Sonia S. Waisman is engaged in general business litigation, focusing on complex insurance coverage cases. She has been national environmental coverage counsel for several large insurance companies and has served as liaison counsel in multi-billion dollar insurance litigation cases. She has handled a wide array of insurance coverage litigation in both state and federal courts throughout the country, at the trial court and appellate levels. She has written several articles regarding insurance coverage law in professional journals, as well as annual updates for an environmental insurance coverage text.

Ms. Waisman also is actively involved in the development of animal law. She co-authored the first animal law casebook, now in its third edition (Animal Law: Cases and Materials, Carolina Academic Press 2006). She has been an Adjunct Professor of Animal Law at Loyola Law School (L.A.); created and developed the first animal law course at California Western School of Law in San Diego; and has been a Visiting Law Professor at Vermont Law School. Ms. Waisman also lectures and speaks at conferences and has written several articles on the subject. She was Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and works with that national non-profit organization and others in the development of a wide variety of issues related to animal law.

Ms. Waisman was a Partner in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster LLP before she joined Riedl McCloskey & Waring LLP as Partner in the Los Angeles office November 1, 2008. She began her practice working with her current partner, Kathy Waring, in the San Diego office of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine, which later amalgamated into Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps. She joined Morrison & Foerster as Of Counsel in that firm’s Los Angeles office in June 2000. Ms. Waisman received her B.S. (1982) from Albany College of Pharmacy, Medical Technology, and her J.D. (1991 magna cum laude) from California Western School of Law. She has received the highest rating (AV) from her peers.

Practice Areas: Insurance Coverage Litigation; Animal Law

Admitted: 1991, California

Born: Albany, New York

Law School: California Western School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1991

College: Albany College of Pharmacy, Medical Technology, B. S., 1982

Book, Articles & Lectures:

• Co-Author, Animal Law: Cases and Materials (3d ed.), Carolina Academic Press 2006 (and prior editions), and law review articles on the subject.
• Adjunct Professor, Animal Law at Loyola Law School.
• Frequent Speaker, Conferences and Symposia re: Animal Law.

Address:

1960 East Grand Avenue, Suite 580

310.524.0400 (Phone)

310.524.0404 (Fax)

swaisman@rmwllp.com