President & CEO of The Bar Plan, Karen McCarthy, was recently interviewed in Profile Magazine:  Click here to read the article.

New members of The Missouri Bar are now eligible to participate in The Missouri Bar Group Term Life Insurance Program on a guaranteed issue basis. This insurance is underwritten by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (a member of the ING family of companies), the endorsed carrier of The Missouri Bar. Click here for more information and the application. 

As law firms continue to demand instant access to files, emails, and other data through mobile devices, the likelihood of having confidential client information breached increases. The number of data breach incidents is on the rise, and the costs in terms of time, repairs, and loss to reputation can be significant.

The Bar Plan recently announced the promotion of Teresa M. Niederwimmer to Vice President – Claims. In this capacity, she will be responsible for both lawyers’ professional liability and bond claims. Ms. Niederwimmer was previously the Bond Claims Manager for The Bar Plan Surety and Fidelity Company, a position she held since 2004.  She joined The Bar Plan as a Claims Attorney in 2003. Prior to joining The Bar Plan, Ms. Niederwimmer was an associate with Seibel & Eckenrode, where she was involved in the defense of medical malpractice actions in both Missouri and Illinois state court and federal court. In addition to medical malpractice defense, she represented claimants before the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Ms. Niederwimmer received her B.S.B.A. in 1995 from the University of Missouri – Columbia, and her law degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law in 1998. She is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. 

The Risks and Opportunities of Social Media

Social media is unavoidable in today’s business world and legal profession. Its use by lawyers, clients, and adversaries presents opportunities but also legal ethics and malpractice risks. Maximizing the opportunities while avoiding the risks requires a unique understanding of the application of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Regardless of your firm’s current involvement in social media, this seminar will help you ethically navigate the use of this indispensable tool. Register here.

The Bar Plan Foundation recently announced the 2011 scholarship recipients. All of those awarded exemplified high standards for ethics and professionalism as law students and will continue to set examples for other lawyers as they continue their careers in the practice of law.

Congratulations to Lois Zerrer, member of The Bar Plan Surety and Fidelity Company's Board of Directors, for being recognized in The Missouri Bar's Best of CLE Spotlight for outstanding leadership and dedication to MoBar CLE.

The Bar Plan's Risk Manager, Christina Lewis Abate, was recently named by the St. Louis Bar Foundation as one of the 2011 Spirit of Justice Award Recipients.

The awards are intended to "recognize lawyers and non-lawyers who have demonstrated accomplishments, leadership and integrity in fostering and maintaining the rule of law and in facilitating and promoting improvement of the administration of justice."

The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company recently announced the addition of a new Board Member, Michael J. Delaney. Delaney began his insurance career in St. Louis in 1973 and developed a specialty in casualty related claims management.

1. Begin the assessment process. Photograph or videotape all damage for claim

In today’s economy, it seems everyone is looking for the “best deal” in virtually every purchase they make. This is no less true for lawyers and their professional liability insurance. Insurance companies are also looking to provide the best possible premium offer in a competitive market, by applying all possible credits and no unnecessary debits when considering the application in the underwriting process.  

The Bar Plan recently added Tyler Breed as Claims Counsel and Joseph Allen as a Marketing Coordinator.

The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company recently announced the installment of new Officers to its Board of Directors.  Jerome (Jerry) Brant is the new Chairman of the Board, effective immediately. Jerry replaces outgoing Chairman, David Larson, who has retired from the Board after serving for 25 years. Larson will remain as a trustee of The Bar Plan Foundation.

The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company is pleased to announce that we have expanded our lawyers’ professional liability insurance program into Tennessee with the endorsement of the Tennessee Bar Association (“TBA”).   

The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company is pleased to announce the addition of its newest Board Member, John R. Gunn. Gunn has been an insured of The Bar Plan since 2001, and his active involvement in various Bar Associations, which parallels The Bar Plan’s mission to support local attorneys, makes him an ideal member of the Board of Directors at The Bar Plan. 

“We are excited to have John join our Board,” said Karen McCarthy, President & CEO of The Bar Plan. “As a practicing attorney and an insured of The Bar Plan for many years, his experiences will give us a fresh perspective on how to best meet the needs of our insureds.”

The Bar Plan Foundation is excited to announce the addition of its newest Foundation Board Member, Keith Birkes. Mr. Birkes has been the Executive Director of The Missouri Bar since 1985, but has worked in various capacities with The Missouri Bar since 1975.

Christina Lewis Abate, Risk Manager for The Bar Plan Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri, was recently appointed to serve as Chair of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Ethics and Professionalism Committee. Her year-long appointment begins on August 1, 2010.

Chris Stiegemeyer, Director of Risk Management was recently interviewed by Missouri Lawyers Weekly regarding past-due client bills for services rendered by a law firm. The article includes tips to handle the problem of delinquent payments. 

Karen McCarthy, President and CEO of The Bar Plan, was featured in the January 2010 issue of IN Magazine, a publication published by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) for property/casualty insurers. The article focuses on the rise and success of women in the insurance industry.