Mark B. Robinson

Co-Founding Partner/Regulatory Practice Group Leader

Mark B. Robinson

Co-Founding Partner/Regulatory Practice Group Leader
“The insurance industry never stands still, and neither do the legal, regulatory, and business issues producers face. My role is to deliver guidance grounded in decades of experience and tailored to help clients operate, grow, and compete.”

Mark Robinson is a highly respected voice in insurance law and a trusted advisor to brokerages, agencies, and others navigating today’s regulatory and business complexities.

As co-founder of Michelman Robinson and the firm’s Property & Casualty Regulatory Chair, Mark has helped shape the firm into a go-to resource for insurance producers seeking strategic, business-focused legal counsel. For more than two decades, he has built a national practice centered on representing retail brokers, general agents, managing general agents, wholesalers, and surplus lines brokers through high-stakes challenges—whether regulatory, transactional, or litigation-driven.

Mark counsels on the full lifecycle of insurance operations, from formation, licensing, and producer agreements to mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring, and succession planning. He also advises on privacy compliance, employment matters, customer disputes, and Department of Insurance investigations and enforcement actions. Clients routinely turn to him when scrutiny escalates, operations shift, or deals demand regulatory and commercial insight.

Known for resolving multistate issues efficiently, Mark maintains long-standing relationships with state insurance regulators across the country. His clients span the full distribution chain—from front-line producers to wholesalers and administrators—as well as premium finance companies and insurtech ventures redefining how policies are delivered.

In addition to serving on the firm’s Executive Committee, Mark contributes regularly to insurance industry publications and speaks at events hosted by trade associations and producer groups nationwide.

Mark B. Robinson

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Associated Industries

Financial Services

Insurance

Life Sciences

Mining

Associated Practice Areas

Regulatory & Administrative Law

Representative Matters

  • The Department of Insurance searched an insurance brokerage without a warrant and then sought to revoke its license and issue a fine for minor administrative violations. Successfully represented brokerage at an administrative hearing, arguing that the search was a violation of the United States Constitution’s 4th Amendment protections. After an administrative law judge declared the search illegal, the Department unsuccessfully sought reversal in the superior court. The ALJ’s ruling was again upheld on appeal, forcing a change of the Department’s search procedures.
  • Provided comprehensive compliance review of leading HOA insurance brokerage. Reviewed all aspects of the brokerage’s operations including licensing, advertising/promotions, sales process, fee disclosures, trust accounting and operations.
  • Represented insurance broker investigated for violations of insurance statutes and regulations. Limited the extent and duration of Department of Insurance’s investigation, and successfully negotiated a settlement of accusation to revoke broker’s license to a minor reimbursement of the Department’s investigation costs.
  • Assisted national insurance agency with complex licensing issues with the California Department of Insurance resulting from a double merger transaction. Coordinated licensing approval with the Department to coincide with the transaction closing.
  • Represented leading insurance premium financing company in obtaining licenses in California, Texas and Arizona. Drafted contracts between client and retail brokers and general agents.
  • Assisted national surplus lines insurance broker in the formation of an association and group property master policy program for commercial and industrial property insurance. Advised on regulatory issues concerning surplus lines compliance, fee disclosure requirements and compliance with insurance laws in numerous target states.
  • Represented nationally licensed vehicle service contract providers in administrative enforcement proceedings before the California Department of Insurance, including Orders to Show Cause and Accusations seeking suspension or revocation of licensure for alleged noncompliance with California service contract laws. Successfully negotiated favorable resolutions that preserved licensure while substantially limiting operational restrictions and financial penalties.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley
  • Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation
  • Water Buffalo Club
Education
  • University of West Los Angeles, J.D.
  • University of California, Berkeley, B.A.

Recognition

  • Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer Magazine (2006-2025)

Insights & News

Articles / November 12, 2024

Navigating the Fee Maze

Insurance Journal

Articles / October 25, 2024

FAIR Plan Under Fire: Class Action Claims Smoke Damage Coverage Falls Short

American Agents Alliance

Media Mentions / June 14, 2024

Lara Faces Flak as He Tries To Fix California’s Insurance Woes

Insurance Business

Media Mentions / March 25, 2024

A Firm Built on Innovation

Los Angeles Business Journal

Media Mentions / March 25, 2024

Lara Struggles to Reform California Insurance Market

Insurance Business

Articles / February 20, 2024

Referral Fees: A Multi-State Overview

Insurance Journal

Media Mentions / January 2, 2024

The Top Environmental Insurance Trends Of 2024

Law360

Media Mentions / October 18, 2023

What is a MGA/MGU?

