Daniel R. Sovocool
Partner

Practice Areas

Experience

Daniel Sovocool is a seasoned partner with more than twenty years of experience.  A primary focus of his practice is advising national clients on a variety of insurance (and self-insurance), regulatory and business matters. He serves as Legal Counsel to the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund, to which all employers in the State of California who self-insure their workers’ compensation liabilities must belong, and regularly counsels the Fund on matters of bankruptcy, insolvency, litigation and claims administration.  He speaks regularly on self-insurance and insurance matters to various trade and business organizations.

Additionally, Daniel first-chaired jury trials in both the state and federal courts, as well as handled complex commercial arbitrations and appeals.  His litigation and counseling experience includes cases of professional negligence, product liability, price discrimination, franchise, corporate governance, employment (including wrongful termination, employment discrimination, and disability discrimination), real estate and insurance.  He actively counsels a number of clients (from large construction clients to start-up corporations) on general business and employment matters.

Daniel has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" by the publishers of the Northern California Super Lawyer magazine for 2004 and 2009. Inclusion in Super Lawyers is based on a peer-review survey.

Representative cases

• Prosecution of claim against major third party administrator relating to under-reserving of workers’ compensation claim liabilities.
• Defense of major automobile association in case involving complex franchise issues and “hidden franchise” claims.
• Defense of bank trust department in environmental contamination case involving major petroleum company.
• Defense of major construction and engineering company against class of age discrimination and wrongful termination of employment.
• Representation of large hardboard siding manufacturer in product liability cases.
• Defense of major automobile rental company in class action involving claims of patron disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
• Defense of major automobile insurer in insurance bad faith cases.
• Defense of nonprofit mutual benefit corporation in corporate proxy litigation.
• Assist in prosecution of significant software defect case involving massive custom development project.

Admissions

Daniel is admitted to practice in California.

Education

Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude
Cornell University, B.S.