Tarron Gartner-Ilai
Dallas,TX
Summary
Insurance executive with 25+ years of experience adivising national P&XC; operations on enterprise risk, regulatory compliance, and complex insurance exposure. Leader of multistate legal organizations up to 85+ professionals supporting 40+ offices nationwide. Known for reducing legal spend, accelerated resolution cycles and implementing strategic legal frameworks that protect the enterprise while enabling growth.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
AVP, NATIONAL RECOVERY / PERSONAL LINES
Nationwide Trial Division
Dallas, TX
01.2022 - Current
- Oversaw all National Recovery, Personal Lines, and PIP cases across 42 NTD offices, ensuring effective case strategy and expedited resolution.
- Collaborated with enterprise stakeholders as a member of executive leadership team to implement strategic, data-driven initiatives.
- Established comprehensive Best Practices for subrogation cases across NTD to enhance recovery potential and minimize risk.
- Provided technical oversight in litigation and trial strategies for high-stakes cases managed by NTD attorneys in 40 states.
- Developed enterprise-wide initiatives addressing increased indemnity payouts resulting from social inflation and third-party litigation funding.
- Created AI prompt and utilization guide to enhance ethical use of AI in litigation under regulatory frameworks.
AVP, CENTRAL PLAINS REGION
Nationwide Trial Division
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Directed seven staff counsel offices across five states, managing seven direct reports and 85 indirect reports.
- Implemented operational strategies, achieving a reduction in suit life and cost allocation.
- Reduced overall suit life by over 60 days through quarterly settlement days and case triage.
- Maintained suit life 20-25% below national average, enhancing efficiency in legal services.
- Achieved average cost per closed case 11-25% below national average, optimizing resource use.
- Obtained Gallup Engagement Score of 4.96, indicating exceptional team engagement levels.
PRINCIPAL
Amy Stewart Law, PC
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Litigated high-stakes disputes in insurance coverage and extracontractual matters for property and casualty policies.
- Reviewed and revised insurance programs for property, liability, fleet, trucking, and cyber liability for Fortune 500 companies.
- Provided legal expertise on regulatory issues, policy analysis, and insurance program development.
- Acted as lead counsel for insurers and policyholders in complex bad faith litigations.
SHAREHOLDER
Cooper & Scully, PC
01.2007 - 01.2014
- Litigated complex insurance disputes involving first and third-party policies, including personal injury and property damage.
- Advised private sector clients on legal, coverage, and regulatory issues affecting agents, brokers, and underwriters.
- Established insurance programs and conducted comprehensive reviews for small to mid-sized businesses.
- Performed liability risk assessments for C-Suite executives of national corporations.
MANAGING CLAIM COVERAGE COUNSEL
The Travelers Insurance Company
01.1999 - 01.2007
- Led a team of four attorneys and three staff across ten states to manage complex litigation.
- Prepared comprehensive coverage opinions, delivering regulatory and claims handling advice.
- Acted as General Counsel for Subrogation Services, providing strategic leadership.
- Assisted in crafting Subrogation Best Practices and Evidence Chain of Custody Procedures.
- Negotiated allocation agreements in subrogated cases with losses ranging from $10M to $40M.
- Conducted 50-state legal analyses on recovery rights and policy prorating issues.
- Developed policies for the management of aggregated recovery claims.
Education
J.D. - Law
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, Texas, TX05-1989
Skills
- Enterprise risk and regulatory compliance
- Legal analysis
- Risk management
- Litigation oversight
- Case strategy
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Regulatory compliance
- Operational efficiency
- Data-driven decision making
- Budget management
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
- Effective communication
- Claims operations and litigation
- Property and casualty coverage litigation
- Contract negotiation and drafting
- Claims handling policies and procedures
- Licensing and governance
- Executive advisory and lead counsel
Affiliations
- FELLOW, American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel, 01/01/14
- SECRETARY, VICE CHAIR, TORT & INSURANCE SECTION, Dallas Bar Association, 01/01/14
- MEMBER, INSURANCE LAW SECTION COUNCIL, State Bar of Texas, 01/01/16
Awards
- BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA, 24TH EDITION, INSURANCE FIELD, Woodward White, Inc., 01/01/17
- BEST LAWYERS IN DALLAS, INSURANCE LAW, D Magazine, 01/01/14
Core Expertise
- Enterprise Risk & Regulatory Compliance
- Claims & Litigation Operations
- P&C Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
- Contract & Policy Negotiation & Drafting
- Claims Handling Policies & Procedures
- Licensing & Governance
- Executive Advisory & Lead Counsel
- Team Leadership
Certification
Juris Doctor, 1989
Accomplishments
BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA, 24TH EDITION, INSURANCE FIELD - Woodward White, Inc. 2017-2018
BEST LAWYERS IN DALLAS, INSURANCE LAW -D Magazine 2014-2018
BEST LAWYERS IN DALLAS, INSURANCE LAW -D Magazine 2014-2018
Timeline
AVP, NATIONAL RECOVERY / PERSONAL LINES
Nationwide Trial Division
01.2022 - Current
AVP, CENTRAL PLAINS REGION
Nationwide Trial Division
01.2018 - 01.2022
PRINCIPAL
Amy Stewart Law, PC
01.2014 - 01.2016
SHAREHOLDER
Cooper & Scully, PC
01.2007 - 01.2014
MANAGING CLAIM COVERAGE COUNSEL
The Travelers Insurance Company
01.1999 - 01.2007
J.D. - Law
Southern Methodist University