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ACCC 2026 Insurance Law Symposium
Friday, November 06, 2026, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
Category: Presented by ACCC

2026 Law Symposium Header 2

ACCC 12th Annual Insurance Law Symposium

Friday, November 6, 2026, from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM ET

Sponsored by: 


Register Now

Symposium Co-Chairs:
John Bonnie
John Bonnie
Weinberg Wheeler
Hudgins Gunn & Dial		  

Lawrence Bracken
Lawrence Bracken 
Hunton Andrews
Kurth LLP

Location: 
Georgia State University, J. Mack Robinson College of Business - Buckhead Center Campus
3348 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Directions

Parking: 
Buckhead Center is part of the Tower Place 200 building. Parking is accessed from Peachtree Rd. or Tower Place Dr.
Secure, covered parking is available in the deck directly connected to the building.
Validation Rates: 1 HR - $6.00, 2 HR- $8, 4 HR- $12, 12HR- $16, 24HR/FULL-DAY - $18
Alternative Options: Nearby shopping and dining developments in Buckhead Village offer additional parking options,
including the South Parking Garage at 200 Pharr Road and the North Parking Garage at 3060 North Fulton Drive.
MARTA Access: The campus is also conveniently located near the Buckhead MARTA station.

Please note: This event will be an in-person event only, open to all attorneys, law faculty, and law students, not just ACCC Fellows.

CLE will be offered for barred attorneys in attendance.*

Register Now

Thursday, November 5, 2026
Speakers' Welcome Dinner - Sponsored by Schulwolf Mediation

7:00 - 9:00 PM
South City Kitchen Buckhead
3350 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 175, Atlanta, GA 30326
$130.00 per person (Optional Event - Additional Fee Required)

Friday, November 6, 2026 - ACCC Insurance Law Symposium
8:00 - 5:30 PM (includes post-event reception at South City Kitchen)

8:00 - 8:30 am
12th Floor Lobby		 Registration and Continental Breakfast –
Sponsored by Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation
8:30 – 9:00 am
Room 1203
12th floor		 Welcome and Introductions
  • Koorosh Talieh, ACCC President, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  • Stephen Shore, GSU Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science
  • Courtney Anderson, GSUCollege of Law
  • John Bonnie, Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial
  • Lawrence Bracken, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Opening Remarks
  • John King, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner (Tentative)
9:00 – 10:10 am
Room 1203
12th floor

Winning with Civility: Strengthening Advocacy, Trust, and the Profession

  • Ned Currie, Currie Johnson & Myers, P.A. (Retired)
  • Lorelie Masters, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  • John Bonnie, Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial

At a time when public discourse is increasingly fractured and the practice of law is under growing pressure, civility is more than a professional courtesy—it is a strategic advantage and a defining mark of effective advocacy. In this timely and inspiring program, distinguished insurance coverage litigators Lorie Masters, John Bonnie, and Ned Currie draw on more than a century of combined courtroom experience to show how professionalism, restraint, and respect can change the course of a case, strengthen a career, and help restore confidence in the justice system.

