Congratulations to Robert J. Bates, Jr., Scott L. Carey, Maria G. Enriquez, and Adam H. Fleischer who were recently selected to the prestigious international listing of Who's Who Legal: Insurance and Reinsurance 2015! London-based Who's Who conducted interviews and collected questionnaires and research from across the world to identify the preeminent insurance and reinsurance coverage attorneys in 59 different countries. We are pleased to announce that Bob, Scott, Maria and Adam were among those 559 attorneys worldwide that were ultimately selected for this recognition, with only 32 from Illinois.

Jordon S. Steinway has been invited to join the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. The CLM is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, corporate counsel, litigation and risk managers, claims professionals, and attorneys. Through education and collaboration the organization's goals are to create a common interest in the representation by firms of companies, and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows.

BatesCarey LLP is pleased to announce that David L. Koury and Jordon S. Steinway have been elected to the partnership, effective January 1, 2015.

Robert J. Bates, Jr., Arthur F. Brandt, and Michael H. Passman contributed to the 2014 edition of "Commercial and Professional Liability Insurance," an Illinois insurance law handbook published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Robert J. Bates, Jr. and Arthur F. Brandt co-authored the chapter on the pollution exclusion. Michael H. Passman authored the chapter on declaratory judgment litigation. The book can be ordered here.

BatesCarey LLP is pleased to announce that 11 of its partners have been selected to the prestigious Leading Lawyers list by Law Bulletin Publishing Company. The survey involves a four phase process, including: the solicitation of recommendations of leading attorneys from all lawyers throughout the state; detailed further interviews with nominees; verification of the ethical history of each nominee and, finally; review by the Leading Lawyers Advisory Board to select no more than five percent of the state's lawyers to be named a Leading Lawyer. Congratulations to: Robert J. Bates, Jr; Arthur F. Brandt; Scott L. Carey; Maria G. Enriquez; Stanley V. Figura; Adam H. Fleischer; Maryann C. Hayes; Matthew M. Murphy; Joseph P. Pozen; John E. Rodewald, and; Mark G. Sheridan!

BatesCarey LLP is pleased to have been recognized as a "Best Law Firm" in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" 2015 rankings. BatesCarey received this honor both with respect to the national rankings and the metropolitan Chicago rankings.

BatesCarey LLP was awarded these honors following a rigorous evaluation of firms in 74 nationally ranked practice areas and 120 metropolitan practice areas. The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" annual ranking was based on client and lawyer evaluations, peer review, information provided by law firms, and a new Law Firm Leaders Survey.

Jordon S. Steinway will present a 3-hour course to claims adjusters and risk managers on October 27, 2014 at the home office of Continental Western Group in Urbandale, Iowa. The program is sponsored by The Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, and will address the ability to analyze a claim based on good faith claim-handling practices and litigation strategies. The goal is to ensure that claim professionals and risk managers have a current and working knowledge of bad faith actions, trends, damages, and defenses. By using case studies to provide examples of bad faith outcomes, Jordon will construct a multi-jurisdictional framework for the content of the good faith claim file by identifying and discussing its common and necessary elements. In addition, the course will identify and discuss litigation strategies for defending bad faith claims from the perspective of the claim executive and front line claim professional as they work with defense counsel to achieve a favorable outcome in crucial litigation.

On September 17, 2014, Michael H. Passman presented on "Reservation of Rights and Estoppel" at "Handling Insurance Coverage Disputes," an Illinois insurance law conference in Bloomington, Illinois organized by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Michael's presentation included a discussion of (1) the options available to an insurer upon receiving a potentially covered claim, (2) reservation of rights letters, (3) how a reservation of rights letter effects the relationship between the insurer and the insured (including a discussion of the independent counsel rule), and (4) the Illinois estoppel rule.

Maria G. Enriquez will be attending the Women's Business Development Center's 28th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference in Chicago on September 17, 2014. The Women's Business Development Center focuses on meeting the needs of women and minority business owners in the Midwest. The conference offers women the opportunity to build relationships with potential clients, business experts, and other women business owners. For more information, please click here. On-site registration is available beginning at 7:30 a.m. at McCormick Place-West, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL.

A new Illinois appellate decision clarified 35 years of confusing precedent, and shed light on a challenging coverage question: When an exonerated prisoner sues a public entity for malicious prosecution, is the public entity's insurance triggered in the year in which the wrongful evidence or coerced confessions were first fabricated, or is insurance triggered in the year when the exoneration occurs and the tort of malicious prosecution ripens? This coverage debate may be of growing significance, given that criminal exonerations seem to be increasing across the country.