The three-year appointment reflects Sargent’s extensive background in lawyers’ professional liability matters, including her ongoing service as President and CEO of Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company.
Oviedo, FL — Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company announced today that Cathleen M. Sargent, the Company’s President and CEO, has been appointed to the American Bar Association (ABA)’s Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability for a three-year term beginning in August 2023.
The Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability is a subset of the ABA’s Center for Professional Responsibility, which exists to consider and resolve pressing issues of professional responsibility and regulation for lawyers.
Members of the Committee lend their insight and perspective to addressing important, novel, or unresolved issues pertaining to lawyers’ professional liability. Additionally, they support the Committee in its goal of providing information and resources concerning legal malpractice — including claims statistics and prevention tips — to lawyers nationwide.
The Committee is also responsible for organizing the biannual national ABA Legal Malpractice Conference.
Sargent has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida Lawyers Mutual since April 1, 2022, having previously served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.
Prior to joining Florida Lawyers Mutual, Sargent spent 34 years at Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company of California (LMIC), where she developed decades of leadership experience and expertise in the field of lawyers professional liability insurance. During her tenure at LMIC, Sargent served as Vice President of Development and Outreach (two years), Vice President of Underwriting & Marketing (19 years), and General Counsel for Claims (13 years).
“Joining the ABA’s Standing Committee on Professional Liability is a tremendous honor,” said Sargent, “and I am gratified by this opportunity to meaningfully address issues of great importance to lawyers.”
“The current moment presents unique challenges and concerns for attorneys with respect to professional liability, risk management, cybercrime, and client service in a fast-changing practice landscape,” Sargent
added. “These are issues we have worked to keep top of mind for our members at Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the ABA Standing Committee in sharing insights and encouraging vigilance for lawyers nationwide.”
“By way of this appointment to the prestigious and impactful Standing Committee on Professional Liability, the ABA has signaled great confidence in President Sargent’s experience in diverse matters affecting lawyers today,” said Florida Lawyers Mutual Board Chair Ray Ferrero, Jr.
Ms. Sargent’s three-year appointment to the Standing Committee commences with the adjournment of the ABA’s 2023 Annual Meeting. Learn more about the ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyers_professional_liability/.
About Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
Created by The Florida Bar so that Florida lawyers would have a high-quality source for professional liability insurance, Florida Lawyers Mutual is the state’s only direct-write lawyers’ professional liability insurer and the only one created by The Florida Bar. A-rated by AM Best for Excellent Financial Strength and owned by its member lawyers, Florida Lawyers Mutual offers high-quality policy features (including a cyber liability endorsement at no additional premium cost), valuable membership benefits, and legendary member service. The Company recently declared its second consecutive annual member dividend and launched an extensive library of free CLE for its member lawyers, along with new resource centers for Cyber Security Risk Management and Lawyer Well-Being. The Company will celebrate its 35th anniversary next year. Learn more and get a quick, no-obligation premium
indication at www.flmic.com.