How To Get A Law Degree In Southern California

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1 southern california s BestLawyers E d i t i o n THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN southern california Who Are The Lawyers of the Year? Girardi Keese A World-Class Law Firm with Unsurpassed Results Mark Robinson A Reputation for Results Dan Callahan Breaking Records Across the Board Lisa Helfend Meyer no compromise in move-away cases Shernoff Bidart Echeverria holds insurance companies accountable A SPECIAL Advertising Supplement to the Frank Darras Disability Law powerhouse

2 D a r r a s L a w Insurance Law

3 SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S From Left: Michael HuYoung, Brian H. Jones, Lawrence D. Diehl, Edward D. Barnes F rank N. Darras made a decision mearly a quarter-century ago that would affect tens of thousands of Americans. Darras took the road less traveled to help the sick, disabled, and elderly mount a heroic fight against billion-dollar insurance companies. Darras s life s work is protecting the disabled and senior citizens. He founded DarrasLaw, the largest disability and long-term care insurance litigation firm in the country. Headquartered in Ontario, California, DarrasLaw helps people from all walks of life, from professional athletes, doctors, lawyers, and business owners to blue-collar workers. Darras gives the same stellar disability advice to a trucker, dockworker, or CEO. At DarrasLaw, policyholders recover the insurance benefits they paid dearly for and richly deserve. It doesn t matter whether it s $50 or $5 million a month. It s never about the money. It s always about helping good, honest people, Darras says. Darras reviews 2,500 new disability referrals a month from all over the country. This volume allows DarrasLaw to monitor insurance company claims, policies, and procedures continuously. If an insurance carrier institutes an unreasonable new delay or denial strategy, Darras is able to identify the problem and analyze the impact before the average disability lawyer encounters it for the first time. Not only has this resulted in quicker results for his clients, it has also helped him earn the respect of the insurance industry. Darras has been honored by law dragon as one of the top 500 Lawyers, Top 500 Litigators, and Top 500 Plaintiffs Lawyers in the United States. He has annually been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since Darras has also been named to Super Lawyers and recognized by Outstanding Lawyers in America. His national success has led him to be repeatedly honored as a Top Lawyer by Corporate Counsel, named one of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the coveted 10 Million Dollar Annual Rainmaker circle reserved for attorneys who generate $10 million in annual attorney fees. Darraslaw is the nation s top disability and long-term care insurance litigation firm. Darras has recovered nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in wrongfully denied insurance benefits. Darras has seen, evaluated, litigated, and resolved more disability and long-term care cases than any firm in the United States. His practice is literally in a disability league of its own. Darras says, I know my name means real protection for senior citizens and those disabled from sickness or injury. At DarrasLaw, we hold big insurance companies accountable E D I T I O N Frank N. Darras 3257 East Guasti Road, Suite 300 Ontario, CA ph: fax: Reflex Blue Cool Gray 4u

4 Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLP F a m i l y L a w From Left: Felicia R. Meyers, Dana Lowy, Lisa Helfend Meyer, Doreen Marie Olson

