USA Guide 2026 : California
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Blank Rome LLP
• Among few policyholder-dedicated CA firms
• Our trial/appellate successes recovered $8 billion+ from insurers, brokers over last decade
• For 30+ years we’ve broken ground, set precedent for insureds in specialties (bankruptcy, business-conduct and environmental liability, employment, energy, political risk, business interruption, sports) and the cutting edge (cyber/data privacy, child sex abuse, #MeToo, D&O liability, representation and warranties, credit risk)
• CA team works with Washington, D.C., NY, Houston colleagues and with government contracts and M&A practices on overlapping insurance issues
• Practice size has doubled; 70+ % of additions are women, including CA lateral partners
• Our plaintiff-style approach focuses on maximizing benefits, recoveries for clients (often tort defendants)
• Cutting-edge experience in sexual abuse liability, second to none in the U.S., has recovered $1 billion+ in insurance proceeds and multi-million recoveries for victims
• Advise on insurance aspects of billion-dollar+ transactions for corporations, private equity firms, hedge funds) including due diligence and securing representations and warranties and tax insurance
• Expanding cybersecurity/data privacy insurance representations in CA includes advising on GDPR and CCPA compliance
• CA practice part of Firm’s Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Team, which helps businesses and people across the U.S. access their insurance after devastating weather-related losses
Provided by Chambers
Blank Rome is experienced in representing policyholders in a broad array of coverage disputes, including issues related to bankruptcy, cybersecurity and political risk. The firm has additional expertise in issues concerning sexual abuse liability in the entertainment and sports industries, and serves a broad client base that includes financial institutions, universities, real estate developers, retailers and manufacturers.
Provided by Chambers
Blank Rome represented Goldman Sachs in pursuing coverage litigation in connection with delay losses it suffered after multiple water events slowed construction of the Austin Proper project.
Provided by Chambers
It's a very skilled bunch at the very top of their game. The firm has a very good bench of dedicated people who write and speak really well. They are sensitive to where lawsuits fit in with a client's overall objectives.
Blank Rome attorneys are very knowledgeable and connected. They have helped us resolve some complex and complicated matters, and we always get our questions answered.
Blank Rome lawyers know insurance law inside and out, as well as understanding the intricacies of how insurance companies work.
The team are very well known and knowledgeable in the space. They know the law and have relationships which they leverage to achieve a desired result.
Provided by Chambers
Linda Kornfeld is co-chair of Blank Rome's insurance recovery practice and very experienced in complex coverage matters, including those in emerging areas such as cybersecurity. She also has expertise in high-value claims concerning business interruption and construction defect losses. She represents a range of eminent clients, including major figures from the sports and media sectors.
Linda is outstanding; she is completely dedicated to this practice area. She is a thought leader who understands the issues and goes over and above.
Linda is incredibly smart and strategic. She understands complicated issues and navigates them well.
I respect her tremendously. She is a terrific lawyer with such a strong practice.
Linda is a fantastic attorney who is very up to date on the issues. She is also a brilliant strategist.
Mary is one of the very best in the space.
Mary is fantastic; she is in the top tier of insurance coverage lawyers.
Mary has a wealth of knowledge on insurance law, plus good relationships with insurers. She is a trusted adviser on any and all insurance-related matters.
David Thomas is recognised for the strength of his insurance practice, which sees him acting for a diverse range of clients on coverage disputes and bad-faith claims. His expertise includes business interruption and financial institutions insurance, among other policy types.
David has great knowledge of insurance coverage law. His relationships in the space and demeanor are huge assets. He is calm, consistent and thorough.
Insurance: Policyholder
Insurance: Policyholder
Insurance: Policyholder
Provided by Blank Rome LLP
Linda D Kornfeld
View profile of Linda D KornfeldMary Craig Calkins
View profile of Mary Craig CalkinsDavid Thomas
View profile of David ThomasUSA 2026
Practice area: Insurance: Policyholder
Location: District of Columbia
View department profile for USA 2026
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