TRAUB LIEBERMAN STRAUS & SHREWSBERRY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Chicago, IL
A partner in the firm's Chicago office and an experienced insurance coverage attorney, Adam Joffe provides his industry clients with candid, transparent communication and creative options that help resolve disputes efficiently and effectively.
Adam Joffe counsels and represents insurers in complex first-party and third-party coverage litigation involving a wide range of policy types, taking complex legal concepts and distilling them into a form that is understandable to attorneys and non-attorneys alike. He defends insurers in declaratory judgment, bad faith, and contribution actions in state and federal courts in Illinois and jurisdictions throughout the country. Adam also advises insurers on their coverage obligations under primary and excess commercial lines policies, including commercial general liability, employment practices liability, professional liability, commercial property.
Before entering private practice, Adam served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Moshe Jacobius, presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Chancery Division. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Adam earned his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he worked as an intern in the Department of Enforcement at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Samuel Der-Yeghiayan in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He was also the Executive Notes and Comments Editor of the Chicago-Kent Law Review.
Adam's professional accomplishments earned him recognition as an "Illinois Emerging Lawyer" by Leading Lawyers Magazine in 2017 and 2018. When not achieving positive results for his clients, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
An accomplished litigator who prides herself on vigorous yet cost-effective advocacy and exceptional client communication, Aileen concentrates on professional liability, employment practices liability, premises liability and commercial litigation matters.
Tony focuses his practice on coverage matters and coverage litigation for directors and officers liability claims, as well as property and casualty claims. He crafts tailored and effective litigation strategies and provides frequent, open dialogue about the issues in each case.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Hawthorne, NY
A zealous advocate who believes in a collegial approach to litigation, Aris focuses his practice in the areas of general liability, New York Labor Law, commercial automobile and trucking, personal automobile, medical malpractice, and long term care.
Aris Rotella is an associate in the firm's New York office, where he focuses his practice in the areas of general liability, New York Labor Law, commercial automobile and trucking, personal automobile, medical malpractice, and long-term care.
He works closely with his clients at all phases of litigation, with an aim towards securing the most advantageous outcome possible. Aris looks to provide his clients with creative solutions to litigation challenges that prioritize their best interests. He applies clear and concise communication and keen attention to detail to every matter.
Prior to joining the firm, Aris was an associate at a national firm representing clients in medical malpractice, long-term care, and general liability matters. He earned his law degree at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, where he received multiple honors and awards for his academic successes.
Outside of his legal practice, Aris is a proud father and husband who values spending time with his family. He is an avid reader and enjoys literature of all kinds-sci-fi and fantasy most of all-and storytelling in all of its forms.
Job Titles:
- Partner / St. Petersburg, FL
Ashley represents insurers in a wide range of coverage matters, providing her clients with accessibility, transparency, and an ability to provide clear, thoughtful, and understandable guidance about complex issues.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the State Bar of Michigan
- Partner / St. Petersburg, FL
Having practiced law for over two decades, Bradley has earned a reputation as a talented litigator who is committed to providing aggressive and effective representation to his clients.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, Bradley is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Florida Bar, and the District of Columbia Bar. He earned his law degree cum laude from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, where he was a member of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review and the Thomas M. Cooley National Moot Court Team. Prior to moving to Florida in 1999, Bradley worked as a law clerk for the Michigan Court of Appeals and as a defense attorney in Detroit, Michigan and as a defense attorney.
Brandt's practice focuses primarily on insurance coverage, excess monitoring and professional and general liability matters.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Partner / Chicago, IL
Concentrating his practice in the areas of insurance coverage, excess monitoring, cyber-risk and data security, Brian prides himself on providing sound, actionable counsel and clear client communication. Brian currently serves as the Managing Partner of the firm's Chicago office.
Brian also serves as defense counsel to professionals, and has experience defending invasion of privacy claims, as well as suits relating to restrictive covenants in employment contracts.
