Mr. Prater is a nationally recognized expert in the insurance industry. From 1981 to 1988, he was employed as General Counsel, Vice-President/General Counsel, and ultimately Sr. Vice President and General Counsel for the Allied Group of Companies, which specialized in the business of insurance. He has been teaching the course on Insurance Law and Practice at Santa Clara University, School of Law since 1983. Subjects include the structure and operation of insurance companies, claims handling standards and practices, insurance marketing, underwriting, insurance "bad faith" and related topics. Mr. Prater has testified as a court qualified expert in hundreds of cases around the country, including the landmark US Supreme Court case of Campbell v. State Farm. He is a consultant on insurance law and practice, for insurance companies, insureds, governmental entities, employers and others. The California Department of Insurance, the Federal Government, the State of California, and the City and County of Los Angeles have retained him as an expert. He has been a featured/key-note speaker at more than 200 national, state and local insurance industry sponsored seminars and conventions over the years. He is the co-author of the two volume treatise "The Employee Benefits Guide" published by Matthew Bender, New York.