5 As the only preeminent family law practice in the United States led entirely by female partners, Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLP, is known throughout Southern California for its success in protecting and preserving its clients personal assets and custodial rights. In town we have a reputation for being fearless advocates on behalf of our clients, says founding partner Lisa Helfend Meyer. That tenacity in the courtroom is equaled by our compassionate and discreet service, where we go the extra mile to ensure that these often heart-wrenching situations are made as bearable as possible. The boutique Century City firm represents men and women equally in all aspects of family law, including complex marital dissolutions, high-conflict custody matters, business valuations, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and mediation. Furthermore, the firm s partners have been an influential force on cutting-edge divorce issues, such as same-sex relationships, domestic and international move-away cases, and custody disputes involving special needs children. The firm has represented a number of high-profile clients in Southern California, including celebrities, entertainment executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Recently, the firm made headlines when it represented a mother who suffered a catastrophic injury, and subsequent disability, during the birth of triplets and was then forced to pursue visitation rights for her children. This past March, the court ruled in the mother s favor, saying that she must be granted visitation rights. We re able to tackle these challenging cases because our unwavering drive, both in and out of the courtroom, allows our clients to get the results they deserve, Meyer says. While the firm is well known for its aggressive litigation skills and extensive trial work, all of its members agree that it is better to settle a case on a client s terms, rather than having a judge decide the outcome. To that end, many of the firm s cases are resolved before trial at voluntary settlement conferences, often with the assistance of retired judges and professionals to aid in the settlement process. Whether the firm goes to trial or settles, it always employs leading experts such as mental health professionals, tax attorneys, and accountants to obtain the best outcomes for its clients. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Lisa Helfend Meyer Lisa Helfend Meyer The firm s four partners are all leaders in the family law community and are frequently called upon by print and media outlets to comment on high-profile marital dissolutions and custody battles in the news. Meyer, the firm s senior partner, has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for two years in a row, and this year was named The Best Lawyers in America 2012 Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Los Angeles. Partner Doreen Marie Olson is certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California and has more than 18 years of experience practicing family law; she works extensively on complex child custody cases. Partner Dana Lowy, meanwhile, has practiced family law for more than 16 years and has unique expertise in mediation and the drafting and negotiating of preand post-nuptial agreements. Partner Felicia Meyers, who has extensive litigation experience, is the former chair of the Family Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and in 2009 received the President s Award for exemplary service to the Association. Family Law Los Angeles Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1425, Los Angeles, CA ph: ; fax:

6 G i r a r d i K e e s e Employment Law Individuals, Labor Law Union, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation Front Row, Left To Right: Vincent J. Carter, Amanda H. Marz, John A. Girardi, Amanda L. McClintock, Robert W. Finnerty, Amy F. Solomon, Thomas V. Girardi, Howard B. Miller, John K. Courtney, Neyleen S. Beljajev, Robert M. Keese, Shawn J. McCann, Keith D. Griffin Back Row, Left To Right: James G. O Callahan, Claus F. Mory, V. Andre Sherman, David N. Bigelow, Graham B. LippSmith, Christopher T. Aumais, Lyssa A. Roberts, David R. Lira, V. Andre Rekte F orty-six years ago, as a young lawyer just starting out, Tom Girardi never imagined he would someday be one of the most successful trial attorneys in California history, managing partner of a world-class firm that has impacted the lives of thousands of individuals. All he knew was that he wanted to provide excellent counsel to anyone who had been injured physically or financially, and that he was ready to go to court to help them achieve a measure of justice. The new firm started out small just Girardi and a secretary and $500 was a large award in the early days, as he likes to recall. Today, Girardi Keese now has 30 attorneys at offices in Los Angeles and San Bernardino, including 10 members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, more than any other firm. One of the first to take on mass torts and take them to trial, it is one of a handful of plaintiff firms in the United States that handles cases involving pharmaceutical litigation, product liability, medical malpractice, class actions, intellectual property, antitrust, and business litigation. Virtually all of the firm s cases are referred by other attorneys nationwide, who know they can count on Girardi and his team to represent their clients ably and effectively, even in the toughest cases. Exceptional Resources and Talent We are very lucky to have the very best lawyers, and because of that we get the best cases and enjoy great credibility both with the courts and with other law firms, Girardi says. We have the resources and the passion to give a voice to those who have suffered personal injury and financial harm because of the often-deliberate actions of big companies, from pharmaceutical companies that sell drugs knowing they will do harm, to car manufacturers that don t fix known defects because it will cost them a few dollars per car, large corporations that knowingly allow their employees to be discriminated against and harassed, and insurance companies that delay and deny rightful claims. There has been a moral component to every one of the firm s cases from day one, Girardi says, whether it is representing an individual who broke her ankle after slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk or thousands injured by an unsafe drug. We all learned from Tom that being a trial lawyer is [about being] the ultimate warrior for the voiceless, says partner Amy Solomon. Girardi is especially passionate about the case of a young man a San Francisco Giants baseball fan who suffered a fractured neck after being attacked at Dodger Stadium. The lawsuit, which is currently pending, claims the team s owners cut security at the stadium to support their lavish lifestyle. This is one of the worst things I ve ever seen, Girardi says. Ballparks are where you go to be with your family. Not a bank for an owner who cares nothing about his fans or his team.

