A panel of agency, claims and legal professionals will share tips and techniques to avoid broker errors and omissions claims. They will also discuss appropriate office management strategies that can reduce mistakes, how to deal with E&O claims that do occur and how to assist defense counsel on such claims.

Barbara J. Keefer, J.D., is a partner in the law firm of MacCorkle, Lavender & Sweeney, PLLC located in Charleston, West Virginia. She has served as in-house trial counsel for USF&G Insurance, and with Nationwide Insurance. During her eight years with Nationwide she was a claims manager, lead counsel on claims matters for the entire State and claims legal counsel dealing with direct actions against the company.

She is a trained mediator and her current practice focuses on all aspects of insurance defense including representation of insureds, agents, claims personnel and the companies themselves. Her practice also includes coverage and extra contractual matters as well as agent errors & omissions claims defense.
 
Barbara is a member of the State Bar of West Virginia, its Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and the CPCU Society Claims Interest Group.

Keefer is a 1980 graduate of West Virginia University College of Law.

Jeffrey J. Karcz, Jr., RPLU, has been with ARC Excess & Surplus since 1996, brokering directors & officers liability, miscellaneous professional liability, pension trust fiduciary liability, employment practices liability, insurance Agent and Broker, Lawyer Professional Liability, Kidnap and Ransom and related specialty coverages. Karcz's specialty at ARC has been in the private company and employment practices arena.

Prior to joining ARC Excess & Surplus, Karcz was an underwriter at National Union. Karcz underwrote miscellaneous professional, insurance agents, real estate professional, public officials, third party administrator, association professional and patent infringement liability insurance.

Karcz is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society where he earned the Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designation in May 1999. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany with a degree in Psychology.

Frederic Theodore "Ted" Le Clercq, J.D., is a partner in the firm, Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles, and practices civil rights litigation, professional liability, labor & employment law and constitutional law. He is the co-chairman of the Labor and Employment Department for the firm.

In addition to being licensed in Louisiana, Le Clercq is also licensed to practice law in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Falcon B. Hawkins, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Le Clercq's publications include "Current Issues and Emerging Trends in Municipal Liability—A Louisiana Perspective" (Louisiana Bar Journal, 2004); "Show Me the Money! What Exactly Are the Duties of Insurance Agents and Brokers?" (Louisiana Bar Journal, August/September 2006, Vol. 54 No. 2)  "Don't Get Stuck in Court: Arbitrate Employment Disputes," (Louisiana Bar Journal, 2001.)

Le Clercq received his B.A. degree cum laude from Washington & Lee University and his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he was a member of the Tennessee Law Review, Labor Law Moot Court, and National Moot Court teams. He was the McClung Medal recipient for Best Oral Advocacy at the University of Tennessee School of Law. He also won the award for Best Oral Advocacy at the National Labor Law competition in New York

Peter S. White, CLU, ChFC, AEP – The White Planning Group’s area of expertise is business, estate, and charitable planning.  He has designed non-qualified retirement plans for large, public corporations, banks, manufacturing companies and closely held businesses. He has qualified for Top of the Table, Court of the Table, and is a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 1962. A charter member of Renaissance Corporation, member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriters, Vice President of the Charleston Estate Planning Council. He has spoken at numerous Life Underwriter Association meetings and charitable giving seminars. He is a continuing education provider with the State of West Virginia with courses approved on business insurance, estate planning, and charitable giving. 

White received his BS Degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University Financial Service Professionals and a member of numerous civic boards. He has most recently been elected to the Order of Vandalia of West Virginia University.

Robert Steedman, J.D., is a supervisor for the Property & Casualty claim unit with Lancer Claims
Services. He supervises a team of experienced adjusters who investigate and adjust professional liability claims against property/casualty insurance agents, real estate agents and title agents. His areas of experience as a claim handler encompass Real Estate Brokers, Title Agents and Insurance Agents Errors and Omissions Liability.

Prior to joining Lancer Claims Services, Steedman was an in private practice specializing in the areas of Construction Defects. Other areas of law that he has worked in include Homeowner Association, Corporate and General Business Litigation.

Steedman received two Degrees from Chapman University, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Business. He also earned a Juris Doctorate from Western State University School of Law. Steedman is an attorney admitted to the State Bar of California.

Gary Mann, is Insurance Services Industry Practice Lead and Underwriting Director with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Companies. He leads all underwriting aspects of Insurance Agent's Professional Liability product development. Prior to becoming the Practice Lead, he was the Product Director for Insurance Agents Professional Liability. Previous industry experience includes 10 years experience as Property / Casualty agent and broker.

Developed by the Claims Interest Group and
Agent & Broker Interest Group