Robert J. McKennon
Top rated Insurance Coverage attorney in Newport Beach, California
Practice Areas:
Insurance coverage,
Employee benefits,
Business litigation,
Bad faith insurance
Education Qualification:
University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Practice Areas:
Insurance coverage,
Employee benefits,
Business litigation,
Bad faith insurance
20321 Southwest Birch Street, Suite 200Newport Beach, California, 92660
First Admitted: 1986, California
Professional Webpage: https://mslawllp.com/attorneys/mckennon-robert-j/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- The State Bar of California, 1986
- American Bar Association
- Orange County Bar Association
- ABA’s Tort and Insurance Law Committee
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Celtic Bar Association
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Listed on mckennonlawgroup.com under "Success Stories."
Representative Clients:
- Listed on mckennonlawgroup.com
Honors/Awards:
- Named as Corporate LiveWire’s Global Awards Newport Beach, California “Insurance & Reinsurance” Lawyer of the Year, 2016
- Named as one of Orange County Register Metro’s Top Attorneys, 2014
- Awarded the designation of 2014 “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor and Employment”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Awarded the designation of 2014 “Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Named as Southern California Super Lawyer as one of California’s top insurance attorneys, 2014
- Awarded the designation of 2014 “Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law and Coverage”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Awarded the designation of 2013 “Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law and Coverage”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Named as one of Orange County Register Metro’s Top Attorneys, 2013
- Named in the Business Edition 2012 Thomson Reuters/Super Lawyers annual list of the nation’s top attorneys in business practice areas
- Awarded the designation of “2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Awarded the designation of 2012-2013 “Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Rated AV Preeminent in Insurance Law by his peers
- Rated AV Preeminent in Insurance Law by his peers, an achievement of Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. Named as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” as one of California’s top attorneys. Fewer than 5% of attorneys nationwide are awarded this status. Mr. McKennon has received this Southern California Super Lawyer designation every year since 2011. Mr. McKennon was recognized as a top insurance coverage lawyer in part for his experience in handling and litigating disability insurance, life insurance and health insurance cases for over 30 years. Named in the Business Edition of Thomson Reuters/Super Lawyers annual list of the nation’s top attorneys in business practice areas. Distinguished Lawyer Designation© from the Expert Network which is only conferred upon the Top 3% of Lawyers in the United States. Selected as Insurance Litigation Law Firm of the Year – United States in 2016 and 2017 by Lawyers Worldwide Magazine.Awarded the annual designation of “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor and Employment” and “Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell, leading providers of news and rating information to the legal industry. Mr. McKennon received this top award for his and his firm’s work representing ERISA plan participants/insureds in disability insurance, life insurance and health insurance litigation. Awarded the designation of “Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Litigation” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell, leading providers of news and rating information to the legal industry. Named as Corporate LiveWire’s Global Awards 2016 Newport Beach, California “Insurance & Reinsurance” Lawyer of the Year. The 2016 Corporate LiveWire Global Awards celebrate the achievements of the most successful individuals, companies and organizations in the Americas, Europe, Asia & Australasia, Africa & the Middle East, over the past year. Award categories include a wide variety of specialist fields including insurance, intellectual property, company formations and family law. The Global Awards honor those who stand out for consistently showing best practice in every aspect of their work and who have excelled within their practice areas. Awarded AVVO’s highest rating of “Superb,” 10.0 out of a possible 10.0, which also highlights an attorney’s competence, ethical conduct, professional ability, diligence and overall performance. Named by the American Society of Legal Advocates as one of the top 100 Insurance lawyers in the State of California every year since 2013. The American Society of Legal Advocates is an invitation-only, nationwide organization of top lawyers in practice today who combine excellent legal credentials with a proven commitment to community engagement and the highest professional standards. Named as Corporate LiveWire’s Global Awards 2015 Orange County, California Insurance & Risk Management Lawyer of the Year. The annual Global Awards Lawyer of the Year recognition honors the achievements of those individuals that have consistently shown best practice and demonstrated general excellence in every endeavor on a global and national level. Named as one of Orange County Register Metro’s Top Attorneys. Featured in the issues of Corporate Counsel magazine and The National Law Journal, both of which feature the Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance Law.
