Linda D. Kornfeld 

Linda D. Kornfeld is co-leader of Blank Rome LLP’s insurance recovery practice group. She has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes litigation. She has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars while working in the highly competitive, male-dominated insurance policyholder bar.

“Three of the five women ranked nationally in this field are at Blank Rome. One is me and I helped sign up the other two, both close friends and brilliant attorneys,” Kornfeld said. “And I’ve participated in the hiring of predominantly female associates for our group.”

In addition, Kornfeld and her life partner Donna L. Wilson, the CEO and managing partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, are a Los Angeles power couple who add another jolt of female clout to the mix.

Kornfeld is a 2022 Daily Journal CLAY Award winner for leading the Blank Rome team that recouped $76.5 million from an underwriter that tried to lowball its payout when its insured settled a consumer class action for $267 million after Kornfeld pressed powerful bad faith claims. The insurer failed to participate in a proposed pretrial settlement of less than $1 million. Perez v. Indian Harbor Insurance Co. et al., 4:19-cv-07288 (N.D. Cal., filed Nov. 5, 2019).

“We got the money, and we have happy policyholders. And we helped create arguments that will be useful to others going forward,” Kornfeld said.

In the difficult realm of COVID business interruption claims, Kornfeld is seeking to enforce a professional football team’s liability policy, seeking nine figures in damages to compensate for empty stadiums and large revenue losses during the pandemic. Philadelphia Eagles Limited Partnership v. Factory Mutual Insurance Co., 2:21-cv-01776 (E.D. Penn., filed April 15, 2021).

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against other plaintiffs seeking COVID loss coverage and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has two similar cases pending. The trial judge in Kornfeld’s case has opted to await the state high court’s opinion before deciding the Eagles’ case. “We’ve piqued that judge’s interest through our unique coverage arguments and policy language,” Kornfeld said.

Elsewhere, Kornfeld is prepping her clients for future claims they may have related to damages caused by climate change. “The life of an insurance recovery lawyer follows current events,” she said. “Will your insurance cover business interruption due to wildfires, hurricanes and other events intensified by climate change? We don’t wait for coverage denials. We deliver counsel on negotiating contract language now.”

She added: “Preparing our clients in advance or in the immediate aftermath of a disaster event on how to protect their insurance recovery through strategic game plans unique to their circumstances is what we do.”

— John Roemer