Our keynote speaker will dive into why large lawsuits are successful and how they can be handled better on both sides. How does the insurance market play into this from positive and negative angles? Our speaker will share their thoughts on what the future will look like and how certain trends are coming to light.

• John B. Manning, Partner, Manning Gross & Massenburg LLP

Mass torts and class actions are increasing in frequency, severity and complexity each year. This session will examine the current trends in size and types of Big Nasty Claims. It will also touch on the keys to success in managing these claims.

• Jim Blinn, Executive Vice President of Client Solutions, Advisen [Moderator]
• Jonathon Drummond, Head of Casualty – North America, Willis Towers Watson
• Dave Elkind, Senior Counsel, Anderson Kill P.C
• Kevin A. Maloney, SVP & Real Estate & Financial Institutions Practice Leader, Allied World
• Jennifer W. Yuen, Partner, Lewis Brisbois

You take your clothes to the cleaners, not your clients. What are best practices & cost containment approaches for Risk Managers? How do Risk Managers, brokers and underwriters work together to achieve success?  How do you manage the unmanageable and when does your event become a crisis? What are the cost drivers and when do they occur? How do you select the right defense counsel for the case? This session will address all this and more.

• James F. Dorion, Head of Liability Claim Consulting & Carrier Relations, Willis Towers Watson
• Ellen Greiper, Partner, Lewis Brisbois
• Brendan McCartney, Attorney – Claims Director, LVL Claims Service, LLC
• Leonard J. Romeo, Senior Vice President – Claims Counsel, Premia Reinsurance Ltd.

Like a game of Jenga, what happens when a calamity topples the whole tower? How will your policy respond and how can you use the RIMS Benchmark Surveyand other tools to evaluate how much cover is enough? Panelists share war stories and make comments to help you play offense when a Big Nasty Claim rears its ugly head.

• Pam Ferrandino,VP, National Market Engagement, Gallagher Bassett [Moderator]
• Carol Laufer, Senior Vice President Excess Casualty, Zurich
• William Passannante, Shareholder, Anderson Kill P.C.

Top insurance claims executives will give their insights into how the insurance market plays a role in the event of a Big Nasty Claim.  Hear about the nastiest claims issues that keep the most senior claims people up at night – and what they are doing to manage these issues.  Hear how these major insurers are working to protect policyholder interests and keep the liability sharks at bay.

• Joseph Peiser, Executive Vice President, Head of Broking North America, Willis Towers Watson [Moderator]
• Andy Barberis, EVP – Commercial Casualty Claims Executive, AIG
• Mia Finsness, Managing Director, Casualty Claims, Markel
• Christopher Morrison, Senior Claims Expert, Senior Vice President, Swiss Re