7 1126 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA ph: West Hospitality Lane Suite 260 San Bernardino, CA ph: Throughout the years, Girardi Keese has achieved more than $10 billion in verdicts and settlements, including: When you come to work at Girardi Keese, it s a life sentence, Girardi jokes. Nearly all of our attorneys began their careers as law clerks with the firm, and nobody leaves. We re a tightknit, warm operation, with a basic decency and integrity that permeate the entire place. Thomas V. Girardi The first million-dollar medical malpractice verdict in California $633 million for residents of Hinkley, California, who were poisoned by Pacific Gas and Electric in the case made famous in the movie Erin Brockovich $2 billion for California consumers overcharged by Sempra Energy $4.85 billion for heart attacks caused by the arthritis drug Vioxx $545 million in a class action against Farmers Insurance Group and Zurich Financial Services Group $43 million on behalf of a 4-year-old boy who was seriously injured on the Roger Rabbit ride at Disneyland Later this year, Girardi Keese partner Keith Griffin will likely begin a series of trials over Avandia, a diabetes drug that caused an estimated 60,000 to 200,000 heart attacks in the United States between 1999 and Griffin represents 4,200 patients who took Avandia to regulate their blood sugar. The firm is also actively involved in cases involving DePuy metal-on-metal artificial hips, which were recalled because they have been known to damage nearby tissue, and Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills, which can cause heart attacks and strokes in young women. Nothing is more satisfying than helping someone who was hurt because a major pharmaceutical company was more concerned about profits than safety, Griffin says. Girardi Keese may have succeeded beyond Girardi s imagination, but it has never forsaken the little guy. It still represents thousands of individuals. It s really an honor to be a lawyer and help people, Girardi says. That s what I ve tried to do my whole life. Many of the people we represent have been very severely harmed. Some will need medical care for the rest of their lives. If we can help them get the care or support they need and get their lives back to the extent possible and do that in the most professional and ethical way possible then it s been a good day. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Thomas V. Girardi David R. Lira Thomas V. Girardi personal injury Litigation plaintiffs: Los angeles

8 The law firm of Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis, Inc., has established a reputation throughout the country as one of the nation s leading products liability, business litigation, and personal injury law firms. Since 1978, when senior partner Mark Robinson, Jr., served as co-counsel for the plaintiff in the historic Ford Pinto gas tank fire case, Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Company, the firm s attorneys have represented thousands of individuals, businesses, and public entities in cases where negligence, malfeasance, fraud, or corporate irresponsibility have caused personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or substantial business losses. Throughout the last three decades, RCRSD attorneys have obtained dozens of multimillion dollar awards for our clients, including jury verdicts, judgments, and settlements. Many of these have been nationally noteworthy cases, such as a $4.9 billion dollar jury verdict against GM, a $128 million dollar verdict against Ford Motor Company, a $51 million dollar verdict against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, a $45 million dollar settlement in a business fraud case, and a $31 million dollar verdict in a work related accident. In each instance, thorough preparation, detailed investigation, and a relentless commitment to the truth ensured that facts and evidence were brought to light that resulted in a successful outcome for the firm s clients. With offices in Newport Beach, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino the firm s attorneys represent clients in Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, around the state of California, and across the United States. The firm specializes in a broad range of individual actions as well as mass torts, including: Asbestos Automotive Defects Avaulta Transvaginal Mesh Aviation Accidents Blue Cross/ Wellpoint Byetta Class-Action Cases Contact Lens Solutions Defective Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Fentanyl/Duragesic Pain Patch Gadolinium and NSF Motor Vehicle Accidents Birth Control Pills Pedestrian Accidents Products Liability Roadway Design SUV Rollovers SSRI Antidepressants Linked to Birth Defects SSRI Antidepressants Linked to Autism Toyota Defective Gas Pedal Truck Accidents Unfair and Fraudulent Business Practices Workplace Injuries YAZ/Yasmin 620 Newport Center Drive, 7th Floor, Newport Beach, CA ph: South Commonwealth Ave., Suite 1254, Los Angeles, CA ph: East Brier Drive, San Bernardino, CA ph:

