Mary E. Meston

Over 27 years of combined Legal and Claims experience with focus on insurance defense litigation management including development of audit platforms to assess adequacy of defense performance and appropriateness of activities pursuant to Industry standards, carrier guidelines and defense best practices. Production requirements exceeded as to volume of audits performed, results captured, and presentation of findings with solution-based recommendations.

• Developed multiple customized audit programs designed to capture specific performance metrics after collaboration with Claims & Litigation Management as to parameters.
• Analyzed source documentation and conducted comprehensive audits to assess counsel’s compliance with carrier guidelines, industry standards and best practices for litigation defense
• Prepared detailed audit reports summarizing findings, compliance issues, and recommendations for management review.
• Present findings to law firms with action plan items as recommendations for improved performance. Reassess improvement progress with subsequent internal audits to determine post-audit performance
• Interviewed, trained and supervised Guest auditors.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline audit processes and enhance efficiency.
• Developed and maintained documentation for audit findings, ensuring thorough record-keeping practices.

Legal spend analytics. Experience with multiple third-party audit platforms. Routinely exceeded production goals. Provided specific reporting on task-based metrics/trends by law firm and/or Line of business.

• Conducted focused audits of billing activities in light of status of the claim in litigation and compliance with billing guidelines.
• Generated detailed summary findings of compliance issues on top spend law firms for management.
• Analyzed effectiveness of Litigation Guidelines and recommended needed protocol changes to implement improved compliance and clarity.
• Implemented process improvements that streamlined audit workflows and reduced turnaround times.
• Mentored junior auditors in best practices for conducting audits and interpreting appropriateness of legal activities and scope of litigation guidelines.

• Evaluated and processed claims to ensure compliance with company policies and regulations.
• Retention and supervision of defense counsel to defend litigated claims.
• Managed customer communications, providing timely updates on claim status and resolution steps.

• Managed Media Special Perils and Publishing E&O claims in accordance with company policies and industry standards.
• Retention and supervision of defense counsel to defend the claims.

• Handled commercial business litigation and insurance defense cases.
• Conducted all aspects of representation including oral argument in State and Federal Courts.

• Drafted legal memoranda and opinions under supervision of the judge
• Researched case law and legal precedents to support judicial decisions
• Assisted in preparing court documents, ensuring compliance with procedural rules