The Defense Never Rests

How do you get people excited about a career in claims? For many of us, the response is – that's easy, claims ARE exciting. But for those who work in claims the career trajectory and potential opportunities are obvious. However, for those on the outside, that may not be as apparent. Insurance still carries a bit of that old school stigma with it and from the conversations I am having – there is a...

How do you turn negative experiences around to positive ones? In the moment, when something really bad happens it can be extraordinarily difficult to see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Sometimes it can seem downright impossible. This week's guest on the Defense Never Rests, Aliza Shatzman shares her personal experience clerking out of law school. And that it was nothing close to what...

Are you thinking about the potential appeal and appellate issues when you are assessing a claim? Many of us are very accustomed to working up a file in preparation for trial. But the thought of an appeal is secondary. And why wouldn't it be. But today we are here to talk about that all too important appellate process. We are joined by M.C. Sungaila who is an accomplished appellate attorney who sta...

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, we are joined by guest Winter Wheeler. Tune in to hear her peel back the curtain to take a look into her personal life as a hard working mother of 4, and the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of mediation.

Do you ever feel the need that you must do it all?     I know for me personally, I definitely have that struggle.     As a mom, wife, lawyer, etc…there is a constant tug to be everything.     To show up for the kid stuff, to eat right, exercise, be on top of everything at work…you name it.     But some wise woman once told me you cannot be excellent at everything all of the time.     I find the ne...

How has your intellectual curiosity leveled up your career? This week's guest on The Defense Never Rests, Zac Henderson is an individual with deep curiosity to learn new things. This curiosity does not allow Zac to stay still for long. He is always looking to learn and explore new things. Which has launched his career forward. Now as the Head of Legal and Data Protection for a start- up, Levels ,...

In this throwback episode host Meghan Henry is joined by returning guest Shari Belitz as well as Christopher Dickerson. NYC residents Chris and Shari work for the city of New York. Driven by his passion for the Big Apple, Chris defends the city that never sleeps as a public entity. Tune in to hear the implications of defending a public entity vs. a smaller, private one.

Let's face it. Change can be scary. And not everybody feels comfortable rocking the proverbial "boat." But change can also be exciting and fulfilling, especially after spending decades building a career in the legal and insurance industries. On this week's episode of The Defense Never Rests, we had the chance to speak with Donna MacConnell, the Managing Director of Claims for IMA Financial Group,...

What if I told you there was someone out there that could really take your career to the next level. No gimmicks. No magic potion. Someone who could really help you see your worth and prepare you for the next big step. And be by your side to land that new role. Would that be something you would be interested in? On this episode of the Defense Never Rests, we are joined by Sheila Murphy who has bee...

Isn't it true that you never truly know what anyone is struggling with beneath the surface. Even the most seemingly successful people have struggles of varying degrees of difficulty. And it's human nature to keep those to ourselves for a variety of reasons. But I think we can collectively agree, that is a lonely place to be and we all could use some judgment free support – for any of our struggles...

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, hosts Meghan and Oliver are joined by Senior Claims Specialist Rebecca Gregg. Tune in to hear details about catastrophic trucking claims and the steps you need to take from day one.

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, I am joined by "The Introverted Lawyer" professor Heidi K Brown. We get candid and vulnerable about the struggles of self doubt and fear of public speaking. Tune in to hear her amazing tips and tricks to help reprogram your brain and overcome your fears behind the podium. Be sure to check out Heidi's books: Untangling Fear in Lawyering: A Four-St...

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, we are joined by guests Shari Belitz and Jacqueline Harounian. Tune in as we candidly share the legalities behind surrogacy, the Mary Beth Whitehead legal case, as well as our ups and downs in the journey of fertility.

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests we are joined by the founder of LawyerUp, Umeesha D'Alwis. Tune in to hear this inspiring story of this 19 year old first generation immigrant, pre-law student who created her own virtual internship during a global pandemic. She is wise beyond her years!

In this episode of The Defense Never Rests podcast, cohosts Trish and Meghan speak to guests Lisa Goldkuhl and Steven Joseph. Powerful lawyers by day, and creative writers by night!

At times, working as a defense attorney or as a claims professional can feel like trying to predict the future. And sometimes, that future is not necessarily certain. This is especially true in the world of construction claims. Claims professionals are having to looks years ahead to help their insureds navigate labor shortages, production delays and supply chain issues. Fortunately, William Lane j...

Sometimes when you are driving for a while on a straight, long road, you can fall into the trance-like state referred to as "Highway Hypnosis". The road begins to blur. Your eyes feel heavy. Your brain is on auto pilot. You begin to feel like you are on the edge of sleep. It can be pretty scary. In the above scenario, the ticket to success is a large cup of coffee and a nap. But the same sort of p...

What would happen if your company's data was compromised? I know, like many things, we all think "oh well, that wont happen to us". Until it does. And then what… Do you have insurance coverage for that? This week on the Defense Never Rests we are joined by Michael Cavanaugh, Chief Insurance Office of Fusion MGA who knows a thing or two about cyber security. Interestingly, Mike turned a background...

Where do you think trust comes into play during litigation? "Trust?!" you say "this is litigation, there is no trust!" But hang on a second, think about your last successful mediation. Trust was probably a key component, even if it did not occur to you at the time. You trust your attorney to adequately assess the facts and damages and formulate a defense plan. Plaintiff's counsel is putting trust...