Our Claims Team
In-House dedicated, experienced construction claim professionals
Laila Santana
Executive Vice President,
Chief Claims Officer
Laila is a licensed attorney and has been a claims professional dedicated to the design and construction industry for more than twenty years. Laila oversees all claims operations for Berkley Alliance Managers. Before joining the company in 2013, she was the director of design and construction professional liability claims for a leading insurance carrier where she created, grew and led the claims department. Prior to that position, Laila was the vice president, executive claims counsel and regional claims manager for a leading carrier that provided architects and engineers with professional liability insurance. Before entering the insurance industry, Laila practiced law with Booth, Mitchell & Strange, LLP in Orange, California. She earned a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Business from Pepperdine University, Seaver College. Laila is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Risk Management Committee, the ACEC Legal Counsel Forum, the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) and the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). She is based in Irvine, California.
Anthony Andersen
Senior Vice President,
Professional Liability Claims Manager
Anthony joined Berkley Construction Professional in 2017. In his role as Professional Liability Claims Manager, Anthony provides managerial oversight to the claims staff. Anthony has managed and handled claims for more than 35 years and has a wealth of architect and engineer (A&E) and construction related experience as well as knowledge regarding best practices and risk management. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Iona College, New Rochelle, New York. Anthony is based in Orange County, New York.
Walter J. Adams, Jr.
Vice President,
Professional Liability Claims Manager
Walter manages the Berkley Construction Professional Claims department. He has nearly 22 years of experience handling claims and is licensed to practice law in New York. Prior to joining Berkley Construction Professional in 2016, Walter was senior claims counsel, handling architect and engineers (A&E) and contractor’s professional liability claims for a leading insurance carrier. He also practiced law at a New York law firm handling professional liability, general liability and environmental coverage matters, as well as construction coverage litigation. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Fordham University School of Law in New York and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Oswego. Walter is based in New York.
Janice Greenberg
Assistant Vice President,
Senior Claims Examiner
Janice is a seasoned attorney with more than 20 years of experience counseling and litigating on behalf of insurance companies in various jurisdictions. Prior to joining Berkley Construction Professional, she handled professional liability claims for design and construction professionals as well as pollution liability claims for a leading carrier. Janice earned her Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York, and a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in Criminal Justice and Communications from State University of New York at Brockport. She is based in New York.
Derek Steffen
Assistant Vice President,
Senior Claims Examiner
Derek joined Berkley Construction Professional in 2019. He has 25 years of diverse experience in the insurance industry. Over the years he has managed architects and engineers (A&E), construction and pollution-related claims for leading insurance carriers. Derek earned his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law, Chester, Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Environmental Health from Stockton University, New Jersey. He is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Stephanie Thomas
Assistant Vice President,
Senior Claims Examiner
Stephanie joined Berkley Alliance Managers in 2024 with experience handling construction professional and pollution liability claims for a leading insurance carrier. Before that, she worked as an attorney practicing in New York and New Jersey, where her trial work included construction accident defense litigation. Stephanie also served as an intern for the Clerk’s Office of the United States Supreme Court while attending law school.
Stephanie earned a Juris Doctorate from Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and Anthropology from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. She is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey. Stephanie holds a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) certification and is based in New York.
Julie Zando-Dennis
Assistant Vice President,
Senior Claims Examiner
Julie has more than five years of experience managing construction, environmental and design claims. Before joining Berkley in 2018, she handled construction and design claims for a leading insurance carrier. Prior to that, she worked for 10 years as an insurance coverage attorney, representing and advising insurers in federal and state courts on high exposure construction and design professional liability claims and complex commercial insurance coverage disputes. Julie earned a Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film/Video from Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Julie is based in New York City.
Join Our Team
At Berkley Construction Professional a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, we believe in hiring entrepreneurial people who can work within our culture of teamwork and accountability.
Through an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, Berkley Construction Professional attracts and retains employees with a unique blend of construction professional liability expertise and a passion for excellence.