Expanding D&O Knowledge: The Experts’ DOmain – Episode 1

Expanding D&O Knowledge: The Experts’ DOmain is a podcast series featuring unique conversations with leaders and expert thinkers on business issues that intersect with D&O insurance. Each episode explores a focused topic offering fresh perspectives on risk, coverage, and claims. Designed for everyone who touches D&O insurance — from underwriters and claims professionals to directors, brokers, and lawyers — this podcast delivers insights that matter across the field. Whether new to D&O or highly experienced, listeners will be exposed to novel ideas and perspectives that deepen their understanding of the complex D&O landscape.

In this premiere episode, host Justin Kudler, Senior Vice President and Senior Claims Counsel at Arc Excess and Surplus, LLC, is joined by Jeff Kichaven, Principal Mediator at Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation, for an in-depth discussion about D&O mediation. Together, they examine the processes, strategies, and decision-making dynamics that shape the resolution of complex claims, offering listeners valuable insight into how D&O disputes are negotiated and ultimately settled.

Please complete this short survey to share your thoughts with our host and PLUS staff.

Click Here

You can view the video version of this conversation below:

Featured on This Episode

Host

Justin Kudler

Senior Vice President, Senior Claims Counsel, Arc Excess and Surplus

Justin Kudler is Senior Vice President/Senior Claims Counsel in ARC Claims Advocacy, working with clients and insurers to achieve favorable claim resolutions. Before ARC, Justin worked at AXA XL, handling D&O, E&O, EPL, and other professional liability claims. In private law practice, Justin represented defendants and plaintiffs in securities and consumer class actions, as well as individuals in SEC investigations. He has served as PLUS D&O Symposium Co-Chair and as a Hartford PLUS Chapter Steering Committee Member and Chair. For several years, he has taught D&O Claims Management for PLUS D&O University and currently is a PLUS D&O Think Tank member. He also has served on several PLUS task forces, including as Chair. Justin has published articles on D&O insurance issues, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and other securities and class action issues. He also has moderated and has spoken on panels covering topics including claim handling, claim trends, insurance for financial institutions, insurance for higher education institutions, and regulatory investigations.

Guest

Jeff Kichaven

Principal Mediator, Jeff Kichaven Commercial Mediation

Jeff Kichaven is a nationally recognized mediator whose work and ideas have helped shape modern commercial mediation in the United States. Spending nearly 30 years resolving high-stakes disputes, Jeff is ranked in Chambers USA (Nationwide, Band 1) and is recognized by Lexology as a Global Elite Thought Leader in mediation — one of only 12 mediators in the United States and 49 worldwide to hold that distinction. Through his writing, teaching, and leadership in the American Bar Association and other professional organizations, he has become one of the field’s most respected voices on mediation ethics, confidentiality, and process design. Jeff has his own mediation company and has the following areas of expertise: Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith; Intellectual Property; Professional Liability; and Aggregate Litigation.

Episode #

Month

June

Year

2026

Business Line

Directors and Officers (D&O), Professional Liability

Topic

Professional Liability (PL) Insurance

Download Transcript

Listen Now

Contribute to the

PLUS Blog

Contribute your thoughts to the PLUS Membership consisting of 38,000+ Professional Liability Practitioners.

Learn More