9 Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis, Inc. Mass Tort Litigation/Class actions Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs Not Yet Approved SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Mark P. Robinson Jr., Donald H. Slavik Standing From Left: Scot Wilson, Karen Barth Menzies, Kevin F. Calcagnie, William D. Shapiro, Allan F. Davis, and Daniel S. Robinson Seated From Left: Mark P. Robinson, Jr., and Jeoffrey L. Robinson

10 Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Michael J. Bidart William M. Shernoff Michael J. Bidart Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs Riverside William M. Shernoff Insurance Law Riverside

11 For nearly four decades, Shernoff Bidart Echeverria has zealously fought bad faith insurance practices, recovering more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has a reputation for successfully challenging insurance companies on claim denials, policy rescissions, and other instances of unfair conduct; it also seeks punitive damages to deter future insurance bad faith practices and handles catastrophic personal injury cases. William M. Shernoff, the founding partner of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria, is known as a pioneer of insurance bad faith law. He manages the firm s Beverly Hills office and continues to break new ground in the field of consumer law for insurance policyholders. A notable recent success is Shernoff s $19 million jury verdict on a $38,000 claim involving the issue of medically necessary treatment. Past landmark cases include an $86 million settlement related to a hotel fire, a jury verdict and more than $100 million in payment for hurricane-related claims, an agreement from large health insurers to pay more than $50 million in damages to policyholders whose coverage was rescinded, and millions in reparations to Holocaust survivors and their relatives on life insurance claims. Mike Bidart leads the firm s catastrophic injury, duty to defend, and HMO litigation departments. He is known for having secured the largest jury verdict ever rendered against an HMO regarding denial of medical benefits, a $120.5 million wrongful death jury verdict. He is a fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), American College of Trial Lawyers, and International Academy of Trial Lawyers. In addition, Bidart has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal legal publication and has been named in the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers each year since Both Shernoff and Bidart have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2012, with Shernoff named as The Best Lawyers in America 2012 Lawyer of the Year for Insurance Law in Riverside. Bidart, meanwhile, was selected as The Best Lawyers in America 2012 Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs in Riverside and as Cal-ABOTA s Trial Lawyer of the Year for Ricardo Echeverria handles insurance bad faith and catastrophic injury cases. His distinguished trial record includes a $25.7 million jury verdict on behalf of a 17-year-old quadriplegic in a catastrophic injury case, a $7.2 million jury verdict in Minnesota federal court against an insurance company s failure to settle within policy limits, a $5.1 million jury verdict for 2003 wildfire victims, a $3.6 million jury verdict for an active duty Marine whose insurance company denied a $75,000 water loss claim, a $3.3 million jury verdict for 2007 wildfire victims, a $1.9 million verdict on behalf of a municipal government against its insurance carrier, a $1.8 million jury verdict against an insurance agent, and a $1 million jury verdict for a property owner s fire loss. Echeverria was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in 2010 (he was previously nominated for the award in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009). He was also a finalist for the Consumer Attorneys of California Consumer Attorney of the Year award in 2007 and From Left: Michael J. Bidart, Ricardo Echeverria, William M. Shernoff 600 South Indian Hill Boulevard Claremont, CA ph: fax: North Canon Drive, Suite 200 Beverly Hills, CA ph: fax:

