Lauren O’Brien
Practice Areas
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Coverage Litigation
- Employment Liability
Education
- California State University at Fresno, B.S., 1988
- University of Santa Clara, J.D., 1991
- Phi Alpha Delta Member
Lauren O’Brien is a 1991 graduate of the Santa Clara University School of Law and has been part of the insurance coverage group at Hardiman & Carroll since 2002. Lauren’s practice has been centered on insurance coverage since 1991, initially focused on environmental coverage and coverage litigation for national insurance carriers. Lauren co-authored an environmental legal research text, which analyzed all major elements of policy construction and legal authority at issue in the environmental arena and identified potential areas of future coverage litigation. Lauren worked closely with both national corporations and insurance companies to review historical documents related to environmental issues and insurance policy drafting history.
Lauren was eventually hired as in-house counsel by a national carrier and provided coverage and coverage litigation services for a variety of claims, including environmental, construction, medical malpractice, agricultural, and commercial and business loss. Lauren’s practice has included review and analysis of the potential for coverage in the third party, first party, umbrella and excess contexts. Lauren has managed large environmental superfund coverage litigation involving decades of coverage at multiple levels.
Lauren’s practice at Hardiman & Carroll continues to focus on insurance coverage issues, and includes a major focus on working with carriers and third party administrators to ensure effective claims handling and the avoidance of carrier-related litigation. Lauren assists carrier and TPA clients in claim intake and analysis, investigation and handling from inception to conclusion and includes named insured and additional insured coverage work. Lauren works closely with carriers to streamline claims handling and internal procedures, negotiate resolutions and pursue economic recovery where appropriate. Lauren also participates in mediations and other dispute resolution forums on behalf of carrier clients in a coverage capacity.
You may contact Ms. O’Brien directly at lobrien@sflawfirm.com or by calling (415)248-3930.