Inspired by The American Crisis in Civility: Professional Parables, edited by Ned Currie and Mills Gallivan, the discussion will bring to life real stories from respected lawyers and judges—moments when grace prevailed over conflict, professionalism altered the trajectory of a dispute, and kindness helped rebuild trust. The speakers, each of whom contributed their own stories to the book, will share parables that resonate far beyond the courtroom and speak directly to the values at the heart of the American College of Coverage Counsel. Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding that civility is not weakness, it is strength under control. Professional civility is a powerful choice, a practical tool, and a shared responsibility that begins with each of us.
10:10 – 10:25 am Beverage Break - Sponsored by Judicate West
10:25 - 11:35 am
Room 1203
12th floor		 When does the Insurer’s Duty to Defend Include a Duty to Litigate Offensively?
  • Samuel J. Arena, Jr., Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP/Villanova University School of Law
  • Seth D. Lamden, Blank Rome LLP
  • Karen M. Dixon, Skarzynski, Marick & Black, LLP
  • Pamela D. Hans, Anderson Kill
Standard liability insurance policies provide that the insurer has the duty to defend the insured against lawsuits seeking covered damages, but they do not expressly obligate the insurer to prosecute the insured’s affirmative claims. Nevertheless, insureds assert that where the insurer is providing a defense, the insurer must prosecute in that action the insured’s counterclaims, crossclaims, and third-party claims seeking contribution and indemnity, as well as the insured’s other affirmative claims that are “inextricably intertwined” with the claims against the insured or that are “strategically necessary” to the insured’s defense. This panel will discuss courts’ answers to this question.
11:35 - 11:45 pm Transition to Luncheon Rooms 802/803, 8th Floor
11:45 - 1:10 pm
Rooms 802/803
8th Floor		 Lunch Program – Sponsored by Stout (Program will begin at 12:00 pm)
Not a CLE Session
Insurance Lawyers – What Do They Really Do and Can it be Your Legal Career, too? 
  • Hon. Brian K. Epps, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Hon. Wesley B. Tailor, Chief Judge, Fulton County State Court and a Judge of the Fulton County Superior Court Business Case Division
  • Shehla Qureshi, Cyber Claims Manager, AXA XL
  • Sherilyn Pastor, McCarter & English(Moderator)
Insurance is a critical part of how the world works. Individuals and businesses determine their risks and attempt to “cover” them by purchasing insurance. Insurance policies are contracts. Claims occur, and insureds submit them to their insurers for payment. Disputes often arise, which leads to litigation. Attorneys are involved in all these aspects of the process. Our panel features lawyers and Judges with experience in the private practice of law and “in-house” counsel for an insurer. They will discuss their career trajectories and describe what they do in their day-to-day practice of insurance law.
1:10 - 1:20 pm Transition to Classroom 1203, 12th Floor
1:20 - 2:30 pm
Room 1203
12th floor		 Trusts, Bankruptcies, and State Receiverships Present Complex and Evolving Challenges in Insurance Coverage Law.
  • Jamie Cooper, Martin, Disiere, Jefferson, and Wisdom
  • Ezra Gollogly, Kramon & Graham, P.A.
  • Jeff Kiburtz, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
This panel will explore cutting-edge issues arising when insolvency, trusts, fiduciary obligations, and/or competing claims intersect with liability insurance policies. The panel will address topics such as entitlement to policy proceeds, control of the defense, settlement authority, conflicts among insureds, trustees, beneficiaries, receivers, creditors, and bankruptcy estates, and/or the application of policy provisions to these unique factual scenarios. Through practical examples and emerging case law, panelists will provide strategic insights, issue-spotting and commentary for policyholders and insurers navigating high-stakes coverage disputes in these challenging situations.
2:30 - 2:45 pm Beverage Break  - Sponsored by Judicate West
2:45 - 3:55 pm
Room 1203
12th floor

Scoping and Insuring AI Risk

  • Laura A. Foggan, Lavin Rindner Duffield LLC
  • Michael S. Levine, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  • Prof. Harold A. Weston, GSU Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science, and School of Law
  • Douglas R. Richmond, Lockton Companies

This session will explore the spectrum of risk posed by AI including the technology and how it is being deployed. We will then explore the meaning of AI and definitions that are functional for risk management. Finally, we’ll discuss AI risk under existing lines of insurance coverage, emerging AI exclusions and new AI-specific coverage forms.
3:55 - 4:00 pm
Room 1203
12th floor		 Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks
  • Koorosh Talieh, ACCC President, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
4:00 - 5:30 pm Networking Reception at South City Kitchen
3350 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 175


Register Now

Rates:

Registration Deadline
The final registration deadline is Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Noon ET.
Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cancellation Policy:
If a cancellation is received by 12:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, a refund of 75% of the registration fee will be issued. No refunds can be issued for cancellations received after this date. Refunds cannot be issued for no-shows or missed travel logistics. 

Hotel Accommodations:

Hilton Garden Inn - Atlanta, Buckhead, 3342 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA  30326
Discounted rates are available for symposium attendees at $125 + tax per night for the dates of Nov. 5-6, 2026. Deadline to book: Thursday, October 15, 2026 (Book early - Discounted rooms subject to sell out before the deadline date.) To make your reservation, click here or call the hotel directly toll free at 1-800-222-8733 and identify yourself as an attendee of the American College of Coverage Counsel symposium event. 

Hotel Parking:
Day Valet Parking - $20.00 up to (10) hours / Valet Parking - $45.00 per day with unlimited in/out privileges. Parking rates are subject to change without notice.

Additional Services:
- Group rate available three days pre- and post-conference, based on availability.
- Complimentary Breakfast buffet for guests in a King sleeping room.
- Access to on-site Hilton Garden Inn Fitness by Precor Workout Room.
- In-room Coffee Makers, Data Ports, Hair Dryers, and Irons with Full Size Ironing Boards.

Please Note - DO NOT make room reservations for the upcoming ACCC Insurance Law Symposium with anyone who calls and represents themselves as agents of ACCC or offers lower room rates at the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Buckhead. The ONLY legitimate way to reserve your room at the conference hotel is by using the booking link provided above or calling 1-800-222-8733.

Other hotels in the immediate area include:
- Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead     
- The Westin Buckhead Atlanta     
- The Intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta    
- Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation Logo     Judicate West     
 Schulwolf Mediation Logo    Stout