Barnes & Thornburg Welcomes Two Insurance Litigators in Chicago

CHICAGO – Barnes & Thornburg is continuing the expansion of its insurance recovery group with the addition of experienced litigators in Chicago. Kevin Dreher joins as a partner and Caroline Upton joins as of counsel, both focusing on insurance recovery on behalf of policyholders and complex commercial litigation as part of the firm’s Litigation Department. 

Dreher is a commercial litigator and trial lawyer with nearly 20 years of experience negotiating insurance claims on behalf of corporate policyholders and litigating general commercial disputes in jurisdictions across the country and abroad. He has litigated and negotiated with major U.S. insurers to resolve insurance disputes and has also handled cases in international markets such as London and Bermuda.

Upton’s practice is centered on handling coverage disputes, arbitration and litigation, as well as assisting with coverage counseling and mediation. She has represented companies in a range of industries, including energy and natural resources, financial services, healthcare and medical device manufacturing, and technology. 

Dreher and Upton handle liability coverage matters involving general liability and business risks, directors’ and officers’ liability, professional liability, business and contingent business interruption, product liability, and environmental and asbestos liability, among others. 

“With the increase in insurance claims-related litigation stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin and Caroline will be great resources for our clients navigating these cases,” said Randy Brown, chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. “Their commercial litigation work spans a multitude of sectors, making them well-rounded additions as we continue to expand our insurance recovery practice.”

Dreher has also represented corporations and individuals in complex commercial matters involving financial services litigation, outsourcing litigation, environmental and statutory enforcement litigation, class actions, securities and broker-dealer litigation and enforcement actions, white collar and corporate investigations, and product liability defense. 

“We’ve experienced tremendous growth this past year in various practice areas in Chicago, and we’re excited to bring this same momentum to our litigation team with Kevin and Caroline’s arrival,” said Michael Carrillo, Chicago office managing partner. “The global reach of Kevin’s practice will also complement the sophistication we bring to our clients domestically and internationally.”

Dreher earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, his M.A. from Loyola University of Chicago, and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Upton earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and her B.A. from Allegheny College. 

With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.