CHICAGO, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jenner & Block is pleased to announce that nationally recognized insurance coverage litigator Linda D. Kornfeld has joined the Firm as a partner in its Los Angeles office, where she is reuniting with her former colleague and Chambers-recognized "dean" of the policyholder bar, Jerry Oshinsky, to lead the Firm's Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice on the West Coast.  Described in Chambers USA as one of "the best attorneys in California" for coverage litigation, Ms. Kornfeld has extensive trial and appellate experience representing corporate and individual policyholders in high-stakes litigation against insurers in California and across the country.  

Over the course of her career, Ms. Kornfeld has assisted clients in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in various types of insurance matters.  Her experience includes claims involving directors' and officers' liability; business interruption and extra expense; employee fidelity; professional errors and omissions; employment; entertainment industry liabilities; intellectual property infringements; construction defects; and asbestos, environmental, and product liabilities. She regularly provides strategic counseling to in-house counsel and senior executives on how to mitigate risk and maximize their insurance recoveries.

"We are thrilled that Linda is joining us in our Los Angeles office," said Susan C. Levy, Jenner & Block's Managing Partner.  "Linda significantly bolsters Jenner & Block's nationally recognized insurance recovery practice for policyholders."  

Ms. Kornfeld is a frequently requested speaker, media resource, and author regarding complex litigation and insurance recovery issues, and recently co-authored the treatise "A Policyholder's Primer on Insurance," published by the Association of Corporate Counsel.   Her experience in insurance coverage matters has been recognized both internationally and nationally, including by Chambers, The Daily Journal, Business Insurance, Southern California Super Lawyers, Law Dragon, and Best's World Guide to Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers.  Most recently, Benchmark Litigation named Ms. Kornfeld a "Litigation Star" both nationally and in California.  

Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Ms. Kornfeld was Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of Dickstein Shapiro.  "Linda is an extraordinary lawyer, and I am very excited that she is joining forces with me to lead this practice on the West Coast," said Mr. Oshinsky.  "Together we offer clients a dynamic, team-oriented practice that focuses on the cutting-edge insurance issues for clients on the West Coast and nationally, while drawing on the Firm's nationwide presence."  

"Linda is a terrific addition to our national insurance litigation practice," added John Mathias, Chair of Jenner & Block's Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice.  "She has a stellar  track record in aggressively pursuing claims by policyholders in insurance disputes and, teamed with Jerry Oshinsky, will create a powerhouse platform  substantially enhancing our ability to represent our clients' interests from coast to coast."

In addition to her successful insurance practice, Ms. Kornfeld is also involved in women's leadership issues and actively promotes the advancement of women into leadership positions in the legal and other professions.  Ms. Kornfeld is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and received her J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School in 1991.  

About Jenner & Block's Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice

Jenner & Block's national Insurance Litigation and Counseling Practice is noted widely for its strength, depth and national capability.  The attorneys in the practice have written on a vast array of insurance coverage issues and have authored and contributed to some the leading treatises on policyholder coverage litigation including:

• Directors and Officers Liability: Prevention, Insurance and Indemnification, American Lawyer Media Law Journal Press
• Insurance Coverage Disputes, American Lawyer Media Law Journal Press
• Liability Insurance in International Arbitration. The Bermuda Form, Hart
• Insurance Coverage Litigation, Aspen
• Practitioner's Guide to Litigating Insurance Coverage Actions, Aspen

The practice is home to a number of the profession's leading lawyers, many of whom have been recognized by among others Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Who's Who Legal, and on Law360's list of the Most Admired Insurance Attorneys.

SOURCE Jenner & Block