Brian has provided guidance to clients facing challenging coverage disputes for his entire legal career. He acts as a trusted counselor on the coverage laws of almost every jurisdiction nationwide, litigated complex coverage disputes in 15 different states, and successfully argued in state and federal courts of appeals in numerous jurisdictions. His dealings with policyholders in every geographic region provide Brian with the background to provide clients with timely and accurate advice when they are in need of zealous advocacy. Brian's experience touches almost every type of primary and excess commercial lines policy, including CGL, E&O/Professional Liability, Cyber, D&O, and EPL.
Brian has been handling cyber coverage disputes for over five years. He provides clients with a wide range of services, from policy form drafting to complex coverage litigation involving multi-million claims. Brian's clients count on him to provide guidance on cyber coverage issues nationwide.
Brian also serves as breach counsel to policyholders impacted by breach and privacy incidents. He provides prompt recommendations to ensure that his clients take the proper steps and secure experts to safeguard their interests while minimizing potential liability. He works closely with clients to satisfy notification obligations with federal and state laws. The firm's cyber team also interfaces with state and federal regulators to respond to inquiries concerning privacy incidents.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / St. Petersburg, FL
Burks brings his own brand of hard work, efficiency, and surgical precision to every case that he handles, from the inception of claim handling all the way through jury trial and beyond.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / St. Petersburg, FL
Ryan focuses his practice on insurance litigation, including defending first-party property claims as well as a broad range of third-party liability claims, including construction defect, premises liability, and professional liability.
C. Ryan Jones is an experienced and accomplished defense attorney who develops strategies that take into consideration cost, anticipated outcomes, and the potential effect on other cases and the insurance industry as a whole.
Ryan is a partner in the firm's St. Petersburg office and an experienced trial attorney whose holistic approach to litigation takes into account the effect of a matter beyond the four corners of a specific dispute. Committed to ensuring that his clients clearly understand the issues and alternatives in each case, Ryan develops strategies that consider cost, anticipated outcomes, and the potential effect on other matters and the insurance industry as a whole.
Ryan's practice focuses on insurance litigation, including defending first-party property claims as well as a broad range of third-party liability claims, such as construction defect, premises liability, and professional liability. He has significant experience in all aspects of claims, from providing advice during initial claim handling through trial and appeal.
Priding himself on his strategic thinking, Ryan has obtained summary judgment or judgment on the pleadings in several cases, including matters involving hurricane damage, fire losses, sinkholes, and water damage. He regularly handles individual cases as well as coordinates overall strategies on emerging legal issues to ensure defenses are properly asserted, litigated, and appealed. His professional accomplishments have earned him an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale Hubble as well as designation as a Florida Super Lawyer "Rising Star" from 2012 through 2016.
Prior to joining the firm, Ryan worked for Shook Hardy & Bacon in the firm's national products liability group where he served as the lead associate in a three-week smoking and health case where the trial team obtained a defense verdict. He also secured removal and multidistrict litigation treatment of Florida cases for a nationwide products liability action.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Ryan earned his law degree, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law where he was a member of the Stetson Law Review and Moot Court Board which won first place at an international moot court competition. Ryan often returns to Stetson to assist other moot court teams and has guest lectured on advocacy. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and serves as chairman of the first-party property section of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.
When Ryan is not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his family, preferably in the backyard grilling and watching Georgia football.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Christian focuses his practice on general liability, product liability, premises liability, professional liability, and commercial litigation. He takes great pride in developing strong relationships with his clients, built on a foundation of communication.
Christian Romaguera is an associate in the firm's Palm Beach Gardens, Florida office. His practice is focused on litigating general liability, product liability, premises liability, and professional liability matters. Christian works closely with his clients from start to finish-from pre-litigation negotiations to post-judgment work. He has experience facing legal issues with little precedent and excels at developing and executing creative legal strategies with the goal of obtaining favorable results for his clients.
Christian is a native Floridian who was born and raised in Palm Beach County. After graduating from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, he went on to double major in international affairs and political science at Florida State University, graduating in 2014. He earned his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a key member of the nationally-ranked trial team, served as the president of the Federalist Society, was a founding member of the Student Bar Association's Diversity Committee, and worked as a teaching assistant for trial advocacy and evidence.
