Mark S. Allard
Of Counsel
Mark sues insurance companies when they fail to pay claims — representing only insureds — and has helped shape Michigan insurance law since 1985, including appellate work to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mark S. Allard's experience
Mark sues insurance companies when they fail to pay claims. Sentinel Law represents only insureds in these matters. Mark has helped shape the landscape of Michigan insurance law since 1985. He is regularly asked to speak on insurance issues for continuing legal education programs and at other Bar-related activities.
Mark also handles litigation matters dealing with employee benefit issues under ERISA, from benefit claims to multi-employer plan contribution issues. He has acted as benefit counsel for litigation matters on a national basis for a Big Three Auto Maker and a national food processor.
His practice includes an extensive appellate practice at every level of state and federal court, including the United States Supreme Court in Northwest Airlines v The County of Kent, 510 U.S. 355 (1994), and en banc before the Sixth Circuit in Nixon v County of Kent, 76 F3d 1381 (6th Cir. 1996). He was named Grand Rapids Lawyer of the Year for ERISA Litigation in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Achievements:
- Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, since 2013
- Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – ERISA, Grand Rapids, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023
- Grand Rapids Magazine's Top Lawyers, Litigation – Insurance, 2019–2022
- Leading Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law; Insurance Coverage Law: Consumer Insureds
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
- Argued before U.S. Supreme Court — Northwest Airlines v County of Kent
Practice Areas
- Insurance Coverage – Consumer Insureds
- ERISA Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Appellate
Education
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law — Detroit, Michigan — J.D., cum laude, 1985
- University of Washington — Seattle, Washington — B.A., cum laude, Communications, 1980 — Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- All Michigan state courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits
- United States District Court for the Eastern & Western District of Michigan and Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States Supreme Court
Professional Affiliations
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
Community Involvement
- American Cancer Society, Kent County Unit — Past President
- Gerontology Network — Board
- St. Thomas the Apostle School — Board
- Women's Resource Center — Board
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