Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP

WSHB's California offices are seeking talented and highly motivated attorneys! With offices located throughout California, we have openings for attorneys at all levels throughout the state. WSHB associates work closely with lead attorneys on all phases of litigation, including rapid response investigations following catastrophic losses, case evaluation and reporting, discovery, depositions, and trial presentation. Our focus is on strategic thinking to meet client objectives. ? Our firm offers a flexible work-from-home policy and provides opportunities for collaboration with lead attorneys across different offices. We also have an innovative bonus structure, a collaborative working environment, and genuine opportunities for advancement. ? WSHB is hiring in several practice areas, including catastrophic injury, complex torts, construction defects, employment defense, habitability, medical malpractice, product liability, professional liability, transportation and toxic tort litigation. Reach out today at?[email protected]. ? #WSHB #WSHBLaw #AttorneyJobs #CaliforniaAttorneys #LegalCareers #CareerOpportunities #JoinUs #JoinOurTeam

?? Congratulations to WSHB partner Catherine Deter for being recognized as a finalist for the 2025 CLM Professional of the Year Award in the Outside Defense Counsel Young Professional category! This recognition showcases her exceptional contributions to the claims and litigation community, including her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to mentoring the next generation of attorneys. ? As a national leader in her field, Catherine effectively manages complex litigation nationwide. She demonstrates remarkable skills in guiding diverse legal teams to successful resolutions and collaborates seamlessly with attorneys at all levels. Her efforts exemplify her dedication to fostering a culture of inclusion and professional growth.? ? All four Outside Defense Counsel Young Professional category finalists will be honored, and the winner will be announced during the CLM Annual Conference opening session on April 9th. To learn more and register, visit https://lnkd.in/gNRwSf_G.? ? #WSHB #WSHBLaw #CLM2025 #CLMAwards #CLMAnnual #CLMProfessionalOfTheYear #PhenomsUnder40 #LegalLeadership #WomenInLaw CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)

Victory Alert! We're raising a toast to our unstoppable team in Florida! They just clinched a win for our client, securing a summary judgment that leaves the opposition in the dust. The plaintiff tried to claim over $400,000 in medical expenses and permanent injuries due to an alleged "optical illusion" from a handrail on a sloped landscape. With a jaw-dropping demand of $2.5 million, our partners Ryan Schoeb and Zachary Williams, along with senior associate Kyle Woodford, delivered a legal argument that was nothing short of brilliant! ??? In a strategic masterclass during the summary judgment hearing, our team pinpointed key legal precedents that demonstrated that our property owner client had no legal duty in this scenario. We shattered the notion that the so-called "optical illusion" was a defect requiring heightened safety measures. The court agreed and ruled in favor of our client, wiping away all liability! Hats off to Ryan, Zach, and Kyle! #WSHB #WSHBLaw #WSHBTampa #WSHBFlorida #LegalVictory #LegalSuccess #TeamTriumph

WSHB partner Keith E. Smith will participate in CLM’s 2025 webinar series with a presentation scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, at 1 PM ET. Titled “Navigating the Fallout: Lessons Learned from Nuclear Verdicts for Construction Professionals,” Keith will be joined by distinguished colleagues Paul Balentine, CPCU and Lee Wright. In this informative webinar, the panel of experts will explore the complexities surrounding nuclear verdicts, specifically focusing on issues related to the construction industry. The panelists will analyze high-profile cases from the past year, discussing what went wrong and the factors that led to these excessive verdicts. They will provide invaluable insights and practical advice to help avoid unfavorable outcomes, promote early resolutions, and establish best practices for handling future claims. To learn more and register for the webinar, click here: https://lnkd.in/gpDg8wt8. #WSHB #CLMWebinarSeries #CLMWebinar #NuclearVerdicts #ConstructionIndustry #LegalInsights #BestPractices #ClaimsHandling CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)

Tracy Abatemarco, co-managing partner of WSHB's New York office, will speak at the CLM Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, alongside Kirk Willis and DJ Orlando. They will address the fraud impacting construction sites and driving up insurance premiums in New York City. The discussion will cover New York's Labor Law and its strict liability standard, which have led to increased frivolous lawsuits, making the construction industry a target for personal injury litigation. This rise in fraud has escalated construction costs and forced carriers out of the market, presenting significant challenges for construction companies. Participants will learn about investigative practices, strategies to handle suspect claims, and methods to avoid unnecessary costs and inflated settlements. Don't miss this insightful session! For more details and to register, visit https://lnkd.in/gNRwSf_G. #WSHB #WSHBNewYork #WSHBNY #CLM2025 #ConstructionFraud #InsuranceClaims #NewYorkLaborLaw #ConstructionIndustry #FraudPrevention CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)

