Born in New York City, Phil grew up in Santa Monica, attended Columbia College and USC and obtained his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law. He has practiced law for over 25 years representing numerous parties in a wide variety of legal matters with an emphasis on litigation. Phil has been married to his lovely wife Kathy for longer than he has been practicing and they have three great daughters. He is active in his community and enjoys coaching, participation in various sports along with any activity involving family and friends. Phil has handled hundreds if not thousands of litigated cases and participated well in excess of one thousand depositions, hundreds of arbitrations and mediations along with his share of jury and bench trials. He has been involved in coverage matters and many related ancillary issues. He has given advice to individuals and businesses on many matters including litigation avoidance. He has extensive experience both as an arbitrator and mediator. He has also volunteered as a Judge Pro Tem.

Steve Soltman and Robert Morris lead the Insurance Litigation and Coverage Department.  We represent insurers in complex, large exposure coverage disputes, providing coverage analyses, opinions and litigation services.  We pride ourselves on vigorous and efficient advocacy as well as a cost-efficient results oriented approach, well suited to our clients' needs.  Steve, John and Bob have more than eighty years of combined experience in litigation and coverage matters, which includes the representation of insureds, insurance companies, professionals, insurance brokers, and underwriters in both the first and third party contexts.  We represent insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation and provide opinions and advice involving insurance coverage and litigation in all lines, including general liability, professional liability, homeowners, title, disability, accident and health, motor truck cargo, inland marine, multi-peril business,  customized (“manuscript”) and excess policies. We represent insurers in claims arising under first party property policies, including concurrent causation issues, as well as losses due to mold, pollution, soils subsidence, fire, theft and fraud.  The firm has substantial experience in the handling of general liability claims, cargo and physical damage claims, habitability claims, homeowners’ association claims and all areas of business and real estate litigation.

John S. Levitt(retired) leads the habitability litigation and construction defect litigation departments. He leads the members of the firm involved in defending property owners and managers involved in habitability claims, as well as various general and specialty contractors in construction defect actions. In addition, the firm provides advice to its carriers on various coverage issues that arise under commercial general liability policies. The firm has litigated over 750 construction matters to resolution in virtually every area of construction in both residential and commercial developments. This experience has enabled the firm to obtain closure of construction files on the average of nine months after receipt and at a substantially lower cost to the insurance carriers. .