CNA Vice President Claire L. Cortner Joins Sedgwick

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 17, 2011) - Sedgwick LLP has announced that Claire L. Cortner, who most recently served as vice president and claim counsel for the CNA insurance companies, has joined the firm's Insurance Practices Division as a partner in the firm's San Francisco office. Cortner is a seasoned litigator experienced in various insurance industry matters, ranging from coverage and bad faith litigation to regulatory proceedings. At Sedgwick, Cortner will handle primary and excess casualty, property, and environmental coverage matters as well as insurance regulatory matters.

"Sedgwick is pleased to welcome Claire, whose extensive knowledge of insurance legal and business issues will further bolster the firm's already strong Insurance Practices Division," said Michael Healy, office managing partner. "Her background, along with that of our other attorneys with in-house experience, provides our clients with a 360-degree perspective on the legal issues confronting insurers."

At CNA, Cortner served as vice president and claim counsel where she oversaw a nationwide portfolio of commercial and residential construction industry claims. Her in-house experience includes environmental claims and mass torts, as well as professional liability, intellectual property and employment related disputes.

Cortner's coverage litigation experience encompasses a range of property, casualty, specialty and professional lines products, including wrap policies and other industry-specific programs, as well as loss sensitive plans subject to retentions, retrospective premiums and other risk financing mechanisms. She is experienced in working on litigation matters stemming from potentially high severity claims implicating exposure to multiple layers, years and types of coverage, including pollution and mass torts claims.

"Claire's coverage, bad faith litigation and regulatory background makes her a perfect addition to our team," said Insurance Practices Division Chair Bruce Celebrezze. "She brings many years of experience handling a wide range of insurance issues."

Cortner earned her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1986) and obtained a B.A. from California State University, Sacramento (1977).

The international trial firm of Sedgwick LLP provides trial, appellate, litigation management, counseling, risk management and transactional legal services to the world's leading companies. With more than 350 attorneys in offices in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Orange County (California), Paris, San Francisco, and an affiliated office in Bermuda, Sedgwick's collective experience spans the globe and virtually every industry. The firm also has one of the largest teams of attorneys dedicated to the legal needs of insurance companies. For more information about Sedgwick, its attorneys and its services, visit www.sedgwicklaw.com.