Nicholas P. Roxborough

Described as a legal and professional “difference maker” for the business community, Nicholas P. Roxborough continues to pioneer, win and secure for a wide range of employers throughout the nation, their right to be treated fairly and equitably by their insurance carriers. Mr. Roxborough recognizes that every case, every lawsuit has quantifiable financial impacts on his clients’ bottom lines. He has dedicated his practice to representing employers in all aspects of insurance and employers’ rights issues.

Mr. Roxborough is Co-managing Partner of Los Angeles based Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani, LLP, the first law firm in the country to specialize in representing employers nationwide in workers’ compensation premium disputes. Mr. Roxborough has been practicing law since 1984. He has substantial litigation, trial and appellate experience. Since 1992, Mr. Roxborough has obtained eight published appellate opinions concerning employer’s rights in the insurance arena. He and his partner obtained the largest punitive damages trial award on behalf of a California employer against its workers’ compensation insurance carrier. He has won numerous cases and arbitrations where national carriers were found to be in violation of Business & Professions Code Section §17200 (unfair trade practices).

Mr. Roxborough has fought for and achieved numerous class action settlements against multi-national corporations for having violated consumer and employee rights. Mr. Roxborough has extensive expertise in assisting tribal entities throughout the State of California in their battles against carriers and regulatory agencies concerning the protection and preservation of tribal entities’ sovereign rights.

Starting in 2004, Mr. Roxborough chaired the Workers’ Compensation Task Force. Many of the solutions recommended by the Task Force resulted in major legislative changes in the workers’ compensation industry. Mr. Roxborough continues to work with the current Commissioner, Dave Jones, on similar and related issues for employers and consumers.

Recognized for his expertise and influence on policy and legislation, Mr. Roxborough is frequently asked to address trade associations, California State Bar organizations, private employers, as well as the California Legislature. For the past 20 years, Mr. Roxborough has been a featured speaker at: the California Workers Comp Forum Annual Meetings, the American Staffing Association, the Employers Fraud Task Force, the Southern/Northern California Association of Brokers, the CWC and Risk Conference, Profiles in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), Northern California Workers Comp Forum, OCRims, California Workers Compensation Insurance Defense State Bar, and the Los Angeles Federal Reserve Bank concerning the State of California’s Workers Compensation Crisis, to name only a few.

Mr. Roxborough is regularly quoted as an expert in numerous employer and insurance trade journals, and has appeared on television to comment on insurance and privacy matters.

Honors and Affiliations:

Member of the California Organized Investment Network (COIN) Advisory Board. COIN strives to serve as a national model providing leadership to increase insurance industry investment in underserved and rural communities throughout California. The Advisory Board assists in supporting leadership to increase the level of insurance industry capital in safe and sound investments that provide fair returns to investors, as well as social benefits to underserved communities. Roxborough was invited to join COIN's Advisory Board by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (2013).

Received the JFK Award from the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (2012).

Named "Workers' Comp Executive's Most Influential People in California Workers' Compensation" chosen for his contributions on legislation and policy, leadership and representation.

Received a "5 out of 5" AV® Preeminent™ overall peer rating by Martindale Hubbell, one of the most prestigious lawyer information organizations in the country. The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada.

Named of one the 2012 top 5% of professional profiles viewed on LinkedIn, the premier business network online with over 200 million members and counting.

Chairman of the Board of Governors for United Cerebral Palsy in Southern California. Former Chairman of the Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy in Southern California (2009-2012).

Treasurer for then Senate Majority Leader, Dean Florez, in his bid for Lieutenant Governor for the State of California.

Chairman, in 2003, of the California Workers’ Compensation Task Force for then Insurance Commissioner, John Garamendi. Many of the Task Force’s key recommendations became part of legislative bills in 2004.

Presenter at the Los Angeles Federal Reserve Bank on the State of California workers' compensation crisis. Panel member at the California Workers’ Comp Forum, Huntington Beach, California. Speaks before numerous trade groups, associations, and California State Bar organizations on employers’ rights issues.

Quoted as an expert in the areas of insurance and privacy matters in numerous employer and insurance trade journals, legal and business publications, as well as newspapers statewide.

Interviewed by radio and television news including CBS’ “MarketWatch,” KNBC, KNX and KCRA regarding high profile and policy-making cases.

Since 2005, named "Southern California Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics Media, Inc., an honor given to the top 5% of attorneys in Southern California.

Authored "Incorporating: A False Sense of Security," Computer and Software News, March 4, 1985; "Licensing Deals Should Resolve Future Problems," 1985; "Competition Restriction Clauses Require Care," 1985; "Work Made For Hire Doctrine," Computer & Software News, 1986; and “Closing Argument on Arbitration Myths,” Los Angeles Lawyer magazine, September 2011.

Transactions or Matters:

Obtained eight leading published appellate opinions concerning employer’s rights in the workers’ compensation premium and collateral dispute arena.

Obtained a statewide injunction against California’s largest workers’ compensation insurance carrier for unfair trade practices.

Obtained the largest punitive damages award upheld by the California Court of Appeals on behalf of a California employer against its workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

Won numerous cases and arbitrations where national carriers have been found to be in violation of California’s Business & Professions Code Section §17200 (unfair trade practices) and engaged in bad faith claims mishandling and charging of hidden fees.

Obtained settlements in California class action lawsuits against financial institutions over check cashing fees. The settlements ensured that employers remain in compliance with the California Labor Code and provided free check cashing for their non-accountholder employees.

Won a precedential ruling in Star Roofing Company, Inc. v. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB), that affects the way workers’ compensation premiums are calculated for California employers covered by a carrier that subsequently became insolvent.

Won a court decision on behalf of a California tribe and its temporary staffing business, erasing over $9 million in assessments made by the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

Recently won a Published Opinion preventing a Third Party Administrator from compelling arbitration of the employers’ allegations of claims mishandling under Equitable Estoppel Principles. This precedential case is the subject of further interpretation by several appellate courts including California and New York