Margaret Levy, Esq.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

As a mediator, Margaret Levy is genuine, empathic, and an excellent listener. She makes certain that all parties, whether they are individuals unfamiliar with the legal system or experienced corporate representatives, feel valued, heard and understood. Above all, she is a true neutral who is fair and even- handed, and she inspires confidence in parties and counsel. She makes everyone involved in a mediation feel comfortable, and she uses her considerable mediation skills, creativity, problem-solving ability, and out-of- the-box thinking to help the parties and their counsel reach a settlement.

Before becoming a mediator, Ms. Levy was a litigator and an accomplished trial and appellate lawyer. She handled hundreds of contract and business disputes, with an emphasis on life, health, disability, long term care, homeowners, and professional liability insurance lawsuits and healthcare and ERISA litigation, including class actions.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Insurance (Life, Health, Disability, Long Term Care, Homeowners, Professional Liability)
Insurance (First Party and Third Party Bad Faith)
ERISA
Healthcare
Business/Contracts
Class Actions

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (1996-2018)

Partner and Co-Chair of the Insurance Industry Practice Group: litigated insurance bad faith and ERISA cases, focusing on life, health, disability, accidental death and long-term care insurance lawsuits; lead trial counsel in more than 25 jury trials and court trials; participated in hundreds of mediations and settlement conferences.

United States District Court, Central District of California, Mediator (2011-Present)
Los Angeles Superior Court, Settlement Officer (1988-2009)
Adams, Duque & Hazeltine (1975-1996)

EDUCATION

University of California at Los Angeles, J.D., 1975
UCLA Law Review; UCLA Moot Court Honors Program

Michigan State University, B.A., with highest honors, 1972
Honors College; National Merit Scholar

HONORS AND AWARDS

The Best Lawyers in America (Insurance), 2008-PresentThe Best Lawyers in America (Insurance), 2008-2018
Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law, 2019
Southern California Super Lawyer, 2003-2016
Southern California Super Lawyers, Top Women, 2016
Inner City Law Center Humanitarian Award, 2013
Top 100 Women Litigators in California, 2009

MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Attorney Settlement Officer Panel (2011-Present)
Trustee and Member of Board of Governors, Museum of Natural History of Los Angeles County (2018- Present); Chair, Research and Collections Committee (2021 – Present); Member, Executive Committee (2021 – Present)
Association of Business Trial Lawyers: Member (1976-Present); Board of Governors (1996-2001)
UCLA Law Women LEAD: Founding Board Member (2015-Present); Summit Co-Chair (2019 and 2023)
UCLA Women and Philanthropy: Board of Directors (1995-2000), (2014-Present)
Uncommon Good: Board of Directors (2014-Present)
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles: Member
Inner City Law Center: Board of Advisors (2014-Present); Board of Directors (1994-2013)
Docent, Adamson House in Malibu, California
Bark Reading Dog Volunteer with Dog, Daisy Mae (2022 – Present)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California: Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel (2018-2023);
Los Angeles County Beach Commission (2015-2021); Chair (2017 - 2018)
Lawyer Representative from the Central District of California to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (2014-2017)
Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium: Advisory Board (2004-2017)
Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies Roundtable (2008-2016)
Association of Life Insurance Counsel: Board of Governors (2009-2013); Member (2002-2017)
UCLA School of Law Alumni Association: Board of Directors (2000-2003)
American Bar Association: Tort and Insurance Practice Section (1980-2014); Long Range Planning Committee (1995-1998); Task Force on the Involvement of Women (1991-1993); Vice Chair, Life Insurance Law Committee (1997-2003); Chair, Committee on Health Insurance Law (1994-1995)
Defense Research Institute Life, Health and Disability Law Committee: Member (1989-2017); Vice-Chair (2001-2004)
Los Angeles County Bar Association: Litigation Section (1976-2017); Access to Justice Committee (1989-2014); Judiciary Committee (1989-2003)
Los Angeles Superior Court Voluntary Settlement Conference Program (2009)
California Supreme Court Multijurisdictional Task Force Implementation Committee (2002-2004)
California Supreme Court Historical Society: Board of Directors (1998-2004)
Los Angeles Superior Court Joint Association Settlement Officer Program (1988-2000)
Public Counsel: Board of Directors (1986 – 1994); President (1993-1994); William O. Douglas Award Dinner Co-Chair (1993)
Board of Police Commissioners for the City of Los Angeles: Counsel to Office of the Special Advisor (1992)