- Distinguished Lawyer Designation© from the Expert Network which is only conferred upon the Top 3% of Lawyers in the United States
- Recognized as one of the top 100 Insurance lawyers in the State of California, The American Society of Legal Advocates, 2016
- Awarded the designation of 2013, 2014, 2015 “Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law and Coverage”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Awarded AVVO’s rating of “Superb,” 10.0 out of a possible 10.0
- Awarded the designation of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 “Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Awarded the designation of 2015 “Top Rated Lawyer in Labor and Employment” and 2015 “Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
- Named in the Business Edition 2015 Thomson Reuters/Super Lawyers annual list of the nation’s top attorneys in business practice areas.
- Selected as Insurance Litigation Law Firm of the Year – United States, Lawyers Worldwide Magazine, 2016
- Awarded the designation of 2016 “Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance”, American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell
Educational Background:
- California State University, Fullerton, with honors, B.A., 1982
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Insolvency of Insurers, California Insurance Law and Practice, Matthew Bender (1986-1992)
- Insurers turn to drones, Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 18, 2016)
- 9th: “Independent” Physicians may Favor Insurers, Los Angeles Daily Journal (September 9, 2016)
- 9th Circuit OKs Multiple Claims for Relief under ERISA, Los Angeles Daily Journal (June 8, 2016)
- When is Insurer’s Delay a Breach?, Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 27, 2015)
- Supreme Court Ramps Up Interest in ERISA, Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 6, 2015)
- Examine the “Reasonable Expectations of the Insured,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (September 22, 2015)
- When Insurers Rescind, They Must Act Fast, Los Angeles Daily Journal (April 1, 2015)
- Expanding Equitable Remedies in ERISA Cases, Los Angeles Daily Journal (January 8, 2015)
- Case highlights importance of agent-broker distinction, Los Angeles Daily Journal (September 11, 2014)
- New Liability For Claims Adjusters the Right Move, Los Angeles Daily Journal (April 21, 2014)
- Policyholder Wins Handed Down In Insurance Decisions, Los Angeles Daily Journal (February 10, 2014)
- Equitable Remedies Gain Favor in ERISA Cases, Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 21, 2013)
- Clearing Up Murky Waters: Insurer’s Duty to Settle, Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 29, 2013)
- Clear win for insureds, though scope uncertain, Los Angeles Daily Journal (August. 7, 2013)
- Insurance Brokers’ Duties to Third Parties Continue to Shrink, Los Angeles Daily Journal (May 1, 2013)
- Insurance Agents Key to Insurer Liability, Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 1, 2012)
- Equitable Relief in the Ninth Circuit Just Got Better for Consumers, Los Angeles Daily Journal (July 11, 2012)
- Boon or Bust for Employee Rights Under ERISA Plans, Los Angeles Daily Journal (June 3, 2011)
- In ERISA Cases, The Standard of Review Really Does Matter, Los Angeles Daily Journal (December 6, 2010)
- The Waiver Doctrine, Alive And Well in ERISA Cases, Los Angeles Daily Journal (August 11, 2010)
- Differential Standard of Review in ERISA Cases Clarified, Los Angeles Daily Journal, (May 4, 2010)
- ERISA Plan Administrators Take Heed, Los Angeles Daily Journal (February 10, 2010)
- Accidental Injury vs. Sickness Provisions in Disability Policies, Defense Research Institute(2009).
