Attorney Profiles

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. Mr. Pillsbury represents small and large domestic and international companies, and individuals.

Representative Case Examples

Obtained $26.5 million verdict in Vann v. The Travelers, including $25 million in punitive damages. This verdict is 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 lawsuit. (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Resolved legal malpractice suit against law firm client after insurer rescinded policy by convincing the insurance company to contribute significantly towards a settlement and persuading the insurance company to withdraw its rescission.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

Member, American Association for Justice
Member, Consumer Attorneys of California
Member, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association

Commitment to the Community

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

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