Attorney Articles
Broker Beware: A risk management overview
Spring 2020 - The FULLCOVER, Number 13, MDS Magazine
Ben Heller is a cornerstone of Wilson Elser’s impressive growth and standing in the legal community. He has been with the firm for more than 35 years, and currently serves in various leadership roles, including membership on the Executive Committee, oversight of the firm’s National Practice and Client Service teams, management of the firm’s Marketing & Business Development Department, and lead partner for the firm’s international affiliations, Legalign Global and Brokerslink.
Never far from the work he loves, Ben represents insurers in insurance coverage matters and monitors and supervises litigation involving national accounts. Over his 40-year practice, Ben has experience handling general and professional liability matters, employment and housing discrimination claims, product liability matters, medical malpractice litigation, and director and officer claims.
Working with the firm’s National Practice and Client Service Teams, Ben assists firm lawyers in providing each client with the full benefit of Wilson Elser’s resources and in maximizing efficiencies. In that regard, Ben is the current Chair of the Firm’s Alternative Fee Focus Group and a member of the Artificial Intelligence Committee, monitoring the development and regulation of this new technology.
Ben also remains active within various industry groups and associations, including International Association of Claim Professionals, Professional Liability Underwriting Society, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriting Society, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, and Risk and Insurance Management Society.
Areas of Focus
Insurance Defense
At the beginning of his legal career, Ben handled primarily personal injury lawsuits for property and casualty insurers. He soon began working on higher profile litigation, including the defense of healthcare professionals and product manufacturers. As his legal skills developed, Ben broadened his practice to include the defense of non-medical professionals such as agents and brokers, architects and engineers, and lawyers. Over the past 10 years, Ben’s practice has expanded to include the defense of employers and landlords against discrimination claims.
Insurance Coverage
In addition to his litigation practice, Ben has been actively involved in assisting carriers on insurance coverage matters, including general liability, professional liability, employment practices, and directors and officers liability.
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., 1984)
- University of Illinois at Chicago (B.A., 1981)
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers - Illinois, 2012-2015
- Rated by Martindale-Hubbell as a Chicago Top Rated Lawyer, 2012