Charlie** **is the Chief Claims Officer at Branch, where he leads the design and execution of claims strategies that leverage technology to drive performance, efficiency, and exceptional customer experiences. With deep expertise across both traditional insurers and insurtechs, Charlie is recognized as being at the forefront of modernizing claims operations through automation, AI, and data-driven insights. He holds an MBA and numerous industry designations and is passionate about using innovation to empower teams and transform how claims organizations operate.

Tim is Gen Re’s Vice President, Senior Emerging Issues Specialist. He leads the company’s Emerging Issues Unit, drawing from years of experience and a wide range of responsibilities to identify emerging risks and exposures to Gen Re clients and internal colleagues. He is a frequent contributor to Gen Re’s blog and edits the UM/UIM Liability Laws Survey. Tim is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (Bachelor of Arts, Journalism) and the Michell-Hamline School of Law (Juris Doctor). Tim currently serves on CPCU’s RE&S (Reinsurance, Excess & Surplus Lines) Interest Group, following past service as President of the Atlanta Chapter and Governor for the Upper South Region. He is a Board Member for the Atlanta Chapter of the Claim Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) and guest lectures on Risk Management and Insurance at Georgia State University. He holds the J.D. and CPCU designations. 

Megan is the Managing Partner of Coffey Modica LLP’s Westport, Connecticut office, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation and insurance defense. With over 15 years of experience, Megan represents clients across Connecticut and New York in state and federal courts, offering strategic counsel in professional liability, employment law, commercial litigation, product liability, and aviation law. Megan is known for her meticulous preparation, courtroom presence, and ability to navigate multifaceted disputes through trial and appeal. Her experience spans administrative agencies and multiple federal jurisdictions, where she has achieved successful outcomes for insurers, corporations, and professionals. Her practice extends beyond litigation. Megan serves as outside counsel to corporate entities, including an air charter operator and a global non-profit organization. In aviation law, she advises on aircraft transactions, regulatory compliance, and administrative proceedings, providing clients with comprehensive support in this highly specialized area. A trusted advocate, Megan combines her deep industry knowledge with a practical, results-driven approach. She is committed to delivering efficient, client-focused representation and developing proactive strategies that protect her clients’ interests. Megan received a BA from the University of Notre Dame, and a JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Andrew is Senior VP, General Counsel and Secretary for General Re Corporation. Andrew oversees the global legal, compliance and regulatory functions for the Gen Re group's insurance, reinsurance and financial services businesses. Prior to joining Gen Re, he was a partner with a global law firm, where he represented clients in a variety of international businesses, including insurance and reinsurance, auditing and consulting services, banking, mortgage lending and real estate. Andrew is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.

Nick is a Co-Founder and Senior Jury Consultant at JuryConnect, where he partners with trial teams nationwide to provide strategic support throughout the litigation process. His work includes focus group and mock trial facilitation, research design, developing themes and strategies for trial, witness preparation, community attitude surveys, statistical analysis for juror profiling, daily trial monitoring, and conducting shadow juries. Nick also regularly assists attorneys in court with jury selection and voir dire strategies and has worked on nearly 100 in his career. In fact, Nick has selected juries in four cases that have been rated in Courtroom View Networks’ Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts of the year. With a strong academic foundation in communication and psychology, Nick’s research centers on jurors’ information processing styles, their biases, and how they determine damages. He has conducted research on a number of additional topics, including group dynamics, decision making, persuasion, and conspiracy beliefs. Prior to his career as a jury consultant, Nick taught college courses on persuasion and strategic communication. Nick received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan, going on to earn a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in communication with concentrations in decision psychology and social psychology from Ohio State University. He is based in Charlotte, NC but works across the country on a variety of matters including mass torts, product liability, medical malpractice, intellectual property, breach of contract, insurance coverage, and criminal cases.