12 Southern California s E D I T I O N The Guide To Southern California s Top Attorneys It s inevitable at some point in your life, you re going to need a lawyer, and you won t always be able to predict when that need will arise. Whether you re starting a business or selling one, getting married or divorced, patenting your invention, litigating a contract, or buying a home there is a talented and highly competent attorney listed in this guide who can help. Perhaps you or a family member is involved in an accident or accused of a crime. These are all serious matters for which you need first-rate legal representation. Southern California s Best Lawyers helps take the mystery out of locating a high-quality advocate to protect you, your family, your business and all other assets. The exceptional attorneys listed in this guide are only those attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America. These attorneys were nominated by and voted in by their peers. Lawyers cannot buy their way into this guide. They must earn a spot through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. To remain on the list, they must be at the top of their game, year after year. Best Lawyers, the leading referral list in the legal profession, and ALM, the nation s leading legal journalism and information company, have teamed up to provide this invaluable resource for readers, whatever your legal needs may be. Lawyers in this guide are arranged by their legal specialty from Administrative Law to Workers Compensation Law which makes it easy to find the professional advice you need. Keep this comprehensive guide available for those times when you need a first-rate advocate to assist you. The lawyers listed in Southern California s Best Lawyers are eager to help. This advertising supplement was created by ALM Media, LLC, and did not involve the reporting or editing staff of the Los Angeles Times. This list is excerpted from the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published for nearly three decades, Best Lawyers lists attorneys in 82 practice areas, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation s top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2012 edition of Best Lawyers, which will be published in November 2011, is based on more than 3.1 million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled more than 28 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on a vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included. In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings. The nomination pool for the 2012 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers were asked to vote only on nominees in their own practice area in their own jurisdiction. Lawyers in closely related practice areas were asked to vote across practice areas, as were lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where practice areas are national or international in nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. METHODOLOGY Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee should be listed: If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them? All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality a critical factor in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process. Ultimately, of course, a lawyer s inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases. For all these reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful guide to the legal profession in the United States. Best Lawyers lists are available at Best Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc. 12 Southern California s Best Lawyers For more info go to

13 Our firm motto is experience, compassion, resources, and results, Wylie Aitken says. Those four values guided us in our growth over the past 35 years, helping us to become a nationally respected boutique firm of distinguished trial lawyers that would protect citizens and businesses alike from predatory special interests. Aitken Aitken Cohn A Plaintiffs Trial Law Firm A Special Advertising Supplement Today, the firm is known for its many multimillion dollar trial victories and settlements, in addition to a number of precedent-setting appellate decisions. In one of the firm s most widely recognized cases, Wylie, along with his partner Christopher Aitken, secured a recordbreaking settlement estimated at $25 million after a dislodged metal cleat on an amusement park s sailing ship ride took the life of a 34-year-old man and severely disfigured his wife. Most recently, Wylie Aitken, along with his partner Darren Aitken triumphed and attained a $55 million-dollar verdict against the U.S. Government the largest personal injury judgment in Federal Tort history on behalf of a paralyzed nine-year-old girl. In addition to high-profile personal injury cases, the firm also handles everything from business litigation and products liability, to insurance bad faith and business torts. Wylie credits the firm s history of notable results to the commitment of its attorneys, who employ creative strategies to achieve substantial recoveries, while building direct working relationships with their clients. The firm s four partners are considered leaders in the legal community and have all been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2012, as well as the firm itself being included in U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Christopher Aitken is a strong advocate for consumer safety and has been named to Super Lawyers and Rising Stars , a list of leading lawyers in the nation. Richard Cohn was also recognized in the Law Dragon 500 list and is past president of the Orange Country Trial Lawyers Association. Darren Aitken, meanwhile, was named as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Orange County by Southern California Super Lawyers and currently serves as president of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. FIRM FACT The Firm triumphed and attained a $55 milliondollar verdict against the U.S. Government the largest personal injury judgment in Federal Tort history. From Left: Rich Cohn, Wylie Aitken, Darren Aitken, and Chris Aitken Wylie has received many prestigious awards throughout his career, including The Best Lawyers in America 2009 Lawyer of the Year award for Personal Injury Litigation. He was recently named as liaison counsel for the nationwide Toyota litigation concerning the unintended acceleration of Toyota vehicles. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Christopher Aitken Darren Aitken Wylie Aitken Richard Cohn 3 MacArthur Place, Suite 800 Santa Ana, CA ph:

