Charles W. Browning, Co-Chair of the Insurance Coverage Practice Group at Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s largest law firms, will soon receive national recognition for coordinating a leading national bar conference.

The DRI — The Voice of the Defense Bar will present Browning with the Albert H. Parnell Outstanding Program Chair Award at a luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20 during the 2016 DRI Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. The award is presented annually to honor an individual who created a particularly dynamic educational program.

“This award was a complete surprise,” said Browning who chaired the DRI’s Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium on Dec. 3 - 5, 2015, in New York City. “It was a challenging conference to coordinate with over 750 attendees, numerous presentations, meetings and other gatherings, but I enjoyed working with all of my colleagues and speakers. It turned out to be a great event.”The DRI named its award in honor of Albert Parnell, a longtime member who was instrumental in shaping the scope and design of the organization’s conferences. In addition to spearheading dynamic programs, Parnell honorees are selected based on how well they led and participated in the effective planning, marketing and presentation of educational programs. Award recipients must also display leadership, dedication and creativity in developing DRI programs.

DRI is an international organization with over 50,000 lawyer members involved in the defense of civil litigation. DRI is committed to enhancing the skills, effectiveness and professionalism of defense lawyers; anticipating and addressing issues germane to defense lawyers and the civil justice system; promoting appreciation of the rolls of the defense lawyer and improving the civil justice system and preserving the civil jury.

A member of the firm’s Board of Directors, Browning is known nationally for his experience and expertise in the area of insurance coverage and related litigation. He has the distinction of serving as coverage counsel for several leading property and casualty insurance companies, and he appears regularly in court to represent his clients throughout the country.

The Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers perennially include Browning as a top practitioner in his area of expertise. He is a Fellow in the American College of Coverage and Extra Contractual Counsel and a member of DRI’s Insurance Law Committee. Browning is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (Casualty Insurance Committee (Chair 2006-2008) and Reinsurance and Excess and Surplus Lines Committee); Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (Insurance Committee) and the American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Torts and Insurance Practice Section). He is also a member of the Board of Editors of the Defense Counsel Journal.

Plunkett Cooney is recognized as one of the nation’s leading law firms for insurance coverage litigation. In addition to their coverage litigation expertise, Plunkett Cooney attorneys work with their clients to develop new insurance products and to address emerging theories of legal liability.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney is a leading provider of transactional and litigation services to clients in the private and public sectors. The firm employs approximately 145 attorneys in nine Michigan cities, Chicago, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. Plunkett Cooney has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading, international directory of law firms.For more information about Charles Browning’s selection as the DRI 2017 Outstanding Program Chair Award recipient, contact Plunkett Cooney’s Director of Marketing & Business Development John Cornwell at (248) 901-4008; jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com.

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