Claims Advocacy & Collection

The Professional Services practice possesses substantial expertise in helping professional services firms manage and resolve litigation against them. This includes planning and preparing for anticipated litigation, working with firms to identify suitable counsel to represent them based on the jurisdiction and the nature of the litigation, formulating litigation plans and budgets, assessing possible litigation strategies, identifying possible expert witnesses, and developing strategies for favorably settling cases short of trial. This often involves working cooperatively with the client's insurers or its insurers' monitoring counsel and, when necessary, advocating the clients' position to its insurers. Our goal is never to supplant a client's key decision-makers, but simply to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities.

Although it is extraordinarily rare, our firms occasionally encounter coverage issues with their insurers. In those instances, we serve as advocates for our clients in persuading insurers to adopt coverage positions favorable to the clients. We are fortunate to have the sorts of relationships with insurers that allow us to exert influence in and over the claims process.

Douglas R. Richmond. Doug is Managing Director in the Professional Services practice of Aon in Chicago. Before joining Aon in Chicago, Doug was a partner with Armstrong Teasdale LLP in Kansas City, Missouri (1989-2004), where he had a national trial and appellate practice. In his time at Armstrong Teasdale, he tried numerous (40+) major cases as "first chair" and was often engaged to handle appeals of cases tried by other lawyers. In 1998, he was named the nation's top defense lawyer in an insurance industry poll as reported in the publications "Inside Litigation" and "Of Counsel". Doug is the lead author of the book "Professional Responsibility in Litigation" (ABA, 2011) and the co-author of a leading treatise, "Understanding Insurance Law" (5th ed. 2012). Doug is a regular NITA faculty member, teaching both deposition and trial skills. He earned his J.D. at the University of Kansas, an M. Ed. from the University of Nebraska, and his B.S. from Fort Hays State University.

Robert E. Cook. Bob Cook has 26 years experience in the insurance industry, and has worked with Aon for 13 years. Bob has management responsibility for the client service activities of Aon's Professional Services practice. He also coordinates loss prevention efforts and oversees claims advocacy activities. Prior to joining Aon in 1999, Bob practiced law in the New York Office of Mendes & Mount LLP, where he focused on insurance issues arising out of litigation against law firms, accounting firms and other professionals. Prior to attending law school, Bob spent four years as an insurance broker specializing in property placements for "Fortune 500" companies. Bob holds a BA in History from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, and a JD from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC. He is admitted to practice law in New York, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

James C. Belding. James C. Belding is a Senior Vice President and Executive Director in the Professional Services practice of Aon Risk Solutions, specializing in all aspects of the placement and servicing of professional liability insurance for large law firms. Jim started his professional career in the insurance industry, shortly after graduating law school in 1986, at AIG in the Miscellaneous Professional Liability Claims Department handling claims against a variety of professionals including psychologists, nurses, travel agents, school leaders, and others. He moved to the Lawyers Professional Liability Claims Department at AIG in 1990, and subsequently the Lawyers Professional Liability Underwriting Department in 1992. He joined Continential Insurance Company in 1993 and worked as a Senior Underwriter in the Lawyers Professional Liability Underwriting Department from 1993 until 1995 when he joined Alexander & Alexander (subsequently acquired by Aon in 1997) working as a broker and claims liaison in lawyers professional liability insurance. Jim attended Cook College, Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, NJ graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Planning and Design. He operated his own design and build firm until deciding to pursue a degree in Law. He subsequently attended Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY, graduating in 1986 with a JD degree.