John Podesta to Serve as Panelist for Association of Defense Counsel Construction Seminar

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WALNUT CREEK—John H. Podesta will serve as a panelist for the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada Construction Defect Seminar being held on April 26, 2013 in Walnut Creek, California.

Mr. Podesta will participate in a discussion on, “The Nuts and Bolts of Wrap-Up Claims,” with four additional panelists. The panelists will cover what happens when a bodily injury or construction defect claim is tendered, and will address issues such as first notice, coverage, who is enrolled, who represents whom when separate counsel is sought, and what happens when there are parties with potential liability who are not enrolled.

About the Association of Defense Counsel
The Association of Defense Counsel is the only organization in Northern California and the state of Nevada devoted exclusively to representing the interests of attorneys engaged in the defense of civil litigation. To that end, the ADC provides its members a range of support and services geared specifically for their practice. To learn more about the ASCDC, please visit http://www.adcnc.org/.

Valarie Jonas Joins the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance

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LOS ANGELES–Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Valarie H. Jonas has joined the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance as a member.

The CLM is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, corporate counsel, litigation and risk managers, claims professionals and attorneys. Through education and collaboration the organization’s goals are to create a common interest in the representation by firms of companies, and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense.

Ms. Jonas is a partner in Murchison & Cumming’s San Francisco office and co-chairs the firm’s Insurance Law practice group. She is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the Women’s International Shipping & Trade Association. Ms. Jonas focuses her practice in the areas of first and third party insurance coverage, bad faith and complex commercial litigation, including extensive experience with marine claims, fine art, specie, cargo, fidelity and D&O coverage claims, as well as toxic tort and environmental insurance coverage, business torts, creditor rights, complex business litigation and employment litigation.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm’s attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Six Murchison & Cumming Attorneys Recognized as 2013 Super Lawyers

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LOS ANGELES–Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have earned the distinction of having been chosen by their peers as 2013 Southern California Super Lawyers®. The annual listing, based on peer evaluations, was recently released by Thomson Reuters and will be published in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines across the country.

The Murchison & Cumming attorneys selected for the 2013 list are:

Jean M. Lawler, Managing Partner of the firm, Past Chair of the Insurance Law practice group and Co-Chair of the International Law practice group. This marks Ms. Lawler’s eighth consecutive year on the list. A specialist in insurance law, she is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. Ms. Lawler is a Past President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and has served as a Director on the Boards of the Defense Research Institute, Lawyers for Civil Justice and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC). She presently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the FDCC Foundation; she is a member of the College of Coverage & Extra Contractual Coverage Counsel.

Friedrich W. Seitz, the firm’s former Managing Partner, Chair of the firm’s Wildland Fire Litigation practice group, and Co-Chair of its Business Litigation, Product Liability/Utilities and International Law practice groups. This is his tenth consecutive Super Lawyer mention. A respected trial lawyer and member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat rank, Mr. Seitz is also a member of the IADC and FDCC and is a former Chair of the FDCC Product Liability Substantive Law Section.

Michael B. Lawler, Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Law practice group. A Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, this marks the ninth consecutive year that he has been named to the list. Mr. Lawler, a respected trial lawyer, has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and a “Leading Employment Lawyer in California.” He has served on the national board of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a member of its Los Angeles Chapter and a member of the FDCC and IADC.

Dan L. Longo, Partner-In-Charge of the firm’s Orange County office and Co-Chair of the Health Law and Professional Liability practice groups. A veteran trial lawyer, Mr. Longo was a contributing writer for Aspatore Books’ Inside the Minds series on “Elder Law Health Care Client Strategies.” This is his second consecutive Super Lawyers mention. Mr. Longo is a member of the IADC, the ASCDC, and the Defense Research Institute, and serves as Chair of USLAW Network’s Professional Liability practice group.

Guy R. Gruppie, Chair of the firm’s Vertical Transportation practice group, Co-Chair of the Emerging Risks & Specialty Tort Litigation practice group and immediate Past Chair of the General Liability & Casualty practice group. This is Mr. Gruppie’s fifth consecutive year as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC, having served as Co-Chair of the FDCC Trial Tactics Substantive Law Section from 2004-2008. Mr. Gruppie has served as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School, teaching California Civil Procedure.

James P. Collins, Jr., eight-time Super Lawyer and respected Orange County trial lawyer, handling professional liability defense, employment law, defense of first party insurance claims and business litigation. Mr. Collins is a Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and was a Founding Partner of the former firm of Cotkin & Collins. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm’s attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Edmund Farrell to Speak at ASCDC Annual Seminar for 19th Consecutive Year

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LOS ANGELES—Edmund G. Farrell, III will speak at the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel’s (ASCDC) 52nd Annual Seminar, to be held from February 28-March 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Farrell has co-presented the “Year in Review” topic for ASCDC since 1994.

