Thought Leadership

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Dana Gittleman (Philadelphia, PA), chair of our Real Estate E&O Practice Group, and Jeremy Zacharias (Mount Laurel, NJ) kicked off their Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) podcast series with “Insurance Agent E&O – Top Ten Tips for Risk Management.” From memorializing communications to protecting attorney-client privilege, Dana and Jeremy share practical strategies to help insurance professionals manage risk more effectively. Tune in! https://lnkd.in/eQGs3u2y

David Shannon (Philadelphia, PA), chair of our Privacy and Data Security Practice Group, and guest Evgueni Erchov from Cypfer, recorded the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) podcast “Managing Cybersecurity Threats in 2025.” This is the third season of David’s ongoing podcast with PLUS. The program focused on ransomware, business-email compromise, AI, and the increasing sophistication of cyber-threat actors. Tune in today! https://plusweb.org/podcast/managing-cybersecurity-threats-in-2025-episode-1/. 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Kimberly Berman (Fort Lauderdale, FL) spoke at the 28th Annual Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FLDA) Liability Claims Conference about “Pleading, Proof, and Preservation of Punitive Damages Claims: Tips for Florida Trial Lawyers and Appellate Attorneys.”

Ryan Burns, Angie Colorado, and A.C. Nash (all in Fort Lauderdale, FL) presented “Relevant Procedural Rule Changes for Risk Managers” at the Tampa Bay RIMS (Risk & Insurance Management Society) educational luncheon. This program provided an insightful overview of the procedural changes in the Florida circuit court system. The discussion shed light on the impact of the Florida tort reform of 2023, aligning the state’s court procedures with those of the Federal court. These changes are set to influence the way lawsuits are handled, introducing strict timelines throughout the process.

Josh J.T. Byrne (Philadelphia, PA) was a panelist at the Philadelphia Bar Associations’ webcast, “Ethics and Legal Malpractice Avoidance.” Josh is Co-Chair of the Bar’s Professional Responsibility and Guidance Committee. Josh also co-presented “Ethics Hotline and Special Ethical Considerations for Prosecutors,” at District Attorney’s Office: August CLE Program hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

James Cole and Alec DelConte (both of Philadelphia, PA) presented “Untying Tangled Titles: How Property Deed Fraud Drives Costs and Indemnity,” at the annual conference of the International Association of Special Investigation Units. 

Christopher Conrad (Harrisburg, PA) and Lee Durivage (Philadelphia, PA) presented “Hot Topics in Employment Law,” for the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Law Firm Administrators’ Conference of Central Pennsylvania. Their presentation, which was attended by law firm administrators, human resources staff, and managing attorneys, focused on the current employment law issues facing law firms and practical advice for managing risk.

Michael Duffy (King of Prussia, PA) presented as part of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s and Pennsylvania Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Law Section’s conference Tough Problems in Workers’ Compensation 2025. Mike was part of a panel that presented “Surveillance and Using Social Media to Win Your Case.” Designed specifically by and for the experienced workers’ compensation practitioner, this presentation highlighted select challenges in workers’ compensation practice and offered techniques for managing them. Developments, practices, strategies, and preferences were discussed to help avoid making mistakes that could negatively affect a client’s claim.

Christina Gonzales (Philadelphia, PA) served as moderator for a panel at the 2025 Defense Research Institute’s Diversity for Success Expo, titled “Building Your Book of Business with Brand YOU! (Pitching Business and Executive Branding).” The discussion explored how developing a personal brand and growing a book of business are essential strategies for standing out—both within your organization and across the legal profession. Panelists shared practical insights on how to balance client development with professional responsibilities, offering guidance on how legal professionals can define their value, build meaningful relationships, and pursue long-term success—whether in a law firm, in-house role, or independent practice.

Gregory Graham (Pittsburgh, PA) presented “AI Litigation: The Current Landscape,” at the Pennsylvania Defense Institute’s annual CLE and Conference. This seminar focused on the current landscape of liability claims stemming from the use of generative and agentic AI. While generative AI is more commonly discussed at this point in time, it is agentic AI—particularly its end-to-end automated goal identification and action initiation—that is going to profoundly impact our clients’ industries.

Sean Greenwalt and Amara Rodriguez (both of Tampa, FL) spoke at the 28th Annual Florida Defense Lawyers (FDLA) Association Liability Claims Conference about effective use of proposals for settlement in Florida’s new legal landscape.

