Class Actions Against Insurance Companies: Current Trends; Certification Issues; Settlement Strategies; and More

Mr. Drocton is a commercial litigator, focusing his practice on class action defense and the insurance industry. He also advises financial services clients on regulatory compliance matters and assists with internal investigations and government proffers. Mr. Drocton's practice spans state and federal courts, from initial case evaluation to trial preparation and appeal. He has experience with briefing dispositive motions, conducting and defending fact and expert witness depositions, managing large-scale e-discovery projects, drafting appellate briefs and overseeing class settlements.

Ms. Kokolis has a special practice emphasis on complex and appellate litigation, particularly the defense and settlement of class actions. She has litigated dozens of class action suits in federal and state trial and appellate courts involving insurance coverage and claims practices, as well as constitutional cases, consumer fraud and product liability, among others.

Mr. Stern is a trial and appellate lawyer, with an emphasis on a result-oriented approach to complex disputes. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in insurance coverage and bad faith cases, business tort and other commercial litigation, consumer and business class actions, and both commercial and high-end residential real estate litigation. Mr. Stern has tried cases before juries, judges and arbitration panels, and he has argued appeals in a number of state (California and Texas) and federal (Second, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits) courts. He devotes a substantial part of his practice to litigation and counseling services for the insurance industry. Mr. Stern has handled matters in various lines, including general liability, specialty liability, professional liability, excess liability, business interruption, workers' compensation, property, and personal accident. He provides oversight counsel for clients at a nationwide or regional level with respect to issues of coverage, claims handling, litigation management and corporate risk. Mr. Stern has extensive experience in insurance-related litigation, including coverage, bad faith, subrogation and contribution, reinsurance and regulatory disputes. He also provides defense of insureds in complex or high-stakes cases, including class actions and severe injuries, and is often called upon by insurers when they need a change in direction in the defense of their insureds.