Insurance School

BRETT L. WARNING

acehy3@r.postjobfree.com ● *** West George Street, Chicago, IL ● 773-***-****

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Bellande & Sargis Law Group, LLP, Chicago, IL April 2014 to present

Counsel for litigation and counseling of complex regulatory and environmental matters

New World Funding, LLC, Hinsdale, IL February to April 2014

Counsel for analysis and research of rights, and pursuing rights, under various complex contracts

Special Counsel, Chicago, IL

July 2013 to January 2014

Contract Attorney for deposition preparation in an international bankruptcy and a large IP case; selected to a group of 5 from 50 to identify documents for key depositions

Auricchio Law Offices, Chicago, IL April to May 2013

Commercial Litigation Counsel; prepared successful motion to amend the complaint to add a large party

Stellato & Schwartz, Ltd., Chicago, IL

June 2009 to April 2013

Senior Associate Attorney - Insurance Litigation, Defense Litigation, Civil Rights Litigation

● Independently investigated and litigated approximately 40 complex insurance coverage, insurance defense and civil rights cases, developed litigation budgets and strategy, responsible for depositions, fact discovery, expert discovery, dispositive motions, oral arguments and hearings

● Drafted summary judgment motion that caused plaintiff to voluntarily dismiss my client; drafted summary judgment motion that resulted in quick settlement for 7 percent of amount sought from client in complex case, saving client hundreds of thousands of dollars

● Convinced other parties in three cases to share thousands of dollars of defense costs through negotiation and litigation; superior computer skills with Microsoft and legal research

● Authored approximately 70 coverage opinions, reservations of rights and coverage declinations under numerous states’ laws; analyzed and resolved complex factual and legal issues under CGL, Professional and Automobile policies

● Directed outside counsel in approximately 200 of major client's highest exposure cases, including review of pleadings, discovery, motions, and participation in litigation strategy; discovered Florida statutory damages caps that two local counsel firms did not identify

Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey, Chicago, IL

November 2003 to May 2009

Senior Associate Attorney – Insurance Coverage, Insurance Coverage Litigation and Defense Litigation

● Independently managed and litigated approximately 50 complex insurance coverage and direct defense claims against insureds, developed budgets and litigation strategy, took approximately 50 depositions, fact and expert discovery, motions and hearings for major national clients such as AIG, Kemper and ACE under CGL, Professional and Automobile policies; handled appeals

● Summary judgment granted which solidified late notice coverage law in Oklahoma; drafted briefs and argued 16 discovery motions with successful rulings on 14; drafted and argued successful motion for protective order which avoided deposition of senior partner in same case

● Exposed false claim at deposition that a bank loan for millions of dollars was denied due to client's coverage denial; dramatically decreased clients' financial exposure by vigorously negotiating settlements of claims and participating in mediations and arbitrations

● Analyzed and authored approximately 30 coverage opinions, reservations of rights and coverage declinations under numerous states’ laws; analyzed and resolved complex factual and legal issues

● Directed outside counsel and participated in litigation strategy in approximately 20 cases

Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd., Burr Ridge, IL

July 2001 to October 2003

Associate Attorney – Commercial Litigation

● Managed and litigated approximately 60 commercial cases including landlord/tenant matters, developed litigation strategy and budgets, took 50 depositions, and responsible for document review, fact and expert discovery, dispositive motions, oral arguments and hearings

● First-chaired two trials, second-chaired a third trial; motion for directed verdict granted on two of three counts at contractual dispute trial with verdict less than settlement offer; complete victory for client in additional contractual dispute trial; responsible for all written and oral discovery with recovery of all of $400,000 for client in second-chair trial for fraudulent investment inducement

● Favorable decisions in two of three arbitrations, saving clients $30,000 in each; generated $30,000 of business

Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess, Chicago, IL

May 1995 to July 2001

Associate Attorney – Insurance Coverage, Insurance Coverage Litigation, Commercial and Environmental Litigation

● Managed and litigated approximately 100 complex insurance coverage, defense and commercial claims, took approximately 100 depositions, handled dispositive motions, oral arguments and hearings, drafted motions in limine and jury instructions under CGL, Professional and Homeowners policies for major national clients including Allstate, Hartford and Kemper

● Drafted and argued four summary judgment motions on late notice, known loss and allocation in insurance coverage cases with three granted; dramatically decreased clients' financial exposure by vigorously negotiating settlements of claims and participating in four mediations

● Analyzed and authored approximately 30 coverage opinions under numerous states’ laws

● Generated new firm business resulting in revenue of $200,000+

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, IL

June 1989 to May 1995

Acting Section Chief and Assistant Regional Counsel

● Supervised nine attorneys and several staff; conducted legal and policy research and analysis

● Handled approximately 100 complex CERCLA, RCRA and CAA cases in regulatory and court proceedings in midwest region; handled numerous federal and state FOIA requests

● Special Act Award for development of Underground Storage Tank enforcement program

● First-chaired three-day administrative hearing regarding alleged violations at a municipal landfill

● Wrote appellate brief and represented EPA at appeal of administrative hearing

Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District – Judicial Clerk

September 1988 to June 1989

Honorable Nicholas J. Bua, Northern District of Illinois – Judicial Extern

May to August 1986

PRESENTATIONS

Chicago Bar Association: Recent Insurance Coverage Developments, 2005; Discovery Process in Complex Cases, 2000; U.S. EPA; Valparaiso U. School of Law; Chicago public high schools

PUBLICATIONS

The Most Overlooked Weapon in the Arsenal? IDC Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 2, Second Quarter (2000); Note, 22 Val. U. L. Rev. 385 (1988)

EDUCATION

Valparaiso University School of Law Valparaiso, Indiana

● Juris Doctor, May 1988, Class Rank: 22 of 90

● Valparaiso University Law Review, Articles Editor; Author, Note, 22 Val. U. L. Rev. 385 (1988)

● Honors and Activities: Valparaiso University Law Scholarship, 1986, 1987; Dean’s Merit Scholarship, 1985; Chair, Midwest Environmental Law Caucus Research Committee

Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois

● Bachelor of Arts, May 1984; Majors: Geography, History, GPA: 3.35/4.00

● Honors and Activities: Dean’s Lists; Phi Alpha Theta Honorary History Fraternity; Honor Scholarships; Illinois State Scholar; Orientation Leader; Treasurer of largest social fraternity; Union Board member

Contact this candidate