[April 24, 2015]

Hinshaw & Culbertson Propels Insurance Practice Growth with Addition of Eight Partners

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announced today the arrival of eight attorneys from Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson LLP (MBT). The seven MBT partners joining include MBT founder Michael M. Marick and Scott M. Seaman who are both recognized leaders in the insurance industry, as well as John E. DeLascio, Karen M. Dixon, Rebecca R. Haller, James H. Kallianis Jr. and Jason R. Schulze. Timothy H. Wright, formerly an associate at MBT, will join Hinshaw as a partner. The team will be based in the firm's Chicago office and their nationwide practice will complement the firm's legal services across the United States and in London.

"A year and a half ago, Hinshaw set out to grow and develop high priority practices that complement our existing strengths and contribute to differentiating our firm in the marketplace. To achieve that goal, we created a detailed strategy to deepen the firm's insurance practice with professionals who are recognized as leaders in their field," said Kevin Joseph Burke, Vice Chairman of Hinshaw. "I cannot imagine any lawyers better suited to help lead our efforts than Mike Marick and Scott Seaman. We are thrilled to bring on this team that adds tremendous property, casualty and reinsurance experience to our existing capabilities."

The group's arrival comes on the heels of Hinshaw & Culbertson's merger with Barger & Wolen, a household name in the insurance industry with a hstory of strong litigation, reinsurance and regulatory practices. Since last October, the firm has added more than 50 attorneys to its Insurance & Reinsurance Group. Furthermore, the firm has seen growth in San Francisco area with the recent addition of Forrest Booth, Pamela Schultz, Phillip Barilovits and Bradley H. Pace, who have an international admiralty and maritime claims and oil and gas energy practice.

"Kevin and I practiced law together in the 1980s when I was an associate at Hinshaw. The lawyers who we grew up with are now leading the firm and have become notable figures in the Chicago and national legal communities," said Mr. Marick. "Insurers are looking for innovative strategies, solutions and results to resolve complex insurance disputes. Hinshaw speaks the language of insurers and our clients understand and appreciate that working with Hinshaw lawyers requires no indoctrination. We are going to accomplish great things together."

Mr. Seaman added, "Hinshaw is a longstanding, financially stable, well-managed law firm that now has assembled the best team of insurance lawyers in the United States." He continued, "The firm has solid assets in its traditional lawyers, up and coming leaders, the Barger legacy team and now our group, which gives the firm added national recognition and makes Hinshaw a premier firm for general liability insurance coverage, extra-contractual liability and reinsurance law. We are uniquely positioned to provide insurers with the responsive, creative, championship caliber representation they require and to partner with insurers in meeting the challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them."

Messrs. Marick and Seaman are luminaries in their field, serving as prolific authors and frequent speakers on insurance issues and leaders of the insurance bar. Mr. Seaman's treatise, Allocation of Losses in Complex Insurance Coverage Claims (3d Thomson (News - Alert) Reuters 2014) addresses many of the important issues driving contemporary insurance and reinsurance disputes and has been cited by state and federal courts across the country. Mr. Marick has been called to testify as an expert witness on insurance issues, his published works have been cited by courts as persuasive authority, and for many years he taught insurance law at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. He was named the 2015 Chicago Insurance Law "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers of America, and he has been elected to the Board of Regents of the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel, of which Mr. Seaman also is a member.

Assisting clients from 11 states nationwide and in London, Hinshaw counsels clients across all areas of concern in the area of insurance. From policy drafting to reinsurance recoveries, the firm has been involved in virtually every aspect of risk transfer. The Group routinely handles disputes between: insurers and brokers involving the placement of coverage; insurers and policyholders regarding the applicability of coverage; and insurers and other insurers concerning their respective obligations to provide coverage.

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a full-service law firm with approximately 525 attorneys providing coordinated legal services across the United States and in London. Hinshaw lawyers partner with businesses, governmental entities and individuals to help them effectively address legal challenges and seize opportunities. Founded in 1934, the firm represents clients in complex litigation and in regulatory and transactional matters.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]