As Vice President—Senior Claims Counsel, Sonya Naar manages all aspects of members’ claims, including assessing, reserving, and resolving claims against our member firms.
Sonya works cooperatively with member firms and defense counsel to defend and resolve claims arising under our lawyer professional liability, employment liability, and management liability coverages. In her role, Sonya gauges risk, evaluates liability, and creates and executes effective litigation strategies. She has negotiated numerous favorable settlements resolving complex lawsuits and claims against ALAS assureds. Sonya also advises member firms on ways to minimize claims, resolve conflicts, and manage internal and external law firm risks.
Immediately prior to joining ALAS, Sonya was a trial lawyer and partner in the Chicago office of DLA Piper (US) LLP, where she co-chaired the firm’s e-discovery group and focused on business and commercial litigation. Sonya began her legal career in New Jersey at McCarter & English, LLP, before relocating to Chicago to join Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, as a litigation associate.
In private practice, Sonya conducted all phases of litigation, first- and second-chaired federal and state court trials nationwide, as well as domestic and international arbitrations, and she argued state and federal court appeals.
In 2006, Sonya was honored by the Illinois State Bar Association as its Young Lawyer of the Year and was named one of “40 Attorney’s Under Forty to Watch” by Law Bulletin. She sits on the board of Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, a nonprofit that advocates for an equitable, accessible, and fair court system in Illinois.
