Partner
James Greenan defended Allstate Insurance Company in the first "wrongful termination" case ever to go to trial in California. Since that time, he has represented numerous California employers in employment discrimination and sexual harassment litigation, including Sears Roebuck & Co., Federated Department Stores, Chronicle Broadcasting Company, The Home Insurance Company, as well as numerous local concerns. He has tried several employment termination cases to jury verdict in both state and federal courts.
His insurance company clients were so impressed by Greenan's representation, that they began asking him to represent them in significant coverage matters. Today, Greenan is recognized as one of the top insurance coverage trial lawyers in the United States. The coverage matters have included representing Insurance Service Office in the asbestos coverage litigation and in the insurance anti-trust litigation in the 1990's. He has represented a number of insurance companies on coverage litigation involving computer hardware, software, intellectual property, patent, trademark and anti-trust issues. Clients include St. Paul Fire & Marine, Gulf Insurance and the Beazley Syndicate at Lloyds of London.
Greenan also has a broad background in general commercial litigation. He has represented clients in securities class actions, contract disputes, real estate cases, and has practiced in state and federal courts throughout California.
Greenan began practicing law in 1972. After serving as a research attorney for the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Greenan entered private practice with the San Francisco office of Cooper, White & Cooper, where he became a partner in 1980. He was co-chairman of the firm's litigation department from 1983 through 1993. In 1990, he opened the firm's Walnut Creek branch office, which grew from 3 to 18 lawyers over ten years, with Greenan as the manager of the office.
In 2001, Greenan, along with three other former Cooper, White & Cooper partners, combined with the established practice of Smith, Lally & Peffer to form Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally LLP.
Mr. Greenan did his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University. He attended the University of Santa Clara Law School, where he served as articles editor of the Law Review and graduated summa cum laude.
E-mail: jgreenan@gpsllp.com