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ClaimsFirst Founder, Joanne Varias, is an accomplished claims professional with a broad range of experience handling complex multi-line claims.
Ms. Varias, who obtained her JD at UMass Law, began her insurance career in 2000 at AIG as a long shore workers’ compensation claim specialist. She advanced to a professional liability litigation specialist for AIG in-house counsel and ended her AIG career as a fidelity bond and professional lines Recovery Manager.
In 2005, she joined the TPA, Devonshire Group, as a Reinsurance Environmental Associate and Team Leader, where she was responsible for handling complex toxic tort claims throughout the United States, Bermuda, and Lloyd’s syndicates, involving excess loss and pro-rata business lines and conducted in-house audits on primary claims at AIG, CNA, and Hartford. While at Devonshire, she obtained her ARe.
In 2009, Ms. Varias began her career at Continental Casualty Insurance (CNA) as a Claims Consultant, where she further honed her claims handling and litigation management expertise by serving as a dedicated adjuster to various not-for-profit directors and officers and employment practices complex insureds. She worked closely with internal MGUs, underwriters, brokers, property management companies, and defense and coverage counsel to achieve optimal claim outcomes with an eye toward exceptional customer service, cost-effectiveness, insurance and state trends, and early resolution.
In 2022, she founded ClaimsFirst and serves as the President, directing the claim operation and supervising her elite team of licensed adjusters. Her clientele benefits from her vast industry knowledge and her aptitude for embracing challenges and navigating the ever-changing complexity of the insurance landscape and offering real-time solutions. Ms. Varias’ collaboration with a network of lawyers nationwide, selected based upon their extensive knowledge and experience in the wide range of issues presented by insurance litigated claims, is designed to assist her clients as they navigate the rapid changes through closely monitoring trends, developments and litigation.
She is a forerunner and well-versed in handling the cutting-edge AI employment and management liability claims, while monitoring the evolving landscape.
Ms. Varias regularly presents at various industry trade associations, conferences, and seminars, with a focus on EPL, D&O, and AI topics.
Contact Joanne Varias
Joanne is available to speak with insurance company executives about their companies’ needs. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call or contact her online today.