1. KOBI L. GIBBS
ALPS Property & Casualty Insurance Company
Work: 406-523-3895 / Cell: 406-370-9520 / E-Mail: KGIBBS@ALPSNET.COM
Bar Admission: Montana
Licensed Independent Adjuster: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho,
Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands,
Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming
EXPERIENCE
SENIORCLAIMSATTORNEY
ALPS PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, INC. April2004 – Present
Manages and resolves complex, high exposure professional liability claims against attorneys; claims routinely
involve demands for policy limits and excess policy limits requiring time sensitive decision making skills which
protect both the Insured and Company.
Processes EPLI and CYBER claims.
Reviews legal malpractice claims for coverage and drafts appropriate reservation of rights or denial of coverage
letters. Sets reserves within authority limitup to $250,000; Settles claims under settlement authority of
$150,000. Prepares Claim Action Summary reports for discussionand additional settlement or reserving
authority above $150,000/$250,000.
Evaluates the risk presented by each file as early as possible; incorporates a defense strategy which utilizes
creative options, defense counsel’s local knowledge and law of the jurisdiction; prepares cost benefit analysis
considering Insured’s policy coverage and exclusions, cost of defense through ultimate resolution and risk of loss;
makes recommendations/decisions based on current/incomplete information for how best to proceed.
Attends mediations and trials. Hires defense counsel; manages litigation and defense costs; positions claims for
efficient and effective resolution. Reports high exposure and policy limits claims to reinsurers under applicable
reinsurance treaty and answers questions from reinsurers regarding risk of excess exposure.
Cultivates and maintains successful, long-term working relationships with defense counsel and Insureds. Attends
and presents CLE at ABA, DRI, Eagle International, and ALFA Conferences to maintain and foster new
relationships with industry professionals.
DEPUTYCOUNTY PUBLICDEFENDER
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE December2001-April2004
Represented indigent felony clients in District Court from initial arraignment through trial and sentencing.
Caseload averaged 120-150 active cases; sample cases ranged from possession of methamphetamine with intent
to distribute to deliberate homicide.
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
HERNDON,SWEENEY,&HALVERSON – Billings,MT April 2001-November2001
Drafted wills, trusts, and commercial documents. Conducted legal research and writing on estate and tax
planning, real estate and business transactions, and insurance defense. Handled probates. Extensive client
contact and responsibility for my own files.
EDUCATION
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, SALEM, OR December2000
JURIS DOCTORATE & CERTIFICATE IN DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Moot Court Board – 1998-1999
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MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, BOZEMAN, MT May1997
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONORS - ECONOMICS
“Most Improved” Montana State Women’s Tennis Team- 1994
Semester Abroad at University of Melbourne, Australia
SPEAKING ENGAGMENTS
Strategic Considerations and Practical Solutions for Managing Employment-Related and Professional Liability Claims,
June 8-10, 2016, The Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, New York, New York –Hosted by ALFA International’s Insurance Law,
Labor & Employment, and Professional Liability Practice Groups
Panel Speaker- “Can We Fix This? Going to Trial With a DifficultCase: Mock Trial
ALPS Property & Casualty Insurance Company – CLE and Webinar, February 17, 2016
Speaker- “What Every Lawyer is Terrible At, Except You. Right?” Understanding the File Documentation Problem
Eagle International Associates, CLE Seminar, May 14-15, 2015, Chicago, IL
AVOIDING THE BLUES IN CHICAGO: Successfully Resolving Claims and Escaping the Muddy Waters of Litigation.
Panel Speaker - “More Heat In the Hot House: The Professional as a Client and Insured.”
University of Wyoming Law School CLE and Webinar, January 8, 2014, Laramie, WY
WELCOME TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF YOUR BAR COMPLAINT
Speaker – “Bar Complaints - Are They On The Rise? What You Can Do To Protect Yourself and Your Firm.”
State Bar of Montana’s Child and Family Law Section and CLE Institute, October 13, 2006, Fairmont Hotsprings, MT.
Speaker- “Current Malpractice Issues/Ways to Minimize your Risk.”
Annual Bench-Bar Conference, CLE Institute State Bar of Montana, February 25, 2005, Bozeman, MT.
Speaker - “Malpractice Developments Involving Current Technology.”
BOARD POSITIONS / COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Board of Directors- Jadyn Fred Foundation 2014-Present
Assists Executive Director with fund raising and coordination of Annual Jadyn Fred Dinner/Auction and Golf
Tournament; reviews and makes decisions on applications for foundation assistance by families with children
diagnosed with cancer; attends board meetings and foundation events.
Air Service Task Force 2015-Present
Serves on committee working with the MissoulaEconomic Partnership and Missoula Airport Authority to create,
initiate and fund a sustainable Revenue Guarantee which will enable Missoula to provide year round air service by
low cost carriers as well as direct flights to additional cities throughout the country out of Missoula.