Mr. Farrell will discuss case highlights and hot topics in law from 2012. Panelists will speak on issues of interest to trial and appellate attorneys who defend civil lawsuits. Karl Rove will be this year’s keynote speaker.

About the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
The Association of Southern California Defense Counsel is the nation’s preeminent regional defense organization. It encompasses a diverse group of more than 2,200 men and women of all ages, races and religions, who practice from north of Santa Barbara to the Mexican border and from the desert of the inland empire to the shores of Santa Monica, providing professional fellowship, specialized continuing education, representation in legislative and appellate matters and liaison with insurance industry leaders. To learn more about the ASCDC, please visit www.ascdc.org.

Murchison & Cumming Celebrates Ten Years in Northern California

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LOS ANGELES–Murchison & Cumming, LLP opened the doors to its Northern California office in Pleasanton in December 2002. Ten years later, with its office now located in the heart of downtown San Francisco’s Financial District, the firm continues to grow and expand its Northern California presence. With a diverse team of attorneys, a decade-long presence in Northern California, the addition of two partners in 2011 and the elevation of two attorneys to partner in 2013, Murchison & Cumming’s San Francisco office has much to celebrate as it looks to the future.

Kasey C. Townsend, who has been with the firm since 1996, continues to serve as Partner-in-Charge of the San Francisco office, having moved to Northern California from the firm’s San Diego office in 2003 to take that position. Senior Partner Michael B. Lawler, who spearheaded the office’s opening along with other of the firm’s partners, also continues to handle matters venued in Northern California.

With more than 20 years of experience in property, marine, fine art and specie insurance, Partner Valarie H. Jonas brought a unique specialty to the firm and the San Francisco office when she joined the firm in 2011. Ms. Jonas has been handling jeweler’s block and fine art work for the London market since 1990. She serves as Co-Chair of Murchison & Cumming’s Insurance Law practice group, also handling general liability, medical malpractice, environmental coverage, and fidelity and transportation litigation.

“I was drawn to the firm by its well known reputation in the insurance market,” said Ms. Jonas. “I have now come to know first-hand the basis of that reputation in the fine attorneys who work here and in the service they provide our clients. I am very pleased to say I have found a home at Murchison & Cumming.”

Fellow San Francisco Partner John H. Podesta also joined the firm in 2011. He is licensed in both California and Nevada, and also focuses his practice on insurance law, coverage matters and litigation. Mr. Podesta is Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Construction Subcommittee, has published numerous works and speaks regularly on insurance and construction law topics.

Melissa Wood Eisenberg and Heidi C. Quan, who joined the Northern California office as associates over eight years ago, were named partners this year. Ms. Eisenberg and Ms. Quan defend clients against litigation involving general liability, product liability, employment law, health law and long-term care facilities for the elderly.

Partner and Insurance Law practice group Co-Chair Bryan M. Weiss will be moving to San Francisco from the firm’s Los Angeles office in the fall of 2013. Mr. Weiss has been with the firm since 1991, handling appeals, providing coverage advice and representing insurers in declaratory relief actions, bad faith actions and insurance-related appeals.

If the attorneys in Murchison & Cumming’s San Francisco office can assist you in any way, we are prepared to do so and welcome your calls and emails. You may contact Ms. Townsend at 415-524-4305 or ktownsend@murchisonlaw.com or any of the office’s partners, whose information can be found online at www.murchisonlaw.com.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm’s attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Murchison & Cumming Launches Wellness Program

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LOS ANGELES–Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce the successful launch of the firm’s Wellness Program, B.A.L.A.N.C.E. In partnership with employee benefits consulting firm, Burnham Benefits, Murchison & Cumming posed its first five-week “Walk to Wellness” challenge to teams of attorneys and staff from October to November, in advance of the holiday season, with almost 70% participation firm-wide.

The program’s inception resulted from multiple factors including a discussion on firm wellness by the Executive Committee. Murchison & Cumming’s Wellness Committee developed the moniker “30 Minutes of B.A.L.A.N.C.E.” to encompass the program’s core components: Body, Awareness, Living, Accountability, Nutrition, Commitment and Engagement.

Using online wellness platform Walker Tracker, the teams logged their steps daily and gained points by posting photos, blogging and encouraging their teammates. During progress meetings, individuals shared stories about weight loss and health improvements resulting from their participation in the program. Individuals and teams were recognized for goal and progress achievements during a rewards ceremony when the challenge concluded.

