Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP Expands National Insurance Practice with the Recent Addition of Eight Attorneys Including Partners Alexander Mahler and Regina Ripley

PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Oct. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP announced today that eight attorneys have joined the firm, including partners Alexander B. Mahler and Regina A. Ripley. The firm continues to strategically expand its national insurance practice to meet the needs of the insurance industry. With 60 attorneys and offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and White Plains, the firm represents the insurance industry in complex, high exposure insurance coverage disputes before federal and state trial and appellate courts and arbitration panels in all 50 states and abroad.

"We are thrilled to expand our team with the addition of this dynamic group," said Managing Partner, Richard Nicolaides. "Alex and Regina have outstanding track records and bring valuable relationships to our firm, which continues to solidify its place among the top insurance firms in the country. We are very excited to add attorneys of Alex and Regina's caliber to our ranks."

Nicolaides also noted, "Our team has doubled in size since the firm was established in 2014. With 60 attorneys dedicated solely to insurance coverage law, our firm continues to effectively and successfully represent our insurance industry clients throughout the country. We continue to operate from a position of strength in order to be responsive to our clients' needs with a deep bench of skilled and experienced attorneys promoting collaboration and efficiency."

Before joining Nicolaides, Mahler and Ripley were partners at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP.

Mahler joins the firm's Chicago office where he represents domestic and international insurers as coverage and litigation counsel regarding almost every policy type and coverage line. He focuses his practice on professional liability, fidelity and commercial general liability. Mahler regularly manages high exposure matters throughout the United States and counsels insurers on the most complex coverage and bad faith issues by preparing coverage analysis, and litigating the disputes in the jurisdictions in which they arise.

Also based in the firm's Chicago office, Ripley is an experienced litigator representing domestic and international insurers throughout the United States in high-stakes, complex coverage and bad faith litigation, as well as analyzing coverage pre-suit, preparing coverage analysis and managing the defense of high exposure cases. Ripley focuses her practice on multiple coverage lines, including general liability, fiduciary, professional liability, and fidelity. Most recently, she was recognized in the Crain's Chicago Business special report "Chicago's Notable Women Lawyers 2018," highlighting legal industry leaders in Chicago who have demonstrated professional distinction, involvement in their community and a commitment to mentoring other women lawyers.

"Joining a premiere insurance coverage law firm like Nicolaides provides us the opportunity to better serve our clients from a strong national platform," said Mahler. "We have a coverage team with a collaborative approach and the expertise to better assist our clients in resolving their most challenging matters to produce the best possible outcomes."

Ripley added, "It's exciting to work in a collegial environment with such an accomplished group of insurance coverage attorneys who, like us, are focused on providing superior legal counsel and delivering outstanding results for our clients."

In addition, attorneys Erin Gallagher (J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law), Joel M. Graczyk (J.D., Marquette University Law School), Alida Pecanin (J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law), Daniel A. Schuleman (J.D., University of Illinois College of Law), Katie M. Shank (J.D., DePaul University College of Law) and Ji Suh (J.D., University of Michigan Law School) have joined the firm this month. Joel, Alida, Daniel and Ji are based in the firm's Chicago office, while Katie works in the firm's San Diego office and Erin in the San Francisco office.

Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP is recognized by the insurance industry as a preeminent insurance coverage law firm. Honoring the firm and its attorneys with high rankings in its Chambers USA 2018 guide, Chambers and Partners described the firm as a "widely respected insurance boutique" and its attorneys as "representing an impressive roster of market-leading insurance and reinsurance market corporations." They also recognized the firm's insurance practice as one that "offers expertise in complex coverage litigation as well as notable ability in arbitration proceedings."

In Law360's 2018 Glass Ceiling Report the firm was acknowledged for "outpacing their peers" and "breaking down barriers and forging a path to a more diverse working environment." Nicolaides was one of a select group of U.S. firms highlighted in the report for "opening doors that have long been closed to women seeking to make their mark on the legal profession." The Nicolaides team includes 32 women attorneys, including 14 partners. Law360 recently featured two of the firm's founding partners, Monica T. Sullivan and Sara M. Thorpe, as "Female Powerbrokers."

About Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP
Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP is a national insurance coverage law firm representing international insurers and underwriters in jurisdictions throughout the United States from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and White Plains. For more information about the firm, please visit their website at www.nicolaidesllp.com.

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