This second session in our Litigation Soft Skills series will focus on navigating the critical mid-phase of litigation - from managing discovery to shaping resolution strategies. Panelists will explore best practices for defining discovery scope, handling ESI, and working within carrier litigation guidelines to avoid unnecessary friction. Attendees will gain insight into the strategic use of motion practice, including when discovery motions help or hinder case progress, and how to address complications that arise from the insured’s conduct.

The program will also address expert retention – timing, selection, scope, and the potential for experts to drive the outcome of the case – as well as how Daubert challenges may shift strategy. Speakers will examine how discovery developments can alter case valuations and budgets, for better or worse, and how those shifts inform decisions about summary judgment motions and mediation. The session will close with practical tips from claim handlers on common frustrations during discovery and litigation, and how to avoid them while staying focused on resolution.

Featured Speakers

Andrew Carroll is a litigator with a diverse and complementary practice who represents professionals, mortgage lenders and servicers, and construction clients in both civil and disciplinary proceedings. Andrew focuses his professional liability practice on representing attorneys and law firms in a variety of civil and disciplinary proceedings, including claims of legal malpractice, abuse of process, breach of fiduciary duty, violations of debt collection laws, wrongful use of civil proceedings, and actions brought by state disciplinary boards. Andrew also represents attorneys in litigation relating to partnership dissolutions, third-party litigation funding, and fee splitting disputes.

Barbara Serafini is Senior Vice President of Gallagher Bassett, managing cases in the Executive and Professional Liability Specialty Practice Group. She currently oversees a wide variety of Errors & Omissions (E&O) programs including Lawyers, Title Insurance, Escrow Agents, Insurance Agents & Brokers for various carriers. Her duties include reviewing coverage analysis issues; communicating with policyholders regarding coverage issues; negotiating settlements directly with claimants and their counsel; managing defense counsel for policyholders; and managing litigation and resolution strategy. Barbara also trains and assists with management of new employees in the non-medical professional liability group.

Prior to joining GB Specialty, Barbara worked as a Managing General Agent (MGA) for multiple insurance companies, managing a complex caseload of various types of high-profile professional liability claims reported in connection with policies issued to lawyers, title agents, insurance agents and brokers.

Hannah Stone, Esq., is a Shareholder with the Milodragovich, Dale & Steinbrenner law firm located in Missoula, Montana. Hannah has accumulated extensive experience in insurance coverage and extra-contractual claims defense ranging from personal injury and wrongful death claims to workers compensation and other employment and labor related issues. Hannah has obtained multiple favorable rulings for her clients through the Montana Human Rights Bureau, and most recently has been requested to mediate and speak on employment issues for local businesses. She is an active substitute Justice of the Peace in Missoula Justice Court. In 2019 Hannah was qualified by the federal court to testify as an expert witness on reasonableness of attorney fees in an insurance coverage declaratory judgment action.

Megan Zurn is the Claims Manager for the Lawyers Professional Liability team within the Commercial E&O group at AXA XL. Megan sits in Atlanta and leads a team of experienced claims professionals in the handling of lawyers professional liability claims nationwide. Prior to joining AXA XL in 2015, Megan practiced law, first as a public defender in Athens, Georgia and then as a civil litigator in Atlanta. While in private practice, Megan enjoyed a broad array of commercial litigation with an emphasis on representing policyholders in coverage disputes.