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Craig S. Simon | Managing Principal
csimon@bergerkahn.com
Orange County
Craig S. Simon is the managing principal at Berger Kahn. He has broad trial experience representing insurers, financial companies, and business owners. Craig is National Subrogation Counsel to a top nationwide insurer, helping to oversee recovery challenges across the country. Accomplished at handling large subrogation cases against major manufacturers and regulated utilities in mass tort events, Craig also serves as a business consultant to insurers and financial companies, helping them improve their processes to avoid litigation.
Craig has been lead trial attorney in dozens of cases before federal and state court juries and arbitrations across the country, and has a strong track record of success in resolving the most difficult cases. He is accustomed to handling matters of exceptional complexity, such as nationwide class actions and multidistrict litigation. Craig is particularly accomplished in defending companies in litigation involving punitive damages, a talent honed through years of dedication to this specific area
of practice. Working closely with clients, jury consultants and graphic designers and utilizing mock trials and focus groups, Craig is highly skilled at developing powerful and persuasive litigation themes and strategies that resonate with juries.
Craig enjoys litigating cases, especially those that are complicated or involve novel theories, whether the underlying matter is a
business dispute or one involving insurance.
He has been recognized by his peers as a Southern California Super Lawyer in the areas of General Litigation and Insurance Coverage for the past two years. In 2010, he was named one of the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for receiving the highest point totals in the 2010 Southern California Super Lawyers ballot.
Craig began his career consulting with insurance companies. His
experience includes:
- Craig assists insurers in the adoption and implementation of
procedures for the handling of claims, including the drafting of claims
manuals, guidelines and policies.
- In the area of property insurance, he has considerable experience
representing carriers in first-party claims. He has distinguished himself
in fire and arson claims and litigation arising from such claims.
- In the area of insurance coverage, Craig has represented numerous
insurers in difficult duty-to-defend litigation, which presents unique
"case-within-a-case" evidence issues.
- In the area of life and annuity sales, Craig has considerable
experience in defending against the global attacks being made on the
industry, and has defended both individual and class actions.
- Craig serves as a consultant and expert witness in disputed insurance
matters for both the plaintiff and defense bar.
Craig joined Berger Kahn as a law clerk in 1975, became a principal in
1981, and in 1984 opened the firm's Orange County Office.
A frequent lecturer before industry-
specific audiences, including C.P.C.U., International Association of
Special Investigative Units, The Insurance Committee for Arson Control,
the International Association of Arson Investigators, and Public Risk
Management Association. Craig also lectures before lawyer groups on trial
tactics in cases involving punitive damages. He is actively involved in
issues concerning law practice management and lectures on ways to improve
client relations.
A graduate of Loyola Law School (JD, 1977), Craig earned his
undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (BA,
cum laude, 1974). He is admitted to the State Bar of California, the U.S.
District Courts for the Central, Southern and Northern Districts of
California and the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Craig and his wife Joan have three children and live in Irvine, California.
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