., 2005

Serena Skala

New York, NY
Admitted
  • New Jersey, 2008
  • New York, 2009
Education:
  • The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 2005
  • Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 2008

Hillard M. Sterling

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1996
Education:
  • Northern Illinois University, B.A., 1986
  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1989

Robert A. Stern

New York, NY and Florham Park, NJ
Admitted
  • New York, 1991
  • Massachusetts, 1998
  • New Jersey, 2003
Education:
  • Union College, B.A., 1987
  • Boston University Law School, J.D., 1990

Meredith D. Stewart

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • California, 2001
Education:
  • Brandeis University, B.A., 1997
  • Southwestern School of Law, J.D., 2001

James R. Swinehart

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1982
Education:
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A. (cum laude), 1979
  • The University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 1982

Nicholas W. Travis

Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2015
Education:
  • The University of Iowa, B.A., 2009
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D., 2013

Andrew S. Turkish

Florham Park, NJ & New York, NY
Admitted
  • New Jersey, 1989
  • New York
Education:
  • Bowdoin College, B.A. (cum laude), 1986
  • Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1989

Michelle R. Valencic

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Ohio, 1996
  • Illinois, 1997
Education:
  • Ohio University, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1992
  • Case Western Reserve University, M.S.S.A. (cum laude), 1996
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1996

Matthew J. Van Dusen

New York, NY
Admitted
  • Connecticut, 2003
  • New Jersey
  • New York
Education:
  • University of Central Florida, B.S., 1999
  • Quinnipiac University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2003

Kelly M. Vogt

Tampa, FL
Admitted
  • Florida, 2011
Education:
  • Villanova University, B.A., 2007
  • Tulane University Law School, J.D., 2011

Sava Alexander Vojcanin

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1988
Education:
  • DePauw University, B.A., 1985
  • Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1988

Scott P. Ward

Irvine, CA
Admitted
  • California, 1995
Education:
  • University of Washington, B.A. (cum laude), 1991
  • University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1995

James M. Weck

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 2012
Education:
  • University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, B.S., 2005
  • Marquette University Law School, J.D., 2012
  • DePaul University, LL.M., 2015

Mark W. Zimmerman

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1993
Education:
  • Southern Illinois University, B.S., 1983
  • DePaul University, J.D. (with honors), 1993

Jacob Zissu

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • New York, 2004
Education:
  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., 2004

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Of Counsel


Norman Chimenti

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1967
Memberships:
  • Illinois State, DuPage County and Chicago Bar Associations
Education:
  • Yale University, B.A. (Dean's List), 1962
  • Yale Law School, LL.B., 1967
Military:
U.S. Marine Corps (1963-1968); American Spirit Honor Medal

William W. Leathem

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1989
Education:
  • University of Illinois, B.A., 1982
  • The John Marshall Law School, J.D., 1989

Patrick J. McGuire

Chicago, IL

Admitted
  • Illinois, 1995
Education:
  • Marquette University, B.A., 1990
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1995

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Associates


  • Michele T. Bachoon
  • James M. Bova*****
  • Alexander J. Brinson*****
  • Timothy F. Brown**
  • Benjamin F. Burnstine*******
  • George Caran**
  • Tyler M. Costanzo***
  • Charles W. Deutsch*****
  • Alexandra DiFusco**
  • Ross S. Felsher*
  • Stacy A. Georginis*****
  • Colin J. Gorman**
  • Grace Guo**
  • Anna P. Jimenez*
  • Kelly A. Jorgensen
  • Sean R. Kelly*
  • Henry LeFevre-Snee
  • Darrell A. Limia*
  • Vanessa Mannings
  • Marisa Michaelson****
  • Marina O'Keeffe
  • Joseph R. Paxton*
  • Colin B. Rathe*****
  • R. Mick Rubio******
  • Yesy A. Sanchez
  • Christopher D. Sempier*******
  • Lisa Marie Shiderly**
  • Kris K. Spiro***
  • Krista Stoumbos
  • Mitchel D. Torrence
  • Kelli J. Untiedt**
  • Ryan J. Weber**
  • Ian T. Williamson
  • Kenneth R. Wysocki
  • Elisheva Zakheim**

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Articles

Aggregate Coverage Argument Falls Apart with Policy Language by Don R. Sampen

Clausen Miller Member Spotlight

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Clausen Miller International

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*Resident Tampa, FL Office
**Resident New York, NY Office
***Resident Irvine, CA Office
****Resident Florham Park, NJ Office
***** Resident Chicago, IL Office
******Resident San Francisco, CA Office
*******Resident Orlando, FL Office

(This firm also appears in the Subrogation section of this publication)

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