Craig S. Simon

Craig S. Simon is the Managing Partner at Berger Kahn. With broad trial experience representing insurers, financial companies, and business owners, Craig proudly serves as 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 consults with businesses, insurers and financial companies on improving processes to avoid litigation.

Earning a strong track record of success in resolving the most difficult cases, Craig has acted as lead trial attorney in dozens of cases before federal and state court juries and in arbitrations across the country. He is accustomed to handling matters of exceptional complexity, including nationwide class actions and multidistrict litigation.

Particularly accomplished in defending companies in litigation involving punitive damages, Craig honed his talent through years of dedication to this specific area of practice. Working closely with clients, jury consultants, and graphic designers, and employing mock trials and focus groups, Craig strategically develops powerful and persuasive litigation themes that resonate with juries.

Craig is licensed in both California and Texas, two of the most wildfire-prone areas, contributing to his broad experience, success, and unique qualifications as an esteemed subrogrator, litigator, and attorney.

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.

In 2021, Craig was awarded the prestigious California Lawyer of the Year Award for his work as Co-Lead Counsel for the subrogation plaintiffs in the Woolsey Fire $2.2 billion settlement. In addition, the Daily Journal named Craig among the “Top 100″ Attorneys in California for helping to achieve a $950 million settlement involving California wildfire-related cases on behalf of homeowner insurance carriers. Named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2015-present for his demonstration of excellence in his practice of law, Craig is also recognized to the list of Southern California Super Lawyers, with frequent recognition to the “Top 50 Orange County,” and “Top 100 Southern California” Super Lawyers lists.

Craig began his career consulting with insurance companies. His experience includes:

  • Assisting insurers in the adoption and implementation of procedures for the handling of claims, including the drafting of claims manuals, guidelines and policies.
  • Representing carriers in first-party claims In the area of property insurance. He has distinguished himself in fire and arson claims and litigation arising from such claims.
  • Representing numerous insurers in the area of insurance coverage in difficult duty-to-defend litigation, which presents unique “case-within-a-case” evidence issues.
  • Defending against the global attacks being made on the industry in the area of life and annuity sales. Craig has defended both individual and class actions.
  • Serving as a consultant and expert witness in disputed insurance matters for both the plaintiff and defense Bar.

Craig is a frequent lecturer before industry-specific audiences, including Charter Property Casualty Underwriters, 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.

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. He is the rare attorney who has served with steadfast loyalty to one firm his entire legal career and he possesses the institutional knowledge that accompanies his five decades leading Berger Kahn.

He and his wife live in Irvine, California.

Loyola Law School (JD, 1977)
University of California, Los Angeles, cum laude (BA, 1974)
California
Texas
U.S. District Court, Central, Southern and Northern Districts of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Orange County Bar Association
National Association of Subrogation Professionals
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
California Lawyer Attorney of the Year 2021
“America’s Top 100 Attorneys” Lifetime Achievement Honor
Top 100 Attorneys in California for 2010 by the Daily Journal
Best Lawyers in America 2023
Best Lawyers in America 2022
Best Lawyers in America 2021
Best Lawyers in America 2020
Best Lawyers in America 2019
Best Lawyers in America 2018
Best Lawyers in America 2017
Best Lawyers in America 2016
Best Lawyers in America 2015
Legal Leaders Top Rated Lawyers – Insurance, 2016
Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2022
Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2015
Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2014
Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2013
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2022
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2021
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2020
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2019
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2018
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2017
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2016
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2015
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2014
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2013
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2012
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2011
Top 50 Orange County Southern California Super Lawyers 2010
2022 Southern California Super Lawyers
2021 Southern California Super Lawyers
2020 Southern California Super Lawyers
2019 Southern California Super Lawyers
2018 Southern California Super Lawyers
2017 Southern California Super Lawyers
2016 Southern California Super Lawyers
2015 Southern California Super Lawyers
2014 Southern California Super Lawyers
2013 Southern California Super Lawyers
2012 Southern California Super Lawyers
2011 Southern California Super Lawyers
2010 Southern California Super Lawyers
2009 Southern California Super Lawyers
Berger Kahn's Craig Simon Featured in Law360's "Colorado Cases To Watch in 2024"
Law360 – January 1, 2023

Berger Kahn Represents Plaintiffs in Consolidated Lawsuits Over 2021 Wildfire
Law360 – September 6, 2023

Berger Kahn Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
Best Lawyers – September 5, 2023

Berger Kahn Recognized in the OCBA News for The Best Lawyers in America 2023
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) – March 27, 2023

Best Lawyers in America Names Berger Kahn Attorneys to 2023 List, Including Managing Partner Craig Simon, Shareholders Sherman Spitz, Stephan Cohn, David Ezra, and Partner Roberta Winston
Best Lawyers – August 18, 2022

Managing Partner Craig Simon Featured in the Los Angeles Daily Journal for “Mass tort, inverse condemnation suits eyed after Coastal Fire” On Aliso Viejo Coastal Fire
Los Angeles Daily Journal – June 6, 2022

