William E. von Behren is a partner in the Los Angeles office and a member of the Firm’s Management Committee. Mr. von Behren specializes in insurance and business litigation. Particular areas of expertise include general business, contract and commercial disputes, insurance bad faith, fraud and RICO litigation, and ERISA matters, with an emphasis on the representation of health, life and disability insurers and managed care organizations in every aspect of litigation and related matters.

Mr. von Behren has substantial jury and bench trial experience as lead trial counsel in more than fifteen matters. Most recently he obtained a $3.1 million dollar jury verdict in a complex business dispute tried in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. He also has significant experience in arbitration matters before the American Arbitration Association and private judicial arbitrators and has argued matters before the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. von Behren has served as lead counsel in the joint representation of numerous parties in a number of complex multi-party litigation matters. He is currently serving as Special Counsel to more than twenty (20) Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) primary licensees for the purpose of coordinating their joint defense in two national managed care class actions and served in a similar capacity for forty-four BCBS Licensees in the prosecution of the Plans claims against the tobacco industry in three separate federal cases.

He has served as a speaker on health care and disability insurance panels addressing multi-party litigation issues, ERISA issues, managed care class actions, health care fraud and abuse matters and joint defense issues. Mr. von Behren has authored articles published in defense industry materials addressing managed care litigation, ERISA disputes and privilege and immunity issues arising out of the joint prosecution and defense of claims.

Mr. von Behren is a 1980 graduate of St. Louis University School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1977. He commenced practicing law in Kansas City, Missouri in 1980, and has been with Meserve, Mumper & Hughes LLP since 1983. Mr. von Behren is a member of the California, Missouri and Illinois State Bars, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and all of the federal and state courts within the State of California, in addition to federal courts in other jurisdictions.

Bill is married with two daughters and is very active in his community and a supporter of youth sports programs. He is the past President of Manhattan Beach Little League, one of the largest little league organizations in the country. Bill is a member of the Manhattan Beach Little League Board of Directors in charge of the league’s softball program for girls 7 -14 years of age and manages two little league softball teams. He is also a past member of the Region 18 AYSO Board of Directors and coaches youth soccer and basketball teams.