Kristie M. Abel

Counsel

Kristie Abel focuses her practice on complex insurance coverage litigation and commercial litigation.

Kristie currently serves as a child advocate who represents abused and neglected children in Philadelphia through the Support Center for Child Advocates. She was named to the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania's Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2013. Prior to joining the firm, Kristie participated in the Cozen O’Connor Summer Associate Program.

Kristie earned her law degree, cum laude, from the American University, Washington College of Law, where she served as articles editor of the American University Law Review and as a Dean’s Fellow for the Legal Writing Department.  During law school, Kristie served as judicial intern to the Honorable Reggie Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Honorable Judith Retchin of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  She earned her undergraduate degree from La Salle University. 

Prior to attending law school, Kristie was a legislative assistant to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and worked at a government relations firm where she represented nonprofit groups before the U.S. Congress and various federal agencies.

Experience

Publications

Montana Holds Insured’s Stipulated Judgment Was Collusive and Unreasonable [Alert]

February 05, 2019

Kristie M. Abel discusses how Abbey/Land demonstrates that an insurer can successfully contest such a judgment, however, the insurer needs to meet a high burden in order to prevail.

Prejudice Not Required in New Jersey To Deny Coverage for Late Notice Under a Claims Made Policy

March 02, 2016

Richard C. Mason and Kristie M. Abel discuss a recent decision by the Supreme Court of New Jersey that declared an insurance company was not required to show it suffered prejudice before disclaiming coverage on the basis of the insured's failure to give timely notice of the claim under a Directors and Officers claims made policy.

Supreme Court Rejects Presumption of Prudence for ESOP Fiduciaries [Global Insurance Alert]

July 10, 2014

On June 25, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States, in Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoffer, declared that no “presumption of prudence” applied to fiduciaries of “employee stock ownership plans” (ESOPs). In rejecting the defense-friendly standard, the high court noted that ESOP fiduciaries are subject to the same duty of prudence as any other ERISA fiduciary except that ESOP fiduciaries are not liable for losses that stem from a failure to diversify. The decision is also noteworthy in that it set forth guidelines for lower courts to follow at the motion to dismiss stage that will impact how plaintiffs are able to satisfy pleading requirements in cases against ESOP fiduciaries.

Goldman Ordered to Advance Defense Fees for Former Employee Accused of Stealing Computer Codes [Global Insurance Alert]

October 31, 2013

On October 16, 2013, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, in Aleynikov v. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., found that a former vice president and computer programmer was an “officer” of Goldman Sachs & Co., Inc. (GSCo), and therefore eligible for advancement of legal fees and expenses for his ongoing defense in a New York state criminal case, even though the criminal action concerned the theft of confidential GSCo property. The decision provides an interesting lesson in the differences between indemnification and advancement and who may be considered an officer for purposes of awarding indemnity and advancement.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

2022 Professional Liability Seminar

September 15, 2022 - New York, NY

2019 Professional Liability Seminar

October 03, 2019 - New York, NY

2014 Professional Liability Seminar

October 23, 2014 - New York, NY

Industry Sectors

Education

  • American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 2011
  • La Salle University, B.S., 2001

Awards & Honors

Selected to N.J. Super Lawyers 2019-2020. This award is conferred by Super Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Pennsylvania