Matthew Keris (Scranton, PA) presented “MPL Crossfire: How to Prepare for AI From a Medico-Legal Perspective,” at the 2024 Medical Professional Liability Association conference. Matt also presented two seminars at the Hospital Insurance Forum 2025 Conference. For the first seminar, Matt co-presented with Jill Huntley Taylor. Their presentation discussed “New Jury Considerations in the Age of Big Law, Verdicts, and Medicine.” One day later, Matt presented “AI in Healthcare: Views from a Clinical and Legal Perspective.” Finally, Matt joined a panel presentation for a webinar put on by the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform. The program, “Medical Malpractice Pennsylvania Update,” explored a number of emerging issues in medical malpractice, including the continuing surge of Philadelphia cases; dilution of plaintiffs’ burden to prove that an agent causes harm; preservation of issues on appeal and waiver rulings of Superior Court; ethical concerns of double and triple booking; and the rise of punitive damages. 

Paul Krepps (Pittsburgh, PA) spoke at the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association Conference and Training Session on “Litigation After-Action – Lessons from the Perspective of a Defense Lawyer.” 

Missy Minehan (Harrisburg, PA) presented “Mitigating and Responding to a Professional Liability Claim: Documentation, Discovery, and Depositions” during the Skilled Nursing Development Institute’s administrator appreciation event. Missy discussed pre-suit documentation issues, including documentation of arbitration agreements, missing medical records documentation and maintenance of key paper records (e.g. staffing, deployment, statements), and intra-lawsuit discovery and depositions.

Megan Nelson (Orlando, FL) presented “The Latest on Medical AI and Liability Claims,” at the Florida Society for Healthcare Risk Management and Patient Safety’s annual meeting and education conference.

Jeffrey Rapattoni (Mount Laurel, NJ) presented “Ethics and the Investigator,” at the conference of the Illinois Chapter of IASIU (International Association of Special Investigation Units Inc.). Jeff also spoke at the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud’s Mid-Year Meeting, participating in the panel “Insurance Fraud Through a Legal Lens: Insights from the Frontlines.” At the annual conference of the International Association of Special Investigation Units, Jeff made two presentations, “Legal Update: Emerging Legal Issues in Fraud Fighting,” and “Ethics.”

Jack Slimm and Jeremy Zacharias (both of Mount Laurel, NJ) presented at the Camden County Bar Association Annual Civil Practice Update. Jack covered recent case law updates within New Jersey, and Jeremy moderated the panel discussion, which was also presented by the Honorable Steven J. Polansky, as well as several private practitioners. This annual seminar is well attended and has been a staple within the Camden County Bar Association for over two decades.

Jack Slimm was also a featured speaker at the annual New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education seminar “Legal Malpractice Update.” Jack and Appellate Judge, Harry Carroll, presented “Rule 104 Hearings Regarding Experts In Legal Malpractice Actions.”

Jeremy Zacharias also presented at an all-day CLE for the New Jersey State Bar Association on “Solving Problems in Commercial Real Estate Transactions.” Jeremy’s topic included a discussion on ethical considerations in commercial real estate transactions. Jeremy covered topics including pitfalls using artificial intelligence with commercial real estate transactions, as well as the applicability of the Rules of Professional Conduct in representing clients. 

PUBLISHED WORKS

August 18, 2025 – Todd Leon and Alec DelConte (both of Philadelphia, PA) published an article in The Legal Intelligencer’s Insurance Law Supplement. Titled, “Choice of Law in Coverage Disputes: What Happens When the Policy, the Loss and the Parties Span State Lines?,” the article explores how “choice of law” issues arise in litigation, using a Pennsylvania–New Jersey insurance dispute scenario to highlight the significant impact differing state laws can have on insurers and policyholders. Read their article here.

August 1, 2025 – Alana Staniszewski’s (Pittsburgh, PA) article “Pa. Supreme Court Permits Payment of Specific Loss Benefits to a Deceased Injured Workers’ Estate,” was published in The Legal Intelligencer. Read her article here.

July 28, 2025 – PLUS Blog published “Navigating the Doctrine of Reasonable Expectations: A Liability Risk for Insurance Agents,” by Dana Gittleman (Philadelphia, PA). Read her article here.

July 21, 2025 – The Legal Intelligencer published Alesia Sulock and Josh J.T. Byrne’s (both of Philadelphia, PA) article “Socially Responsible Lawyers: Why You Need to Understand Social Media to Competently Represent Your Clients, Part 2.” You can read this article here.