Christian is an avid sports fan and often attends Panthers, Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, and Seminoles games. In his free time, Christian enjoys boating, pickleball, racquetball, tennis, and golf.
A partner in the firm's New York office, Christopher focuses his practice on professional liability, premises liability, products liability, and general liability matters.
Christopher Russo is a seasoned litigator who provides his insurance industry clients with clear and consistent communication as he develops and implements effective and efficient case resolution strategies.
Christopher knows what his clients expect from him, and he continually strives to exceed those expectations by developing and implementing effective and efficient case resolution strategies tailored to accomplish their objectives. With an emphasis on clear and consistent client communication and meticulous preparation, Christopher leverages his extensive and diverse litigation experience to advance his clients' interests in a wide range of matters.
A partner in the firm's New York office, Christopher focuses his practice on professional liability, premises liability, products liability, and general liability issues. He has represented lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, architects and engineers, property managers, title agents, title abstract entities, escrow agents, corporations, and religious institutions in all phases of litigation.
In addition to serving as counsel of record in such professional liability matters, Christopher has supervised defense counsel on a national basis in litigation and arbitration on behalf of directors and officers liability insurers, life insurance carriers and life insurance agents, and their errors and omissions carriers. Christopher's insurance coverage practice includes policy interpretation and coverage analysis, as well as coverage and bad faith litigation. He has also represented insurers in declaratory judgment actions involving coverage for professional liability claims.
Christopher's professional accomplishments have earned him recognition as a Super Lawyer in Professional Liability: Defense in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
After attending Bucknell University, Christopher earned his law degree from New York Law School, where he served as the Notes & Comments Editor for the New York Law School Journal of International & Comparative Law and was the recipient of the Professor James P. Kibbey Memorial Award for excellence in commercial law. When not serving his clients, Christopher enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in his hobbies, which include sports and fantasy sports.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Hawthorne, NY
Colleen concentrates her practice on the defense of construction accident, construction defect, premises liability, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, products liability, and retail and hospitality matters.
Colleen Hastie is a partner in the firm's New York office who has amassed an impressive record of success in complex, high-value, and multi-party litigation. Committed to ensuring that she is always the most prepared attorney in the courtroom or at the negotiating table, Colleen provides her clients with thorough investigations and realistic case evaluations that form the foundation for proactive, effective strategies.
With experience in a diverse range of matters including civil disputes and commercial matters, Colleen concentrates her practice on the defense of construction accident, construction defect, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, products liability, and retail and hospitality cases. Her clients appreciate her accessibility as well as her consistent and relevant communication throughout a case's lifecycle.
Colleen graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in History and Psychology, serving as a research assistant with the Ormond and Hazel Hunt Laboratory for the study of Conscious and Unconscious Processes. While earning her law degree from Pace University School of Law, Colleen served as Contracts for the International Sale of Goods ("CISG") book editor for the Pace International Law Review.
Craig brings his extensive experience, practical advice, and attention to detail to the representation of insurers in coverage evaluation and litigation matters.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Chicago, IL
Dana has spent nearly the past two decades representing insurance companies in complex insurance coverage disputes involving claims throughout the United States.
Dana Rice is a partner in the firm's Chicago office who vigorously represents his clients in the most effective and efficient manner possible. An accomplished trial attorney, Dana understands that while there will always be cases in which litigation is required, the best resolutions are often the ones reached outside the courtroom. While representing insurance companies in complex first-party and third-party coverage disputes throughout the United States, Dana employs an open and direct communication style which ensures that every client stays well-informed throughout the litigation process.
Dana has spent the past decade representing insurance companies in complex insurance coverage disputes involving claims throughout the United States. His clients appreciate his commitment to minimizing their exposure by considering all possible strengths and weaknesses to their position. They also appreciate his efforts to limit their costs and expenses by identifying creative alternatives to litigation when possible.
With significant experience across multiple lines, Dana focuses his practice on matters involving commercial general liability, commercial auto, errors and omissions, directors and officers, employment practices liability, and excess/umbrella policies.
