LANCASTER, Pa., April 25, 2022 — Saxton & Stump is pleased to announce that shareholder Michael T. Traxler has been named the chair of the firm’s Insurance Law Group. With insurance regulations continually changing and becoming increasingly complex, Traxler brings experience handling matters for both insurers and insureds in a variety of industries including trucking and commercial transportation, construction and others. The firm also has deployed additional resources to back the group’s growth and support clients. Eight Saxton & Stump professionals have been added to the group, bringing the total number of professionals in the group to 15.
“This group is a vital resource for our clients’ businesses,” CEO James Saxton said. “With Mike’s leadership and the extensive experience of our attorneys and professionals, our team is prepared to counsel insurers and insured businesses.”
A growing team of resources for insurers and insureds
The group has added members with already established practices at Saxton & Stump who have extensive experience representing businesses in issues of insurance – both on the side of insurance companies and insured businesses. The group has experience in litigation, risk management, proper insurance coverage, bad faith claims, mitigation audits and other insurance challenges. These attorneys have worked in both state and federal courts in industries such as construction, real estate, and commercial trucking and transportation.
Traxler possesses decades of experience representing blue collar industries and handling their insurance needs and legal questions, and now will oversee a team of attorneys focusing on commercial and professional lines of insurance. In addition to working with insurance clients, Traxler also is the chair of the Saxton & Stump Trucking and Commercial Transportation Group and is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University.
The new chair joins team members who will continue to share their insurance matter experience with the group, including shareholders Matthew Chabal III, Ronald H. Pollock and Mathew W. Rappleye. Chabal, a Naval Academy graduate and former U.S. Navy pilot, works with businesses on complex construction litigation and insurance matters. He advises on insurance-related contract language and litigates coverage disputes. He is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law. Pollock has extensive experience with personal injury and property damage matters, representing insurance companies and individuals. He has dealt with cases involving toxic tort litigation, mold claims, products liability claims and other product defect litigation on the regional and national level and is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law. Rappleye has an extensive insurance counseling and insurance coverage practice. He works closely with the underwriting committees of several professional liability insurers and assists in the drafting of insurance contracts, policy language, and endorsements for insurers as well as providing advice and counsel with respect to internal manuals, policies and applications. He is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law.
The additions to the group include three shareholders. Sarah K. Ivy works with businesses assisting them on state and federal employee benefits and insurance issues, and she is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University. Chad G. Goebel is a trial attorney with significant experience in litigating complex medical malpractice, product liability and casualty matters and is a graduate of the Widener University School of Law. Elizabeth J. Palmer, who is based in the firm’s Charleston, S.C., office works with business clients on risk management issues. She graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Other new members of the group include senior counsel Emily M. Bell, a seasoned litigator who as part of her practice represents doctors, hospitals and healthcare professionals in medical malpractice cases. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center. Jennifer S. Snyder, the other new senior counsel member of the team, works with clients on litigation issues concerning medical negligence and insurance bad faith issues. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School. They join Carson B. Morris, senior counsel and a former deputy attorney general for Pennsylvania, and associate Katy S. Landis.
Saxton & Stump’s strategic growth outlook
The firm was named the fastest growing law firm in Pennsylvania by The Legal Intelligencer, having added 53 professionals in 2021, including 22 attorneys. Overall, Saxton & Stump has grown to a team of more than 150 professionals, including 78 attorneys. The firm has added new services and established groups dedicated to white collar defense and environmental, workplace safety and utilities. In addition to bolstering their infrastructure, they have also grown key existing practice areas such as healthcare, senior care, real estate, government affairs and trusts and estates.
The firm continues to grow based on their strategic plan for 2022 and will continue to expand its current team of lawyers and professionals, focusing on bringing additional resources to support client needs.
Saxton & Stump provides solutions for complex legal issues and partners with clients to create a roadmap for their success. The firm is committed to empowering clients by delivering five-star service and results-focused advice.