WSHB is pleased to announce six attorneys have been elected to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2022. The six new partners are Dennis Baier (Glendale), Claudia Borsutzki (Glendale), Bolam Kim (New York), Kamela Devole (Philadelphia), Jonathan “Boomer” Hart (Tampa), and Alexandra Cumella (White Plains).
Assumption of partnership positions at WSHB comes after another impressive year of organic growth for the firm, which included opening offices in New Orleans, Boston, and South Carolina. WSHB credits its growth year after year to its time-tested practice of developing a pipeline of talent through internal promotion. This year’s partnership class falls squarely in that category, as the six individuals elected represent lawyers who have advanced through the ranks of the firm. Each is trial tested and brings a record of strong, consistent results to the partnership.
Dennis Baier – Based in WSHB’s Glendale office, Dennis focuses his practice in the areas of professional liability, public entity defense, and other general civil liability matters. Dennis’s experience in professional liability includes representing architects and design professionals under E&O policies in complex multi-party construction defect litigation. In the public entity arena, Dennis has successfully tried cases involving the County of Los Angeles Probation Department and Sheriff’s Department. He has also represented the County of Los Angeles Parks & Recreation, Department of Public Works, Department of Children and Family Services, and the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles through all the specialized stages of public entity litigation, including civil rights suits.
Claudia Borsutzki – From the firm’s Glendale office, Claudia handles civil litigation and high exposure matters, including catastrophic injury, products liability, toxic tort, habitability, subrogation and medical malpractice. Claudia obtained her law degree from the Westfälische Wilhelms University in Münster, Germany in 2004. She completed her two-year legal traineeship at the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany. In 2007, Claudia relocated to Los Angeles and began her legal career at a well-known defense litigation firm. She started as a paralegal representing German clients in her capacity as German counsel before successfully completing the California Bar Exam. She then worked as in-house counsel for a third-party insurance administrator.
Bolam Kim – Practicing out of WSHB’s New York City office, Bolam routinely counsels businesses on corporate issues and employment law matters. She has also managed complex real estate transactions totaling multi-millions, and worked with both sellers and purchasers to negotiate and draft contracts for the purchase or sale of residential or commercial property. Bolam enjoys a wide variety of litigation experience and has represented clients in breach of contract disputes, defense of catastrophic injury actions, real property issues, insurance coverage, and employment discrimination matters. Bolam’s work in commercial litigation has earned her recognition on the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list in 2021 and 2020.
Kamela Devole – From WSHB’s Philadelphia location, Kamela handles complex civil litigation, including construction defect, catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, products liability, and professional liability matters. Kamela is a graduate of Widener University Delaware Law School, where she served as a Certified Legal Intern for the Delaware Civil Clinic and represented victims of domestic violence in custody and protection from abuse matters. She also served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Robert J. Matthews of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Family Division. Kamela earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Widener University. She is admitted to practice law in both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. Kamela is fluent in Albanian.
Jonathan “Boomer” Hart – Based in Tampa, Boomer concentrates his practice on complex first party insurance coverage, litigation, and counseling. He handles various first party matters including claims involving disasters, fraud, theft, suspected arson, and business interruption claims. In connection with his insurance practice, Boomer regularly advises numerous London market insuring syndicates. Boomer also has extensive experience in employment-related litigation including, defense of employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. Additionally, he defends nationally known trucking companies in cases involving significant and catastrophic injuries as well as wrongful death claims. Boomer has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine for his work as an insurance coverage attorney in Tampa for 2019 – 2021, and as a “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” for insurance law in 2021 – 2022.
Alexandra Cumella – From WSHB’s White Plains office, Alexandra practice focuses on professional liability and employment practices liability claims. She also has extensive experience defending large loss exposures in litigated matters involving emergency and non-emergency medical transportation (“NEMT”) vehicles in New York and Connecticut. She regularly engages in preventive counseling for trucking and transportation clients regarding changes in federal regulations, state law and industry practices, as well as risk management and claims handling practices. Prior to joining WSHB, Alexandra’s experience included private practice work, focusing on complex civil litigation in civil rights and catastrophic injury matters. She is a member of the New York State Bar, New Jersey State Bar, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Elevation to partnership at WSHB is a reflection that each of the attorneys identified above has demonstrated exceptional legal, supervisory and management skills over their caseloads,” said Stewart Reid, Firmwide Managing Partner. “Each has also consistently exhibited a strong desire to provide the firm’s clients with first class legal representation, while always working hard to be a team player dedicated to maintaining the unique culture of WSHB that makes this firm special.”