Murchison & Cumming Celebrates Ten Years in Northern California

January 10, 2013

LOS ANGELES--Murchison & Cumming, LLP opened the doors to its Northern California office in Pleasanton in December 2002. Ten years later, with its office now located in the heart of downtown San Francisco’s Financial District, the firm continues to grow and expand its Northern California presence. With a diverse team of attorneys, a decade-long presence in Northern California, the addition of two partners in 2011 and the elevation of two attorneys to partner in 2013, Murchison & Cumming’s San Francisco office has much to celebrate as it looks to the future.

Kasey C. Townsend, who has been with the firm since 1996, continues to serve as Partner-in-Charge of the San Francisco office, having moved to Northern California from the firm’s San Diego office in 2003 to take that position. Senior Partner Michael B. Lawler, who spearheaded the office’s opening along with other of the firm’s partners, also continues to handle matters venued in Northern California.

With more than 20 years of experience in property, marine, fine art and specie insurance, Partner Valarie H. Jonas brought a unique specialty to the firm and the San Francisco office when she joined the firm in 2011. Ms. Jonas has been handling jeweler’s block and fine art work for the London market since 1990. She serves as Co-Chair of Murchison & Cumming’s Insurance Law practice group, also handling general liability, medical malpractice, environmental coverage, and fidelity and transportation litigation.

“I was drawn to the firm by its well known reputation in the insurance market,” said Ms. Jonas. “I have now come to know first-hand the basis of that reputation in the fine attorneys who work here and in the service they provide our clients. I am very pleased to say I have found a home at Murchison & Cumming.”

Fellow San Francisco Partner John H. Podesta also joined the firm in 2011. He is licensed in both California and Nevada, and also focuses his practice on insurance law, coverage matters and litigation. Mr. Podesta is Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Construction Subcommittee, has published numerous works and speaks regularly on insurance and construction law topics.

Melissa Wood Eisenberg and Heidi C. Quan, who joined the Northern California office as associates over eight years ago, were named partners this year. Ms. Eisenberg and Ms. Quan defend clients against litigation involving general liability, product liability, employment law, health law and long-term care facilities for the elderly.

Partner and Insurance Law practice group Co-Chair Bryan M. Weiss will be moving to San Francisco from the firm’s Los Angeles office in the fall of 2013. Mr. Weiss has been with the firm since 1991, handling appeals, providing coverage advice and representing insurers in declaratory relief actions, bad faith actions and insurance-related appeals.

If the attorneys in Murchison & Cumming’s San Francisco office can assist you in any way, we are prepared to do so and welcome your calls and emails. You may contact Ms. Townsend at 415-524-4305 or ktownsend@murchisonlaw.com or any of the office’s partners, whose information can be found online at www.murchisonlaw.com. 

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The firm's attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. The firm is a member of the USLAW Network. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.