John P. Makin is a litigation and insurance specialist.
Mr. Makin has a broad litigation background,
trying cases and appearing before state and federal trial and appellate
courts, as well as administrative and regulatory agencies. His
litigation repertoire includes a variety of subject matters, such as
trade regulation in the media field, engineering liability, commercial
land use and regulation, eminent domain, environmental regulation,
intellectual property and construction disputes.
He has represented clients in coverage evaluation
and in coverage litigation in state and federal courts throughout
California. Mr. Makin's knowledge and background transcends insurance
litigation, as he has acted as a counselor and advisor to numerous
insurance companies and insurance service organization Insurance
Services Office, Inc. He counseled clients concerning the use and
approval of policy forms and rates, and worked extensively with the
California Insurance Department and Insurance Commissioner. He has
worked with insurance clients in the drafting of forms, most recently
technology specialty and technology errors and omissions forms.
In 2001,
he spent several months in the London offices of the Beazley Syndicate of Lloyds of London. While here, Mr. Makin consulted on the evaluation
of risks and claims, and the drafting of policy forms in connection with
technology errors and omissions and specialty intellectual property
insurance policies.
Mr. Makin also has broad experience in anti-trust
and trade regulation, particularly applicable to the insurance
industry. He was California counsel for ISO in the insurance anti-trust
litigation which came before the United States Supreme Court. He was
counsel for ISO in the Proposition 103 litigation in the California
Supreme Court, and commented upon and counseled clients with regard to
the California Attorney General's anti-trust guidelines for the
insurance industry.
Mr. Makin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, as well as a commission
as an Ensign in the United States Navy, in 1972. After serving more than
four years as an officer in the United States Navy, he attended
Northwestern University Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated
magna cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree, as well as Order of the
Coif, in 1979. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1979, and
is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the
Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California, and the Fourth
and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Mr. Makin was a founding partner of Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally, LLP