PARTNER
Mr. Knutson joined the Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation Practice Group of McCormick Barstow in 2004. He represents insurers and risk financing entities in insurance coverage and litigation matters, including bad faith defense.
Lejf E. Knutson
Mr. Knutson has extensive experience in the analysis and interpretation of various types of insurance policies with regard to coverage for both first and third-party claims involving property damage losses, environmental losses, intellectual property disputes, and financial institution coverage cases.
Mr. Knutson is admitted to practice before all California state and federal district courts.
Juris Doctor, 2004 cum laude
University of San Diego, School of Law
Order of the Coif
Lead Article Editor, San Diego Law Review (2003-2004)
San Diego Law Review (2002-2004)
Writer, California Regulatory Law Report (2002-2003)
CALI Excellence for the Future Awards: Complex Litigation, Legislation, Adjudication Seminar, Best Overall Advocate Award, Lawyering Skills I
Master’s Degree, German and Comparative Literature, 1995
University of California, Riverside
Department Research Fellow (1993-1995)
Bachelor of Arts, Literature and Languages, 1990 magna cum laude
Point Loma Nazarene College, San Diego
Phi Delta Lambda, Alumni Academic Honor Society
Beta Gamma Chi, National Service Fraternity
Dean’s List (1985-1990)
Concentrating in Insurance Coverage and Insurance Bad Faith Litigation.
Mr. Knutson is a member of the State Bar of California and Fresno County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Half-Norwegian American Bar Association. Mr. Knutson serves as treasurer on the Kingsburg Tri-County Health District Board of Directors.
Publications and Lectures
Mark Tarakanov, et al. v. Lexington Insurance Company, 441 F.Supp.3d 887 (N.D.Cal. 2020) (granting dismissal of claims for breach of contract and bad faith on the ground that clear and unambiguous policy language limited insurer’s obligation to pay code upgrade or extended replacement costs until the insured had repaired or rebuilt the insured structure).
“‘Virtual Liabilities’: Cyber Liability And Risk Management For Cyber-Related Losses And Claims,” Annual PARMA Conference, Indian Wells, California, February 25, 2016.
“The ‘Blue Ridge’ Option,” AAA Conference, Walnut Creek, CA, July 14, 2015.
“Covering Up the ‘Sins of the Flesh’ – the ‘Ins’ and ‘Outs’ of Coverage and Risk Management for Sexually-Based Torts,” Annual PARMA Conference, Anaheim, California, February 9, 2015.
“‘One of These Things is Not Like the Others!’ How and Why a JPA is Unlike an Insurance Company,” Annual PARMA Conference, San Jose, California, February 10, 2014.