- Disability Cases: The Requirement for Regular and Appropriate Care, Defense, Defense Research Institute (2004)
- Managing and Litigating Mental-Nervous Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute (2003)
- Introduction to Disability Fraud, Western Claims Conference (2003)
- The Requirement for Regular and Appropriate Care in Disability Cases, American Conference Institute (2002)
- Recent Developments: The Contestable Clause, Bad Faith and Punitive Damages, Southern Claims Conference (2002)
- Special Investigative Unit Training Manual (2002)
- The Public Policy Defense: The New Frontier in Disability Insurance Litigation, American Conference Institute (2000)
- Litigating the Bad Faith Case, American Conference Institute (2000)
- Insurance Sales on the Internet: A Work in Progress, International Insurance Law Review (May 1998)
- California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations Manual (1997)
- Contestable Life Claims, Southern Claims Conference (1997)
- Unique and Emerging Issues in Insurance Litigation, Southern Claims Conference (1996)
- Emerging Issues in Disability, Health and Life Claims, Midwest Claims Conference (1996)
- Insurance Issues in Bankruptcy: An Insurer’s Perspective, Tort & Insurance Law Journal, American Bar Association (Fall 1994)
- The Life Insurance Law of California, “Delinquency Proceedings” and “Formation and Issuance of Life Insurance Policies” Chapters, Association of Life Insurance Counsel (1990)
- Panelist/Presenter: Life Insurance Law: Recent Developments and Interesting Issues, August 27, 2014
- Co-Chair, Litigating Disability and ERISA Claims, American Conference Institute – Boston, Ma, June 15 & 16, 2009
- Panelist/Presenter, Bad Faith Insurance Law Update, 38th Annual Midwest Claim Conference – Chicago, Ill, May 23, 2007
- Panelist/Presenter, Litigating Disability Insurance Claims Conference, American Conference Institute – Boston, Ma, February 23, 2006
- Panelist/Presenter, Bad Faith Litigation Conference, Mealey’s – Philadelphia, Pa, September 26, 2005
- Panelist/Presenter, Managing and Litigating Mental Illness Disability Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute, May 24, 2005
- Panelist/Presenter, Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute – Coral Gables, Fl, March 04, 2005
- Co-Chair, 7th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute – Boston, Ma, June 10, 2004
- Panelist/Presenter, Disability Fraud Issues Forum –Newport Beach, Ca, March 23, 2004
- Panelist/Presenter, Managing and Litigating Depression Disability Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute – San Francisco, Ca, December 09, 2003
- Panelist/Presenter, 19th Annual Western Claims Conference – Indian Wells, Ca, June 09, 2003
- Panelist/Presenter, 3rd National Strategies for Success in Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute – Boston, Ma, June 22, 2000
- Panelist/Presenter, 6th National Conference on Bad Faith and Punitive Damages, American Conference Institute – San Francisco, Ca, March 30, 2000
- Co-Chair, Strategies for Success in Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, American Conference Institute –San Diego, Ca, February 10, 2000
- Panelist/Presenter, Are You Really Complying With States’ Fair Claim Practices? Southwest Insurance Association Conference – San Antonio, Tx, June 4, 1998
- Panelist/Presenter, Contestable Life Claims, Southern Claims Conference – Panama City, Fla, April 11, 1997
- Panelist/Presenter, Uncivilized Behavior in a Civilized System, Eastern Claims Conference – New York, NY, March 3, 1997
- Panelist/Presenter, Insurance Bad Faith: Plaintiff & Defense Perspectives, Orange County Bar Association – Costa Mesa, Ca, January 10, 1997
- Panelist/Presenter, Emerging Issues in Disability, Health and Life Insurance Litigation, Southern Claims Conference – Chicago, Ill. (1996)
- Panelist/Presenter, Unique and Emerging Issues in Insurance Litigation, Southern Claims Conference – New Orleans, La, May 7, 1996
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Featured in January 2012 edition of Forbes Magazine. The article discusses Mr. McKennon's rise to the top of Southern California's insurance and business litigators. Other Recognitions, see above.
Industry Groups:
- Orange County Bar Association; Consumer Attorneys Of California; American Bar Association
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