Raj is the Chief Claims Officer and Vice President for the Property and Casualty Group at National Indemnity Company. Raj joined the Reinsurance Division of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group as Legal Counsel in 2002. Raj started when the Reinsurance Group assumed a loss portfolio from Frontier Insurance Company where Raj was managing their claim operations. Raj was in private practice in New York for 16 years prior to joining Frontier Insurance Company. Raj continues to manage claims and legal matters for the Reinsurance Group, and he consults with and advises various claims operations both nationally and internationally. Raj earned his bachelor’s degree in business and LL.B (Bachelor of Laws) from the University of Bombay, India. He then earned his LL.M (Master of Laws) from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Raj has been a member of the New York State Bar since 1984.

Kara is President and CEO of General Re Corporation, having joined the group in 2016. Previously, Kara spent 16 years in Berkshire Hathaway’s Reinsurance Division in Stamford, CT, where she prospected reinsurance and insurance opportunities and priced loss portfolio transfers and acquisitions. During this tenure, she was responsible for Guard Insurance Group, the Division’s India reinsurance portfolio, Berkshire Hathaway’s financial guaranty insurer, BHAC. Kara also established a California Workers’ Compensation portfolio for National Liability & Fire Insurance Company. Kara began her career in 1994 with CIGNA Property & Casualty in Philadelphia, PA. She obtained an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Ursinus College and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Keith is the Chair of Dentons US, a member of Dentons’ global board of directors, and co-leader of the Global Insurance and US Insurance Litigation and Arbitration sectors. A trial lawyer with more than 25 years of experience defending insurance companies in complex commercial cases involving all lines of insurance in U.S. federal and state trial and appellate courts, Keith has particular experience litigating insurance coverage and bad faith disputes and insurance-related class actions. He also regularly represents carriers in a substantial number of cross-border cases and claim disputes outside of the U.S. Keith works with insurers on insurance policy wordings and on claims and underwriting regulatory and compliance issues in the U.S. and abroad. Keith is regularly called on represent insurers in the most significant matters facing the industry. He acts for insurers on opioids, Russia aviation, COVID-19 business interruption, abuse and molestation, PFAS, social media addiction, Los Angeles wildfires (including the FAIR Plan anti-trust litigation), claims arising out of the Israel-Hamas war, talc, and paint claims as well as notable financial service engagements such as the Valeant D&O coverage litigation. An accomplished first chair trial lawyer, Keith has extensive jury trial experience in state and federal courts across the U.S. including, most recently, obtaining jury verdicts for AIG in the Newman and Sebo bad faith cases in Florida.  Keith has been involved in the most significant catastrophic and mass tort claims, including his prior, direct representation of BP in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill litigation, and representations of insurance industry clients in response to various hurricanes and natural disasters. Keith is also an experienced appellate lawyer who regularly handles appeals throughout the United States and has successfully argued in multiple federal circuit court of appeals, state supreme and appellate courts.

John is the founding partner of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. In 1988, John formed Kennedy & Johnson, along with David Johnson. John is an accomplished trial attorney, spending most of his more than 42 years practicing in Connecticut, representing injured clients before juries. After more than four decades practicing law, John still finds trying cases to juries in automobile accident, premises liability, medical malpractice and product liability cases his passion. In addition to handling complex jury trials, John has decades of experience handling cases before trial, mediating and arbitrating matters and negotiating claims on behalf of his clients. He is often selected as a mediator and arbitrator in medical malpractice and other personal injury cases. John was honored to be one of just 500 lawyers in the U.S. inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. John is also an active member of the New Haven County Bar Association and served as president of that organization in 1991-1992. John participates in the American Association for Justice and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and served as president in 2011-2012. He is also a member of ABOTA and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. John believes in the importance of a lawyer’s knowledge of the law in effective representation of clients. Therefore, John has often served as a lecturer to his peers at continuing legal education programs through the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and the New Haven County Bar Association. John is admitted to practice at the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and for the Eastern, Southern and Northern districts of New York, as well as all state courts in Connecticut. He has served since 2011 as co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. John is listed in Best Lawyers in America in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury and product liability. In 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024 John was named Best Lawyers’ New Haven Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year. In 2016, 2018 and 2025 John was named Best Lawyers’ New Haven Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year. In 2022 and 2024 John was named Best Lawyers’ New Haven Product liability Lawyer of the Year. John has been recognized for many years in Connecticut Super Lawyers’ and has been on their Top 10 List for past several years. In 2018 John was honored to be given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. In 2025 John was listed in Forbes Best-In-State Lawyers, an honor that recognized him as one of the top legal professionals in the country.

