As an expert, former head of claims Stephen Johnson presents as a product at the highest level of the insurance industry. Following law school and private practice, in the 1980s and 1990s he was directing defenses of bad faith and coverage litigation nationally as an insurance company executive and developed a keen sense for litigation strategies and claim handling analyses. In those years, Stephen was also responsible for claims compliance, training, claims auditing, reinsurance and recommending claims handling procedures. In the 2000s and 2010s he went on to become a two-time chief claims executive, with all claims personnel and functions reporting to him. He has been on boards of directors and in the C-Suite of insurers. As the apex claims officer, Stephen had sole responsibility for knowing and applying best industry claims handling practices and standards for his claims staffs which made him a claims customs and practices expert long before he started expert witnessing. Most claims experts were not at that level and did not have that responsibility, which gives him an advantage in a battle of customs and practices experts in bad faith, coverage disputes and other insurance cases. He has been retained as an expert in five time zones, across a variety of disputes in dozens of states, including class actions. His attorney roots and public speaking experience help him in understanding and addressing issues presented in litigation and arbitration and performing expert witness functions at the highest levels. His expert clients have included insurers, third-party claims administrators, policyholders/insureds, assignees, and agent/brokers. Stephen enjoys experting on both sides of the aisle. Additionally, he provides services as an arbiter or arbitration umpire.