Howard D. Maycon

Chair, Subrogation & Recovery, West Region
Co-Vice Chair, Subrogation & Recovery Department

Recent Publication:

Emerging Subrogation Trends- Artificial Intelligence [Subrogation & Recovery Law Blog]

This blog on emerging subrogation trends is brought to you exclusively by ChatGPT.  Of course, it lists itself as the top trend.  Cozen O’Connor is here to work with clients through AI advances, challenges and uses in the industry.  Hey ChatGPT, what are some emerging trends in...

Howard D. Maycon has successfully litigated a wide array of civil cases while focusing his practice in the areas of wildfires, catastrophic property damage claims, energy/utility losses, product liability, construction defect, fine art & specie and commercial litigation. He is accomplished at handling significant subrogation and recovery cases against public and private utilities, major manufacturers, national contractors and government entities in mass tort events, including numerous California wildfires and the San Bruno Pipeline Explosion. Howard is widely recognized for his experience in litigating catastrophic wildfires and has been selected by his peers to serve as co-lead litigation counsel for the subrogation industry for every major California wildfire for the past several years, including the 2017 California North Bay Fire cases, 2017 Southern California Thomas and Rye Fires and 2018 Woolsey Fire. He is presently co-lead litigation counsel for the 2017 Creek Fire, 2019 Kincade and Saddle Ridge Fires and the 2020 Zogg Fire.  Howard handles cases domestically and internationally, with significant experience in Asia. He has also successfully arbitrated before the International Chamber of Commerce in London, England.

In 2021, Howard was awarded the prestigious California Lawyer of the Year (“CLAY”) Award for his work as co-lead litigation counsel for the subrogation industry in the Woolsey Fire $2.2 billion settlement.  In addition, he has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America from 2020-2022.

Howard is the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of Cozen O’Connor. He currently sits on the firm’s Board of Directors, has served on the Management, Pro-Bono, Cross-Marketing and PAC committees and co-chaired its Shareholder Nomination Committee. In his role as the Western Region Subrogation Department Chair, Howard oversees lawyers handling matters in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Howard is the editor of Cozen O'Connor's Subrogation & Recovery Law Blog and has authored blogs and publications in the areas of Inverse Condemnation, The Internet of Things and Its Impact on Subrogation and Cyber Risks to Utilities and Power Companies. Howard has presented at NASP and the California Conference of Arson Investigators. He frequently lectures to clients and organizations throughout the country addressing a wide range of litigation and practice area issues.

Howard has worked on a number of pro bono matters including procurement of reparations for Holocaust survivors, as well as providing legal counsel to Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees who were relocated to Los Angeles. Howard also participates in Los Angeles County’s Teen Court program in Santa Monica, an alternative to Juvenile court, where he guides the student jury through an actual trial including the deliberation process to reach a verdict and sentence, which is approved and enforced by the Los Angeles County Superior Court and Probation Department. Howard also volunteers his time at The Ronald McDonald House, food banks and homeless shelters in the greater Los Angeles area. He is a board member of the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation and Hermosa Beach Little League.

Howard earned his Bachelor of Arts at the College of William and Mary in 1992, where he was a three-year starter on the football team that earned a Lambert Cup Championship in 1990. He earned his law degree at Whittier College of Law in 1996. Outside the office, Howard enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children, who he has coached in football, baseball, softball and basketball.

Experience

News

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor Announces Changes to Firm Management 2022

March 23, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2022 year.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Howard Maycon Selected as a 2021 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year by Daily Journal

March 18, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Howard Maycon, chair of the firm’s Subrogation & Recovery Group, West Region, has been selected as a 2021 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) by Daily Journal for his work as subrogation co-lead counsel in settlements in the Thomas/Woolsey fires.

Edison to pay $1.16B for Thomas wildfire

September 25, 2020

Howard Maycon is featured in The Daily Journal article titled, "Edison to pay $1.16B for Thomas wildfire" which discusses Southern California Edison Co.'s agreement to pay insurance companies $1.16 billion to settle claims arising from the 2017 Thomas Fire.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 201 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

138 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 28, 2019

Best Lawyers selected 138 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 21 of the firm’s national offices for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Los Angeles and Santa Monica Attorneys Participates in Adoption Day

November 19, 2018

Los Angeles and Santa Monica offices finalized pro bono adoptions for six families.

Cozen O’Connor Names Four Shareholders to Board of Directors

September 11, 2018

Cozen O’Connor has elected shareholders James H. Heller, Lori Kalani, Howard Maycon, and Martin Schrier to the firm’s board of directors.

Publications

Emerging Subrogation Trends- Artificial Intelligence [Subrogation & Recovery Law Blog]

May 15, 2023

This blog on emerging subrogation trends is brought to you exclusively by ChatGPT.  Of course, it lists itself as the top trend.  Cozen O’Connor is here to work with clients through AI advances, challenges and uses in the industry.  Hey ChatGPT, what are some emerging trends in...

California Wildfire Alert - Mill Fire and Fairview Fire [Alert]

September 07, 2022

Over the course of the weekend, California incurred a number of wildfires. Some were attributed to natural causes, however, the Mill Fire and Fairview Fire appear to have been caused by human activity and we are actively investigating both fires for recovery potential.

Wildfire Alert 2022 McKinney Fire, 2021 South Fire

August 25, 2022

Howard Maycon, Kevin Bush, and David Brisco provide an update on the subrogation potential from the 2022 McKinney Fire and the 2021 South Fire.

Insurance Subrogation Collaboration Yields $3.8B in Settlements [The Daily Journal]

March 23, 2021

Howard Maycon is featured in a Daily Journal article for being selected as a 2021 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

Wildfires – A Discussion of Early Investigation Strategies and Resources [Subrogation & Recovery Law Blog]

March 02, 2021

Wildfires continue to be national front-page news, be it the destruction caused by the fires themselves or the litigation that lasts for years after the fire has been suppressed. In the latest “Subro on the Go” podcast episode, hosts Joe Rich and David Brisco are joined by Howard Maycon, lead...

San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Fire [Alert]

May 27, 2020

Howard Maycon and Kevin Bush discuss the May 23, 2020, fire that erupted on Pier 45 on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California.

Update on California Fires [Alert]

November 12, 2018

Howard Maycon, Kevin Bush, David Brisco, Phil Berens, Tom Regan and Peter Lynch provide an update on the Woolsey, Hill, and Camp fires in California.

California Fire Alert

November 09, 2018

Howard Maycon, Kevin Bush, David Brisco, Mark Roth, and Peter Lynch discuss the Woolsey, Hill, and Camp fires currently burning in California.

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Whittier Law School, J.D., 1996
  • College of William and Mary, B.A., 1993

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America 2020-2023

2021 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year 

  • California
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of California
  • American Bar Association
  • American Trial Lawyers Association
  • California Bar Association
  • Los Angeles Bar Association
  • National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP)