THARPE & HOWELL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
ANDREA BREUER is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. She brings nearly thirty years of experience defending high exposure civil litigation matters in the areas of tort/personal injury, premises liability, construction defect, and contractual claims.
Ms. Breuer is a seasoned trial attorney, having litigated numerous cases to verdict in both state and federal court, and is a member of the firm's general liability defense team.
Practice Areas
Premises Liability
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
BARBARA J. ANTONIO is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. Over the past 20 years, Ms. Antonio has counseled and represented clients in a comprehensive range of matters including insurance bad faith, toxic tort, RICO, professional negligence, employment and labor law, and disability discrimination. Currently, she focuses her practice on representing insurance companies with regard to insurance litigation and the defense of insurance bad faith litigation.
Practice Areas
Insurance Bad Faith
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
BECKY M. BROOKS is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Insurance Defense
Job Titles:
- Insurance Law Committee Member
CHRISTOPHER S. MAILE is a Preeminent AV Rated Partner of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California office, having achieved the highest rating available to attorneys nationwide. He is also a fellow of the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance which is comprised of insurance companies, corporations, corporate counsel, litigation and risk managers, claims professionals and attorneys who, through education and collaboration, promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Mr. Maile represents management in all aspects of employment law, including litigation and counseling. He also regularly defends insurance companies against claims of bad faith and breach of contract; and specializes in defense of insurance agents and brokers. An accomplished trial lawyer, Mr. Maile brings his clients extensive jury trial experience.
Mr. Maile's experience includes:
Representing management in all aspects of employment law including wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, whistle blower, unfair labor practices, restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements, and proceedings before the EEOC, California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, California Labor Commission and California Wage-Hour Compliance agencies.
Counseling employers in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including policies, discipline, compensation, workforce reduction, employee terminations, disability accommodation and compliance with various federal and state laws and regulations.
Representing insurance companies in disputes with independent insurance agents.
Defending insurance carriers in all aspects of claims handling practices and denial of policy benefits.
Defending auto dealerships in matters involving consumer remedies, including Truth In Lending Act, Auto Sales Finance Act and Consumers Legal Remedies Act.
Recent matters that Mr. Maile has handled include:
Winning a five week jury trial for a Fortune 500 company that had been sued by a former Director of the company for allegations of termination in violation of public policy and whistleblowing.
Winning a five week jury trial for an attorney-in-fact of a major insurance carrier accused of being the alter ego of the carrier and part of a single enterprise.
Successfully defending a nationally-known company in a six-week jury trial against claims of bad faith, alter ego and single enterprise.
Winning a five week bench trial against an employer accused of misclassifying an independent contractor District Manager.
Winning a two week jury trial against a client accused of being the alter ego of its affiliated companies.
Successfully defending an auto dealership against allegations of violations of the Auto Sales Finance Act, Consumers Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Business Practice Act.
Winning an eight week jury trial for a major insurance carrier regarding the termination of an agent who claimed breach of contract and conversion.
Successfully defending a nationally-known company in a six-week jury trial against claims of wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation.
Obtaining a defense verdict for a national insurance company in a consolidated case involving breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets and fraud.
Defending a large trucking company in a lawsuit brought by a terminated employee involving allegations of age discrimination, medical condition discrimination and wrongful termination.
Representing a major insurance carrier in a lawsuit by a policy holder involving wrongful denial of policy benefits.
Mr. Maile speaks and writes frequently on employment law matters as well as insurance and risk management issues. His numerous publications include: New Cases Shield Employers from Wrongful Termination Lawsuits, published in "Southern California Defense Counsel Verdict" and Wrongful Termination, The Tort of the Eighties Enters the Nineties, published in "LACMA Physician Journal."
Practice Areas
Employment Law and Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
DANIEL B. WOLFBERG is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chairman of the Firm 's Diversity
DIANA M. RIVERA is a Partner and Senior Trial Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. She is a veteran trial attorney with numerous arbitrations and cases tried to verdict, and is a member of the firm's general liability defense team. Her litigation defense experience includes uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, wrongful death, automobile liability, premises liability, products liability, and construction defect. In addition, Ms. Rivera provides pre-litigation advice and counseling to clients regarding best practices and statutory compliance.
