Meet Our Team

Steve has more than 30 years of experience in the professional liability segment of the insurance industry in the roles of business leader, manager and underwriter. Steve started and managed successful professional liability businesses for three insurance carriers prior to joining the W. R. Berkley Corporation to form Berkley Alliance Managers in 2013. Throughout his career he has succeeded in hiring and cultivating teams of specialist professional liability executives, underwriters and claims people to build innovative insurance solutions in specialty markets.

Steve holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Industrial Relations from Syracuse University. Steve is based in Albany, New York.

Tom joined Berkley Service Professionals in December of 2020. He has more than 20 years of experience, predominantly in specialty professional liability insurance. Tom has created successful Miscellaneous Professional Liability products and teams from the ground up. He has also held various positions ranging from product head to product/portfolio manager in addition to senior underwriter and underwriter. Tom has worked in large and small insurance company environments, as well as for Managing General Agents specializing in both admitted and non-admitted professional liability insurance.

Tom is a licensed insurance agent and surplus lines broker in the state of Connecticut. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Connecticut State University. Tom is based in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Laila is a licensed attorney and has been a claims professional dedicated to the design industry for more than twenty years. Prior to joining Berkley Alliance Managers, she was the director of design and construction professional liability claims for a leading insurance carrier, where she created, grew and led the claims department. Prior to that position, Laila was the vice president, executive claims counsel and regional claims manager for a leading carrier which provided architects and engineers professional liability insurance. Before entering the insurance industry, Laila practiced law with Booth, Mitchell & Strange, LLP in Orange, California.

Laila earned her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and business from Pepperdine University, Seaver College. She is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Risk Management Committee, the ACEC Legal Counsel Forum, International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) and the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). Laila is based in Irvine, California.

Laura joined Berkley Service Professionals in July of 2016 and has been with the Berkley Companies since August of 2015. She has more than 25 years of experience as a professional liability risk analyst. Prior to joining Berkley, Laura helped to create a successful nonstandard professional liability facility for a leading worldwide insurance company, a managing general agency and several leading domestic insurance carriers. Since 1991, she has worked as a professional liability risk analyst specializing in all lines of professional liability.

Laura studied Business Management at Grossmont College in San Diego. She is a licensed insurance agent and surplus lines broker in the state of California and has earned her RPLU designation. Laura resides in the San Diego area of California.

Chris joined Berkley Service Professionals in July of 2020 and has been with the Berkley Companies since April of 2007. He has more than 25 years of professional liability insurance experience. Prior to joining Berkley, Chris developed and led several professional liability programs. Most recently, he managed a program for one of the nation’s leading accountants professional liability insurance providers. In addition to his program management experience, Chris has held various positions within professional liability insurance including: sales manager, branch manager, senior risk analyst and analyst.

Chris is a licensed insurance agent and surplus lines broker in the state of California. He is based in San Carlos, California.

In his more than 25 years in the professional liability insurance industry, Bob has worked in numerous roles including underwriter, regional vice president, retail broker, wholesale broker and business development manager. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Bob practiced law. These roles, responsibilities and experiences provide Bob with a unique perspective. Bob’s is responsible for distribution management and marketing communications.

Bob earned his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics Management from Ithaca College. Bob is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Paul joined Berkley Service Professionals in July of 2016 and has been with the Berkley Companies since August of 2015. He has more than 20 years of experience as a professional and management liability risk analyst. Paul started his insurance career as a management liability risk analyst where he worked for a leading carrier for nine years. Since 2006, he has worked as a professional liability risk analyst specializing in lawyers, insurance and real estate services, miscellaneous consultants and architects and engineers. Before transitioning into the insurance field, Paul worked as a business law attorney.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law. He is a licensed attorney, insurance agent and surplus lines broker in the state of California. Paul resides in the San Diego area of California.

Jude joined Berkley Service Professionals in March of 2021. He has nearly 25 years of experience underwriting professional liability insurance in both the standard and nonstandard markets. Jude’s vast professional liability knowledge covers more than a dozen E&O classes with specialization in miscellaneous professional, real estate and insurance agents. During the past decade he has been a vice president at two leading E&S insurance carriers and at a managing general agency.

Jude is a licensed insurance agent in Georgia and has achieved the designation of Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. Jude is based in Roswell, GA.