Berger Kahn Attends the OCBA Charitable Fund’s Annual Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble and Dinner Social
Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund – June 6, 2022

Berger Kahn Attorneys Named to Top Lists of Southern California Super Lawyers 2022
Super Lawyers – January 20, 2022

Berger Kahn Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2022 List Including Managing Partner Craig Simon and Shareholders Sherman Spitz, Stephan Cohn and David Ezra
Best Lawyers – August 19, 2021

Managing Partner Craig Simon Featured by UCLA Alumni Association
UCLA Alumni – June 25, 2021

Loyola Law School Features Managing Partner Craig Simon for CLAY Award
Loyola Law School – April 26, 2021

Associated Press Features Managing Partner Craig Simon Winning CLAY Award
Associated Press – March 23, 2021

Los Angeles Daily Journal Awards Craig Simon California Lawyer Attorney of the Year 2021
Associated Press – Los Angeles Daily Journal – March 22, 2021

Boston Herald Highlights California Lawyer of the Year Award Recognition to Managing Partner Craig Simon
Boston Herald – March 19, 2021

International Business Times Spotlights CLAY Award Recipient Craig Simon
International Business Times – March 19, 2021

California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Awards Berger Kahn Managing Partner Craig Simon
California Lawyer – March 17, 2021

Berger Kahn Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2021 Lists Including Managing Partner Craig Simon and Shareholders Sherman Spitz, Stephan Cohn and David Ezra
Best Lawyers – February 17, 2021

Managing Partner Craig Simon Was Featured for $2.2B Woolsey Fire Settlement in ALM “Critical Mass”
ALM – February 1, 2021

Claims Journal Features for $2.2B Settlement
Claims Journal – February 1, 2021

California Globe Highlights Managing Partner Craig Simon’s $2.2B Settlement With SCE
California Globe – February 1, 2021

ABC7 Features Woolsey $2.2B Settlement
ABC7 Eyewitness News – January 27, 2021

Los Angeles Daily Journal Features Managing Partner Craig Simon for $2.2B Woolsey Settlement
L.A. Daily Journal – January 26, 2021

FoxLA Highlights Managing Partner Craig Simon in $2.2B Woolsey Fire Settlement with SCE
FoxLA – January 25, 2021

Woolsey $2.2 Billion Settlement Featured in LA Times
Los Angeles Times – January 25, 2021

Associated Press Highlights Craig Simon of Berger Kahn as “Key Negotiator” in $2.2B Settlement
Associated Press – January 25, 2021

Settlement of $2.2 Billion Reached in Woolsey Fire Subrogation Cases
Berger Kahn – January 25, 2021
Managing Partner Craig Simon Serves as Co-Chair at the 2018 National Wildland Fire Conference
2018 National Wildland Fire Conference March 9, 2018

Managing Partner Craig Simon Speaks at the California Wildfire Litigation Conference
National Wildfire Litigation Fire Conference February 27, 2018

Public Speaking and Presenting in Front of a Jury
California State University San Bernardino November 29, 2017

Attacking and Supporting Subrogation Damages in Wildland Fire Cases
Wildland Fire Conference April 22, 2017

Fostering Communication and Cooperation Between the Public Adjuster and the Carrier
National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters Annual Meeting June 17, 2016

Consumer Class Actions in Defective Plumbing Products and How They Affect Subrogation Rights
National Association of Subrogation Professionals Web Seminar February 9, 2016

Bad Faith and Extra Contractual Claims
Seminar Group Construction Defect Insurance Law Conference January 29, 2016

Say What you Mean, Mean What You Say – A Mock Deposition Exercise and Discussion
Southern California Fraud Investigators Board November 5, 2015

The 30(b)(6)/Corporate Designee/PMK Deposition in Wildland Fire Cases: Tips for Taking and Defending
Wildland Fire Litigation Conference May 1-3, 2015

Preparing the Witness
National Business Institute December 9, 2014

Case Management Orders in Complex Litigation
Wildland Fire Litigation Conference April 26, 2014

NASP 2013 ‘Set Sail for Subro’
National Association of Subrogation Professionals November 4, 2013

Bad Faith and Appraisal Process
American Conference Institute’s 24th Annual National Advanced Forum on Bad Faith Litigation April 30, 2013

Being Deposed: 1,000 Tips for Helping Yourself in Deposition: Using Inverse Condemnation for Maximum Recovery in Fire Cases
California Conference of Arson Investigators March 26, 2013

NASP 2012 Annual Conference Cirque du Subro
National Association of Subrogation Professionals November 12, 2012

Business Interruption Issues in Catastrophic Claims
American Bar Association Property Insurance Law Committee Spring Program April 28, 2012

Subrogation Issues in Wildland Fire Litigation
6th Annual Wildland Fire Litigation Conference April 21, 2012

24th Annual Combined Claims Conference
Wildland Fire Litigation March 13, 2012

Berger Kahn Sponsors the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund Annual Benefit 2021
Berger Kahn sponsors the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund Annual Benefit. This support was spearheaded by Managing Partner Craig Simon and his wife, Joan.