“Our goal of the Wellness Program was to build a social and challenge framework to engage and inspire employees to get on the health bandwagon,” said Director of Human Resources and Wellness Committee Chair Lynnmaria Bazan. “What we did not anticipate was that same drive, determination and competitiveness that a firm of trial lawyers and their staff use practicing law and handling files, transferred over to the walking competition.” Ms. Bazan added that the competition increased camaraderie among the staff and attorneys, bringing together employees from all offices, levels and departments within the firm.

In addition to the challenge, Murchison & Cumming also enacted several administrative measures aligned with the firm’s wellness goals, such as replacing firm-provided sodas with bottled water, and notifying vendors of the program launch. In a memo addressed to vendors, who occasionally deliver high fat and sugar treats to the office, the firm requested that they consider providing nutritious snacks.

A second walking event, the “Healthy Holiday Challenge,” is currently underway and additional wellness events are being planned for 2013 in response to the program’s success and popularity.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm’s attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Jean Dalmore to Speak at AGC Construction Conference

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NAPLES—Jean A. Dalmore will speak on a panel at the AGC Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management Conference to be held in Naples, Florida from February 4-6, 2013. The presentation is titled, “Coping with Climate Change: How to Deal with the Many Legal and Market Restrictions on Contractual Indemnity and Additional Insured Endorsements, and Other Questions about Traditional Risk Allocation.”

The panel of attorneys will discuss two leading examples of state legislation that is expressly intended to restrict traditional risk allocation, including the strategies that contractors have developed to deal with that legislation. The presentation will also include an overview of the many different forms that additional insured endorsements are now taking, and an open discussion of where the construction industry goes from here.

About The Associated General Contractors of America
Located in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area, The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the leading association for the construction industry. Operating in partnership with its nationwide network of 95 chartered Chapters, AGC provides a full range of services satisfying the needs and concerns of its members, thereby improving the quality of construction and protecting the public interest. To learn more about AGC, please visit www.agc.org.

Murchison & Cumming Joins Insuralex as California Member

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LOS ANGELES —Insuralex President Bill Perry has announced that Murchison & Cumming, LLP has been elected as the California Member of the expanding Insuralex group of firms dedicated to insurance and reinsurance coverage, defense and litigation. Murchison & Cumming is one of thirty firms to be selected internationally.

Insuralex is a world-wide network of independent insurance and reinsurance lawyers who provide legal services to the insurance and risk management communities in the areas of coverage, defense, litigation and other related legal services. Insuralex member firms are located in Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Mr. Perry welcomed Murchison & Cumming to Insuralex and commented, “We are extremely pleased that we have our friends at Murchison & Cumming join Insuralex as Members for California. Their practice and range of international instructions and contacts is enviable and we look forward to working closely with them over the coming years.”

Managing Partner of Murchison & Cumming, Jean M. Lawler, said, “We are pleased for the firm to be elected to membership. For many years we have provided services to clients in the international insurance market. Working with the team at Insuralex will be a terrific opportunity to offer the full range of our services in our own area, as well as contributing to the worldwide standing and reputation of this excellent group of lawyers.”

Murchison & Cumming regularly represents international insurers, particularly in the London market, and serves as national and regional coordinating counsel in multijurisdictional cases.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm’s attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.

Jean Dalmore to Speak at General Contractors Convention

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PALM SPRINGS—Jean A. Dalmore will speak on construction law at the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Annual Convention in Palm Springs, California, being held from March 6-9, 2013.

Ms. Dalmore will speak on “Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (CCIPs) & Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs)” during a ten-minute construction law drill presented with nine others from the USLAW Network’s Construction practice group.

About the Associated General Contractors of America
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the leading association for the construction industry. Operating in partnership with its nationwide network of 95 chartered Chapters, AGC provides a full range of services satisfying the needs and concerns of its members, thereby improving the quality of construction and protecting the public interest. To learn more about AGC, please visit www.agc.org.

Edmund Farrell to Speak on Appellate Law at IADC Meeting

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FLORIDA—Edmund G. Farrell, III will speak on appellate law at the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Midyear Meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, being held from February 9-14, 2013.

Mr. Farrell will discuss some of the strangest appellate experiences from his career in a panel titled, “Amicus Curious: Oddball Appeals and the Limits of Creativity.” The panel will also explore the limits of creativity in appellate briefing.

About the International Association of Defense & Corporate Counsel
The core purpose of the IADC is to enhance the development of skills, professionalism and camaraderie to serve and benefit the members, their clients, as well as the civil justice system, the legal profession and society in general. To learn more about the IADC, please visit www.iadclaw.org.