Blank Rome LLP excels in navigating a diverse spectrum of insurance matters with a specific focus on policyholders, with expertise spanning various industries and underpinned by considerable trial experience. Noteworthy achievements include leading a $25m lawsuit for Urban Edge Properties related to coronavirus business interruption and advocating for religious organizations in cases involving sexual abuse claims. In Washington DC, negotiation and trial expert John Gibbons and James Murray, recognized for his work on institutional liability for sexual abuse of minors, co-head the practice, alongside high-stakes litigation expert Linda Kornfeld from Los Angeles. Also in LA, Mary Craig Calkins supports the practice currently handling diverse coverage matters arising from the 2020 election fraud allegations and media defamation claims. In Washington DC, the team also includes Omid Safa, specializing in insurance issues for high-profile individuals, Kyle P Brinkman managing complex insurance coverage matters, and veteran John Heintz in corporate insurance coverage and complex litigation. In New York, Jared Zola focuses on high-stakes litigation and corporate transactions, while Natasha Romagnoli brings notable experience in sexual abuse coverage, discrimination claims, directors’ and officers’ liability, and errors and omissions. Noteworthy additions in March 2023 include partner Minneapolis-based Rikke Dierssen-Morice, joining from Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP, recognized for expertise in food contamination/recall, crime, and construction coverage, and Jason Frye, joining from Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP in Chicago, marking the firm’s continued expansion into the Midwest.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Rikke Dierssen-Morice is an exceptional attorney, with years of experience in the insurance space. As an attorney to companies of all sizes and reach: large, small, local, national, and global, Rikke is able to not only bring the academic, legal and technical expertise to her clients, but balances it with a level-headed and practical approach as well. This in combination with Rikke's amazing people skills and authenticity in her relationships makes her an unbeatable, unmatchable, and incomparable attorney and advisor in the insurance space. ’
‘A really tight knit team - they have worked together for many years - and it shows. They are well oiled machine - sharp lawyers who run a smooth operation.’
‘Mary Craig Calkins is a force of nature. She is relentless, intelligent, experienced and insightful. I have worked with her on several different matters over the years and she has ALWAYS delivered exceptional results. She gets results and that's what matters.'
‘Jim Carter is both technically gifted and immensely clever. His ability to develop manuscriptal policy language that both addresses the concerns of the Insured and that is also acceptable to Insurers is particularly noteworthy.’
‘Of the insurance recovery firms with national practices, Blank Rome is certainly among a small group with the deepest bench and talent. They are in every area of insurance recovery and work on the largest and complex matters with success. They are highly pragmatic and strategically resolution focused and value civility and professionalism in a very strong way.’
‘I cannot say enough about Jim Murray and Jared Zola. Alot of large law firms, of course, have the expertise to litigate. However, Jim and Jared along with their litigation expertise put their clients first and try to find ways to resolve matters in the best interests of the client. They have a common-sense approach to litigation that some others do not. Jim is one of the finest trial lawyers I have seen and if a case needs to go to trial, he is the lawyer you would want in front of a judge or jury. However, it is not practical to litigate all cases to death and Jim and Jared have that rare combination of legal expertise, common sense, and loyalty to the interest of the client that make them ideal for any policyholder that needs a coverage lawyer.’
'The lawyers I know in this practice group are aggressive, painstakingly careful, and fearless. So many lawyers are anxious about taking a client's case to court - this group thrives on courtroom work because they know it will benefit their clients. Of course they are smart, but more than that they are "insurance smart" meaning they know the policies often far better than insurance company counsel and know how to use them to benefit their clients.’
‘Natasha Romagnoli and Dave Thomas are an amazing team that provides expert advice and fiery advocacy for their clients. They are unafraid to jump into the deep end of large cases and take the reins. I would highly recommend them to any of my clients for future use.’
Key clients
- New Archdioceses: New Orleans, San Diego, Baltimore; Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (California); Roman Catholic Bishop (Diocese) of San Diego (a corporation sole)
- Nooter Corporation
- Urban Edge
- Goldman Sachs
- Yelp Inc.
- Surf Style Retail Management, Inc.
- Varsity Brands
- Bimbo Bakeries, USA
- FAT Brands Inc.
- Flintridge Riding Club
- Lionsgate Entertainment
- Life Fitness L.L.C.
- High-net-worth investor group, including entities affiliated with Bryn & Associates, Chemtov Mortgage Group, Horvitz Group, and Moncler Motors, LLC
- International Micro Industries
- Yeshiva University
- M.A. Mortenson Company
- Vanguard Soap, LLC
- NGI Capital, Inc., dba Apex IT
- Donaldson Companies, Inc.
- Andersen Corporation
- 3M
- Accenture
- WSP Global Inc./ The Louis Berger Group (“LBG”)
- Chiquita Brands, International
- North American Automotive Services
- The Rockefeller University
- Kraft Heinz
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Tory Burch
- Arthrex, Inc.
- Sargent & Lundy
Work highlights
- Argued and defeated Allied World Assurance Company’s motion for summary judgment, which was one of only a small handful of victories in the entire country over an insurance company’s bid to reject coverage for a major COVID-19 business interruption insurance claim.
- Acted as counsel for The Rockefeller University in connection with what is currently the nation’s largest sex abuse coverage case for a single institution.
- Represented Vanguard Soap, LLC in a litigation on stock-throughput insurance coverage against 24 Lloyd’s syndicates which participated in two $8 million STP policies and denied coverage for a $3.8 million soap product loss and recall in 2019.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Mary Craig Calkins
Blank Rome LLPNatasha Romagnoli
Blank Rome LLPJohn Gibbons
Blank Rome LLPJared Zola
Blank Rome LLPLinda Kornfeld
Blank Rome LLPJames Murray
Blank Rome LLPRikke Dierssen-Morice
Blank Rome LLPNext Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Omid Safa
Blank Rome LLPKyle P Brinkman
Blank Rome LLPPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
John Gibbons, Linda Kornfeld, Jim Murray