Steve is Senior Partner at Zelle LLP. He has represented the commercial property insurance industry for more than 35 years in coverage and subrogation litigation arising from significant catastrophe events. One highlight of Steve’s career was leading the $5 billion subrogation action arising from the 911 Terrorist Attack, which today remains the largest all cash subrogation recovery ever obtained by the insurance industry. Today, Steve’s practice is devoted entirely to leading the insurance industry response to the emerging hail risk, not only representing his clients in the onslaught of lawsuits and appraisal demands but also working to find long-term solutions through preferred claims practices, policy form changes, and legislation.  An informative and entertaining speaker, Steve’s What The Hail Is Going On? seminars and conferences are well-known in the industry as the go-to source for knowledge and information concerning this developing risk exposure. Steve also has a broad following on LinkedIn, where he is a vocal advocate for the first-party property insurance industry.  

Lloyd Gura is a partner and member of the firm's Executive Committee and DEI Committee. He has more than thirty years of experience in reinsurance, insurance, ERISA, environmental, tort, and healthcare litigation and arbitration. His practice includes complex insurance and reinsurance coverage disputes, fronting, captive and program business, subrogation, fraud, life and health claims, bad faith, property and casualty losses, directors and officers, errors and omissions, and all facets of professional liability claims, personal injury claims, premises liability, allocation disputes, insolvency issues, molestation, talc, concussion, human trafficking, advertising injury, copyright infringement, cyber claims, Bermuda Form arbitrations, construction defect coverage, and claims involving asbestos products and non-products.

Mr. Gura has published articles in Best's Review, Business Insurance, New York Law Journal, CPCU Claims Quarterly, Journal of Reinsurance, and the Risk Management Newsletter regarding insurance and reinsurance issues. Mr. Gura created and chairs the annual NYC Reinsurance Conference and lectures at seminars sponsored by AIRROC, ARIAS-US, IRUA, Mealey's, American Conference Institute, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Reinsurance Association of America, HB Litigation Conferences, Perrin Conferences, AIG, AXA XL, Zurich, Chubb, The Hartford, R&Q, ACE, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Riverstone, Swiss Re, and Gen Re, among others, on insurance and reinsurance law and practice. He has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States and participated in more than two hundred reinsurance/insurance arbitrations in the United States and London, UK.

He is admitted to the New York and Connecticut bars and is a member of the New York County Lawyers' Association, where he is on the Committee on Insurance, and the New York State Bar Association.

Clint Cox is an aggressive litigator and trial attorney. Clint’s practice focuses on risk mitigation, creating leverage to protect client interests and advising on matters for risk avoidance, as well as late-stage litigation resolution and/or trial involvement. Clint’s areas of practice are variable, in that he is regularly asked to get involved in various areas of law, primarily due to his desire to resolve disputes consistently and effectively or obtain favorable outcomes.

Jeffrey is VP, Casualty Claims Manager. He manages Gen Re’s North America Casualty claims team. Prior to joining Gen Re in 2012, Jeffrey served as claims manager for an insurance carrier overseeing a Professional Liability book of business. In addition to Professional Liability claims, Jeffrey has experience handling the following types of claims: Umbrella, Auto, Cyber, EPLI, D&O, Workers’ Compensation, Medical Malpractice and General Liability. Jeffrey has also litigated matters for several insurance defense firms. Jeffrey has a BS in Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton and his JD from Hofstra University School of Law.

