Michael Hill joins as a Partner, Francine Giugno, Jonathan E. Ley and Gary Williams, II join the firm as associates.
Kelley Kronenberg, a multi-practice business law firm, announces the addition of four attorneys in its New Orleans office who will all handle First Party Insurance Defense, Third Party Insurance Defense, General Litigation and Coverage. This office location has continued to grow since its inception in November of last year when the firm hired Sean P. Sullivan as Partner. The driving force behind adding the firm’s twelfth office was to expand its business and client services within the insurance sector as well as exploring new practice areas and creating overall firm growth.
“The firm has put a great importance on growing and expanding our services in New Orleans,” said Jeff Wank, Partner and Chair of the firm’s First Party Property Insurance Group. “With these new additions and our strategic growth, it allows us to offer our clients a more complete service throughout the legal process.”
Michael Hill is a Partner at Kelley Kronenberg focusing his practice on First Party Insurance Defense Litigation. Hill also practices Third Party Insurance Defense, General Litigation and Coverage. He has more than 20 years of experience focusing his practice on defense litigation including environmental claims, general bodily injury lawsuits, trucking accidents, premises liability and construction cases. He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans handling felony trials before accepting a position with the Louisiana Supreme Court as a Staff Attorney providing review and analysis support to the Justices as part of the Court’s Central Staff.
Hill received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Political Science from West Virginia University and his Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University School of Law.
Francine Giugno is an associate and assists in handling matters related to First Party Property Insurance Defense. Giugno is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated attorney with more than 20 years of experience in insurance defense and coverage, extra- contractual liability, premises liability, construction, uninsured motorist, and environmental law. She has significant experience in defending first-party property cases and has handled hundreds of wind and flood lawsuits including those with extra-contractual allegations filed by plaintiffs after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Giugno received her undergraduate degree from John Carroll University and her Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University School of Law.
Jonathan Ley is an associate who assists in handling matters related to First Party Property Insurance Defense Litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ley worked as an attorney at a full-service law firm where he was a member of the trial team and responsible for defending a Fortune 500 company in high stakes, multimillion dollar litigation. Ley has extensive experience in matters involving Insurance Claims, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, and Personal Injury in all phases from inception through trial and appeals in local, State, and Federal Courts.
Ley earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University and his Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University Law School.
Gary Williams, II is an associate assisting in matters related to First Party Property Insurance Defense. Prior to joining the firm, Williams worked as an Attorney focusing his practice on General Liability and Workers’ Compensation where he gained experience analyzing client claims, drafting strategies, interrogatories, and demand letters along with conducting depositions and trial preparation.
Williams received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Human Resources from Southern University & Agriculture & Mechanical College and received his Juris Doctor degree from Southern University Law Center.
ABOUT KELLEY KRONENBERG
Kelley Kronenberg is a multi-practice business law firm with over 400 employees, more than 175 attorneys, and 12 locations throughout Florida and the United States. Founded in 1980, the firm is one of the fastest-growing law firms in Florida and amongst the largest in the U.S. The firm serves all types and sizes of public and private companies, including small businesses and individuals nationwide. Kelley Kronenberg is recognized amongst the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The firm is ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms” by the National Law Journal’s NLJ 500, Law360 400, Florida Trend, South Florida Business Journal, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Orlando Business Journal, and Jacksonville Business Journal, South Florida Business & Wealth, South Florida Legal Guide, American Lawyer’s, Daily Business Review “Review 100;” and “Best Law Firms,” U.S. News – Best Lawyers® in 2021. The firm has been the recipient of many accolades, most recently including being named a “Best Multi-Practice Business Law Firm – USA,” by Acquisition International, “Business of the Year,” and “Top 100 Private Companies,” by South Florida Business Journal.
Kelley Kronenberg is nationally recognized as a “Top 5 Firm for Diversity” in American Lawyer’s “Diversity Scorecard,” including amongst the “Top Firms with Highest Percentage of Black Attorneys,” “Top Firms with Highest Percentage of Hispanic Attorneys,” “Top Firms with Highest Percentage of Minority Attorneys,” “Top Firms with Highest Percentage of Minority Partners,” in 2021, and “America’s Top Corporate Law Firms” by Forbes in 2019. The firm is also recognized as a “Top 20 Firm” in the National Law Journal’s 2021 “Women’s Scorecard,” a national survey that promotes diversity and inclusion and honors women in the workplace. Kelley Kronenberg was selected a 2021 “Diversity Team” winner by Profiles in Diversity Journal and has made diversity a key aspect and feature of the firm, stressing inclusion and equality as part of the firm culture and core values.
The firm earned the Ragan’s “Top Places to Work,” “Top Workplaces USA” award by Energage, and “Top Workplaces for Communication,” “Top Workplaces for Clued-In Leaders,” “Top Workplaces for Top Leaders,” and “Top Workplaces for Innovation” in 2021. Kelley Kronenberg has also been recognized as