Dana's litigation practice includes representing insurers in declaratory judgment and bad faith actions throughout the Midwest, primarily in Illinois and Missouri. He handles all phases of coverage litigation, from the initial pleadings and discovery through dispositive motions and trial.
His philosophy on litigation is a simple one: to vigorously represent his clients in the most effective and efficient manner possible. While there will always be cases in which litigation is required, Dana also recognizes that sometimes the best resolutions are the ones reached outside the courtroom. His commitment to obtaining exceptional results for his insurer clients is what drives Dana's open communication style, ensuring every client stays well-informed throughout the litigation process.
In addition to litigating cases, Dana advises clients on their coverage obligations and potential exposure for first-party and third-party claims. He also provides coverage assistance for clients in pre-litigation settlement conferences and mediations. Dana shares his insights and experience in the law through annual presentations to various claims departments on issues ranging from good faith claims handling to general strategy in litigating coverage disputes.
Dana's commitment to the insurance industry is unwavering, extending far beyond the courtroom. For example, for the past several years, he has served as a member of the lnsurance lndustry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Associate Board of Directors, Midwest Division. The llCF is a national organization committed to helping communities and enriches lives by combining the collective strengths of the insurance industry to provide grants, volunteer service, and leadership.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Dana earned his law degree, cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law, where he served as President of the DePaul National Moot Court Society and Editor-in-Chief of the DePaul Journal of Sports Law & Contemporary Problems. When not serving his clients, Dana enjoys writing and playing music and spending time with his three children.
Denis practices mainly in the areas of professional liability, general liability, and premises liability, and has extensive experience handling all phases of state and federal litigation in a wide range of matters.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Denita is an experienced litigator who dedicates herself to understanding her client's needs and providing sound, clear-eyed counsel to assist clients in making informed decisions at all phases of a matter.
Denita Jones is an associate in the firm's Palm Beach Gardens office, where she represents clients in general liability matters. An experienced litigator, she focuses her representation on understanding her client's needs and assisting them at all phases to reach an informed resolution, whether it be through litigation or a settlement.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Insurance Coverage and Litigation Attorney and a Partner
- Partner / Hawthorne, NY
Eric provides his insurance industry clients with practical, implementable strategies that achieve concrete, well-defined objectives in a wide range of matters, including coverage issues and disputes, investigations, and the litigation of coverage cases.
Eric D. Suben is an accomplished insurance coverage and litigation attorney and a partner in the firm's New York office. He understands that the lucid, thoughtful legal analysis he provides only adds value for his clients when it becomes the basis of practical, implementable strategies that achieve concrete and well-defined objectives.
Eric's ability to craft compelling, succinct arguments that efficiently and effectively advance his clients' goals has made him a sought-after counselor in a wide range of matters, including coverage issues and disputes, investigations, and the litigation of coverage cases through trial and appeal in state and federal courts in New York and, as supervisory counsel, in other states.
Before focusing his practice exclusively on coverage matters, Eric garnered substantial experience analyzing environmental insurance coverage issues and defending litigation in the areas of toxic tort, defamation, and employment, as well as prosecuting and defending various types of maritime claims. His coverage background also includes matters involving products liability, toxic tort, environmental, marine, employment, construction, and other risks under various types of policies.
Prior to joining the firm, Eric was an attorney in the law department of a Fortune 500 company, where he managed large-scale environmental insurance coverage litigation arising from the company's discontinued operations.
A cum laude graduate of both Tulane University School of Law and New York University, Eric was Senior Notes and Comments Editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal, recipient of its Tulane Maritime Law Center Award for best student comment, and later a contributor and member of the Board of Editors. He also served on the editorial board and as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Federal Lawyer, the journal of the Federal Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel / Los Angeles, CA
With over four decades of complex civil litigation experience, Joe provides his insurance industry clients with exceptional insights, powerful advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to the protection of their interests.
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- Partner / St. Petersburg, FL
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- Partner / Palm Beach Gardens, FL
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- Partner, Co - Chair / St. Petersburg, FL
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- Chairman Emeritus, Redbank, NJ