Director of Litigation

Posted on: 2010-11-15

SUZANNE GANIER

(504) 722-2962
[email protected]
1910 Marlin Drive
Mandeville, LA 70448

CORPORATE COUNSEL

Litigation & Case Management / Claims /
Trials / Client Relations / Regulatory
Compliance / Risk Assessment / Settlement
Negotiation / Mediation / Arbitration / Cost
Control / Insurance Law

With experience in both private practice and
corporate law, I produced significant cost
savings and reduced risk. Overseeing complex
litigation, insurance law, class actions, and
business disputes, I formulated business
models and implemented process flow, ensuring
litigation functions were performed to the
highest standards. I excel at:

- Advising companies on business, litigation
and claim issues to reduce liability
- Streamlining litigation policies and
procedures to improve records management
- Solving difficult legal issues and claims to
ensure client satisfaction
- Tackling challenges to turn around legal
departments in need of reorganization

My credentials include a J.D. from the Sandra
Day O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Connor College of Law at Arizona State
University, and a BA in Psychology from the
University of California, Santa Barbara. Law
Licenses - Illinois and Arizona.

I excel at meeting tight deadlines with
accuracy and attention to detail. Winning
cooperation at all levels, I have sound
judgment, strong business acumen, and
excellent verbal and written communication
skills.

CAREER HISTORY

Director of Litigation, Louisiana Citizens
Property Insurance Corp, 2008 to 2010.
Recruited to direct all corporate and claim
litigation including 3,000 individual lawsuits
and the defense of 4 class actions with
potential exposure in excess of $1B. Led four-
person litigation department. Managed outside
counsel law firms across the state.

Staff Attorney, CNA, 2006 to 2008. Directed
courtroom proceedings and represented client
in arbitration conferences and alternative
dispute resolution for this $8B insurance
company. Oversaw $10M litigation caseload.
Streamlined office operations and
administration to support case management,
research and preparation.

Senior Associate, Renaud Cook Drury & Mesaros,
2005 to 2006. Worked in all aspects of
litigation for this diversified law firm.
Negotiated settlements and coordinated
arbitration. Drafted motions and argued cases
in court.

Managing Attorney, Progressive Insurance, 2003
to 2005. Recruited to lead legal operations
and caseload management. Provided guidance to
clients and insurance adjusters. Represented
clients in depositions and other legal
proceedings. Collaborated with Claims
Management on audits. Managed team of three.

Staff Counsel, Zurich North America, 2001 to
2003. Managed professional liability and
insurance defense litigation cases from
initial pleading to pre-trial and trial
hearings with up to 65-file caseload.
Implemented strategies to obtain favorable
rulings and settlements in trials,
arbitrations and alternative dispute
proceedings.

Earlier Career: Associate, Querrey & Harrow.
Staff Attorney, Chicago Transit Authority.

Speeches & Guest Lectures: 2010 Council on
Litigation Management, Ponte Vedra, Florida:
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Class Actions.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" 2009 Louisiana Claims
Organization Luncheon, Speaker.
Paralegal Instructor, Northwestern
Business Institute, Chicago.