July 11, 2025 – William Murphy (Roseland, NJ) authored the article “Medical Marijuana in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law,” appearing in the New Jersey Law Journal’s Cannabis Supplement. The article discusses developments since the 2021 Hager decision (Vincent Hager v. M&K Construction, 246 N.J. 1 (2021), and recent shifts in the legal landscape as state and federal laws have evolved with regard to medical marijuana. You can read the article here. 

June 20, 2025 – Mark Wellman (New York, NY) was published in CLM Construction Claims Magazine – Summer Edition as a co-author of the article “Danger: Construction Site. Avoiding Liability & Workers’ Compensation Exposure in the Construction Industry.” The article explores key strategies for mitigating risk and managing claims in the high-stakes world of construction. You can read this article here.

June 17, 2025 – Jacob Gilboy’s (Harrisburg, PA) article “Employment Discrimination and Retaliation – Best Practices to Avoid Headaches,” was published in PLUS Blog. Employment discrimination and retaliation claims can disrupt even the most well-run organizations. In this article, Jake shares five practical tips for navigating these situations without making them worse! Read it now on the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) blog. 

June 10, 2025 – Ryan Friel (Philadelphia, PA) authored the article, “Proposed FINRA Rule 3290—A Regulatory Breakthrough or a Halfhearted Attempt at Real Reform?,” appearing in The Legal Intelligencer. The article questions if the proposed rule is truly a modernization of outdated regulations or merely a cosmetic update that fails to address the core concerns of broker-dealers and their registered representatives. Read here.

May 19, 2025 – Josh J.T. Byrne and Alesia Sulock (both of Philadelphia, PA) authored “The Barrier to Legal Malpractice Cases Arising Out of Class Action Settlements,” published in The Legal Intelligencer. Josh and Alesia explore a recent Delaware Supreme Court decision which examines why it is appropriate to have high barriers to legal malpractice actions after a class action settlement. You can read their article here.

May 2025 – Michele Punturi (Philadelphia, PA) co-authored, with clients, the article “Danger: High Risk Ahead – Managing Workers’ Comp Exposure in Risky Industries,” appearing in CLM Magazine. The article discusses best workers’ compensation claims management practices for high-risk sectors including construction, health care, transportation, and retail and hospitality. You can read the article here. 

RECOGNITION

Jason Banonis (King of Prussia, PA) has been elected to the Board of Governors of the Bowie State University Maguire Academy for Risk Management and Insurance. He will also serve on its Education, Curriculum, and Program Committee. The Academy is affiliated with the Saint Joseph’s University Maguire Academy of Insurance & Risk Management, which was created by Saint Joseph’s alumnus James J. Maguire, founder and longtime CEO of the Philadelphia Insurance Company. Its purpose is to promote and support education in insurance, risk management, and actuarial science and offers services to its students, including scholarships, internships and co-op experiences, counseling, and assistance with career placement. Current academy board members include executives from global insurance companies and corporate risk managers.

James Hanratty (Jacksonville, FL) and Alesia Sulock (Philadelphia, PA) have been admitted to membership of the International Association of Defense Counsel. The IADC is an invitation-only, peer-reviewed association that has served a prestigious membership of corporate insurance executives and insurance defense attorneys since 1920. Its members include many of the world’s foremost corporate and insurance lawyers, as well as leading insurance executives.

Ryan Hauck (Pittsburgh, PA) was recently elected by his peers to serve a two-year term as a Council Member on the Allegheny County Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section Committee. 

Blake Hood (Jacksonville, FL) was recently appointed as co-chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Social Security/Workers’ Compensation Committee. 

Marshall Dennehey has once again been recognized as a leader in client service, earning a spot on BTI Consulting’s Client Service A-Team 2025, which honors law firms delivering the highest levels of service to corporate clients. Based exclusively on feedback from corporate counsel, the firm ranked as a “Stand Out” among all law firms nationwide, affirming our continued strength in building trusted relationships, understanding client goals, and delivering consistent, results-driven service. The BTI Client Service A-Team is the only law firm ranking based solely on direct, unprompted feedback from legal decision-makers at large companies. The 2025 report is based on more than 350 in-depth interviews conducted between May 2024 and February 2025 with general counsel, chief legal officers, and their direct reports. To learn more, visit BTI’s Client Service A-Team, at https://bticonsulting.com/bti-client-service-a-team. 

_{Defense Digest, Vol. 31, No. 3, September 2025, is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1. © 2025 Marshall Dennehey. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.}