Robins Kaplan LLP Announces National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Group Leadership Transition

Robins Kaplan LLP is pleased announce the appointment of Melissa D'Alelio and Matthew Burke to the positions of co-chairs of the firm’s National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss Group.

“For many years, we have been fortunate to have Bill Erickson leading the charge and using his vast experience to help grow the firm’s insurance liability and property practice,” said Ronald J. Schutz, Chair of the firm’s Executive Board. “Melissa and Matt will continue that group’s long tradition of building and maintaining a cooperative team of excellent lawyers, who work together to solve our clients’ most difficult problems.“

Recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Up and Coming Lawyer, and Rising Star, D’Alelio counsels clients in cases involving a wide variety of insurance lines, including commercial property and homeowner’s policies, and represents them in litigation and trial. D’Alelio has substantial experience defending litigation over collapse, design defect, earth movement, environmental exposure, phishing scams, and catastrophe claims such as tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires, and windstorms. D’Alelio’s insurance practice also includes the resolution and litigation of liability coverage issues under commercial policies. She advises insurers in complex coverage disputes involving advertising injury coverage, additional and other insured questions, the application of misrepresentation defenses, and exclusions under claims made and occurrence based policies. 

D’Alelio has served as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Property Insurance Law Committee (PILC) for over nine years. She is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), serving as Vice Chair of the Property Insurance Law Section. She also co-founded the firm’s Women in Insurance group, which highlights and features women’s voices in the insurance industry. In addition, D’Alelio is a leader in the firm’s Diversity Committee, and has been recognized by the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association (WBA) as part of the “Women’s Leadership Initiative,” was awarded “Excellence in the Law” recognition by Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly, and was recently recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as a “2019 Woman Worth Watching.” 

Burke joined the firm in 2019, bringing with him more than 25 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes insurance coverage litigation, including those involving property, class actions, professional liability, transactional risk, and general liability. His past first-party property work includes litigating claims related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, major flooding events across the U.S., West Virginia mine explosions, Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and more. He has acted as coordinating counsel for insurers on complex and recurring first-party property claims.

Burke also has an active practice representing professional liability insurers. He has successfully handled multiple arbitrations and litigations throughout the U.S. brought by insureds in the managed care, legal, accounting, and other industries and regularly advises insurers on significant professional indemnity claims. He represents insurers in high-stakes financial litigation and claims involving reps and warranties insurance and tax insurance. He also has an active pro bono practice, including serving as lead attorney in a pro bono civil rights case involving the City of Atlanta, a case that ultimately resulted in changes to police officer training practices.