14 Southern California s E D I T I O N Lisa Helfend Meyer: no compromise in move-away cases 23 Frank Darras: Disability Law powerhouse 25 Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP: holds insurance companies accountable 27 Girardi Keese: A World-Class Law Firm with Unsurpassed Results 29 Dan Callahan: Breaking Records Across the Board 31 Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis: A Reputation for Results Lawyers of the Year 34 Southern California s best lawyers by specialty Administrative/Regulatory Law 16 Admiralty & Maritime Law 16 Advertising Law 16 Alternative Dispute Resolution 16 Antitrust Law 16 Appellate Practice 16 Banking and Finance Law 16 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law 18 Bet-the-Company Litigation 18 Biotechnology Law 18 Civil Rights Law 18 Collaborative Law: Family Law 20 Commercial Litigation 20 Communications Law 20 Construction Law 20 Corporate Governance and Compliance Law 22 Corporate Law 22 Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar 22 Criminal Defense: White-Collar 24 Derivatives and Futures Law 24 DUI/DWI Defense 24 Elder Law 24 Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law 24 Employee Benefits (Erisa) Law 24 Energy Law 26 Entertainment Law 26 Environment Law 26 Equipment Finance Law 26 Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law 26 Family Law 26 Family Law Mediation 28 First Amendment Law 28 Franchise Law 28 Gaming Law 28 Government Relations Practice 28 Health Care Law 28 Immigration Law 28 Information Technology Law 30 Insurance Law 30 Intellectual Property Law 30 International Arbitration 32 International Trade and Finance Law 32 Labor and Employment Law 32 Land Use & Zoning Law 34 Legal Malpractice Law 34 Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law 34 Litigation Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) 34 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions 36 Media Law 36 Medical Malpratice Law 36 Mergers & Acquisitions Law 37 Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law 38 Municipal Law 38 Mutual Funds Law 38 Native American Law 38 Natural Resources Law 38 Non-Profit/Charities Law 38 Personal Injury Litigation 38 Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law 40 Product Liability Litigation 40 Professional Malpractice Law 41 Project Finance Law 41 Public Finance Law 41 Railroad Law 41 Real Estate Law 41 Securities/Capital Markets Law 42 Securitization and Structured Finance Law 43 Tax Law 43 Technology Law 43 Trusts and Estates 43 Venture Capital Law 44 Water Law 44 Workers Compensation Law 44 Cover Photograph by Amy Cantrell 14 Southern California s Best Lawyers For more info go to

15 F a r r i s e L a w F i r m A m e s o t h e l i o m a l a w y e r Firm founder Simona Farrise always knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Growing up in a community with no lawyers, I saw the great need of ordinary people. Because of that I ve always wanted to be a lawyer to help people, and I ve stuck to that in my career representing individuals injured by asbestos with mesothelioma against powerful corporations, she says. For nearly two decades, Farrise has been a courageous defender of justice. Long before the television and internet ads of some attorneys, Farrise was in the legal trenches obtaining justice for people dying from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure that affects 3,500 Americans each year. She has recovered more than $100 million for her dying clients and their families. This firm is a leader in the field of asbestos cancer and mesothelioma cases because of our work ethic and dedication to helping people. Recently, a jury awarded her client, a 59-year old plumber dying from mesothelioma, $9.2 million after finding Union Carbide responsible for exposing him to asbestos at construction sites. Another jury awarded more than $4 million against Ford Motor Company to a client dying of mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while replacing asbestoscontaining automotive brakes and clutches. Other notable client recoveries include a $40 million recovery for a young mother of two small children who suffered from mesothelioma after she was exposed to asbestos as a child from her parents asbestos-contaminated work clothing. Farrise s fighting spirit is one reason she is among the country s elite injury lawyers. In addition to representing plaintiffs with mesothelioma, she has litigated complex product liability cases involving severe injuries and wrongful deaths. She has championed worker groups and litigated class actions and civil rights cases involving sexual harassment and race and gender discrimination. Sometimes you have to stand up and fight, Farrise says. While the legal profession demands a courteous exchange, too often I see injured people, who do nothing more than seek justice, being fiercely attacked personally by the companies that hurt them in the first place. An activist for women and minorities in the legal profession, Farrise a married mother of three didn t choose to be an activist for professional inclusion; it just happened. As a trial lawyer representing mesothelioma clients, I am a blue flamingo in a sea of penguins, she says, referring to the reality that lawyers representing people with asbestos cancer are typically men. In her own firm, Farrise has tapped the capacity of female lawyers through open work arrangements. She says, It s important to me that women remain in the law doing high-level legal work and not feel forced out if they are also parents and spouses. Technology allows for more flexibility, helping the firm to get amazing talent without compromising quality. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Simona Farrise 355 South Grand Avenue 24th Floor Los Angeles, CA ph: info@farriselaw.com Not Yet Approved