March is Women's History Month and a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women throughout history. In the legal profession, women have paved the way for progress, justice, and equality, breaking down barriers and redefining what's possible. At WSHB we are proud to stand alongside the remarkable women in our firm, our industry, and our communities. We honor the trailblazers who fought for change, the leaders who continue to make an impact, and the rising stars who will lead the way forward. As a firm we remain committed to fostering an environment where women in law thrive, succeed, and drive meaningful change.

WSHB partner Tim Shea, a recognized expert in legal ethics and technology, will join a distinguished panel at the CLM Annual Conference on April 10, 2025. The session titled "AI Ethics in Insurance Defense: What Claims Pros and Counsel Need to Know" will focus on the ethical considerations surrounding the use of generative AI tools in the legal and claims industries. ? Joining Tim are fellow industry leaders Diana Dearmin, corporate counsel for Liberty Mutual, and attorneys Sarah Tuthill-Kveton and Sheri Thome. This accomplished group will offer unique perspectives on AI's transformative potential and the safeguards necessary to ensure its ethical application. ? To learn more about this session and register for the event, visit?https://lnkd.in/gNRwSf_G. ? #WSHB #WSHBSeattle #WSHBLaw #CLM2025 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #GenAI #GenerativeAI #EthicalAI #LegalEthics #LegalTech #TechInLaw #ClaimsProfessionals #InsuranceIndustry CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)

WSHB is proud to announce that after a hard-fought trial, our Denver office managing partner Ryan M. Hicks secured a complete defense verdict in the 21st Judicial District Court of Colorado. The case involved allegations of fraud and breach of contract against a residential home inspector following two pre-purchase inspections. Thanks to Ryan's skillful trial strategy, compelling presentation of the evidence, and artful cross-examination, the court ruled entirely in favor of the defense, exonerating WSHB's client on all claims. ? Ryan credited the collaborative effort that contributed to this favorable outcome. "It takes a talented team to achieve a great result for our clients," he stated, emphasizing that partner Tamara Jordan's meticulous preparation and organization of the case were crucial to our team's success. ? Congratulations to Ryan and Tamara! ? Read more at?https://lnkd.in/ggTHT5uB. ? #WSHB #WSHBColorado #WSHBDenver #TrialVictory #LegalSuccess #Teamwork #DefenseVerdict #FraudDefense #BreachOfContract #ColoradoLaw

WSHB partner Jason H. Klein?will be a panelist at the upcoming CLM Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, from April 9-11, 2025. Join him for an engaging roundtable discussion that will delve into the surge in multifamily and mixed-use property development. ? The presentation, Growing Trends in Multifamily Housing and Mixed-Use Property Litigation, will highlight the unique challenges and complexities of litigating construction defect cases arising from these projects. ? The discussion will draw on recent trends and real-world experiences offered by Jason and fellow presenters Mary Lou Hutson, Justin Nolen, and Matt Sams. Attendees can expect to gain actionable insights for mitigating risks and effectively resolving disputes. ? #WSHB #CLM2025 #ConstructionLitigation #MultifamilyHousing #MixedUseDevelopment #OpportunityZones #LitigationTrends #RiskMitigation #ConstructionDefects #RealEstateLaw CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)

In a challenging personal injury case involving multiple defendants and complex discovery disputes, WSHB's legal team, led by partner Keith E. Smith, secured a favorable resolution for our client just before the trial was set to begin. ? Despite the plaintiff's demands for policy limits, our strategic efforts—which included thorough discovery and expert witness depositions—allowed us to uncover significant weaknesses in their case. As a result, we successfully reduced a potential $1.5 million claim to a settlement of just $50,000, which was well below the earlier compromise offer.?The client is thrilled, and so are we! Great job, Keith! ? Read more at?https://lnkd.in/gYF3S2cM. ? #WSHB #LegalSuccess #LegalVictory #TrialLawyers