Ms. Bennett has devoted her practice to complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on perfecting policyholder rights in insurance coverage disputes. Ms. Bennett’s insurance practice includes representing policyholders in declaratory judgment actions, mediating insurance coverage claims, and providing consultation services for specialized insurance policies. She has successfully recovered substantial sums for her clients from numerous major insurers in environmental, asbestos, construction, toxic tort, product liability, and director/officer liability matters. Ms. Bennett also has defended chemical, construction, and pharmaceutical companies in connection with complex litigation matters.

She became ROBERTSON, FREILICH, BRUNO & COHEN, LLC’s first female partner in September 2006.

Ms. Bennett is admitted to practice before all of the Federal and State Courts of New Jersey. She is also admitted to practice in New York State Court as well as the Southern and Eastern District Federal Courts in New York. Ms. Bennett has been consistently listed in a number of legal directories of distinguished attorneys including being listed in Martindale Hubbell where she enjoys the “AV” rating for excellence/preeminence in her field [www.martindale.com].

In 2004, Ms. Bennett was recognized in the New Jersey Law Journal’s “40 Under 40” as one of the forty young attorneys in New Jersey “worth watching, not only for what they have achieved so far in their careers but more so for the potential they show to be among the leaders of the New Jersey Bar in the no-so-distant future.” Since 2006, Ms. Bennett has been listed in The Best Lawyers of America and repeatedly has been included in New Jersey Monthly magazine on the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, including as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in the State.

Ms. Bennett has a demonstrated leadership in the New Jersey Bar. In 2008, the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law awarded Ms. Bennett a Professional Lawyer of the Year Award based on her conduct, competence and demeanor of setting an example for others in the profession. She is the immediate past Chair of the Insurance Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Ms. Bennett also serves as a Board Member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, where she is the President-Elect of this 375-member specialty bar association. Finally, Ms. Bennett is routinely asked to serve as a moderator and speaker for Continuing Legal Education programs and insurance-related seminars.

Ms. Bennett is a cum laude graduate of Susquehanna University (BA) and received her JD, magna cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law, where she served as an Executive Editor of the Valparaiso Law Review.

MELISSA A. BREEDEN, is a Senior Staff Attorney at Simon Property Group, Inc., a S&P 500 company and the largest public real estate company in the United States. Simon owns or has an interest in 387 properties including regional malls, outlet centers, and community/lifestyle centers in North America, Europe and Asia. Ms. Breeden has been a member of the Simon legal staff since 1999 where her responsibilities include negotiating and closing mall and community center dispositions, single center acquisitions and commercial financings. Prior to working for Simon, Ms. Breeden worked as a staff attorney for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources where her practice focused on environmental litigation and handling various real estate issues for the Department. In addition, Ms. Breeden was in private practice in Merrillville, Indiana where she represented two governmental agencies and private clients in real estate, probate and other matters. She received her J.D. in 1995 from Valparaiso University School of Law and her B.A. in 1991 from Ball State University. Ms. Breeden is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and IndyCREW, the Indianapolis chapter of CREW Network, a network of women working in commercial real estate.

Background: Bill manages the Valparaiso Office of the 1st Source Bank Personal Asset Management Group. He brings with him nine years experience in trust administration and non-profit investment management. Prior to joining 1st Source, Bill was a trust officer for a $1.2 billion trust department where he served as the risk management/compliance officer and administered a portfolio valued in excess of $250 million. Since 2002, Bill has been an adjunct faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College teaching Trusts & Estates, Family Law, and Property Law.

Education: Bill received his Bachelor’s degree from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, was awarded a Juris Doctorate (with Honors) from Valparaiso University School of Law, and earned a Masters in Business Administration (graduating first in his class) from Purdue University.

Professional Affiliations: Admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana, past member on the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee for the Indiana State Bar Association, and holder of a Series 7 securities license.

Community Involvement:

•  Currently on Board of Directors for Opportunity Enterprises, Board Governance Taskforce Chair
•  Currently on Board of Directors for United Way of Porter County, Board Governance Committee Co-Chair
•  Past Chair (and current member) for Valparaiso Chamber’s Leadership Development Committee
•  Past President of the Valparaiso Jaycees
•  Immediate Past President of the Northwest Indiana Planned Giving Group