Supplemental Team Members

Thomas J. Santorelli

Thomas J. Sontorelli has over 30 years of insurance carrier claim experience. A recognized insurance industry leader, he has recently served as the Senior Vice President of Risk Management and Claims for Vanguard Car Rental (National and Alamo).

In 1977 Mr. Santorelli joined The Hertz Corporation as Vice President of Insurance and Claims. He served in various capacities including President of Hertz Claims Management, President of their Captive and their European Insurance Company.

In May of 1994 Mr. Santorelli joined Zurich North America as Executive Vice President of Customer Service. In this capacity, Mr. Santorelli supervised the Claims Department (GL, WC, Property, Specialties lines of business), Managed Care, Premium Audit and Risk Engineering Departments. While at Zurich, he was also President of GE Zurich Warranty Corporation. In May of 2004 he retired from Zurich and Joined Vanguard Car Rental Corporation.

Joan A. Berk, Esquire

Joan A. Berk is a defense lawyer with over 30 years of private practice experience in complex insurance issues. Her subject matter expertise includes insurance coverage issues, audit of carrier claims operations, medical, hospital and nursing home malpractice, general liability, products liability, workers compensation and other tort liability claims.

Joan has been a partner in prestigious New York based insurance defense firms. She is the President of the New York City Chapter of the National/International Association of Insurance Women and holds insurance broker’s licenses in life, health and accident as well as property and casualty. She is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and has lectured on specialty insurance defense issues. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. In Florida, she is also certified as a Circuit Court and County Court Mediator.

William Berglund, ARM, CCLA

William Berglund is an independent insurance consultant with more than 30 years of experience in the area of claims, operations, marketing and underwriting. Prior to running his own consulting practice, Bill was a partner in Ernst & Young’s actuarial practice, where he was national practice leader of the Insurance & Claims Consulting Group. While with E&Y, Bill conducted numerous audits of both primary and excess insurance companies, reinsurers, and TPAs. He also consulted with several State Departments of Insurance on matters relating to insolvencies, liquidations and damage estimations. Engagements related to pre and post merger due diligence studies, process improvement initiatives, and actuarial and financial audits.

Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Bill worked with several national insurance companies, TPAs and insurance brokerage firms, rising to the position of Senior Vice President Operations with a national insurance service company.

Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Math and Business from Elmhurst College, and has completed his Associate in Risk Management and Casualty Claim Law Associates Designation.

Ellen Fine, Esquire

Ellen Finehas over 14 years of experience managing coverage and underlying matters on behalf of various insurance companies. Ellen has dealt with issues arising out of a wide variety of product lines including E&O, D&O, General Liability, Excess/Umbrella, Environmental, Asbestos, Toxic Tort, Fidelity and Healthcare. She has over 7 years of litigation experience, including trials, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She also has experience performing intra-company audits, law firm audits and Sarbanes- Oxley compliance reviews. She is admitted to the bars of the States of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Nigel Shepherd, Esquire

Nigel Sheperd has spent over 23 years in the insurance/reinsurance industry, in a variety of global and senior executive positions, most recently as the Global Head of Claims for Aspen Re. Nigel is a multi-faceted executive, who blends business expertise with legal know- how to improve processes and reduce costs in the highly competitive insurance/reinsurance industry. He has a demonstrated track record in organizational realignment and strategic cost optimization, with a focus on long-term value creation and growth.

Nigel received a BS in Finance from Syracuse University. He continued his education, receiving a JD from Pace School of Law. He is a member of the New York State Bar, received the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriting (CPCU) designation, and received the Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) designation.