FACULTY
MICHAEL P. ADAMS represents clients nationwide, handling jury trials, bench trials, evidentiary hearings, and arbitrations in a variety of commercial matters such as contract disputes, business torts, trade secrets disputes, statutory claims, claims related to the Uniform Commercial Code, and first- and third-party commercial insurance coverage disputes, with an emphasis on fidelity coverage involving financial institution bonds and commercial crime policies. He also handles contract disputes, including the pursuit of injunctive relief and other special remedies, and claims for fraud, breach of warranty, tortious interference, defamation, and commercial disparagement. Mike also dedicates a substantial amount of his practice to the representation of clients in disputes arising from health benefit programs and employee benefit plans (ERISA and non-ERISA), as well as disputes with medical providers, members, and plan sponsors.
CLAIRE M. DAILLO is counsel in the Surety & Fidelity Group of Chiesa Shahiinian & Giantomasi PC. Claire graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law where she participated in Iowa Law Review and was recognized with Order of the Coif. For more than 15 years, she practiced as an attorney for an Iowa firm, as well as at several central New Jersey firms, where she focused on first-party insurance, class action litigation, environmental litigation, community association law, and Title IX litigation. She also previously worked in-house at a medical device company in Switzerland.
CAROLINE DUNN is a Senior Subrogation Specialist at Great American Insurance Company, where she focuses on Crime, Financial Institution Bond, Armored Car, and Fine Art claims, as well as running the Subrogation Department. Prior to joining the fidelity crime industry, Caroline handled products liability, international transportation, and cargo recovery matters. Caroline graduated from University of New Haven with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Investigative Services (summa cum laude).
MICHAEL A. GRAZIANO is a Member in the Washington D.C. office of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC. He was Co-Chair of the Fidelity Law Association's 30th annual conference in 2024. His practice is focused primarily on providing legal advice to insurance carriers in connection with fidelity and other crime claims and representing carriers in all stages of litigation in cases arising from coverage disputes and allegations of bad faith. He holds an undergraduate degree from George Mason University and a J.D., cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law.
GABRIELLE KELLY is a Senior Claims Attorney with ABA Insurance Services. She specializes in handling D&O, Cyber, EPLI, and Financial Institution Bond insurance claims for banks and small businesses. Prior to joining ABAIS, Gabe was a partner at a law firm specializing in insurance recovery and litigation. She handled numerous types of coverage disputes, including general liability, fidelity, construction, first-party property, environmental liability, and bad faith claims. Gabe was also a key member of legal teams representing entities in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, real estate, and public utilities. Gabe has a JD from Case Western Reserve University, and a BA from Boston University. She is recognized by the Ohio Supreme Court as a specialist in Insurance Coverage.
ALISON E. KOWAL is a Senior Claims Counsel with Old Republic Professional and specializes in managing Commercial Crime claims. Based in Chicago, Alison also is responsible for handling claims under Directors & Officers Liability, Employment Practices Liability, and other Management Liability policies issued to public and private companies. Alison is a graduate of Marquette University (B.A. 2001) and the University of Illinois College of Law (J.D. 2004).
KYLE MCCONNELL is a partner at Kaufman Dolowich in its Chicago office and represents domestic and international insurers in all aspects of fidelity and cyber claims, including complex coverage litigation. He is also an experienced litigator in professional liability and commercial disputes. Mr. McConnell graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois-Chicago Law School. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Middle Tennessee State University.
KENNETH MCNALLY has been in the insurance industry for over twenty-two years. He started in Excess Casualty Claims before moving over to Underwriting. He specializes in Financial Institution Bonds and Commercial Crime. His work experience includes AIG, The Hartford, and Great American Insurance Group. He has taught CE courses for Financial Institution Bonds, Commercial Crime and Social Engineering. He is currently a Director for Crum & Forster's Fidelity & Crime team.
DOLORES PARR has over forty-five years of experience handling claims under Financial Institution Bonds, Commercial Crime Policies, Directors and Officers Liability and other business risk policies and performance and payment bonds. For seventeen years, she managed the team that handled all fidelity and crime claims for Zurich American Insurance Company. She currently is working for SDC CPAs, LLC. A member of the Maryland Bar since 1977, Dolores is a graduate of Towson University (B.A. magna cum laude 1974) and the University of Baltimore Law School (J.D. 1977). She also has a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University (M.L.A. 2005), and an Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding from the Insurance Institute of America. Ms. Parr is a past vice-chair on the TIPS Fidelity and Surety Law committee and past secretary and vice president of the Fidelity Law Association. She has been a frequent speaker at the FSLC Annual Fall and Mid-Winter Meetings, as well as the Fidelity Law Association annual meetings. She also contributed to the Annotated Financial Institution Bond and the chapter on Subrogation in the most recent edition of Appleman’s on Insurance.
