Lian Skaf Associate

Lian Skaf is an associate in the Subrogation Department and practices exclusively in the field of property subrogation. He handles major property losses involving fires, water leaks, structural damage, product and construction defects and other catastrophic failures. He has worked in the field of subrogation for over seven years.

Lian is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has litigated cases in twelve other jurisdictions as lead counsel with the assistance of local counsel. He has experience both resolving matters prior to filing suit and litigating complex matters. Lian works with his clients to investigate the facts of a loss and develop a strategy for recovery, often from the day of a loss through completion. He has taken several cases through trial and has successfully mediated numerous others.

Prior to joining the firm, Lian served as law clerk to the Honorable Francine Axelrad in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. While in law school, he served as the Lead New Developments Editor for the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion, which published his note on mitigating evidence in capital murder cases. Lian also participated in the Rutgers Hunter Moot Court Competition, placing in the top ten oralists, and in the Rutgers Street Law program which sends law students to neighboring Camden schools to discuss legal principles. 

Lian is a certified arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He is also a blogger for The Subrogation Strategist, White and Williams' subrogation blog. 

Representative Matters

• Litigating 3-million dollar case on behalf of several insurance companies pertaining to an electrical fire in New Jersey. The matter involves complex litigation with several defendants and co-plaintiffs.

• Litigating 2-million dollar structural collapse case at a hydroelectric plant in New York. The case involves highly specialized construction design and implementation issues.

• Litigating a $700,000 house fire in New York.  This case involves complex legal issues, upon several of which we prevailed at the summary judgment phase.

• Represented insurance carrier and recovered favorable settlement in negligent construction and design matter in Florida

Recognition & Involvement

Lian handles cases for Philadelphia VIP, the hub of pro bono legal services in Philadelphia.