Terrance J. Evans

is a partner in the Trial Practice Group of Duane Morris in San Francisco. He concentrates his practice in representing the financial services industry, which includes international, national and community banks; loan service companies; and insurance companies. During his career, Mr. Evans has both recovered and saved clients of the firm tens of millions of dollars in settlements, judgments and extrajudicial procedures. Mr. Evans is also a member of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and serves as the West Coast Vice Chair of the Duane Morris Banking Practice Group.

With respect to the insurance industry, Mr. Evans concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and policy interpretation and analysis. He has represented commercial primary, excess and umbrella insurers in a wide range of multimillion-dollar cases, including declaratory relief, bad faith, rescission, subrogation, indemnity, additional insurance, interpleader and reformation actions. Mr. Evans has served as national coordinating counsel and monitoring counsel for insurance companies evaluating multi-jurisdictional claims where the exposure was estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mr. Evans has extensively advised commercial insurers and policy holders regarding primary, excess and additional insurance obligations in jurisdictions around the United States. His experience includes analyzing and advising clients regarding claims related to the construction industry, automobile industry, homeowners associations, real estate agents, accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys, ministers, international religious organizations, intellectual property, trademarks, mobile home parks, international imports and exports, interstate commerce, livestock, retail chains, wineries, cemeteries and other commercial establishments. He has also advised insurers regarding issues related to national security and the U.S. military.

In relation to the banking industry, Mr. Evans has represented international, national and community banks and loan service companies in consumer lending litigation, complex commercial litigation and various secured transactions, including commercial and residential nonjudicial foreclosures; unified foreclosures; judicial foreclosures; creditors' rights issues, which includes obtaining relief from stay in various bankruptcy courts; mechanics' lien lawsuits; stop notice claims; abatement issues; priority contests; RESPA claims; forbearance agreements; municipality disputes; transfer tax disputes; property tax disputes; short sales; loan purchase and sale agreements; predatory lending claims; discriminatory lending claims; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims; and many other issues. Mr. Evans has extensive experience in representing banks and other financial institutions in title insurance coverage matters. In particular, Mr. Evans has analyzed coverage under title insurance policies, negotiated coverage with title insurance companies and successfully litigated numerous coverage disputes.

Mr. Evans has negotiated settlements in dozens of multimillion-dollar cases, litigated in more than ten states, and has participated in more than 100 mediations, mandatory settlement conferences, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution for matters in both federal and state courts. Mr. Evans has also successfully represented clients in appellate matters, including matters before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Evans has spoken at insurance coverage seminars, business development workshops, and diversity conferences around the country. Additionally, he has been very involved in the firm's pro bono efforts.

Mr. Evans has been recognized both locally and nationally for his professional accomplishments. In 2016, he was appointed to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's (MCCA) Next Generation (N-Gen) Advisory Board, formed of in-house and law firm attorneys to assist with MCCA's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession nationwide. In 2012, Mr. Evans was appointed as co-chair of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee. In 2010 and 2008, he was honored by the American Business Trial Lawyers of Northern California for his dedication and professionalism. In addition, he was named one of the top 100 minority associates in the United States for 2007 by the Stakeholder Organization. Mr. Evans has also received special honors from the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus, the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, the Young Black Scholars Program, the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, the American Legion and many other organizations.

Mr. Evans graduated from Cornell University, where he made multiple appearances on the Dean's List, and was a Cornell Tradition Fellow. He also graduated from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles with recognition, and he was ranked as the Third Best Oral Advocate in the United States at the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition.

Resume

Experience

•Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2011-present
- Associate, 2006-2010
•Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP
- Associate

Honors and Awards

•Named one of the top 40 attorneys under the age of 40 in the United States for 2016 by the National Bar Association
•2016 Leadership Award from the American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee
•Named by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Northern California Rising Star, 2012-2017 in the areas of Banking and Insurance
•Named one of the Top 100 Minority Associates in the United States for 2007 by the Stakeholder Organization
•3rd Best Oral Advocate Frederick Douglass National Moot Court Competition
•Who's Who American Law Students
•Semifinalist Frederick Douglass Western Regional Moot Court Competition
•Winner of the Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles Annual Essay Competition
•Cornell University Tradition Fellowship
•Congressional Black Caucus Scholarship

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Selected Publications

•Co-author, Would California's Foreclosure Moratorium Be Enforceable? Law360, May 11, 2020
•Author, Judicial Council of California Adopts COVID-19 Emergency Rules, Duane Morris Alert, April 7, 2020
•Co-author, Young Lawyer Track Mediation Boot Camp 101: Preparing Your Coverage Case for Resolution, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, March 2014, American Bar Association, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Written Materials
•Co-author, Please Excuse the Delay: The Consequences of Untimely Notice, Slow Investigation, and the Failure to Communicate, chapter in the American Bar Association's annual Insurance Coverage Book, March 2012
•Author, A Review of Complicated Priority Disputes and Lien Issues Under California Law, chapter in Advanced Issues in Foreclosure, National Business Institute, 2011
•Author, Complex Commercial Foreclosure Issues: A Review of California Foreclosure Law Regarding Possession and Receivership, chapter in Advanced Issues in Foreclosure, National Business Institute, 2011