STEPHEN RAMEY has spent the past two decades helping clients protect, investigate, and respond to events involving their digital interests. He has led hundreds of data breach investigations, assessed incident response and security programs, and successfully advised organizations through extortion negotiations. Prior to co-founding IronGate, Steve previously held leadership roles within multiple international consulting companies, digital forensic and incident response (DFIR) firms, and a global insurance carrier where he honed his expertise in navigating data privacy laws, leading multi-jurisdictional engagements, and fostering teams with strong subject matter expertise. Beyond his role as Chief Cybersecurity Officer, Steve frequently speaks at industry conferences, authors thought leadership articles, and advises boards of directors on cybersecurity topics. Steve received his MBA from Fordham University and his GIAC Information Security Professional (GSIP) certification from SANS. He is a member of several industry organizations.
JOHN SHADE has been with Berkley Financial Specialists/Berkley Crime in Towson, Maryland as Management Liability and Fidelity Claims Counsel since 2019. Prior to working for Berkley, he worked in complex coverage and injury claims for Avemco Insurance Company and State Farm. He obtained his B.A. in Political Science from LaSalle University in Philadelphia where he was a member of the Varsity Swim Team, and obtained his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.
DM (DEE) STUDLER, CPA, MAcc, AFSB, is a seasoned Forensic Accountant professional with extensive experience in crime claims under Commercial Crime Policies and Financial Institution Bonds. Ms. Studler founded SDC CPAs and has published numerous articles on handling, investigating, and quantifying crime claims. Known for a detail-oriented approach and strong analytical skills, Ms. Studler has worked with diverse industries and individuals to optimize analysis, quantification and communication of crime, social engineering, and cyber claims. A trusted advisor, Ms. Studler leverages deep expertise in claim handling, claim quantification, and policy to provide opportunity and efficiency for insurance carriers and defense counsel.
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ANGELA SULLIVAN is Senior Counsel at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP in Chicago, Illinois. She represents insurers across the country in complex litigation arising under fidelity and financial institution bonds, commercial crime policies, and cyber security policies. She regularly counsels insurers on coverage analysis involving employee theft and dishonesty, computer fraud, social engineering, and cybercrime. Angela is a graduate of DePaul University (B.S. cum laude 2015) and The University of Illinois Chicago (John Marshall) School of Law (J.D. magna cum laude 2018).
WILLIAM ZURBORG is an Associate Attorney at Clark Hill in Dallas, Texas. He graduated with a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Arkansas and received his J.D. from William & Mary Law School. William's practice focuses primarily on litigating fidelity bond cases and other insurance coverage disputes. Williams is admitted to practice in Texas.
REGISTRATION FEES
This year the FLA is waiving the conference registration fee for any insurance company employees who are attending the FLA Annual Conference for the first time. The FLA is also offering discounted registration fees for non-insurance company employees who are attending for FLA Annual Conference for the first time, and for non-insurance company employees who are FLA sponsors this year. Please note that the waived and discounted registration fees are only available to pre-registrations and will not be available to those registering on-site.
Registration fees include attendance at the October 8, 2025, Annual Conference, a copy of the Fidelity Law Journal Volume XXXI, and attendance at the joint reception with attendees of the ABA FSLC meeting, which will be held after the FLA Conference.
All registrations must be made online and paid by credit/debit card. Registrations may be cancelled by completing this Cancellation/Substitute Request Form before September 24, 2025. After September 24, 2025, you may send a substitute or you will receive the course materials, including a printed copy of the Fidelity Law Journal Vol. XXXI.
On-site registrants must register online at the conference and pay the registration fee by credit or debit card.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Hotel reservations can be made with the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile by calling the hotel at (312) 944-4100 and mentioning the Block Code, “2025 Fall Fidelity Meeting” or online at the InterContinental website.
A limited number of rooms have been blocked for Tuesday, October 7, 2025, through Friday, October 10, 2025. The negotiated hotel room rate is $299.00 per night plus tax and fees The room block will be held until September 14, 2025, at 5:00 pm CST, or until exhausted. After that date, reservations will be confirmed based on availability.
Hotel check-in is 3:00 p.m. and check-out is 11:00 a.m. All reservations must be guaranteed by credit card. Individuals with guaranteed reservations must cancel their reservations no later than 72 hours before the scheduled day of arrival to avoid a one-night cancellation charge.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
If you require special arrangements, please call the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile at (312) 944-4100. Reasonable advance notice is requested.