Gary W. Osborne

Gary W. Osborne directs the firm’s coverage litigation practice.

Gary has successfully argued cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout California. In addition, he has taught trial advocacy and deposition skills as a faculty member/lecturer for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy at programs in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Palo Alto, and San Diego. He is currently a Co-Chair of the Lawyer Representatives for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Gary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984, cum laude, in English and History from The University of Iowa. He earned a Juris Doctorate in 1989 from The University of Chicago Law School. While at the University of Chicago, he won the Hinton Moot Court Competition and earned the Thomas R. Mulroy Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy with Highest Distinction.

Gary holds an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been annually recognized by his peers as a leader in the field of insurance litigation.

Further details about Gary's professional background and experience can be found in the "Professional Summary PDF" in the left column.

PRACTICES

• Insurance Coverage Analysis and Litigation

EDUCATION

• University of Chicago, J.D., 1989
  • Winner: Hinton Moot Court Competition
  • Recipient: Thomas R. Mulroy Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy with Highest Distinction
• University of Iowa, B.A. in English and History, 1984
  • Cum Laude
  • Phi Beta Kappa

ADMISSIONS

• California - 1990
• U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Central, Northern and Eastern Districts of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

ASSOCIATIONS

• Member – Ninth Circuit’s AI Committee – 2024 to 2025
• Co–Chair, Lawyer Representatives, Southern District of California – 2022 to 2024
• Member, Lawyer Representative Coordinating Committee, 9th Circuit Judicial Conference – 2022 to 2024
• Lawyer Representative, U. S. District Court for the Southern District of California - 2019 to 2024
• Member, Insurance Law Committee, California State Bar Association - 2010 to 2016
• Past Chair, Insurance/Bad Faith Section, San Diego County Bar Association - 2010
• Master, Enright Chapter, American Inns of Court - 2004 to 2014

AWARDS

• Southern California “Super Lawyer” - 2010-2024 - Insurance Coverage
• San Diego Daily Transcript “Top Attorney,” Finalist

ARTICLES

• A Wrongful Denial of the Duty to Defend Can Have Surprising Value
  • March 2022, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report
• The Duty To Defend: Identifying A Wrongful Denial
  • September 2016, San Diego Lawyer Magazine
• Insurance Recovery: Silver Lining To Costly Litigation
  • April 14, 2016, Los Angeles Daily Journal
• Scrutinize Every Lawsuit For Claims Of Defamation
  • March 16, 2016, Los Angeles Daily Journal
• Don’t Miss The “Buss”
  • June 2010, ADVOCATE: Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association for Southern California
• How To Negotiate Allocation Of Responsibility Issues Under D&O Policies
  • Summer 2006, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report
• Audit Can Turn Wrongful Insurance Denial Into Business Asset
  • November 2, 2004, The Daily Transcript
• Survival Guide For Cumis Counsel: How To Address Insurers’ Challenges To Fees Owed To Independent Counsel
  • August 2004, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report
• Fire Insurance: What You Need To Know Now
  • March/April 2004, San Diego Lawyer Magazine

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Early Neutral Evaluation Conferences in the Southern District of California
  • February 27, 2023 – Conference of Chief District Judges – San Diego, CA
• Liability Insurance: Top Ten Facts Every Attorney Should Know
  • October 31, 2017 – Association of Corporate Counsel – San Diego, CA
  • 2017-2018 – Law Firms and In-House Counsel throughout California
• The “Duty To Defend”: How To Spot A Wrongful Denial!
  • September 14, 2016 - Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego, CA
  • April 21, 2016 - Association of Corporate Counsel - Sacramento, CA
• Insurance Law: The Year In Review
  • Annual Program - 2010 to 2015 - San Diego County Bar Association
• An Insurer’s “Duty To Defend”: Don’t Be Short-Changed!
  • August 13, 2015 – Association of Corporate Counsel – San Diego, CA
• Land Mines And Gold Mines Of Insurance Coverage
  • September 19, 2014 – Association of Corporate Counsel – San Diego, CA
• Negotiating Allocation Issues Under Directors & Officers Policies
  • September 25, 2013 - Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego, CA
• “Rembrandt In The Attic” (The Hidden Value Of A Wrongful Insurance Denial)
  • September 13, 2012 - Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego, CA\
• Ten Things Every Attorney Should Know About Insurance Coverage For Business Litigation
  • September 16, 2011 - California State Bar Convention - Long Beach, CA
• Would You Like Cumis With That? (Everything You’ve Wanted To Know About The Cumis Doctrine, But Have Been Afraid To Ask)
  • July 12, 2011 - Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego, CA
  • April 21, 2011 - Association of Corporate Counsel - Sacramento, CA
  • September 14, 2010 - San Diego County Bar Association
• Liability Insurance: Five Costly Mistakes To Avoid
  • July 20, 2010 - San Diego County Bar Association
  • May 20, 2010 - Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego, CA
  • May 11, 2010 - Association of Corporate Counsel - Sacramento, CA
• Insurance Coverage For Business Litigation: Ten Things Every Corporate Counsel Should Know
  • February 17, 2005 - Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego, CA
• Hot Topics In Insurance Coverage And Bad Faith Litigation In California: Consequences Of A Wrongful Denial Of The Duty To Defend
  • December 3, 2004 - Lorman Education Services - San Diego, CA
• Insurance Coverage For Fire Loss: What You Need To Know
  • December 11, 2003 - San Diego County Bar Association
• Hot Topics In Insurance Coverage And Bad Faith Litigation In California: Cumis Counsel: How Insurers Challenge Fees Owed To Independent Counsel
  • December 3, 2003 - Lorman Education Services - San Diego, CA
• Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage In California
  • August 2, 2002 - NBI Seminars - San Diego, CA
• Land Mines & Gold Mines Of Insurance Coverage
  • 2001 to 2003 - Law Firms, Business Organizations and In-House Counsel throughout Southern California

TEACHING ENGAGEMENTS

• National Institute Of Trial Advocacy: Trial Skills
  • 1995 to 2010 - San Diego, San Francisco, Berkeley and Palo Alto
• National Institute Of Trial Advocacy: Deposition Skills
  • 1995 to 2010 - San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle

ARTICLES ABOUT OSBORNE & NESBITT LLP

• Looking For Rembrandts
  • April 29, 2011, Los Angeles Daily Journal
• Super Lawyers Profile
  • June 2010, Super Lawyers Magazine
• Osborne & Nesbitt: Cold-Case Detectives For The Insured
  • November 15, 2004, San Diego Daily Transcript
• Osborne & Nesbitt Get Businesses The Coverage They Are Entitled To
  • May 7, 2004, San Diego Daily Transcript