Terrance J. Evans
Terrance J. Evans is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with substantial appellate experience who has secured victories for clients in numerous multimillion-dollar cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts across the United States. During his more than 20 years of practice, Mr. Evans has made history multiple times and distinguished himself as a leader in several of the largest bar associations in the United States. Mr. Evans is also a dynamic speaker who gives presentations on legal issues across the United States and around the world.
Mr. Evans is a Partner in the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices of Duane Morris LLP, where he serves as the Co-Leader of the firm’s Banking and Financial Services Practice. Mr. Evans is the Co-Chair of the Duane Morris San Francisco Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Mr. Evans is also a Member of the Duane Morris ESG Working Group. His practice is focused on representing clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts across the United States including the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Evans also regularly counsels clients regarding racial justice and diversity and inclusion issues. He has led dozens of diversity trainings for judges, lawyers, law students, and members of the community around the United States.
Inauguration Speech of CLA President Terrance J. Evans With Introduction By Judge Terry Wiley
Mr. Evans is the Chair of the California Lawyers Association (“CLA”), the largest voluntary state bar association in the United States representing the interests of more than 260,000 California lawyers. Mr. Evans is the first person of color and the first Black person in California history elected to this high profile position. Mr. Evans is also the Director of Region IX of the National Bar Association, the largest Black Bar Association in the world. Mr. Evans is also Vice President North of the California Association of Black Lawyers (“CABL”), the umbrella organization for all Black bar associations and judicial organizations in California.
Mr. Evans is the Past President of the Charles Houston Bar Association, the oldest Black Bar Association in California. Mr. Evans is the Co-Founder and Past Chair of the Charles Houston Bar Institute; a foundation that provides scholarships to underprivileged students. Mr. Evans is also the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the CLA Racial Justice Committee; Past Chair of the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association; Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Past Board Member of the Bar Association of San Francisco (“BASF”); Past Member of the BASF Judicial Evaluation Committee; Current Member of the BASF Finance Committee. Mr. Evans is a Member of the CABL Legislative Committee and Membership Committee.
Mr. Evans is a Member of California Lawyers Foundation; a Member of CLA Government Affairs Committee; Past Co-Chair of CLA Litigation Appellate Summit; Past Co-Chair of Pathways to the Bench Conference; Chair of CLA Litigation Section Scholarship Program; and Past Chair of the CLA Fundraising Committee. Mr. Evans is the Past Co-Chair of the ABA ICLC Annual Conference (the largest insurance coverage conference in North America). Mr. Evans also serves at the Co-Leader of the Duane Morris African American Employee Resource Group; Past Co-Leader of the Black Law Firm Partners of SF; and Member of the San Francisco Superior Court Elimination of Bias Committee.
Mr. Evans is the first Black man elected to serve as a statewide representative on the Board of the California Lawyers Association. Mr. Evans was the first Black person elected to serve as an officer of the California Lawyers Association, when he was elected Vice Chair in 2023. Mr. Evans was the first person of color in history elected to Chair the Association of Business Trial Lawyers Leadership Development Committee; the largest trial lawyer bar association in California.
Mr. Evans has spoken at more than 200 diversity and inclusion programs and civil rights programs in partnership with more than 65 law schools, bar associations, colleges, universities, high schools, law firms, churches, and other organizations. Mr. Evans also frequently appears on national and local television and radio discussing issues ranging from the United States Supreme Court and California courts to important legislation and civil rights issues.
In 2016, Mr. Evans was honored by the National Bar Association as one of the top African American attorneys in the USA under age 40. In 2017, he was honored by the Charles Houston Bar Association for his work promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. In 2018, Mr. Evans was honored by the Minority Bar Coalition for his contributions to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout California. In 2019, Mr. Evans was honored by New Dawn Vallejo for his work promoting diversity and inclusion and pro bono legal services. In 2020, Mr. Evans was recognized by Chambers for his efforts to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the United States. In 2021, Mr. Evans was honored by the Bar Association of San Francisco and Justice and Diversity Center for his diversity and inclusion work in Northern California and throughout the United States. In 2021, Mr. Evans was also honored by American Lawyer Magazine as a Trail Blazer.
In 2022 and 2023, Mr. Evans was honored by the Los Angeles Times as being one of the foremost leaders on diversity and inclusion issues in the State of California. In 2022, Mr. Evans was also honored by the Minority Bar Coalition for a second time for his efforts to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the United States. In 2023, Mr. Evans was honored by the National Bar Association as the Regional Director of the Year for his work to promote D&I around the United States and around the world. In 2024, Mr. Evans received the Cunningham Award from the California Association of Black Lawyers for his efforts to promote diversity and inclusion and civil rights for all people.
During his legal career, Mr. Evans has raised more than $550,000 for scholarships for underprivileged students. Mr. Evans has also created five annual scholarships that have provided tens of thousands of dollars to underprivileged students across the United States.
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 policyholders 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. Additionally, Mr. Evans has successfully represented insurers in property insurance and business interruption cases. Mr. Evans recently prevailed on behalf of an insurer in a $200 million Covid-19 business interruption lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and then he successfully defended that victory on an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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; check fraud claims, discriminatory lending claims; Fair Credit Reporting Act claims; Rosenthal Act claims; California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act claims; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims; Claims related to the Automobile Sales Finance Act (ASFA), also known as the Rees-Levering Motor Vehicle Sales and Finance Act (Civ. Code, § 2981 et seq.); California Ralph Act claims; California Tom Bane 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 also successfully represented financial institutions in discrimination cases in state courts, federal courts, and before the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
Mr. Evans has also successfully represented clients in complex multi-million dollar cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts involving products liability disputes; international contract disputes; racial discrimination disputes; business partnership disputes; complex real estate disputes; class action lawsuits; lawsuits involving municipalities and government agencies; landlord tenant disputes; medical device disputes; employee/employer disputes; manufacturing disputes; product distribution disputes; and multi-jurisdictional disputes involving complex choice of law issues.
Mr. Evans has negotiated settlements in dozens of multimillion-dollar cases, litigated in more than twelve states, and has participated in more than 200 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, California Court of Appeal, California Supreme Court, and United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Evans has spoken at numerous legal continuing education 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.