Mikaela Whitman has joined McGuireWoods’ insurance recovery team as a partner, bringing a wealth of experience representing corporate policyholders in complex insurance coverage matters. She splits her time between the firm’s offices in Century City, California, and New York City.
Whitman advises policyholders in disputes with their insurers and serves as a strategic adviser to in-house counsel on mitigating risk and maximizing value from insurance assets.
Whitman mediates and litigates insurance disputes concerning a range of commercial insurance and she has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for policyholders. She is known for her work with high-profile clients and high-value insurance claims concerning directors and officers (D&O) and errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, sexual misconduct claims, business interruption losses, product recalls and liabilities, and media liability claims.
“Mikaela has a track record helping corporate policyholders navigate high-stakes insurance recovery disputes and manage risk,” said Noreen Kelly, McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner for litigation. “She will play an important role in our strong and growing insurance recovery team.”
Whitman joins from Pasich LLP, a national insurance recovery boutique, where she was a founding partner. While at Pasich, she spent two years seconded full time to AECOM, a Fortune 500 global infrastructure consulting firm. During her time at AECOM, she advised the company’s global risk management team and provided counsel on insurance concerns.
“Mikaela brings a client’s perspective to helping companies get the most from their insurance programs and policies, and that insight will have enormous benefits for our clients,” said Michael Herring, chair of McGuireWoods’ Commercial Litigation Department.
Said Whitman: “McGuireWoods has an exceptional insurance recovery practice coupled with world-class trial and litigation capabilities. This role offers me a brilliant opportunity to bring my practice to a global platform and I am eager to put my legal skills, developed in-house and at firms, to work for McGuireWoods and our clients.”
Alice Youngbar, managing partner of the firm’s Century City office, added: “Mikaela is a welcome addition to our team. She is a highly respected attorney whose skill and business acumen enhance our capabilities on the West Coast and nationally.”
McGuireWoods was recognized as a commercial litigation powerhouse in BTI Consulting Group’s 2024 litigation survey, based on feedback from corporate counsel. The firm was honored for excellence in nine practice areas and earned BTI’s highest ratings for general commercial litigation and complex commercial litigation.