Walnut Creek, CALIF., January 26, 2012 – Archer Norris elevated five attorneys to partner effective January 1, 2012. Robert L. Latham III (Los Angeles) and GailAnn Y. Stargardter (Walnut Creek) are members of the firm’s insurance coverage practice. Michael C. Osborne and Jonathan W. Thames (Walnut Creek), and Omar J. Yassin (Los Angeles) belong to Archer Norris’s litigation practice.
“I am pleased to welcome Bob, Gail, Mike, Jonathan and Omar as my partners,” stated Managing Partner Gene Blackard. “Their achievements evidence not only their superb abilities as lawyers, but also the strength and depth of our insurance coverage and litigation practices. In their new roles, we will all benefit from our new partners’ proven leadership abilities and commitment to providing the strategic legal counsel to achieve our clients’ goals.”
Our new partners illustrate the firm’s continued broad-based growth in key practices:
Latham defends insurance companies in first and third-party bad faith claim handling and underwriting cases. He also represents non-insurer clients in commercial matters, including securities arbitrations, trade infringement cases, and corporate “raiding” claims. He is licensed to practice in California (1986), Iowa (1983) and Illinois (1982). Latham received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law (1992) and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Duke University (1977).
Stargardter represents insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation arising under personal and commercial lines policies. Prior to joining Archer Norris, she spent five years with a major insurance company (1989-1995), during which time she supervised the Special Investigation Unit for Washington and Alaska. She was a shareholder at Reed McClure in Seattle (1997-2005) and a partner at Barrett & Worden, P.C., also in Seattle (2005-2007). Stargardter is licensed to practice in Federal and State Courts in Washington (1988), Oregon (2003) and California (2007). She received her J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University School of Law, J.D (1988), a Masters in Arts in History from Boston College (1983), and a B.A. from Muhlenberg College (1979).
Osborne joined Archer Norris in 2009 from Shook Hardy & Bacon in San Francisco. Retained by some of the nation’s largest corporations, he has tried more than 80 jury trials in both federal and state courts. Osborne has handled a wide variety of litigation for product manufacturers, trucking companies, fraternities and sororities, security companies, and healthcare professionals. His defense of National Fraternities and Sororities included the claim that resulted in the California Legislature’s passage of “Matt’s Law.” Elected to The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2000, Osborne received his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law (1980) and his B.A. from Haverford College (1977).
Thames’s maritime practice includes litigating marine and inland marine cargo claims, insurance coverage disputes, and defending catastrophic personal injury and death actions. In the civil arena, Thames defends numerous entities in catastrophic personal injury and death actions, regulatory violations and pollution/chemical exposure claims. He is licensed to practice in State and Federal Courts in California, Louisiana, Mississippi (inactive), Washington and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Thames received his J.D., cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law (1996) and his B.A. from Tulane University (1993).
Yassin represents individuals, businesses, and institutional clients in a wide range of complex litigation matters. Yassin has substantial experience in both the prosecution of claims and defense of litigation throughout Southern California. He is also active in the firm's toxic and environmental tort practice group and handles a variety of real estate-related claims. He received his J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law (1999) where he was a member of the Iowa Law Review. He earned his B.A., with honors, from the University of California Santa Barbara (1995).
About Archer Norris
Archer Norris, a Professional Law Corporation, is headquartered in Walnut Creek, with more than 100 attorneys and offices in Newport Beach, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California. The firm counsels clients in complex litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith litigation, business, health care, public entity, environmental, and real estate transactions throughout California and wherever our clients need us.
For more information about the firm, please contact Jann Dudley at 925.952.5406 or visit the Archer Norris website at www.archernorris.com.