Biography

Mark J. Hancock devotes a major portion of his practice to the defense of professional liability claims on behalf of attorneys, insurance agents and professionals in the financial industry.  The legal malpractice cases Mr. Hancock has defended include claims with respect to patent filings and litigation, business and real property transactions, document drafting errors, probate and worker's compensation matters, as well as conspiracy claims. His clients have also included solo practitioners and national law firms.

Mr. Hancock has defended broker-dealers and registered representatives against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligence, churning and selling away in connection with a variety of investment vehicles.

In addition, Mr. Hancock represents insurers in connection with nearly every aspect of insurance litigation, ranging from policy rescission to coverage disputes.  His work includes the representation of insurers and welfare benefit plans in ERISA actions.

Mr. Hancock also defends energy companies in personal injury, premises liability and general liability matters.

Mr. Hancock has tried civil and criminal cases to verdict and has represented clients in arbitrations and mediations. He has also achieved the dismissal of many cases via motions for summary judgment and motions to dismiss.

Mr. Hancock is the primary contributor to Sedgwick’s Professional Liability Law Blog. 

Published Decisions

• Wilmot v. McNabb (N.D.Cal. 2003) 269 F.Supp.2d 1203 (granting broker-dealer's petition to compel arbitration) 

Presentations & Publications 

• Speaker, “Why E&O Claims Occur, and What You Can Do to Avoid Them,” presented to Riverport Insurance company (October 21, 2010);
• Speaker, “The Attorney-Client Privilege,” presented to State Compensation Fund (June 8, 2010);
• Coauthored “Evaluating Punitive Damages,” California Lawyer (June 2010);
• Speaker, “Legal Ethics for the Modern Lawyer,” co-presented to Lancer Claims Services (October 29, 2009);
• Coauthored “Who Decides Strategy: Lawyer or Client?” California Lawyer (October 2009);
• Speaker, “Tales From the Trenches - Lessons Learned from Broker Dealer Trials,” co-presented to Lancer Claims Services (August 26, 2009);
• Speaker, “First the Crash; Then the Wave. Claims Arising from the Crash of 2008,” co-presented to Lancer Claims Services (December 9, 2008).
• Speaker, “First the Crash; Then the Wave. Claims Arising from the Crash of 2008,” co-presented to Chubb & Son (November 11, 2008).
• Coauthored “Fair Weather Fees” San Francisco Daily Journal (March 2008);
• Consultant, "California Civil Discovery Practice," Chapter on Evaluating Privileges, Work Product, and Other Protections (4th ed Cal CEB 2006)
• "Malpractice Cases Based on a Missed Patent Filing," IP Law 360, June 2006
• Professional Liability Update: Developments in 2005 Affecting Attorneys, Accountants and Insurance Brokers
• Professional Liability Update: Developments in 2004 Affecting Attorneys, Accountants and Insurance Brokers
• "The California Supreme Court Rules that Client Loyalty and Confidentiality Trump Attorney Interests in Co-Counsel Suits," International Association of Defense Counsel newsletter, Professional Errors and Omissions Committee, August 2002 No. 1
• Professional Liability Update: Developments in 2002 Affecting Attorneys, Accountants and Insurance Brokers
• Professional Liability Update: Developments in 2001 Affecting Attorneys, Accountants and Insurance Brokers
• Professional Liability Update: Developments in 2000 Affecting Attorneys, Accountants and Insurance Brokers
• Professional Liability Update: Developments in 1999 Affecting Attorneys, Accountants and Insurance Brokers

Memberships & Honors

He is a member of the American Bar Association and its Litigation and Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Sections. He is also a member of the San Francisco Bar Association.

While in law school, he was a member of the Hastings Law Journal.  He also served as an extern to the Honorable Robert H. Schnacke, United States District Court, Northern District of California.