Insurance Banter with Burand & Borup

Media Mentions / September 28, 2023

California insurance regulation reforms applauded as move in right direction

PropertyCasualty360

Media Mentions / September 26, 2023

California’s Insurance Strategy ‘Long on Hope, Short on Details’

Insurance Business

Media Mentions / July 5, 2023

California Insurance Crisis: What Homeowners Need To Know

San Francisco Standard

Media Mentions / June 14, 2023

Insurers Fleeing California Market Want Rate-Hike Flexibility

Bloomberg Law

Articles / November 22, 2022

What to Know When Selling Your Insurance Agency

Insurance Journal

Articles / November 16, 2022

A New California Law Means New Obligations for Insurance Producers

Insurance Journal

Articles / May 26, 2022

Insurance Producers Beware: Errors & Omission Exposure Is a Real Threat

Agents Alliance Newsletter

Articles / February 8, 2022

Buying insurance? There’s an app for that

PropertyCasualty360

Articles / February 8, 2022

The anatomy of a producer agreement

PropertyCasualty360

Articles / February 8, 2022

A Case for Updated Insurance Licensing Exemption Regulations

Insurance Journal

Articles / February 8, 2022

Is Your Website ADA Compliant?

Insurance Journal

Articles / February 8, 2022

What About Your Exposure?

Insurance Journal

Media Mentions / February 3, 2022

Venbrook Insurance Services: More than just a good show

Vanguard Magazine

Mark B. Robinson

Co-Founding Partner/Regulatory Practice Group Leader
Los Angeles
+1 310-299-5500
https://www.mrllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Robinson-Mark-LA.jpg.png
“The insurance industry never stands still, and neither do the legal, regulatory, and business issues producers face. My role is to deliver guidance grounded in decades of experience and tailored to help clients operate, grow, and compete.”

Overview

Mark Robinson is a highly respected voice in insurance law and a trusted advisor to brokerages, agencies, and others navigating today’s regulatory and business complexities.

As co-founder of Michelman Robinson and the firm’s Property & Casualty Regulatory Chair, Mark has helped shape the firm into a go-to resource for insurance producers seeking strategic, business-focused legal counsel. For more than two decades, he has built a national practice centered on representing retail brokers, general agents, managing general agents, wholesalers, and surplus lines brokers through high-stakes challenges—whether regulatory, transactional, or litigation-driven.

Mark counsels on the full lifecycle of insurance operations, from formation, licensing, and producer agreements to mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring, and succession planning. He also advises on privacy compliance, employment matters, customer disputes, and Department of Insurance investigations and enforcement actions. Clients routinely turn to him when scrutiny escalates, operations shift, or deals demand regulatory and commercial insight.

Known for resolving multistate issues efficiently, Mark maintains long-standing relationships with state insurance regulators across the country. His clients span the full distribution chain—from front-line producers to wholesalers and administrators—as well as premium finance companies and insurtech ventures redefining how policies are delivered.

In addition to serving on the firm’s Executive Committee, Mark contributes regularly to insurance industry publications and speaks at events hosted by trade associations and producer groups nationwide.

Associated Industries

Financial Services

Insurance

Life Sciences

Mining

Associated Practice Areas

Regulatory & Administrative Law

Representative Matters

  • The Department of Insurance searched an insurance brokerage without a warrant and then sought to revoke its license and issue a fine for minor administrative violations. Successfully represented brokerage at an administrative hearing, arguing that the search was a violation of the United States Constitution’s 4th Amendment protections. After an administrative law judge declared the search illegal, the Department unsuccessfully sought reversal in the superior court. The ALJ’s ruling was again upheld on appeal, forcing a change of the Department’s search procedures.
  • Provided comprehensive compliance review of leading HOA insurance brokerage. Reviewed all aspects of the brokerage’s operations including licensing, advertising/promotions, sales process, fee disclosures, trust accounting and operations.
  • Represented insurance broker investigated for violations of insurance statutes and regulations. Limited the extent and duration of Department of Insurance’s investigation, and successfully negotiated a settlement of accusation to revoke broker’s license to a minor reimbursement of the Department’s investigation costs.
  • Assisted national insurance agency with complex licensing issues with the California Department of Insurance resulting from a double merger transaction. Coordinated licensing approval with the Department to coincide with the transaction closing.
  • Represented leading insurance premium financing company in obtaining licenses in California, Texas and Arizona. Drafted contracts between client and retail brokers and general agents.
  • Assisted national surplus lines insurance broker in the formation of an association and group property master policy program for commercial and industrial property insurance. Advised on regulatory issues concerning surplus lines compliance, fee disclosure requirements and compliance with insurance laws in numerous target states.
  • Represented nationally licensed vehicle service contract providers in administrative enforcement proceedings before the California Department of Insurance, including Orders to Show Cause and Accusations seeking suspension or revocation of licensure for alleged noncompliance with California service contract laws. Successfully negotiated favorable resolutions that preserved licensure while substantially limiting operational restrictions and financial penalties.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • San Fernando Valley Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley
  • Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation
  • Water Buffalo Club
Education
  • University of West Los Angeles, J.D.
  • University of California, Berkeley, B.A.

Recognition

  • Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer Magazine (2006-2025)