 |
 |
 was formed in 2004 to provide corporate, business and individual client representation in legal matters concerning insurance coverage, placement and risk, insurance litigation, bad faith, business law, partnership law, real estate and construction defect law, affordable housing law and their related appellate proceedings. The firm has been AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell since its inception. The firm's offices are located in downtown San Diego, California minutes from the United States District Court for the Southern District as well as the California Superior and Appellate Courts, close to the San Diego International Airport and walking distance from the Sante Fe Train depot.
Michelle L. Burton and Robert D. Shoecraft opened the firm after many years of successful practice as partners in several large firms in San Diego. The firm was started out of the desire to provide direct, personal attention to the legal needs of their clients in recognition that "large law firms" are not always the best provider of legal services. The lawyer with the most skill, knowledge and expertise often is not involved in the legal representation when it matters the most. The firm was established in the belief that the best results for clients are achieved when the attorney retained to represent the client does so from inception to conclusion. It is through the day to day personal involvement in the legal representation and attention to detail by the attorneys with the most expertise that has allowed the firm to consistently obtain the very best results for its clients.
Over the course of a combined 36 years experience in both the defense and prosecution of complex insurance, construction, real estate and business litigation, Ms. Burton and Mr. Shoecraft have successfully represented hundreds of individuals and corporate clients, developers, policyholders and beneficiaries as well as myriad insurance professionals, including major national and international retail and wholesale insurance brokers and insurers in all types of matters, including arbitration, mediation, trial and appellate proceedings.
The members of the firm have extensive expertise in the area of real estate development, affordable housing, insurance bad faith and insurance broker malpractice, including the duties and responsibilities of brokers in placement of coverage and the handling of claims. Their experience in coverage reviews and litigation of coverage matters and bad faith claims extends to all manner of insurance, including Directors & Officers, Professional Errors & Omissions, General and Excess Liability, Property, Marine, Environmental Liability, Life and Disability, Automobile, Fidelity, Crime, and Provider Excess Stop Loss, to name a few.
The firm also assists clients in risk assessment, risk transfer and management. Mr. Shoecraft has acted as an expert witness in insurance coverage cases and has lectured around the country for clients in matters related to coverage and broker malpractice.
The members of the firm have acted as lead appellate counsel in numerous cases and have several published decisions establishing important legal precedent involving complex coverage and construction issues. They have tried many complex matters to jury verdict and defended numerous clients against claims totaling in excess of $100 million. As lead trial counsel in one matter Mr. Shoecraft obtained a $5 million verdict on behalf of an insurance broker and its client.
The firm represents a number of diverse business interests including several national public companies. These clients include Marsh, one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the world. Other representative clients include Leucadia National Corporation, Home Fed Corporation, and The McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies, including Pacific Specialty Insurance Company.
welcomes the opportunity to discuss a client's important legal needs and bring the full talents of its office to assist in personally and expeditiously resolving any legal issue in the client's favor while doing so in a cost effective manner. |
|
 |
|
