Robert N. Berg

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
[email protected]
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Robert N. Berg

Partner
“When the issues are layered and the pressure is real, strategy, insight, and a clear path forward are crucial. That’s what I bring to the table.”

Robert Berg advises clients navigating complex insurance and environmental disputes, bringing clarity and confidence to the most consequential matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he offers both depth and perspective.

Known for his steady judgment, Rob—the firm’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Chair—represents insurers and businesses in major coverage and bad faith litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, and first-party policies. His work also spans maritime claims, CERCLA matters, ERISA disputes, and catastrophic tort cases involving severe injury or death.

Clients rely on Rob to translate technical and regulatory complexity into strategic action. His approach—thorough, measured, and precise—helps drive successful outcomes in both litigation and negotiation across jurisdictions.

A recognized voice in the industry, Rob contributes regularly to legal publications and has been featured as a commentator on CBS Radio’s KFWB News.

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Associated Industries

Insurance

Associated Practice Areas

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Litigated a liability case among multiple defendants over cleanup costs related to alleged perchloroethylene (PCE) spills.
  • Bifurcated a trial under Insurance Code Section 11580, defeated bad-faith claims, and established that a policy was inapplicable to the judgment’s terms, saving the client several million dollars.
  • Represented an insurance company in a complex coverage dispute against Aerojet General involving trigger, self-insured retentions, and investigative-cost obligations, resulting in three appellate decisions favorable to the client.
  • Successfully argued that a client sued for water pollution in federal court could not be deemed an “arranger” under CERCLA and bore no liability under nuisance law—a result never before achieved in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
  • Litigated a coverage case between two insurers through partial summary judgment. Overcame opposition claims that a policy endorsement eliminated the defense obligation; the court sided with our position, obligating the opposing insurer to pay nearly $10 million for defense and indemnity.
  • Represented a major retail chain in a high-exposure case involving a plaintiff paralyzed at one of its facilities. Despite prior counsel’s withdrawal over potential $20 million exposure, prevailed at trial with no damages based on indemnity provisions in the retailer’s contracts with co-defendants.
  • Litigated an environmental response matter arising from mandated cleanup costs for toxic chemicals allegedly discharged by a dry-cleaning business. Persuaded the plaintiff that other parties were responsible for the contamination, thereby avoiding cleanup payments.
  • Represented a maritime insurance company in a dispute over the high-seas disappearance of a prominent high-tech executive. Devised and implemented a successful strategy reducing exposure to roughly 10% of the initial $10 million demand.
  • Represented an insurance company on the coverage components of the $650 million Los Angeles Archdiocese clergy abuse class action.
  • Litigated a $500 million water-contamination case, developing a multi-party strategy that reduced the number of exposed wells from 244 to 14 and, after numerous successful motions, cut the claimed damages by 90%.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Temple Isaiah (Financial Board)
  • Anti-Defamation League (Past Board Member)
Education
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
  • University of California at Davis, B.A.

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2022-2023)

Robert N. Berg

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
[email protected]
“When the issues are layered and the pressure is real, strategy, insight, and a clear path forward are crucial. That’s what I bring to the table.”
Overview

Robert Berg advises clients navigating complex insurance and environmental disputes, bringing clarity and confidence to the most consequential matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he offers both depth and perspective.

Known for his steady judgment, Rob—the firm’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Chair—represents insurers and businesses in major coverage and bad faith litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, and first-party policies. His work also spans maritime claims, CERCLA matters, ERISA disputes, and catastrophic tort cases involving severe injury or death.

Clients rely on Rob to translate technical and regulatory complexity into strategic action. His approach—thorough, measured, and precise—helps drive successful outcomes in both litigation and negotiation across jurisdictions.

A recognized voice in the industry, Rob contributes regularly to legal publications and has been featured as a commentator on CBS Radio’s KFWB News.

