Attorneys

Philip L. Pillsbury, Jr., Founding Partner

A veteran trial lawyer with awards, settlements and verdicts totaling over $500 million, Mr. Pillsbury is driven by a commitment to assist those victimized by insurance companies and serving his community.  For more than 30 years, Mr. Pillsbury has focused his practice on representing policyholders in insurance bad faith and insurance coverage matters ranging from commercial general liability and property/business interruption to errors and omission and maritime insurance. Mr. Pillsbury represents small and large domestic and international companies, and individuals.

Highlights

• Obtained largest punitive damage award in California to be affirmed on appeal at that time.
  
• Obtained full coverage for over 50,000 underlying asbestos cases for acting as National Coordinating Counsel for national client.
  
• Frequent lecturer on insurance issues to attorney and non-attorney groups

Representative Recent Case Examples

Obtained $26.5 million verdict in Vann v. The Travelers, including $25 million in punitive damages. This verdict was one of the largest punitive damage awards in the country to be affirmed on appeal. (1998)

Represented hotel owner on claims under property policies for severe water damage to hotel resulting from construction defects.  Recovered millions of dollars from property insurers through long-term negotiations without necessity of a first party action. (2009)

Recovered full value of settlement paid by large corporation to resolve maritime asbestos claim after successfully defeating insurer's summary judgment. Also majority of attorney's fees paid by our client to obtain recovery. (2008)

Successfully negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement of a technology errors and omissions claim against national insurance company. (2006)

Resolved legal malpractice suit against law firm client after insurer rescinded policy by convincing the insurance company to contribute significantly towards a settlement and persuading the insurance company to withdraw its rescission. (2007)

Professional Affiliations

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
American Association for Justice
Consumer Attorneys of California
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association

Commitment to the Community

Chairman, St. Luke's Hospital Foundation
Board and Council Member, The Yosemite Fund
Trustee, Episcopal Charities
Trustee, The Brotherton Fund
Trustee, The Betts Fund
Trustee, The Thatcher School
Board of Visitors, Visitors of Lewis & Clark Law School 
Director, Hearst Castle Preservation Foundation

Recent Speaking Engagements

"Electronic Errors and Omissions" Technology Group Summit (May 2000)
Issues in Technology Errors and Omissions Claims Technology Industry Risk Forum (January 2007) 
Dialogue With Industry: Making the Technology E&O Claim Technology Industry Risk Forum   (February 2008)

Publications

Co--author, California Liability Insurance Litigation Practice (1991)
Negotiation and Settlements, contributing author, Continuing Education of the Bar (1990) and Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company (1992)
Civil Litigation Practice - Annual Updates, Continuing Education of the Bar, 1996-1998
Depositions of Expert Witnesses and Handling Trial Objections, co-author, Continuing Education of the Bar Series (1985)
Marine Insurance II:  From Generalities to Specifics Analysis of Extra Contractual Exposure in Specific Claims Situations, contributor, Pacific Admiralty Seminar (1990)
California Tort Damages, Continuing Education of the Bar (1988)
Handling Trial Objections, Continuing Education of the Bar (1988)
Compelling, Opposing and Enforcing Discovery in State Court, Continuing Education of the Bar (1985)

Education

J.D., cum laude, 1976, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College
Editor of the Law Review (Environmental Law)

Inducted into the Cornelius Honor Society (1976)
A.B., 1973, Middlebury College