Butler Snow is pleased to announce that Lori Magnuson has joined the firm as an insurance claims specialist. Magnuson, who will be a part of both Butler Snow’s insurance defense practice and its catastrophic events and major claims team, has more than two decades of insurance and claim litigation experience. She will work from the firm’s Denver office.
“Lori has a wealth of experience in the insurance industry, and she is well versed in the management of claims and underwriting-related flood insurance litigation,” said Michael B. Beers, a leading attorney in Butler Snow’s insurance defense practice. “She will offer our clients unique insight into the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA initiatives, and other flood and major disaster claims programs.”
Magnuson has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. Most recently, she served as the claim manager for the National Flood Services division of AON, where she was responsible for supervising, mentoring and training the examination team in handling complex residential, commercial and condominium association flood insurance losses. Magnuson also managed all claims and served as an underwriter related to flood insurance litigation. In addition to serving as claim manager, Magnuson was the senior claims technical and litigation analyst, and previously served as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor during her tenure at National Food Services.
“During my career I have had the opportunity to serve as a corporate representative on multiple complex litigation matters and have worked closely with Butler Snow attorneys over the years,” Magnuson said. “I’ve always been impressed with their work, especially their handling of various complex claims in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. I’m excited to join their team and contribute to the high quality service that’s being provided to clients.”
Butler Snow’s insurance defense practice represents some of the largest insurance carriers and claim administrators in the country and is often called on in the wake of natural disasters to provide counsel and litigate hundreds of claims. Magnuson’s addition, in combination with the extensive experience possessed by Beers and other members of the team, will provide clients with an even higher level of service and industry specific expertise than they have come to expect. The firm’s insurance practice includes defending direct actions against insurance companies and other coverage matters, managing claims in order to avoid litigation, and representing excess insurers in major tort matters, including monitoring the defense provided by the primary carrier.
Magnuson earned her undergraduate degree from Colorado State University. She is an associate in the National Flood Insurance designation and was formerly a senior sales representative at California Casualty Management Company, where she was named a top producer of policy sales and client retention for four years.