PRACTICES
OVERVIEW
Lian Skaf is counsel in the Subrogation Department and practices exclusively in the field of property subrogation. He handles major property losses involving fires, water leaks, structural damage, product and construction defects and other catastrophic failures. He has worked in the field of subrogation for over seven years.
Lian is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has litigated cases in twelve other jurisdictions as lead counsel with the assistance of local counsel. He has experience both resolving matters prior to filing suit and litigating complex matters. Lian works with his clients to investigate the facts of a loss and develop a strategy for recovery, often from the day of a loss through completion. He has taken several cases through trial and has successfully mediated numerous others.
Prior to joining the firm, Lian served as law clerk to the Honorable Francine Axelrad in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. While in law school, he served as the Lead New Developments Editor for the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion, which published his note on mitigating evidence in capital murder cases. Lian also participated in the Rutgers Hunter Moot Court Competition, placing in the top ten oralists, and in the Rutgers Street Law program which sends law students to neighboring Camden schools to discuss legal principles.
Lian is a certified arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Recognition and Involvement
Recognition & Involvement
Lian handles pro bono cases for Philadelphia VIP.
Credentials
Bar and Court Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Education
Rutgers School of Law - Camden, JD, 2008
Georgetown University, BA, 2001
News & Insights
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Litigated $3 million case on behalf of several insurance companies pertaining to an electrical fire in New Jersey; involved complex litigation with several defendants and co-plaintiffs
- Represented insurance carrier and recovered favorable settlement in negligent construction and design matter in Florida
- Represented insurance carrier and recovered settlement in breach of contract case in Ohio
- Represented insurance carrier and recovered favorable settlement in water loss case in Massachusetts
BLOGS & PODCASTS
Podcasts
Subro Sessions
- Part 2: How to Make the Public Sector an Ally and Not a 'Public Enemy'10.15.24
Partners, Lian Skaf and Matt Ferrie, are back for the second part of their series titled, “Part 2: How to Make the Public Sector an Ally and not a ‘Public Enemy’.” John Lightbody, CFI, CFEI, CFII, Chief Investigator and President of Find The Cause Investigations, LLC, joins Lian and Matt to continue their discussion on subrogation professionals who work with the public sector in large-loss fire scene joint investigations. This episode also explores examples of claims going into litigation and provides case examples where the public and private sector investigators have a difference of opinion in the cause of the fire.