Yvette D. Roland practices in the areas of complex insurance coverage, employment law and commercial litigation. Ms. Roland has handled diverse cases since she began practicing law in 1987, including sexual harassment matters and representation of Mobil Oil Corporation as lead defense and trial counsel in premises liability, products liability and franchisor/franchisee litigation. Ms. Roland also has represented certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, and certain London market insurance companies. Ms. Roland also assisted in the handling of copyright infringement matters and legal malpractice claims asserted against various major California-based law firms.

Ms. Roland has served as a board member and officer of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles since 1995, and is a board member of the Black Women Lawyers Foundation and the California Association of Black Lawyers. She also is member of the American Bar Association, John M. Langston Bar Association, the National Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Ms. Roland is a 1983 graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, where she was a member of the UCLA-Alaska Law Review, and a graduate of Stanford University (M.A.) and the University of California, Riverside (B.A., with honors). She was an Immigration Law Counselor at the UCLA Office of International Students & Scholars from 1983-1986. From 1986-1987, Ms. Roland was a law clerk to the Honorable Terry J. Hatter, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She occasionally serves as a UCLA moot court judge.

Representative Matters

Martin Marietta et al. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.
Southern California Gas Co. v. AEGIS, Ltd., et al.
Four Star Oil & Gas Co. [Texaco], et al. v. Allianz Ins. Co. et al.
Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company v. Continental Cas. Ins. Co. et al.
Leslie Procter and Cos. v. Lockheed Martin Corporation
Jensen-Kelly Corp. et al. v. Allianz Underwriters.
Southern California Edison Co. v. American Home Assur. Co.
USLIC (Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Co. v. Continental Cas. Co.
Chen v. Todai Restaurant
Slamma v. Mobil Oil Corporation

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
- President-Elect, 2007-2008
- Board Member, 1995-2006
Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles Foundation
- Board Member, 2000-present
California Association of Black Lawyers
- Board Member
John M. Langston Bar Association
National Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association

Admissions

California

Education

University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1983
Stanford University, M.A., 1974
University of California, Riverside, B.A., with honors, 1973

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2006-present
Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP
- Partner, 1996-2005
- Associate, 1990-1996
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable Terry J. Hatter, Jr. 1986-87
University of California at Los Angeles Office of International Students & Scholars
- Immigration Law Counselor, 1983-1986

Honors and Awards

Named a Southern California Super Lawyer for 2006
"The Business of Law," sponsored by the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, California, February 19, 2004
"Women of Distinction in the Business & Legal Community," presented by the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, May 6, 2004

Selected Speaking Engagements

"Trying the Business Punitive Damages Case," Association of Business Trial Lawyers' 30th Annual Seminar, Hyatt Tamaya Resort, Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, October 17-19, 2003
"Depositions and Difficult Adversaries," Los Angeles County Bar Association Program, April 1999
"Witness Preparation," Los Angeles County Bar Association Program, April 1999
"Partnership - Is It A Crystal Stair?" California Association of Black Lawyers, May 1999
"A Fireside Chat," Black Women Lawyers Education Committee Workshop, November 1997-2002
"Insurance Updates," California Minority Counsel Program, November 1997
"Trying the Complex Environmental Insurance Case," Lorman Education Services, 1996