Beth A. Kahn

    Partner
    Los Angeles, San Francisco
    Direct: 213.417.5131; 415.984.8516
    Main: 213.891.9100

    Practice Focus:

    • Main Biography
    • Employment Law
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Aviation & Marine Law
    • Environmental Law
    • Federal Civil Rights & Government Liability

    Beth Kahn’s practice encompasses the areas of employment law and insurance coverage. She has extensive experience in both federal and state courts, as well as before governmental agencies. Beth represents private and public entities in virtually all areas of employment law including litigation and proactive counseling. Her experience includes handling litigation and claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and violations of civil rights. Beth counsels employers regarding human resource decisions, personnel policies, employment handbooks, hirings, layoffs, terminations and other disciplinary actions.

    Beth advises insurers concerning their insurance coverage obligations. She has handled numerous insurance coverage matters including environmental, marine, employment practices liability and construction defect claims. Beth has represented insurance companies in complex, multi-party coverage litigation, including several of the largest environmental coverage actions filed in California. Beth also represents clients in toxic torts and other environmental litigation concerning state and federal cleanup liability. Formerly, Beth served as the firm’s Insurance Practice Group Leader for over eight years.

    In addition, Beth has handled civil rights matters on behalf of public entities, law enforcement officers and social workers. She was lead counsel in two landmark decisions, Alicia T. v. County of Los Angeles (1990) 222 Cal.App.3d 869, 271 Cal.Rptr. 513 (absolute immunity under Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for county social workers in connection with their investigation of child abuse and instigation of dependency proceedings) and Elene H. v. County of Los Angeles (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 1445, 269 Cal.Rptr. 783 (Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment for sheriff’s deputies in child abuse case brought by parents to whom child was subsequently returned).

    Education

    • J.D., Arizona State University, College of Law
    • A.B., Occidental College, with honors

    Court Admissions

    • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • United States District Court for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California

    Bar Admissions

    • California, 1988
    • District of Columbia, 1990

    Professional Memberships and Activities

    • Defense Research Institute, Employment and Insurance Sections
    • Los Angeles County Bar Association
    • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law and Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Sections

    Distinctions

    • Practice Group Leader for Employment Law, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP
    • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
    • Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™ - Labor and Employment Law 2012
    • Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™ - Labor and Employment Law 2011

    Speeches and Publications

    • "Sexual Harassment & Sexual Assault: Legal Perspective - Civil," Sexual Harassment & Sexual Assault in Educational Institutions conference co-sponsored by WRM America and Morris Polich & Purdy LLP, Loyola Marymount University, November 16, 2011 
    • Interviewed by Colleen Williams on NBC Nonstop News LA on the topic of sexual harassment and sexual assault in educational institutions, November 9, 2011 (click HERE to view the video)
    • Insurability Concerns in the EPLI Context – Punitive Damages, Intentional Acts and the Insurance Market's Response to Coverage, ABA Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, March 4, 2011
    • Employment Practices Liability Coverage – Updates and Strategies in Addressing Employment-Based Claims, ABA Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Committee CLE Seminar, March 5, 2010
    • Be Proactive and Not Reactive in Protecting Your Legal Rights, California Association for Adult Day Services Winter Meeting, March 3, 2010
    • The Insurer’s Duty to Advise the Insured of the Right to Select Independent Counsel, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section CLE Seminar, February 26, 2010
    • Sexual Harassment Prevention Seminar, September 30, 2009
    • The Application and Interpretation of Pollution Exclusions in a Construction Litigation Context: Current Trends and Recent Developments
    • Served as a faculty member for the Defense Research Institute
    • Ms. Kahn speaks often to employers and associations regarding employment law and insurance coverage issues and has contributed to multiple articles on these subjects.