Robert N. Berg

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
rberg@mrllp.com
Share

Robert N. Berg

Partner
“When the issues are layered and the pressure is real, strategy, insight, and a clear path forward are crucial. That’s what I bring to the table.”

Robert Berg advises clients navigating complex insurance and environmental disputes, bringing clarity and confidence to the most consequential matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he offers both depth and perspective.

Known for his steady judgment, Rob represents insurers and businesses in major coverage and bad faith litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, and first-party policies. His work also spans maritime claims, CERCLA matters, ERISA disputes, and catastrophic tort cases involving severe injury or death.

Clients rely on Rob to translate technical and regulatory complexity into strategic action. His approach— thorough, measured, and precise—helps drive successful outcomes in both litigation and negotiation across jurisdictions.

A recognized voice in the industry, Rob contributes regularly to legal publications and has been featured as a commentator on CBS Radio’s KFWB News.

View More

Associated Industries

Insurance

Associated Practice Areas

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • CERCLA Litigation: Litigated liability case between various defendants regarding cleanup costs associated with alleged perchlorethylene (PCE) spills.
  • Bad Faith: Bifurcated a trial under Insurance Code Section 11580, negated the relevant claims of bad faith, and proved a policy of insurance was not applicable to the terms of a judgment, saving client several million dollars.
  • Appellate: Represented an insurance company against Aerojet General in a complex case involving coverage issues, including trigger, effect and application of self-insured retentions, in addition to obligations of insurers to pay insureds’ investigative costs. The case resulted in three appellate decisions favorable to the insurance company client.
  • CERCLA Summary Judgment: Successfully argued that a client sued for water pollution in federal court under various theories could not be considered a proper “arranger” under CERCLA, and that the client could not be liable under the law of nuisance, a result never previously accomplished in the United States District Court, Northern District.
  • Contamination Coverage Dispute: Represented an insurance company in the seminal Shell Oil case that resulted in appellate decisions on important coverage issues, including obligations of insurers to pay investigative costs and the trigger, effect and application of self-insured retentions.
  • Contract Coverage Dispute: Provided counsel in many coverage disputes involving contract interpretation and application, including a large bad faith case that emanated from a dispute over the parameters of a $5M judgment. Successfully bifurcated the judgment, enabling insurance company client to put forth its coverage defenses first and to prevail at trial.
  • Contract Litigation: Represented a major retail chain in a large case involving a plaintiff paralyzed as a result of an accident at a facility owned by the retailer. Prior counsel withdrew, concerned with the potential exposure of the case, which could have been as high as $20M. Prevailed at trial and paid no damages based upon written indemnity provisions included in the contracts between the retailer and other defendants.
  • Environmental Response: Litigated an environmental response matter arising out of mandated cleanup costs for toxic chemicals allegedly disbursed by a dry cleaning business. Convinced the plaintiff that other parties were responsible for the polluted water, thereby avoiding cleanup payments.
  • Maritime Insurance: Represented a maritime insurance company in a dispute involving the high seas disappearance of a very prominent high tech executive. Devised and implemented a successful strategy that resulted in exposure being approximately 10% of the initial $10M demand.
  • Multi-layer Insurance Dispute: Represented insurance company in the insurance components of a $650M Los Angeles Archdiocese class action molestation case.
  • Toxic Tort: Litigated a large $500M water contamination case. Developed a multi-party strategy to reduce the number of exposed wells, due to the lack of evidence of pollutants exceeding the government maximum concentration levels (MCL). After numerous successful motions, the amount was reduced by 90% and the number of affected water wells was cut from 244 to 14.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Temple Isaiah (Financial Board)
  • Anti-Defamation League (Past Board Member)
Education
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
  • University of California at Davis, B.A.
Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2022-2023)

Insights & News
1 / 1

Headlines / August 15, 2024

Congratulations to our 2025 Best Lawyers!
See All Insights Arrow Right

Robert N. Berg

Partner
San Francisco
+1 415-882-7770
rberg@mrllp.com
“When the issues are layered and the pressure is real, strategy, insight, and a clear path forward are crucial. That’s what I bring to the table.”
Overview

Robert Berg advises clients navigating complex insurance and environmental disputes, bringing clarity and confidence to the most consequential matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he offers both depth and perspective.

Known for his steady judgment, Rob represents insurers and businesses in major coverage and bad faith litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, and first-party policies. His work also spans maritime claims, CERCLA matters, ERISA disputes, and catastrophic tort cases involving severe injury or death.

Clients rely on Rob to translate technical and regulatory complexity into strategic action. His approach— thorough, measured, and precise—helps drive successful outcomes in both litigation and negotiation across jurisdictions.

A recognized voice in the industry, Rob contributes regularly to legal publications and has been featured as a commentator on CBS Radio’s KFWB News.

Practice Area

Insurance

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • CERCLA Litigation: Litigated liability case between various defendants regarding cleanup costs associated with alleged perchlorethylene (PCE) spills.
  • Bad Faith: Bifurcated a trial under Insurance Code Section 11580, negated the relevant claims of bad faith, and proved a policy of insurance was not applicable to the terms of a judgment, saving client several million dollars.
  • Appellate: Represented an insurance company against Aerojet General in a complex case involving coverage issues, including trigger, effect and application of self-insured retentions, in addition to obligations of insurers to pay insureds’ investigative costs. The case resulted in three appellate decisions favorable to the insurance company client.
  • CERCLA Summary Judgment: Successfully argued that a client sued for water pollution in federal court under various theories could not be considered a proper “arranger” under CERCLA, and that the client could not be liable under the law of nuisance, a result never previously accomplished in the United States District Court, Northern District.
  • Contamination Coverage Dispute: Represented an insurance company in the seminal Shell Oil case that resulted in appellate decisions on important coverage issues, including obligations of insurers to pay investigative costs and the trigger, effect and application of self-insured retentions.
  • Contract Coverage Dispute: Provided counsel in many coverage disputes involving contract interpretation and application, including a large bad faith case that emanated from a dispute over the parameters of a $5M judgment. Successfully bifurcated the judgment, enabling insurance company client to put forth its coverage defenses first and to prevail at trial.
  • Contract Litigation: Represented a major retail chain in a large case involving a plaintiff paralyzed as a result of an accident at a facility owned by the retailer. Prior counsel withdrew, concerned with the potential exposure of the case, which could have been as high as $20M. Prevailed at trial and paid no damages based upon written indemnity provisions included in the contracts between the retailer and other defendants.
  • Environmental Response: Litigated an environmental response matter arising out of mandated cleanup costs for toxic chemicals allegedly disbursed by a dry cleaning business. Convinced the plaintiff that other parties were responsible for the polluted water, thereby avoiding cleanup payments.
  • Maritime Insurance: Represented a maritime insurance company in a dispute involving the high seas disappearance of a very prominent high tech executive. Devised and implemented a successful strategy that resulted in exposure being approximately 10% of the initial $10M demand.
  • Multi-layer Insurance Dispute: Represented insurance company in the insurance components of a $650M Los Angeles Archdiocese class action molestation case.
  • Toxic Tort: Litigated a large $500M water contamination case. Developed a multi-party strategy to reduce the number of exposed wells, due to the lack of evidence of pollutants exceeding the government maximum concentration levels (MCL). After numerous successful motions, the amount was reduced by 90% and the number of affected water wells was cut from 244 to 14.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Temple Isaiah (Financial Board)
  • Anti-Defamation League (Past Board Member)
Education
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
  • University of California at Davis, B.A.
Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2022-2023)

Stay Up To Date

News, insights, and what's ahead, all from Michelman Robinson

© 2025 Michelman & Robinson, LLP