Chris is a Pricing Actuary with The Mutual Practice. He develops pricing models and AI tools to assist with Gen Re workflows. He has a decade of experience with reinsurance pricing. Chris has a degree in Actuarial Science from Temple University. He holds the ACAS designation.

Devin is a Claims Manager with Secura, based in Wisconsin with extensive experience in overseeing complex claims processes and driving operational efficiency. Devin specializes in leveraging technology and data-driven strategies to improve claims handling and customer outcomes. With a strong focus on innovation, Devin brings practical insights into how artificial intelligence can transform claims management and enhance decision-making in the insurance industry.

Jonathon is a Managing Partner of DDA Forensics, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and contractors providing expert consulting, litigation support, and trial testimony across multiple states. With a career rooted in claims handling and construction, Jonathon brings a uniquely relatable perspective to the intersection of field experience, technical analysis, and insurance litigation. An Xactimate Certified Trainer and Pricing Consultant, Jonathon is nationally recognized for his expertise in construction estimating, building code compliance, and understanding of Xactimate. He has served as a trusted expert witness in high-stakes property damage cases, frequently testifying on estimating practices, scope disputes, and claim inflation. His background in both claims management and project oversight enables him to connect with adjusters, contractors, attorneys, and juries on the practical realities of the claims and restoration process. Jonathon is a recipient of the Claims Handling Excellence Award with Citizens Property Insurance, an international member of the Association of Insurance Building & Engineering Consultants, and a speaker at leading industry conferences including PLRB, and a multi-year presenter at the Verisk Elevate Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. His work continues to shape industry conversations around promoting accuracy, transparency, and integrity in the use, and misuse of Xactimate.

Jonathon is the Executive Chairman of J.S. Held, LLC, a global multidisciplinary consulting firm with more than 2,500 experts on 5 continents. Jon began his career in 1977 and was President and CEO from 1985 until April 2025. During that period, he oversaw the growth of the firm from a small regional two-person consulting company to an internationally respected organization with global reach. As an expert in building consulting and property loss valuation, Jon has consulted on many of the largest and most complex catastrophic insurance claims in history, including the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in NY, the litigation between Firestone Bridgestone and its insurers for damages sustained to the Harbel Rubber plantation during the Liberian Civil War, the AOL Time Warner Center fire in NY, the Amtrak Superstorm Sandy litigation, and many of the world’s most visible claims. For more than 40 years, he has been widely considered the expert of choice in large complex "bet the farm" cases. Jon has been an expert witness in numerous jurisdictions globally and has also acted as both a party and court appointed arbitrator and appraisal panelist in hundreds of claims, including the four largest claims ever to be resolved in the appraisal process. He has authored numerous papers on a variety of property claim subjects and has been a frequent lecturer and guest speaker globally for more than 30 years.

Glenn is Senior VP, Head of North America P&C Claims. He leads a team of claim executives responsible for all property and casualty claim operations, including general liability, specialty lines, first‑party property, auto, workers’ compensation, and legacy/mass tort. Glenn joined Gen Re in 2020. Prior to Gen Re, Glenn held a series of senior leadership roles at CNA, The Hartford, and Travelers, overseeing claim, legal, direct insurance, reinsurance, and both domestic and international operations. He began his career as a litigator with the law firm Day Pitney. Glenn is an ARIAS‑US certified arbitrator. He earned his J.D. (cum laude) from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University.

Laura is VP, Property Claims Manager. She manages Gen Re's North America Property claims and the Environmental & Mass Tort claims teams. Prior to joining Gen Re in 2011, Laura managed ceded re departments for several insurance companies. Previous to that, she represented carriers in insurance coverage disputes and handled insurance and reinsurance claims on behalf of various companies. Laura has a BS in Marketing from University of Scranton and a J.D. from Catholic University of America.

You can read about Chip Merlin on his website.