Ms. Rivera is also the Chair of the Firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
EDUARDO M. OSORIO is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Insurance Defense
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
ERIC B. KUNKEL is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. Mr. Kunkel's practice is focused on appellate law, including the handling of cutting-edge appeals and writ petitions. His appellate work includes first party claims and complex class-action lawsuits and has involved the substantive issues of negligence, the employer-employee relationship, contract disputes, insurance coverage and agency law, and personal injury. Mr. Kunkel has prepared and argued numerous briefs before the state appellate courts, and has handled appeals brought in the Ninth Circuit. He works closely with the Firm's trial lawyers to ensure the preservation of appellate rights, and on other substantive, procedural, and strategic decision-making matters. He also provides valuable insight on settlement strategies based on his knowledge of appellate law and his experience as a negotiator. Mr. Kunkel has authored two law review articles, and teaches Torts at the Southern California Institute of Law, where he was named professor of the year in 2011.
Practice Areas
Appellate Law
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
ERIC J. PALMER is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California office. Mr. Palmer has extensive experience litigating in state and federal court in a wide variety of matters, including wage and hour class-action and PAGA lawsuits, as well as matters involving alleged discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, and defamation.
Practice Areas
Employment and Labor Law
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
EVAN M. SEARS is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
FRANK A. PEREZ is a Law and Motion Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
GAIL T. GONZAGA is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
HEATHER M. McKEON is a Partner of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. For more than 20 years, she has counseled and represented clients in a comprehensive range of insurance matters relating to potential exposure and bad faith disputes. Currently, her legal practice focuses on the representation of carriers in litigation involving all lines of insurance (personal and commercial general liability and property coverage, E&O liability, and health). Ms. McKeon also defends clients in mass and class action lawsuits.
Practice Areas
Bad Faith and Coverage
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
J. CHRISTOPHER BENNINGTON is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. With 30 years of legal experience in insurance coverage and bad faith, Mr. Bennington has represented clients in a broad range of first and third party claims. He has extensive knowledge in the analysis of insurance policy provisions and carrier claims handling practices, and has helped clients recover millions of dollars in policy benefits for claims arising in a number of areas, including construction defects, life insurance, product liability, and toxic exposure. He has also represented carriers in recovery actions against other insurers, and defended carriers against bad faith claims.
After graduating from UCLA School of Law, Mr. Bennington began his career defending clients against allegations of medical malpractice, product liability and general liability claims. He also litigated claims involving wrongful termination of employment, doctors' staff privileges, and environmental pollution, before developing his specialty in insurance coverage.
His career includes 25 years in private practice and another six years working in the general counsel's office of a major insurance company. While working "in-house," Mr. Bennington dealt with a wide variety of insurance products ranging from homeowner's policies to specialized policies for the movie and television industry and policies for members of the financial industry. His experience as a successful trial attorney combined with three decades in the coverage field allows him to bring a broad perspective to issues concerning insurance policies and the coverages they afford.
Practice Areas
Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
JACK S. FISCHER is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Insurance Defense
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
JASON H. TANZER is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
JENNIFER M. BURMAN is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Bad Faith and Coverage
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate of the Firm
JERRY L. JOHNSON is a Senior Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate of the Firm
JORGE ROJAS is a Senior Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Employment and Labor Law
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
JOSEPH R. HOLMES is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Employment and Labor Law
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate of the Firm
LAURA J. BECKER is a Senior Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Employment and Labor Law
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
LAURA M. FIELDS is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
MICHAEL A. BUSTOS is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
NORMAN L. PEARL is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
General Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
PERRY E. RHOADS is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Discovery Counsel
- Senior Associate of the Firm
Ryan E. Mowry is a Senior Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office. Mr. Mowry serves as Discovery Counsel for Tharpe & Howell, LLP, and is responsible for the strategic coordination of all aspects of the discovery process in a wide variety of assigned matters, including written discovery, depositions, and motion practice. Prior to joining Tharpe & Howell, LLP, his legal work focused on business and securities law matters, including antitrust class action lawsuits.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
SARAH J. REYNOLDS is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate of the Firm
SCOTT C. WARDEN is a Senior Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
STACEY A. MILLER is a Partner and Senior Trial Counsel of the Firm's Sherman Oaks, California, office. Ms. Miller represents a variety of clients in personal injury, premises liability, construction defect, and contract disputes. She also represents financial and credit establishments and vehicle lending institutions, on such matters as creditor representation and asset protection in all Bankruptcy matters, defense of Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices and Rosenthal Act claims, Consumer Legal Remedies Act defense, and civil replevin and money judgment actions. Ms. Miller is licensed to practice in all Federal and State Courts in the State of California; and her practice focuses on all phases of civil litigation in both Federal and State courts, including arbitration, mediation and trial. She also represents real estate owners, contractors, insurance companies and others in a broad range of matters including residential and commercial landlord/tenant disputes, racial and sex discrimination and sexual harassment claims, Americans with Disabilities Act claims, product liability, wrongful death, breach of contract, indemnity agreements, and mold litigation.
