Kathleen J. DevlinPartner AssistantMelissa Strong
973.242.1364 Ext. 1926
mstrong@wglaw.com Kathleen is an experienced litigator who provides advice to insurers and litigates coverage issues relating to various types of insurance policies, including comprehensive general liability, directors and officers (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), employment practices liability (EPL), professional liability, commercial property and casualty, and public entity and public officials.
Her practice consists of managing coverage cases and representing the interests of insurers in a variety of areas, including environmental contamination, asbestos exposure, toxic tort, construction defect, commercial matters, public entity, public officials, and professional liability. Kathleen has successfully addressed coverage issues and disputes through coverage opinions, arbitration, mediation, and declaratory judgment actions.
In addition to insurance coverage, Kathleen has considerable experience defending legal malpractice actions and handling appellate cases. Further, she has litigated complex civil matters, including toxic tort and mass tort litigation, such as the Mahwah Toxic Dump Mass Tort Litigation, asbestos, arsenic, lead, and benzene exposure cases. Additionally, she handles First Amendment and library law matters.
Kathleen is an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and she has been appointed to several leadership positions. She currently serves as the Chair of Malpractice Insurance Committee, is a member of the Ethics Diversionary Program Committee, a member of the Insurance Benefits Committee, and a member of the Lawyer well Being Committee for the New Jersey State Bar Association. Kathleen is also a Trustee for the Women in the Professional Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Previously, Kathleen has served on the Insurance Law Section as the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Legislative Chair, and CLE Chair. From 2017-2022, she was the Vice Chair of the Malpractice Insurance Special Committee. Additionally, she was also on the District XA Ethics Committee.
After law school, Kathleen served as a judicial law clerk with the Honorable Robert T. Quackenboss and the Honorable Joseph C. Messina for the 1993-1994 Court Term in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
Kathleen J. DevlinPartner Kathleen is an experienced litigator who provides advice to insurers and litigates coverage issues relating to various types of insurance policies, including comprehensive general liability, directors and officers (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), employment practices liability (EPL), professional liability, commercial property and casualty, and public entity and public officials.
Her practice consists of managing coverage cases and representing the interests of insurers in a variety of areas, including environmental contamination, asbestos exposure, toxic tort, construction defect, commercial matters, public entity, public officials, and professional liability. Kathleen has successfully addressed coverage issues and disputes through coverage opinions, arbitration, mediation, and declaratory judgment actions.
In addition to insurance coverage, Kathleen has considerable experience defending legal malpractice actions and handling appellate cases. Further, she has litigated complex civil matters, including toxic tort and mass tort litigation, such as the Mahwah Toxic Dump Mass Tort Litigation, asbestos, arsenic, lead, and benzene exposure cases. Additionally, she handles First Amendment and library law matters.
Kathleen is an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and she has been appointed to several leadership positions. She currently serves as the Chair of Malpractice Insurance Committee, is a member of the Ethics Diversionary Program Committee, a member of the Insurance Benefits Committee, and a member of the Lawyer well Being Committee for the New Jersey State Bar Association. Kathleen is also a Trustee for the Women in the Professional Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Previously, Kathleen has served on the Insurance Law Section as the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Legislative Chair, and CLE Chair. From 2017-2022, she was the Vice Chair of the Malpractice Insurance Special Committee. Additionally, she was also on the District XA Ethics Committee.
After law school, Kathleen served as a judicial law clerk with the Honorable Robert T. Quackenboss and the Honorable Joseph C. Messina for the 1993-1994 Court Term in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
ExperienceResults may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Obtained summary judgment in two pharmacy malpractice cases.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an insurer based on the intentional act and crime exclusions.
Speaking Engagements- 04.15.24Speaker, "Attorney-Client Privilege in Insurance Disputes: Preserving Confidentiality, Meeting Legal Ethics Standards," Strafford
- 12.05.23Speaker, “Mandatory Mediation: Now, Shake Hands ands Be Friends,” 6th Annual Construction Defect ExecuSummit Conference, Connecticut
- 10.24.23Speaker, “Insurance Law Institute 2023: Demystifying the Duty to Defend,” New Jersey State Bar Association
Selected Cases
Headen v. Jersey City Bd. of Educ., 420 N.J. Super. 105 (App. Div.), aff’d, 212 N.J. 437 (2012)
Sears v. Harford, 340 N.J. Super. 223 (App. Div. 2001)
Liebling v. Garden State, 337 N.J. Super. 447 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 169 N.J. 606 (2001)
Hillsborough Twp. Bd. of Educ. V. Faridy Thorne, 321 N.J. Super. 275 (App. Div. 1999)
Boyson, Inc. v. Archer & Greiner, 308 N.J. Super. 287 (App. Div. 1998)
Bloom v. Seton Hall, 307 N.J. Super. 487, certif. denied, 153 N.J. 405 (1998)
Pettinato v. Cigna Property & Cas., 303 N.J. Super. 576 (Law Div. 1997)
Whitaker v. DeVilla, 287 N.J. Super. 370 (App. Div. 1996)
Professional & Community InvolvementNew Jersey State Bar Association, Chair of the Malpractice Insurance Committee (2022-2024), Ethics Diversionary Program Committee Memeber (2023-2024), Lawyer Well Being Committee Member (2023-2024)
Insurance Benefits Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association (2016-2024)
Women in the Professional Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Trustee
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
New Jersey State Bar Association, Immediate Past Chair, Insurance Law Section (2021-2022), Chair (2020-2021), Vice Chair (2019-2020), Secretary (2018-2019), Legislative Chair (2017-2018), CLE Chair (2016-2017)
New Jersey State Bar Association, Vice Chair of Malpractice Insurance Special Committee (2017-2022)
District XA Ethics Committee (2013-2017)
AssistantMelissa Strong
973.242.1364 Ext. 1926
mstrong@wglaw.com |
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