Overview
Peter S. Selvin, Chair of ECJ's Insurance Coverage and Recovery Department, is a business trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience. While he specializes in the areas of insurance coverage and international litigation, his experience has touched many different areas of law, including real estate, intellectual property, and professional liability disputes. Within those areas, Peter’s practice includes both trying cases and counseling clients on how to avoid litigation. Chief among his strengths is his ability to counsel clients and help achieve strategic business solutions. Peter has also served as an expert witness in the area of insurance law.
In 2014 Peter was selected as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, an honorary trial lawyers association whose members have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts.
Peter has been published in numerous business and legal publications, including the International Financial Law Review, Executive Counsel, Risk & Insurance and Global Counsel. His publications have appeared in professional publications in the UK, Germany, France, Mexico and Japan, among other countries. He also frequently authors insurance industry updates for ECJ’s California Insurance Law Commentary blog.
His notable publications include a chapter on “Avoiding and Resolving Disputes In International Commercial Litigation” in the treatise International Law for CEOs: Lessons From Leading International Lawyers and a chapter on International Service of Process in the treatise Transatlantic Commercial Litigation and Arbitration (Oceana). Since 2012, Peter has been the author of the chapter on dispute resolution in California that has been part of Law Business Research’s annual treatise on International Dispute Resolution, which is a standard reference work in this area.
Recent Publications, click here.
PAST EMPLOYMENT
- Loeb & Loeb LLP, Los Angeles, CA (Partner)
- TroyGould, Los Angeles, CA (Partner)
Representative Matters
Representative Directors and Officers Engagements
Representation of majority shareholders in closely held corporation in connection with “freeze-out” claims by minority shareholders.
Representation of former directors and officers of privately held real estate investment companies in breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer action brought by liquidating trustee of Chapter 11 estate.
Representation of registered investment advisor and its executives in lawsuit by minority shareholder and former employee for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
Representation of registered investment advisor and its executives in lawsuit by institutional shareholder for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and related claims.
Representation of German media company and its former CEO in lawsuit brought by alleged joint venturers seeking damages in excess of $3 billion.
Representation of majority stockholder in privately held real estate investment trusts in shareholder suit for involuntary dissolution, breach of fiduciary and related claims.
Representation of trade association and its executives in connection with breach of fiduciary duty claims by former executive director.
Representation of majority stockholder in privately held manufacturing company in suit by minority shareholders for involuntary dissolution, breach of fiduciary duty related claims.
Representation of President and CEO of federally chartered savings and loan association in breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit brought by FSLIC; served as member of the defense counsel steering committee.
Representative Professional Liability Engagements
Representation of investment management company and one of its principals in negligence and breach of fiduciary suit by former customer.
Representation of celebrity personality in fraud and RICO suit by former company franchisees; suit handled under client's media liability policy.
Representation of national insurance broker in negligence action involving alleged "gap" in coverage.
Representation of non-profit organization in action against insurance broker for professional malpractice arising from placement of CGL policy.
Representation of institutional lender in federal court litigation arising out of defaulted $30.5 million construction loan. Successfully defended lender liability claims and obtained multi-million dollar recovery against general contractor.
Honors & Affiliations
Honors & Recognitions
Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021
Insurance Litigation Institute of America, Charter Member
Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow, 2012-2017
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2014
Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law, 2007-2022
Southern California Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2007-present
AV “Preeminent”, Martindale-Hubbell
Community & Professional
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Board of Governors, 2006-2010
Los Angeles County Bar Association, International Law Section, Executive Committee, 1996-2001
American Bar Association
International Bar Association
Professional Liability Defense Federation
Member, Trial Law Institute
Member, Diversity Law Institute
Media & Events
Client Alerts
Blog Posts
Publications
Speaking Engagements
Successes
For insurance industry updates, subscribe to Peter's California Insurance Law Commentary blog.
Education
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law
M.A., English Language and Literature, University of Chicago
B.A., University of California, San Diego, with highest honors
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
