George Soares was born and raised in San Diego, California and is an active member of the community. George is a Partner in the firm’s insurance and maritime practice groups, with a primary focus on complex insurance coverage, bad faith litigation, insurance coverage advice and maritime insurance. George’s practice also focuses on employment litigation, which includes defending employers in a variety of legal claims including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour matters, employee classifications issues, retaliation, breach of contract and other related matters.

George has experience litigating multiple lines of insurance, including commercial general liability policies, errors and omissions policies and director and officer policies. He has extensive experience representing and defending insurers from bad faith litigation.

In addition, George specializes in advising insurance clients on coverage and policy language for ocean risks, such as protection and indemnity, hull and machinery and yacht policies. He has extensive experience arbitrating and defending maritime insurance claims.

Examples of George's experience includes:

• In an action involving an additional insured seeking coverage under a commercial general liability policy, obtaining summary judgment for an insurer against breach of contract and bad faith claims on the basis that because the additional insured had settled the claim prior to the commencement of a formal lawsuit coverage was precluded because there was no “suit”.
• In an action involving an insured seeking coverage under an errors and omissions liability policy, successfully defending an insurer against claims from a real estate broker who claimed coverage was triggered for claims of malpractice arising from his activities as a business opportunities broker.
• Successfully defending a maritime insurer through trial from claims of breach of contract and bad faith arising out of the maritime insurer’s denial of coverage based on no loss to the vessel.

Admissions

• California
• United States Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court, Southern and Central Districts of California