Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Insurance

Edward L. Bleynat, Jr. began his legal career by clerking for James G. Exum, Jr., then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Cutting hsi trial teeth at a major Greensboro business litigation firm. In 1995, Ed relocated to Asheville, to continue his law practice and to raise his family in Western North Carolina where he grew up. Ed and Joe Ferikes merged their practices into Ferikes & Bleynat, PLLC in 2001. Ed is actively involved in a variety of church, civic, and comm...

Allison Abbott has been with Elverson Vasey since 1999 and has been a partner in the firm since 2006. Her areas of practice include civil defense, insurance litigation and defense, insurance subrogation, and family law. She is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Polk County Bar Association, Dallas County Bar Association, Iowa Defense Counsel Association and the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. She is currently serving a term on the Dallas County Magistrate Nomination Commission. She ser...

Mike deBarros is a partner at Kean Miller in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and leads the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Recovery practice group. His practice focuses on Insurance Law and Litigation – Insurance, representing policyholders in disputes involving the scope and application of insurance coverage. Mike works with Fortune 500 companies as well as closely held and local businesses in matters against insurance companies. Mike has handled hundreds of insurance matters in Texas and ...

Sean started his career in private practice with the Bradshaw Law Firm in 1996. Prior to joining Bradshaw, he clerked for Justice David Harris of the Iowa Supreme Court. Sean has also served as an adjunct professor in Drake University's Undergraduate and MBA programs lecturing on business law. Sean’s practice focuses on consulting with insurers on all aspects of catastrophic property loss claims. He advises clients on first party and third party coverage issues. He also defends insureds...

D. Andrew Portinga has been practicing law since 1996. He is a litigator, and has extensive experience in both federal and state courts. He has represented both Fortune 500 companies and family owned businesses, and Mr. Portinga has handled complex cases involving myriad issues. General Commercial Litigation Mr. Portinga has handled a wide variety of complicated commercial cases. His clients have included oil and gas producers, a manufacturer of implantable medical devices, a national communi...

Ian Fischer is an accomplished litigator whose problem-solving and advocacy skills help his clients achieve critical outcomes. He has a strong record of success in resolving complicated legal issues that would otherwise hamper business operations. Ian represents clients with complex contract disputes, business torts, class actions, False Claims Act, or antitrust violations. Ian works closely with his clients to understand their specific goals for each dispute they face and to develop practica...

Jason concentrates his litigation and appellate practice in the areas of civil rights liability and defense; county and municipal liability; lender and surety liability; general business liability; and insurance defense. He has obtained over 300 favorable judgments on behalf of clients and has successfully defended over 50 civil cases at trial and/or on appeal. According to Westlaw records of the reported dispositive motions that he has filed since 2015, 70% were granted in whole or in part. ...

David L. McAlister is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Birmingham (AL) office. David handles a wide variety of legal matters including auto accidents, railroad claims (both FELA and crossing accidents), premises liability, insurance coverage, products liability, construction, commercial vehicle claims and workers’ compensation. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Alabama and before the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. An AV Preeminent ® ra...

Andrew N. Kohn has a wide range of civil litigation and trial experience, primarily in the fields of personal injury, business litigation, and products liability. Drew has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. In January 2014, Drew was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and in October 2018, was elevated in rank from Member to Associate. Drew has also been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for 2019-202...

Leah was born and raised in Whitefish, Montana. She attended Boston College and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Hispanic Studies. Upon graduation, Leah returned to Montana and worked as a compliance specialist at a local credit union. Leah then attended law school at the University of Montana School of Law. While in law school, Leah worked at GLR as a legal intern, as a teacher’s assistant and tutor for fellow law students, an...

Robert P. Powers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Robert P., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brad’s practice focuses on Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers. In addition, he handles matters involving commercial litigation, insurance coverage, insurance defense, tort litigation, corporate and finance issues, receiverships, government relations, and consulting. He represents clients from Jackson, Tennessee and across the Southeast through his work with Rainey, Kizer, Revie...

Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Marilyn Fagelson is an experienced trial and appellate attorney at Harris Beach Murtha. Her practice primarily focuses on handling complex commercial litigation, including Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. With a comprehensive understanding of commercial disputes, Marilyn engages in cases involving antitrust and unfair trade practice claims, breach of contract, and various business torts. She advocates for her clients in state and federal courts, arbit...

Stephen P. Fogerty is first and foremost a problem solver. For the last 35 years, he has zealously, ethically, and successfully represented hundreds of clients before judges and juries in every court in Connecticut, and successfully argued appeals in the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That experience informs his unique, thoughtful, and effective approach to solving his clients’ problems. Whether those problems rela...

Irene J. Marusic is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Irene J., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Irene J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Zink is a litigation partner at Lipe Lyons Murphy Nahrstadt & Pontikis LTD in Chicago, Illinois. Her practice focuses on insurance defense litigation, including personal injury, premises liability, construction liability, employer liability, and product liability matters. She regularly represents insurers and insureds in complex civil litigation and is known for thorough research, clear legal writing, and strategic motion practice. Ms. Zink has successfully obtained more than 23 summa...