Selected Speaking Engagements

•Speaker, A COVID-19 Discussion: Banking, Real Estate and California Assembly Bill 828, Webinar, May 15, 2020

A COVID-19 Discussion: Banking, Real Estate and California Assembly Bill 828

•Moderator, Standing Up for Justice: Challenging the Erosion of Civil Rights, Diversity and Inclusion, Duane Morris LLP, San Francisco, October 10, 2019

•Host, Should I Go? Pros and Cons of Going In-House, Duane Morris LLP, San Francisco, April 24, 2019

•Speaker, Recoupment of Defense Costs: What is the State of the Law? ABA 2019 Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Tucson, Arizona, March 2, 2019

•Moderator, Building Your Business on Social Media Without Ruining Your Reputation, Duane Morris LLP, San Francisco, August 16, 2018

•Moderator, Diversity and Inclusion v. Intolerance and Hatred: Where Do We Go From Here? Bar Association of San Francisco 5th Annual Citywide Diversity and Inclusion Networking Event and Panel Discussion, San Francisco, October 19, 2017

•Speaker, Overcoming Blind Spots & Unconscious Bias to Create a Culture of Inclusion, Legalweek West's LegalDiversityForum, San Francisco, June 13, 2017

•Moderator, Closing the Deal: From the Boardroom to the Courtroom, Embarcadero Networking Group, San Francisco, August 3, 2017
•Host, How Emerging Data Platforms Are Shaping the Future of CREF Transactions, MBA's CREF Connects Data Driven Deals Regional Event, San Francisco, April 27, 2017
•Panelist, A Critical Discussion of Diversity and Inclusion in the Insurance Industry, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Tucson, AZ, March 3, 2017
•Moderator, Citywide Diversity and Inclusion Program, San Francisco, October 13, 2016
•Host, Leveraging LinkedIn for Small Business, Embarcadero Networking Group, San Francisco, June 8, 2016
•Speaker, Same Insured, Different Risks: Who Pays When Insurance Coverage Overlaps? 2016 ABA Insurance Coverage Seminar, March 4, 2016
•Moderator, The Pros and Cons of Trading Your Personal Identity for A Successful Career, BASF & Duane Morris Citywide Diversity Program, October 14, 2015
•Moderator, Examining Opening Statement Strategies for Plaintiffs and Defense Attorneys, 2015 Annual Meeting of The State Bar of California, Anaheim, California, October 8, 2015
•Moderator, Why Diversity and Inclusion Issues Still Matter: Eliminating Bias in the Legal Profession and Our Community, BASF & Duane Morris Citywide Diversity Program, October 29, 2014
•Speaker, Young Lawyer Track-Mediation Boot Camp 101: Preparing Your Coverage Case for Resolution, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, March 7, 2014
•Moderator, The Elimination of Bias In The Legal Profession; Navigating Issues of Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation In Law Firms, ABTL, BASF & Duane Morris Citywide Diversity Program, July 11, 2013
•Speaker, How to Make Partner During Uncertain Economic Times, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Francisco, June 25, 2012
•Speaker, Please Excuse the Delay: The Consequences of Untimely Notice, Slow Investigation, and the Failure to Communicate American Bar Association's Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Tucson, Arizona, March 2, 2012
•Mr. Evans is a frequent guest speaker for the Young Black Scholars Program, the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, and the NAACP.
•Keynote Speaker, Celebrate the Excellence Within, 26th Annual Young Black Scholars Celebration of Achievement, Los Angeles, June 3, 2012
•Speaker, Advanced Issues in Foreclosure, National Business Institute Seminar, Oakland, California, July 14, 2011
•Speaker, Diversity Issues in the Workplace, Philadelphia, May 2009
•Moderator, Businesses in the Courtroom: Getting Your Message Across! panel discussion, Association of Business Trial Lawyers' 2008 Annual Seminar, Kauai, Hawaii, September 24-26, 2008
•Speaker, Business Development for Minority Lawyers in Corporate Law Firms, Philadelphia, May 2008
• How to Avoid Getting Wacked By The Doctrine of Reasonable Expectations, American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, March 1, 2008
•Gave presentation regarding marketing and business development at the Duane Morris National Convention in October 2007
•Co-Presenter, Analyzing Claims for Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Personal Injury, and Advertising Injury Under Primary and Excess Liability Policies, San Francisco, California, December 15, 2005
•Spoke at Duane Morris' First Annual Diversity Retreat in May 2007