Leading Insurance Policyholder Litigator Mary Craig Calkins Joins Jenner & Block's L.A. Office

CHICAGO, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Highly regarded insurance coverage lawyer Mary Craig Calkins has joined Jenner & Block's Los Angeles office as a partner, bolstering the Firm's national Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice.  A longtime leader in the organized bar, Ms. Calkins currently is national Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, a committee with over 2,400 members.  She brings more than two decades of litigation experience on cutting-edge matters on behalf of policyholders, and joins an impressive cadre of Jenner & Block insurance coverage attorneys in L.A., including well known coverage lawyers Jerry Oshinsky and Linda Kornfeld.

"We are very excited that Mary is joining our firm," said Susan C. Levy, Managing Partner of Jenner & Block.  "Our insurance practice is on a roll in terms of adding high-caliber talent in L.A. to its already impressive national team, and I know our policyholder clients will be thrilled that Mary is extending the practice's capabilities even further."

Ms. Calkins has been repeatedly recognized as being among the top lawyers in the country, including being named one of "California's Top Women Litigators" by the Los Angeles Daily Journal in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  In 2007, she was named one of 50 "Women to Watch" by the leading trade magazine, Business Insurance.  Ms. Calkins has been annually recognized by Chambers USA as being among the leading insurance coverage practitioners in the United States, and she has also been repeatedly honored in Southern California Super Lawyers.  

"We are building the premier policyholder-side practice on the West Coast, and Mary is a cornerstone of that effort," said John Mathias, Chair of Jenner & Block's Insurance Coverage Litigation and Counseling Practice.  "Her track record of success and exceptional credentials will be of great value to our clients."

Over the course of her career, Ms. Calkins has focused on insurance recovery for policyholders.  She has extensive coverage experience in directors and officers liability, entertainment claims, construction defect, e-commerce and technology claims, first party property and business interruption losses, and broker liability issues.  She has litigated coverage for advertising injuries, employment practices liabilities, intellectual property (patent, trademark and copyright), product liability, professional errors and omissions, business torts, environmental and toxic torts, food contamination and lender/fiduciary liabilities.  She also advises in-house counsel, senior executives and company management on how to maximize insurance protections and recovery. Ms. Calkins serves as lead insurance counsel to FremantleMedia North America, Inc, producers of hit television programs such as American Idol, and to PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc, among many valued clients.  

"I have known Jenner & Block's talented insurance coverage attorneys for many years, and have the highest regard for the firm.  I am very excited to join with the leadership of the Los Angeles insurance recovery group to further extend the practice's highly respected national platform," said Ms. Calkins.  

Earlier in her career, Ms. Calkins was Vice President of Litigation at MGM Communications.  She most recently practiced in the Los Angeles office of Howrey LLP.  

Ms. Calkins earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 1981, cum laude, where she was the Production Editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review.  She is also a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles.  In 2008, Ms. Calkins was the recipient of the Loyola Law School Distinguished Alumni Award.  She regularly writes and speaks on insurance coverage issues at seminars throughout the country.

SOURCE Jenner & Block