Ms. Miller's recent experience includes:
Obtaining a defense verdict for a property owner involving significant orthopedic injuries including multiple past and anticipated future surgeries with a demand in the high seven figures.
Obtaining a defense verdict for an apartment building owner/manager in a jury trial involving burn injuries to tenants.
Obtaining a favorable verdict and award of attorney's fees for 3 subcontractors in a construction defect case.
Settling a million dollar property damage claim for $5,000 and a $3 million contractor liability construction defect claim for $150,000.
Ms. Miller speaks frequently on a variety of legal issues including Landlord/Tenant law, the Fair Claims Practices Act, and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
Practice Areas
General Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Contact Attorney
- Managing Partner of the Firm
- Member of the Defense Research Institute
STEPHANIE FORMAN is Managing Partner of the Firm and oversees its daily business operations from the Firm's Sherman Oaks, California office. Ms. Forman is AV Preeminent Rated, having achieved the highest rating available to attorneys nationwide. Her practice focuses on all phases of civil litigation in both Federal and State courts, including arbitration, mediation and trial. She represents a broad range of clients, primarily in the areas of employment and labor law, premises liability, product liability, wrongful death and mass tort litigation; and has extensive experience counseling companies on administrative and regulatory compliance issues, including environmental and diverse risk assessment matters.
Ms. Forman is also a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) which is comprised of insurance companies, corporations, corporate counsel, litigation and risk managers, claims professionals and attorneys who, through education and collaboration, promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Ms. Forman has also served on the Los Angeles Superior Court Voluntary Settlement Conference (VSC) Panel.
Practice Areas
Employment Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of the Firm
THOMAS R. COULSTON is an Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate of the Firm
TIFFANY N. BUDA is a Senior Associate of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
Insurance Defense
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Partner
- Partner of the Firm
TIMOTHY D. LAKE is a Partner of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office and is Chair of the Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Practice Group. Mr. Lake also serves as a member of the California State Bar Insurance Law Committee, and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee. He has authored numerous publications on insurance coverage related topics and has been an invited guest speaker at numerous events in the insurance industry.
Mr. Lake also serves as coverage counsel for a nationwide insurance company for which he recently wrote and prepared new editions of insurance policies for all types of construction and service contractors, a policy for home inspectors, and for which he prepares special manuscript endorsements and provisions.
Mr. Lake also serves as coverage counsel for several nationwide insurance companies for which he has drafted revised editions of insurance policies involving commercial general liability coverage, commercial transportation coverage, homeowner property and liability coverage, as well as special manuscript endorsements and provisions. In his role as coverage counsel, Mr. Lake provides coverage opinions to insurer clients and assists in coverage determinations involving commercial general liability, commercial transportation, homeowner property and liability insurance claims.
During his 40 years of practice, Mr. Lake has represented key parties in high-exposure and complex cases. His litigation experience includes Federal and State jury trials, arbitrations and appeals involving:
Residential, commercial and public works real estate and construction matters including claims for bodily injury, property damage, construction defects, and homeowners' associations.
Insurance litigation including breach of contract, bad faith, contribution and subrogation, additional insured endorsements, declaratory relief, insurance coverage disputes, equitable contribution litigation and insurance agency and broker E&O litigation.
Bodily injury litigation including premises liability, governmental liability, auto and trucking liability.
Appellate Decisions in which Mr. Lake was lead counsel include:
Midiman v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th 102.
El Dorado v. Fire Insurance Exchange, E039537, Second Appellate District.
Sitthiso v. Fire Insurance Exchange, (2002) Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 9043.
Wang v. Golden Eagle Ins. Co., (2005) Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 1570.
Lyons v. Fire Insurance Exchange, (2008)161 Cal.App.4th 880.
Tradewinds Escrow v. Truck Insurance Exchange, (2002) 97 Cal. App. 4th 704.
Practice Areas
Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel of the Firm
WILLIAM A. BRENNER is a Senior Counsel of the Firm in its Sherman Oaks, California, office.
Practice Areas
General Civil Litigation