Eric S. Dawson Email and Phone Number

Offer alternative dispute resolution (ADR), services via mediation in Florida County, Family, Circuit-Civil, and Appellate Courts. ✓ Florida certification qualifications include: County Court Mediator, Circuit-Civil Mediator, Family Court Mediator, and Appellate Court mediator. Mediate in Florida’s Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Circuits. ✓ Experience includes resolving matters involving: commercial/business, construction, contract disputes, employment, family businesses, franchise, insurance, intellectual property, landlord/tenant, legal malpractice, local government/municipalities, medical malpractice, partnerships, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, professional fees, professional liability, professional malpractice, professional negligence, property damage, real estate, title disputes, torts, trademarks/patents, trusts/estates, unfair competition, utilities, and wage & hour/FMLA.

Promoted to manage the Legal Department P&C for an insurer holding company system and its subsidiaries which included an insurance company, a P&C general agency, a specialty-purpose captive, and a segregated portfolio captive insurer. Served as a key member of the senior management team managing general legal services, supervision of outside corporate counsel, and strategic business planning initiatives. Areas of accountability encompassed contracts, litigation, risk management, claims, regulatory compliance, employment law, intellectual property, governance, leasing, and other legal matters. Provided advice directly to the President regarding any commercial, legal, and/or public relations issues. Actively managed a team of lawyers and support staff, including outside attorneys on complex litigation cases.* continued below *

* continued from above *✓ A highly visible position with a diverse span of responsibilities critical to the advancing the company's mission and strategic goals, as well as anticipating legal issues, managing risk, and ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. ✓ Involved in strategy and policy decisions in pursuit of business opportunities.✓ Developed preventative measures to avoid litigation through mediations, settlements, etc.✓ Worked with C-suite before, during, and after company’s quarterly board meetings. Recorded board meeting minutes.✓ Successfully addressed all matters pertaining to compliance with insurance industry regulations affecting market conduct, agency licensing and producer issues, insurance company appointment, and compliance analysis. ✓ Conducted corporate contract analysis/review for all relevant entities in the holding company system.✓ Sued multiple defendants across various US jurisdictions in the alternative and traditional markets for both guaranteed cost and large deductible policies where premiums, deductibles, and/or collateral was due and owing. ✓ Aggressively defended numerous suits/counterclaims filed in various US jurisdictions. ✓ Successfully and timely handled with outside counsels all aspects of pending litigation matters (as plaintiff or defendant), from filing summonses and complaints and/or answers through discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal.✓ Working with Corporate Compliance, monitored and oversaw all aspects of insurance regulatory compliance for Guarantee Insurance Company in its licensed 41 state jurisdictions with departments of insurance and departments of worker’s compensation bureaus. ✓ Monitored and oversaw corporate compliance for regulated entities within holding company system.

Proactively recruited to serve as a key team member responsible for managing the company’s strategic legal needs including governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, contract management, litigation management, claims, patents and trademarks, and labor/employment issues. Hired, trained, developed, and motivated a team of attorneys and staff members to assist in the delivery of risk-measured growth for the client.✓ Championed the turnaround of the department and streamlining of operations, including a rightsizing initiative. ✓ Supplied critical legal research to SVPs and VPs for Claims, Compliance, and other departments.✓ Managed DOI consumer complaint program.✓ Served as critical liaison between Legal and Claims, Compliance, and Special Investigations Departments.✓ Successfully and timely handled with outside counsels all aspects of pending litigation matters (as plaintiff or defendant), from filing summonses and complaints and/or answers through discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal.✓ Significantly contributed to the handling of large loss claims where exposure was $1MM+.✓ Successfully settled numerous large litigation claims via mediation, arbitration, and/or trial.

Represented the firm in various legal matters and educated the client on proactive approaches to reducing all potential legal exposures. ✓ Supported and advanced corporate objectives through legal research, reviewing and drafting contracts, and managing an active caseload. ✓ Researched and drafted memoranda and policy documents on the retention/disposal of company documentation, matters involving consumer privacy, and e-commerce issues.✓ Managed Legal Department contract review process.

Proactively recruited to create and manage the company’s first In-House Legal Department. ✓ Worked with CEO, Executive Committee, adjusters, and outside counsel in managing all phases of claim resolution, including from initial contact, through ADR, litigation, post-trial motion practice, and appeal.✓ Created, implemented, and oversaw company compliance program. ✓ Authored first company claims manual.

Accountable for managing a large volume of civil litigation cases, primarily personal injury (PIP) and bodily injury (BI) matters.✓ Evaluated lawsuits, responded to plaintiff filings, conferred with client regarding case strategy, propounded and responded to discovery and motion practice, deposed witnesses, and consistently tried cases.✓ Reduced inherited docket through strategic usage of motion practice and settlement negotiations. ✓ Successfully managed, strategized, settled, and/or litigated claims maximizing company profitability and minimizing firm risk.

Largest prosecutor’s office in Florida and fourth largest in the nation.Advocated for the State to preserve and protect its interest in criminal misdemeanor domestic violence matters, misdemeanor and felony juvenile cases, and felonies. ✓ Reviewed police reports, investigated allegations, drafted and filed pleadings, appeared at bond hearings and arraignments, negotiated plea agreements with opposing counsel, and litigated cases to jury and bench trials.