Attorney Profiles - Partner

HARVEY T. ELAM

PRACTICE AREAS
Harvey Elam primarily represents commercial insurers in coverage matters and extracontractual ("bad faith") litigation. His practice also includes a variety of contractual and tort litigation, ranging from construction defects claims and related subcontractor disputes to employment litigation and defense of environmental matters.

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Elam has 18 years of experience resolving insurance disputes and civil litigation, and providing related advice. This encompasses both commercial insurance and personal lines coverages and claims handling, including Commercial General Liability, Commercial Property, Environmental, Commercial Automobile, Employment Practices Liability, Homeowners, Life, Health, Disability, Accidental Death and Personal Automobile policies, at both primary and excess levels. He has particularly extensive experience with the application and development of insurance policy forms and endorsements, including both standard (ISO) forms and manuscript policies. His experience ranges from transactional advice prior to loss through complex coverage opinions and litigation through trial to judgment.

MAJOR INSURANCE CASE INVOLVEMENT
City and County of San Francisco v. ARCO
Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) v. Admiral Ins. Co.
Fibreboard Corp. v. Continental Casualty Co.

EDUCATION
Mr. Elam earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Boalt Hall at the University of California at Berkeley in 1984. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1979.

ACTIVITIES
Mr. Elam has conducted many public presentations on risk management and insurance issues, ranging from seminars to talk show presentations. He recently designed a program for KALW 91.7 FM "Your Legal Rights" regarding consumer insurance concerns and appeared as a panelist. Mr. Elam is also a member of the Forest Landowners of California and an avid camper, hiker and outdoorsman.

ADMISSIONS
Mr. Elam is admitted to practice in California (1984) and Oregon (1994). He is also admitted to the USDC Northern, Central and Eastern Districts of California.