Throughout her 30 year career in the insurance industry and as a litigator, Laura B. Frankel, Esq. developed a strong reputation as a savvy negotiator. Ms. Frankel joined JAMS after more than 15 years at CNA Insurance.

She is recognized for her tenacious, collaborative and creative approach to problem solving. Ms. Frankel’s depth of experience provides her a keen understanding of how to assess risk on both sides.

Ms. Frankel has special expertise in all aspects of insurance. At CNA, she worked closely with policyholders, outside counsel, underwriters and brokers. She was involved in the oversight of coverage litigation throughout the country. As part of a complex claim team, Ms. Frankel handled numerous high severity cases over many years. Based on both her litigation and insurance background, she has a wealth of experience in the professional liability field, including matters for lawyers, physicians, hospitals and accountants.

Ms. Frankel is a frequent speaker at national conferences on an array of topics including mediation, negotiation strategy and navigating coverage disputes.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

Ms. Frankel has mediated and co-mediated complex disputes in the following areas:

• Multi-million dollar legal and medical malpractice actions
• Coverage Disputes
• Asbestos cases pursuant to trust administration procedures
• Employment discrimination
• Insurance dispute relating to employee theft
• Class action alleging BIPA (Biometric Information Privacy Act) violations and related insurance coverage dispute
• Numerous Wells Fargo consumer claims
• Landlord/Tenant Disputes

Representative Matters at CNA

• Cases alleging professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and other claims against attorneys and law firms arising out of personal injury, family law, trusts and estates, commercial litigation and business transactions in state and federal courts
• Malpractice action against accounting professionals arising from the alleged failure to detect embezzlement of millions of dollars from an Ohio credit union
• Cases brought by an Indian tribe alleging negligence, fraud and RICO violations in Florida state and federal courts
• Case brought by a national insurer against its former defense counsel claiming negligence, fraud and Chapter 93A claims arising out of the alleged mishandling of a $30 million construction litigation
• Malpractice action against an attorney for alleged negligence in prosecuting a high-exposure medical malpractice case involving severe permanent injury to a child
• High-profile defamation case in state court in Florida
• Tortious interference and civil conspiracy action arising out of a probate dispute and forged notarization of a will involving a $12 million estate
• Arbitration of a complex legal malpractice case arising out of the alleged mishandling of patent litigation Cases alleging negligence, intentional conduct and conspiracy arising out of alleged illegal tax shelters triggering protracted litigation with the IRS
• Rescission action involving an accountant’s professional liability insurance policy based on alleged material misrepresentations in the insured’s application
• Actions alleging malpractice and breach of contract against attorneys and law firms arising out of intellectual property matters including patent, trademark and copyright
• FDCPA claims against attorneys acting as debt collectors
• Counterfeit check scam cases against attorneys and banks
• State bar and OED disciplinary proceedings resulting in attorney suspension or disbarment
• Rescission and other coverage actions arising out of prior notice, misrepresentation in the application or intentional conduct
• Fee disputes brought as affirmative claims or counterclaims alleging excessive or improper billing

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Mediation training course (40-hour training), Northwestern University School of Professional Studies, October 2017
• Mediation essentials training, Center for Conflict Resolution, November 2017
• Member, American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (AIPLA), 2007–2017
• Member, ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability, 2005–2009
• Second-degree black belt/Assistant Instructor, Tae Kwon Do
• Associate Board of Directors, Literacy Chicago, 2018-present
• Adult literacy and ESL tutor 
• Project team member, University of Illinois Center for Global Health, Immaculate Conception Church Brighton Park, Chicago, Fortalecienda Mi Familia Project for families struggling with poverty, immigration issues and neighborhood violence
• Working group member, James B. Moran Center on Youth Advocacy
• Pilot for school-based pro bono legal clinic

Selected Speaking Engagements / Panel Presentations

• CLM Cyber, Management and Professional Liability Virtual Conference, Mastering Mediation: Advanced Negotiation Strategies, July 2020
• Eagle International, A Master Class on Mediation, Guest Panelist, New York City, October 2019
• Eagle International Associates, The Whole Word is Watching: Successful Defense of Claims in an Increasingly Visible World, Guest Panelist, Chicago, May 2019
• CLM Conference, Tick...Tick...Kaboom: Is Your Next Eroding Limits Policy Case the One That Explodes?, New York, December 2018
• Professional Liability Attorney Network (PLAN), Mediation: Behind the Scenes Webinar, October 2018 American Bar Association, Lawyers Professional Liability Young Lawyers Section, Litigation Strategy Snapshots, Chicago, June 2017
• ABA Coverage Litigation Section Annual Conference, In the Interests of Time: Exploring Critical and Timing Issues, Tucson, Arizona, March 2016
• ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability Conference, Be the Fireman: How to Pour Water on the Fire of Punitive Damages, Scottsdale, Arizona, September 2015
• ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability Conference Young Professionals Roundtable, Managing the Tripartite Relationship, San Francisco, September, 2014
• ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability Conference, Till Death Do Us Part: Representing an Attorney in a Matrimonial Matter, New York, April 2012
• American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, Anatomy of an IP Legal Malpractice Claim, Washington, D.C., October 2013
• ABA Litigation Section, Women in Insurance Network, Navigating the Coverage Minefield, Chicago, October 2013
• ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability Conference, Cutting- Edge Issues on the Attorney-Client Privilege, Boston, Spring 2011

Bar Admissions

• Illinois
• Connecticut
• United States District Court, District of Connecticut
• United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Background and Education