Mark’s practice focuses on complex litigation including insurance, reinsurance, aviation and business litigation. Presently, Mark concentrates his representation of domestic and international insurance industry clients in litigating declaratory judgment matters in cases across the United States. Mark is also actively representing domestic and international reinsurers in arbitrations. Along with a Locke Lord LLP partner, he recently represented a major U.S. casualty reinsurer in a week long confidential arbitration defending against a cedant’s claims to recover excess of policy limits damages under excess of loss and umbrella quota share reinsurance treaties. He recently obtained summary judgment in Wisconsin state court for a domestic insurer defeating the insured’s claims for breach of contract and bad faith damages under homeowner primary and umbrella policies for claims asserted against the insured for intentional misrepresentations arising out of the sale of the insured’s $1.8 million home. Additionally, he represents London aviation underwriters in prosecuting rescission and reformation actions pending in Delaware state court for claims arising out of chemical spraying operations performed to eradicate opium production in Colombia. He has represented and advised insurers in complex first and third party coverage disputes. Mark has extensive experience advising insurers on aviation, pollution, property damage, product liability, asbestos and health hazard matters. He also advises life insurers regarding coverage issues including potentially disputed claims based on the insured’s misrepresentations in the application for life insurance.
Mark has litigated claims in both state and federal courts. Before joining the firm, he gained extensive litigation experience defending physicians, physician groups and hospitals in catastrophic bodily injury cases. Mark acted as the second chair trial counsel in obtaining several defense verdicts in Cook County, Illinois, where the damages sought ranged from $400,000 to $1.8 million. He also has taken and defended numerous depositions of fact and expert witnesses.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, John Marshall Law School, 1999
- B.A., Criminology, University of Florida, 1996
Bar Admissions
Admitted To Practice
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, 2006
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2006
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1999
Representative Experience
- Working with a team of Locke Lord lawyers in defending 118 wrongful death claims asserted against an aircraft lessor arising from the Air Philippines Flight 541 disaster;
- Lead associate representing London aviation underwriters in prosecuting rescission and reformation action and defending declaratory judgment action pending in Delaware state court for claims arising out of chemical spraying operations performed to eradicate opium production in Colombia;
- Lead Illinois defense counsel defending asbestos bodily injury claims asserted against raw asbestos distributor;
- Co-lead counsel prosecuting declaratory judgment action in Northern District of Illinois on behalf of life insurer where insured committed murder then used the corpse to feign his death for purposes of defrauding insurer of $5 million policy benefits and obtained dismissal of bad faith and vexatious delay claims against the client;
- Lead associate on a trial team for an international client in a confidential four week arbitration in which the damages sought exceeded $125 million for alleged asbestos bodily injury liabilities;
- Worked with a team of Locke Lord lawyers in defending catastrophic injury claim asserted against a UK-based five piece steel wheel manufacturer pending in Cook County, Illinois; and
- Lead associate on a team of lawyers that obtained summary judgment in favor of a domestic insurer client defeating claims to coverage by an insured seeking to recover in excess of $25 million under a Builder's Risk policy after already having collected from an ocean marine insurer.
Publications & Presentations
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Co-Author,
"
Locke Lord QuickStudy: How Far Can Follow-the-Settlements Go Without Factual Inquiry?
,"
Locke Lord
(February 8, 2013)
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Co-Author,
"
Locke Lord QuickStudy: Hurricane Damage Valuation: Texas Supreme Court Urged To Address Methodology
,"
Locke Lord LLP
(January 10, 2013)
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Co-Author,
"
Locke Lord QuickStudy: Illinois Still a Forum Shopping Paradise? State Supreme Court Says “No”
,"
Locke Lord LLP
(January 8, 2013)
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Co-Author,
"Locke Lord QuickStudy: Clearing the Air?,"
Locke Lord
(September 22, 2011)
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Co-Author,
"Client Alert: Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Down Caps on Noneconomic Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases,"
Locke Lord
(February 5, 2010)
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Co-Author,
"Client Alert: A Texas Two-Step: The Duty to Indemnify May Exist Even Where There is No Duty to Defend,"
Locke Lord
(December 21, 2009)
Professional History
- Senior Counsel, Locke Lord LLP
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association
- Named, Illinois Rising Star, Super Lawyers magazine (2008-2013)
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