Maynard Nexsen Expands Insurance Team Across the U.S.

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Eight ERISA attorneys join firm

Maynard Nexsen, a full-service law firm with 31 locations across the United States, announces the addition of an eight-lawyer insurance team, bringing decades of ERISA experience. The group joins Maynard Nexsen from an international employment law firm and includes three Shareholders, four Of Counsel and one Associate.

“Our clients and firm will benefit greatly from the experience in this group,” said Ted Holt, Chair of Maynard Nexsen’s Insurance practice group. “Their expertise working with insurers, employers, plan administrators and third party administrators, along with their locations across the country, provide additional depth to our nationally-ranked ERISA and group litigation team. We are thrilled they have chosen Maynard Nexsen to continue their successful practices and we look forward to sharing the systems, processes, and approaches to matters that have made Maynard Nexsen a go-to firm for insurers and other financial services companies.”

Byrne Decker, Shareholder, based in Portland, Maine, is a national leader in ERISA litigation and insurance benefits litigation, with more than 32 years of experience. He handles ERISA and non-ERISA cases nationwide, having appeared in most federal district courts and circuit courts of appeals. Byrne regularly defends complex benefits cases, bad faith litigation and class actions, and his active appellate practice includes published decisions on significant benefits issues in several circuit courts. He has collaborated on several briefs and petitions to the United States Supreme Court in important ERISA cases and is a frequent speaker and author on insurance and ERISA litigation topics.

Ann Andrews, Shareholder, based in Phoenix, practices first- and third-party insurance coverage and bad faith litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Southwest and across the Ninth and Tenth Circuits. She has extensive experience in employee benefits litigation, including life, health and disability insurance, representing numerous major insurers. Ann regularly counsels and defends clients on ERISA and non-ERISA matters, including institutional "pattern and practice" bad faith cases and rescission cases.

Jenny Wang, Shareholder in Los Angeles, has over 25 years of experience defending insurers in first-party insurance coverage disputes, including those involving claims for breach of contract, bad faith, fraud and negligence. She has litigated hundreds of cases on behalf of ERISA plan fiduciaries in disputes over disability and life insurance benefits, under both insured and self-insured plans. Jenny also prosecutes declaratory relief actions involving coverage disputes and rescission of insurance policies. She has defended national corporations in many jurisdictions, including California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, Minnesota and New York. She has an active appellate court practice and has argued in the Ninth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal.

Scott Pomeroy, Of Counsel, located in Boston, supports ERISA and employee benefits litigation and appeals, representing clients in state and federal courts. Scott has more than 20 years of experience as a commercial litigator, representing businesses and their owners in complex business disputes, including unfair trade practices, theft of trade secrets, employment discrimination claims, whistleblower and retaliation claims, fiduciary breaches, indemnification and contribution claims, insurance coverage and trademark and patent infringement.

Rachel Urquhart, Of Counsel in Detroit, helps plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and insurers litigate and resolve employee benefit claims. They have extensive experience supporting benefits litigation work, including disability, life insurance, executive benefits, retirement plans, health care and COBRA benefits. Rachel has successfully negotiated large settlements on behalf of Plans against record keepers for excess fees and brings more than 20 years of in-house and law firm experience providing employment and benefits law counseling.

Stephanie Segalini, Of Counsel in the firm’s Orlando, Florida office, concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial, insurance and employee benefits litigation, including coverage, breach of fiduciary duty, statutory penalty and benefits claims. Stephanie skillfully supports her clients in benefit disputes, including health, life and disability claims under ERISA. She has served as lead counsel on dispute resolution issues for the nation’s largest insurance carriers, employers, employer-sponsored benefit plans, claims administrators, third-party administrators and plan administrators.

Charan Higbee, Of Counsel in San Francisco, represents insurance companies in cases involving life, health and disability policies and group policies subject to ERISA. With more than 25 years of experience, Charan handles insurance matters in state and federal court during every phase of litigation. She litigates cases ranging from high-value coverage cases, which seek bad faith and punitive damages, to interpleader and subrogation matters. She frequently provides pre-litigation advice to insurers regarding policy rescissions and claim determinations.

Jordan Vassel, Associate, based in Minneapolis, supports ERISA litigation and benefits matters. He is skilled in supporting business litigation, insurance litigation and insurance coverage disputes. Jordan holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.