Old Republic Professional Claims Handlers

Ben Boroski

Assistant Vice President, Claims Counsel

Ben Boroski joined Old Republic Professional in January 2024. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Ben worked at RLI Insurance Company as a Director in the Executive Products Group. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Barrie Brejcha

Assistant Vice President, Claims Counsel

Barrie Brejcha joined Old Republic Professional in November 2023. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Barrie was in private practice for thirty years with the law firm of Baker McKenzie LLP, where she was a Partner in the North America Litigation and Government Enforcement Practice Group focusing on securities litigation and public company D&O insurance matters. Barrie later served as Senior Litigation Counsel and Senior Claim Director, Specialty Complex Claims at AXIS. She received a B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and a J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law where she was a member of the Loyola Law Journal.

Michael Carney

Assistant Vice President, Senior Claims Counsel

Michael G. Carney joined Old Republic Professional in 2017. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Michael was in private law practice at a boutique civil litigation defense firm, where his practice was focused on the defense of professional liability claims. Michael received a B.A. in history from Fordham University. He received a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Journal.

Vivian Y. Cohn

Executive Vice President, General Counsel

Vivian joined Old Republic Professional in 1990. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Vivian was in private practice for ten years as a partner in an insurance defense firm. Vivian received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law where she was a member of the Loyola Law Review.

Michael W. Early

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

Mike Early joined Old Republic Professional in 2000. Before joining Old Republic Professional, Mike was in private practice, engaged in commercial litigation, bankruptcy and professional liability defense matters. Mike was also an attorney with the City of Chicago Department of Law, Commercial and Policy Litigation Division, where he gained extensive trial experience defending the City of Chicago. Mike received a B.A., with honors, from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He received a J.D. from Duke University.

Melissa Gandhi

Claims Counsel

Melissa Gandhi joined Old Republic Professional in January 2024. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Melissa worked at a Chicago-based medical malpractice defense firm as a Partner specializing in litigation. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Temperance Gates

Senior Claims Counsel

Temperance Gates joined Old Republic Professional in August 2022. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Temperance worked at Amtrust Financial Services as a Complex Claims Adjuster. Temperance holds a BA degree in Political Science from Spelman College and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

Carolyn Kang

Assistant Vice President, Senior Claims Counsel

Carolyn joined Old Republic Professional in May 2022. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Carolyn worked as Senior Claims Manager at AmTrust Financial Services. Carolyn holds a BS from Michigan State University and received her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law.

Judi Kahn

Claims Counsel

Judi Kahn joined Old Republic Professional in April, 2023. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Judi Kahn worked at AmTrust North America as a Complex Claims Specialist. Judi Kahn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arizona and a Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School.   

Alison Kowal

Senior Claims Counsel

Alison Kowal joined Old Republic Professional in January 2025. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Alison worked at RLI Insurance Company as a Claims Manager in the Executive Products Group. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Marquette University and a J.D. from The University of Illinois College of Law.

 

David Muller

Senior Vice President, Senior Claims Counsel

David A. Muller joined Old Republic Professional in April 2022. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, David was a Member at Bailey Cavalieri LLC, with a focus on public company D&O insurance matters. David received a B.A. in Political Science from The Ohio State University. David received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he was a member of the Ohio State Law Journal.

Lauren Rafferty

Claims Counsel

Lauren joined Old Republic Professional in April 2021. Prior to joining Old Republic Professional, Lauren worked as an Associate Attorney at Lindsay, Pickett & Postel, LLC. Lauren holds a BS from Syracuse University and received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.