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    Katherine Karam

    Partner

    New Orleans
    504-584-9264
    katherine.karam@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    Insurance

    Katherine Karam is a partner in the firm’s insurance and reinsurance practice. For over two decades, she has served as local, regional (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas), and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. She counsels clients, resolves coverage disputes and manages litigation involving insurance issues under state laws in all regions of the United States. Her experience extends to a myriad of coverage issues, including those arising out of third-party claims involving environmental and toxic tort, marine/oil and gas, construction defect, auto (transportation, garage, uninsured motorist), personal and advertising injury, and first-party property loss.

    Katherine routinely counsels clients and resolves complex coverage matters involving issues of multi-year trigger and allocation, additional insured and contractual indemnity, as well as extra-contractual liability arising of state-specific claims handling guidelines or time limit demands. In addition to post-claim advices to clients, she counsels clients on effective claims handling practices, risk management and avoidance procedures and provides underwriting assistance for manuscript policy language.

    From 2012-2017, Katherine served as the General Counsel providing corporate and legal advice to the Board of the International Association of Claim Professionals (“IACP”), a preeminent insurance organization with a selective membership of domestic and international insurance and re-insurance companies, brokers, agents and claims management companies. Katherine is currently an Adjunct Member of the IACP.

    Katherine hires and manages lawyers around the country in her capacity as national coordinating counsel and, within the firm, she mentors and manages a team of coverage attorneys as head of the New Orleans insurance practice. Katherine also serves as founder and co-chair of Phelps Dunbar’s Women’s Forum.

    From 2012-2017, Katherine served as the General Counsel providing corporate and legal advice to the Board of the International Association of Claim Professionals (“IACP”), a preeminent insurance organization with a selective membership of domestic and international insurance and re-insurance companies, brokers, agents and claims management companies. Katherine is currently an Adjunct Member of the IACP.

    Katherine hires and manages lawyers around the country in her capacity as national coordinating counsel and, within the firm, she mentors and manages a team of coverage attorneys as head of the New Orleans insurance practice. Katherine also serves as founder and co-chair of Phelps Dunbar’s Women’s Forum.

    Insights

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    • August 25, 2023

      Phelps Picked for New Orleans CityBusiness “Empowering Women” List…

    More +
    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    Recognition

    • Insurance Law (2016-2025), Litigation - Insurance (2016-2025), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Insurance Law (2016-2025), Litigation - Insurance (2016-2025), The Best Lawyers in America

    Education

    • Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1994
    • Louisiana State University, B.A., cum laude, 1991
    • Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1994
    • Louisiana State University, B.A., cum laude, 1991

    Credentials

    • Louisiana
    • Judicial Law Clerk for Hon. Donald E. Walter, U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
    • Louisiana
    • Judicial Law Clerk for Hon. Donald E. Walter, U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • International Association of Claim Professionals - General Counsel
    • Louisiana State Bar Association, Insurance, Tort, Workers Compensation and Admiralty Law Section
    • New Orleans Bar Association, Insurance Law Section
    • American Bar Association, Tort, Trials and Insurance Section
    • Defense Research Institute
    • International Association of Claim Professionals - General Counsel
    • Louisiana State Bar Association, Insurance, Tort, Workers Compensation and Admiralty Law Section
    • New Orleans Bar Association, Insurance Law Section
    • American Bar Association, Tort, Trials and Insurance Section
    • Defense Research Institute
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