Karen O'Brien

Experience

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  Cook County

  May 2003 - Jul 2007

  • Represented the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in child support actions, such as paternity, child support, and enforcement proceedings, including contempt. Trained new Assistant State’s Attorneys. • Represented the People of the State of Illinois in Domestic Violence prosecutions, from approving charges, bond hearings, motions and discovery, to trial. • Prosecuted administrative hearings and bench trials in Expedited Child Support, and misdemeanors in the Domestic Violence Division. • Maintained responsibilities in the Sex Crimes Division, including Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners training for Sexual Assault Response Team and select prosecutions. Show less

  • Assistant State's Attorney

    Nov 2005 - Jul 2007

  • Law Clerk

    May 2003 - Nov 2005
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  DePaul

  May 2003 - Apr 2004

  Graduate Assistant

  • Conducted research for Professor Leonard Cavise at College of Law and Dr. Rachel Shteir at Theatre School. • Contributed to revisions in Chapter 5: “Trial Rights and Procedures” in Illinois Criminal Procedure (Ralph Ruebner, ed., 4th ed. 2004).

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  Patton & Ryan LLC

  Jul 2007 - Aug 2008

  Associate Attorney

  • Defended insurers and self-insureds in matters of Catastrophic Loss, Professional Liability, Products Liability, Construction, Trucking, and Transportation Law in State and Federal Court. • Handled all aspects of cases, from pre-suit investigation, strategy, client communication and analysis, to litigation including pleadings, substantive motions, written discovery, depositions, settlement, and trial. Served as primary and secondary counsel.

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  Northwestern University School of Law

  Sept 2008 - Mar 2009

  Contract Assignment

  • Researched relevant public policy issues relevant to law and economics and Searle Civil Justice Institute projects. • Implemented the inaugural Northwestern Law Attorney’s General Education Program by researching state government organization, relevant areas of legal and empirical study, and program curriculum. • Contributed to Northwestern Law Judicial Education Program through legal research and conference assistance. • Prepared syllabi and lecture notes for Northwestern Law L.L.M. courses taught by Executive Director Henry N. Butler, J.D., Ph.D. in Madrid, Spain. Show less

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  The Law Office of Karen Lynn O'Brien, LLC

  Sept 2009 - Jun 2011

  Owner and Attorney

  • Specialized in performing research and writing projects for other attorneys on a freelance basis. • Long term contractual relationship with the firm of Baxter, Bruce and Sullivan, P.C. in Juneau, Alaska.

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  McHenry County State's Attorney

  May 2011 - May 2015

  Assistant State's Attorney

  • Lead trial counsel in state and federal litigation, representing the county, its elected officials, officers, and employees. • Practice areas include: §1983 civil rights, class action, wrongful death, labor and employment, personal injury, nursing home liability, false arrest, malicious prosecution, injunctive and civil relief for violation of local ordinances and state laws, animal law, criminal prosecutions, and appeals.• Issuing legal opinions to county officials and departments, including compliance with various state and federal statutes, employment issues, and risk management. • Drafting, negotiating, and reviewing county contracts and intergovernmental agreements. • Advising and counseling county departments on legal issues as they arise; conducting training; and drafting ordinances, employee handbooks, and department policies. Show less

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  Zurich North America

  May 2015 - now

  • Monitoring all U.S. jurisdictions and insurance industry organizations for new laws and regulations that may impact the company’s business. • Analyzing and triaging those laws and regulations by the severity of their impact and the extent of the implementation required achieve compliance. • Communicating and advising the appropriate individuals business units regarding the applicability and impact of legal and regulatory changes. • Drafting and distributing a monthly reporter, summarizing all new laws and regulations from the preceding month and highlighting significant impacts or trends. • Identifying and revising all impacted products to be compliant with a new law or regulation. • Drafting state specific amendatory endorsements and underwriting endorsements addressing necessary policy changes by state for various types of commercial insurance.• Researching the applicability and interpretation of state insurance laws nationwide to ensure that products are both compliant and competitive in the market place. • Handling communication with and resolving objections from state insurance departments nationwide pertaining to newly filed or revised products and endorsements. • Supporting the Government and Industry Affairs division with legal research and analysis regarding regulatory trends and public policy. Show less • Handled complex pollution claims of moderate and high exposure in high volume, many of which span multiple policy periods and are in multiple jurisdictions. • Analyzed applicable policy language and law to exercise judgment determining whether a pollution loss is covered. Drafting declination and reservation of rights letters that explain policy terms, conditions, and exclusions. Interpreting primary, concurrent, excess, and umbrella coverages. • Resolved claims according to Best Practices and within authority limits. Effectuating a timely resolution to claims by developing case strategy, developing a case evaluation, escalating issues as appropriate, and establishing appropriate negotiation and recovery strategies. • Managed litigation, including declaratory judgments, by proactively communicating information, responding to inquiries, following customer protocols, assigning counsel, establishing litigation plans and budgets, and coordinating and cooperating with insureds, brokers, counsel, claimants, and co-carriers to resolve claims. Controlled expenses by working with vendors and retained experts. • Contributed to profitable growth by providing risk insight, information, alerts and trends to business units and customers. Developing and maintaining positive customer relationships by providing information, expertise, and service to customers with pollution claims. Show less

  • Accident and Health Product Specialist

    May 2020 - now

  • Laws and Regulations Analyst

    Dec 2016 - May 2020

  • Environmental Claims Specialist

    May 2015 - Dec 2016