Practice Area

Insurance

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Litigated a liability case among multiple defendants over cleanup costs related to alleged perchloroethylene (PCE) spills.
  • Bifurcated a trial under Insurance Code Section 11580, defeated bad-faith claims, and established that a policy was inapplicable to the judgment’s terms, saving the client several million dollars.
  • Represented an insurance company in a complex coverage dispute against Aerojet General involving trigger, self-insured retentions, and investigative-cost obligations, resulting in three appellate decisions favorable to the client.
  • Successfully argued that a client sued for water pollution in federal court could not be deemed an “arranger” under CERCLA and bore no liability under nuisance law—a result never before achieved in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
  • Litigated a coverage case between two insurers through partial summary judgment. Overcame opposition claims that a policy endorsement eliminated the defense obligation; the court sided with our position, obligating the opposing insurer to pay nearly $10 million for defense and indemnity.
  • Represented a major retail chain in a high-exposure case involving a plaintiff paralyzed at one of its facilities. Despite prior counsel’s withdrawal over potential $20 million exposure, prevailed at trial with no damages based on indemnity provisions in the retailer’s contracts with co-defendants.
  • Litigated an environmental response matter arising from mandated cleanup costs for toxic chemicals allegedly discharged by a dry-cleaning business. Persuaded the plaintiff that other parties were responsible for the contamination, thereby avoiding cleanup payments.
  • Represented a maritime insurance company in a dispute over the high-seas disappearance of a prominent high-tech executive. Devised and implemented a successful strategy reducing exposure to roughly 10% of the initial $10 million demand.
  • Represented an insurance company on the coverage components of the $650 million Los Angeles Archdiocese clergy abuse class action.
  • Litigated a $500 million water-contamination case, developing a multi-party strategy that reduced the number of exposed wells from 244 to 14 and, after numerous successful motions, cut the claimed damages by 90%.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Temple Isaiah (Financial Board)
  • Anti-Defamation League (Past Board Member)
Education
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
  • University of California at Davis, B.A.
Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2022-2023)

Robert N. Berg

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
[email protected]
https://www.mrllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Berg-Robert-SF_result.jpg.png
“When the issues are layered and the pressure is real, strategy, insight, and a clear path forward are crucial. That’s what I bring to the table.”

Overview

Robert Berg advises clients navigating complex insurance and environmental disputes, bringing clarity and confidence to the most consequential matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he offers both depth and perspective.

Known for his steady judgment, Rob—the firm’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Chair—represents insurers and businesses in major coverage and bad faith litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, and first-party policies. His work also spans maritime claims, CERCLA matters, ERISA disputes, and catastrophic tort cases involving severe injury or death.

Clients rely on Rob to translate technical and regulatory complexity into strategic action. His approach—thorough, measured, and precise—helps drive successful outcomes in both litigation and negotiation across jurisdictions.

A recognized voice in the industry, Rob contributes regularly to legal publications and has been featured as a commentator on CBS Radio’s KFWB News.

Associated Industries

Insurance

Associated Practice Areas

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Litigated a liability case among multiple defendants over cleanup costs related to alleged perchloroethylene (PCE) spills.
  • Bifurcated a trial under Insurance Code Section 11580, defeated bad-faith claims, and established that a policy was inapplicable to the judgment’s terms, saving the client several million dollars.
  • Represented an insurance company in a complex coverage dispute against Aerojet General involving trigger, self-insured retentions, and investigative-cost obligations, resulting in three appellate decisions favorable to the client.
  • Successfully argued that a client sued for water pollution in federal court could not be deemed an “arranger” under CERCLA and bore no liability under nuisance law—a result never before achieved in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
  • Litigated a coverage case between two insurers through partial summary judgment. Overcame opposition claims that a policy endorsement eliminated the defense obligation; the court sided with our position, obligating the opposing insurer to pay nearly $10 million for defense and indemnity.
  • Represented a major retail chain in a high-exposure case involving a plaintiff paralyzed at one of its facilities. Despite prior counsel’s withdrawal over potential $20 million exposure, prevailed at trial with no damages based on indemnity provisions in the retailer’s contracts with co-defendants.
  • Litigated an environmental response matter arising from mandated cleanup costs for toxic chemicals allegedly discharged by a dry-cleaning business. Persuaded the plaintiff that other parties were responsible for the contamination, thereby avoiding cleanup payments.
  • Represented a maritime insurance company in a dispute over the high-seas disappearance of a prominent high-tech executive. Devised and implemented a successful strategy reducing exposure to roughly 10% of the initial $10 million demand.
  • Represented an insurance company on the coverage components of the $650 million Los Angeles Archdiocese clergy abuse class action.
  • Litigated a $500 million water-contamination case, developing a multi-party strategy that reduced the number of exposed wells from 244 to 14 and, after numerous successful motions, cut the claimed damages by 90%.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Temple Isaiah (Financial Board)
  • Anti-Defamation League (Past Board Member)
Education
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
  • University of California at Davis, B.A.

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2022-2023)