Matthew Chipman

Matt is a member of the Insurance and Financial Services Litigation Practice Group. Prior to joining Maynard, Matt was an associate in the insurance coverage and bad faith litigation practice group for a full-service law firm, focusing on insurance coverage and complex civil litigation, involving both first and third-party claims.

Matthew received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law where he served on the USF Law Review, Moot Court Case Counsel, and Research Assistant for Legal Research and Writing Professor Monalisa Vu. During his time in law school, Matt clerked for the Hon. Mary E. Wiss of the San Francisco Superior Court, the Hon. Beverly Wood of the Marin Superior Court and The Hon. Saundra B. Armstrong of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Matt earned his B.A. from the University of California at Berkley where he was a member of the Cal Rugby team between 2011-2016, earning his Big C Award in 2014.

• Experience in complex civil litigation in both State and Federal courts focusing on insurance coverage litigation, including contribution, subrogation, breach of contract and right to independent counsel, including both defending and prosecuting complaints and cross-complaints
• Engage in motion practice; draft pleadings in State and Federal court; propound and respond to discovery
• Appeared in Fresno Superior Court to argue opposition to demurrer; appeared in Southern District of California for an Early Neutral Evaluation Conference and for various discovery hearings
• Review first and third-party claims and draft corresponding reservation of rights, declination, and coverage opinions under homeowners, personal excess/umbrella, CGL, auto, and pollution policies
• Experience in analyzing claims under traditional policies of insurance subject to the California Insurance Code, as well as various liability coverage agreements and other similar contracts provided by entities pursuant to the California Government Code and California Labor Code
• Investigate first-party claims specifically related to fraud and draft corresponding position letters
• Monitor and coordinate with panel counsel and independent counsel regarding litigation strategy and potential settlement opportunities; provide advice to the client based on consultation with panel counsel regarding expense and indemnity reserves as well as projection outcome of litigation in both state and federal court
• Prepare mediation, early neutral evaluation, and settlement briefs; attend and successfully negotiate settlements ranging from $25,000 to $10,000,000+; draft corresponding settlement documents