Robins Kaplan LLP Enhances its National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Practice Group With Five New Hires

Robins Kaplan LLP is pleased to announce it has enhanced its Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Practice Group with five new hires. Brandy Worden, Lauren Birkenstock, and Birgit Willand joined Robins Kaplan's Los Angeles office, and Michele Detherage, and Taylore Karpa joined Robins Kaplan's Boston office.

"We are pleased to welcome these five skilled attorneys to the group," said Bill Webster, Partner in the firm's National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Practice Group. "Insurance is a key area of growth at Robins Kaplan, and the addition of our new colleagues deepens our bench and broadens what we offer to clients, particularly in the cyber insurance space, and claims arising from the recent catastrophic fires-storms-floods-mudslides along the West Coast. The new hires expand our capacity in both the West and East Coasts and benefit our national and international property, energy, and liability insurance clients."

Bill Erickson, Chair of the National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Practice Group, added, "As the firm marks its 80th year in business, the experience and talent of these lawyers will help us continue to provide extraordinary service and value to our insurance industry clients. Our new colleagues bring additional insurance expertise and meaningful litigation and trial experience to the team."

Brandy L. Worden, as a Certified Information Privacy Professional, and a US and Harvard-Certified Cyber Risk Management Professional, counsels clients on ever-evolving cyber threats and the associated regulatory and insurance landscapes. She assists clients with cyber incident preparedness and response, drafting cyber insurance policy provisions, and navigating government privacy investigations. Brandy also has extensive coverage and liability litigation and appellate experience.

Lauren E. Birkenstock's experience includes complex matters for property and energy insurers such as oil and gas refining and transport, mining, and renewable energy. She is familiar with matters arising from all types of perils, such as rainstorms, fires, landslides, hailstorms, and other man-made and natural disasters. Lauren graduated cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law, obtaining both a law degree and a certificate in Dispute Resolution. During her time there, Ms. Birkenstock externed with a state judge, served as Vice Chair of Moot Court, and won several Moot Court competition awards.

Michele N. Detherage is a skilled litigator with substantial experience in insurance defense and trial advocacy. Her professional history includes representation of insurers and their insureds from the inception of the litigation process through its resolution. During her tenure as in-house corporate counsel for a Fortune 500 insurance company, Michele managed an active caseload with a focus on combating medical/insurance fraud and obtained more than 50 favorable verdicts on behalf of her client.

Taylore E. Karpa has meaningful trial experience representing insurers in property and liability matters and representing insureds in casualty defense actions. Taylore also served as an intern for a Massachusetts state court judge. In law school, Taylore earned the CALI Award of Excellence in Trial Practice.

To talk with us about our capabilities and our Insurance Catastrophic Loss Practice Group, contact any of our attorneys in the group.

Contact:

William A. Webster
Partner
Robins Kaplan LLP
WWebster@RobinsKaplan.com
310.552.0130

William N. Erickson
Partner; Chair, National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Group
Robins Kaplan LLP
WErickson@RobinsKaplan.com
617.859.2780