Sedgwick LLP Welcomes Trial Team in Orange County

IRVINE, Calif., May 26, 2016 -- Sedgwick LLP is pleased to announce that a nationally regarded litigation group comprising Margaret "Peggy" Holm (Partner), Robert Zermeno (Partner), Allyson Ascher (Associate) and Christopher Hall (Associate) have joined the firm's Orange County office.

The team is led by an exceptional trial lawyer, Peggy Holm, who has tried in excess of 150 civil jury trials to verdict, and has resolved countless other matters through binding arbitration, mediation, dispositive motions and outright dismissals. Holm has defended employers in a wide array of claims and has been called upon by healthcare organizations and providers, other licensed professionals, public entities, property and business owners, insurers and agents and national sporting associations to defend them in complex, catastrophic, high-damages cases involving allegations of malpractice, abuse, neglect and fraud, among others. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is the third woman in the nation to be elevated to the prestigious rank of Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, which requires a minimum of 100 jury trials. She has been repeatedly recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and the Daily Journal and was named an Orange County Lawyer of the Year for 2016 by Best Lawyers. She has received the OC ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year twice and has been recognized as a Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Lawyer in America.

"Our firm has earned a reputation as a go-to litigation and trial law firm by winning cases and providing clients with favorable results, and Peggy and her team are cut from the same cloth," Sedgwick Chair Michael Healy said. "We're confident in their abilities and look forward to having them enhance the quality and scope of service we provide to our clients and sharing their depth of experience and knowledge with our partners and associates."

A Super Lawyers "Rising Star," Robert Zermeno focuses his practice on defending and counseling clients against professional negligence, healthcare law, employment, insurance and breach of contract claims. In addition to first chair and second chair trial experience, Zermeno is also experienced in dispute resolution and has successfully resolved actions via arbitrations, mediations, informal settlement negotiations and dismissals. Zermeno also assists clients in risk management, contract formation and negotiation, and construction law.

The group also includes associates, Allyson Ascher and Christopher Hall. Ascher focuses her practice on medical and hospital malpractice defense, employment and general liability matters. She is also experienced in dispute resolution and appeals. Hall's practice includes civil litigation, involving traumatic, high-exposure claims of medical negligence, motor vehicle liability, premises liability, general liability and construction litigation.

All four attorneys join Sedgwick from Bonne Bridges. Holm earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of California, San Diego. Zermeno earned his J.D. from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego and his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ascher graduated cum laude from Chapman University School of Law. She also graduated cum laude from Chapman University with a B.A. Hall received his J.D. from Western State University College of Law and his B.A from California State University, Fullerton.

About Sedgwick LLP
Sedgwick LLP provides trial, appellate, litigation management, counseling, risk management and transactional legal services to the world's leading companies. With offices in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Kansas City, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, Orange County (Calif.), San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., and an affiliated office in Bermuda, Sedgwick's collective experience spans the globe and virtually every industry. For more information about Sedgwick, its lawyers and the services it provides, visit www.sedgwicklaw.com.

CONTACT: Caran Smith, 816.423.2117