16 2012 Survey Results Administrative/Regulatory Law DLA Piper San Diego, CA NANCY O. DIX Fenigstein & Kaufman Los Angeles, CA JAMES ROBERT LAHANA Fenton Nelson Los Angeles, CA HENRY R. FENTON, ABBIE P. MALINIAK, HARRY NELSON McDermott Will & Emery Los Angeles, CA J. PETER RICH Theodora Oringher Los Angeles, CA ARTHUR ROBERT CHENEN Admiralty & Maritime Law Duane Morris Los Angeles, CA ROBERT J. ZAPF Keesal, Young & Logan Long Beach, CA WILLIAM H. COLLIER, JR., SAMUEL A. KEESAL, JR., ALBERT E. PEACOCK III, SCOTT T. PRATT, JOSEPH A. WALSH II Swain & Dipolito Long Beach, CA MICHAEL L. SWAIN Advertising Law Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Los Angeles, CA ROBERT A. DARWELL Alternative Dispute Resolution A denotes Arbitration; M denotes Mediation ADR Services Los Angeles, CA ELEANOR OTHS BARR (M), DENISE R. MADIGAN (M), RALPH O. WILLIAMS III (A, M) Cerveris Mediation Burbank, CA STEVEN CERVERIS (M) Factor Mediation & Arbitration Los Angeles, CA MAX FACTOR III (A, M) Fields Mediation Los Angeles, CA JANET RUBIN FIELDS (M) First Mediation Corporation Encino, CA JEFFREY KRIVIS (M), MARIAM ZADEH (M) Fulbright & Jaworski Los Angeles, CA RICHARD R. MAINLAND (A) Glass Mediations San Diego, CA DOUGLAS A. GLASS (M) Higgs, Fletcher & Mack San Diego, CA CRAIG HIGGS (M) Irell & Manella Newport Beach, CA LAYN R. PHILLIPS (A, M) James N. Adler Mediation & Arbitration Los Angeles, CA JAMES N. ADLER (M) JAMS Los Angeles, CA RICHARD CHERNICK (A, M), STEVEN J. STONE (M), DICKRAN M. TEVRIZIAN (M) JAMS Orange, CA ALEXANDER S. POLSKY (M), JOHN K. TROTTER, JR. (A, M) JAMS Santa Monica, CA VIGGO BOSERUP (M), KENNETH C. GIBBS (M) Jeffrey G. Kichaven, Mediator Los Angeles, CA JEFFREY G. KICHAVEN (M) Judicate West Long Beach, CA MICHAEL D. MOORHEAD (M) Judicate West San Diego, CA ROBERT J. KAPLAN (M) Judicate West Santa Ana, CA JAY CORDELL HORTON (A, M), TROY D. ROE (M), WILLIAM R. SHEFFIELD (A, M), JOHN LEO WAGNER (A, M) Kaufer Mediation Services Calabasas, CA LAUREL G. KAUFER (M) Kruis Mediation San Diego, CA STEVEN H. KRUIS (M) Kyriacou Mediation Burbank, CA GIG KYRIACOU (A, M) Les J. Weinstein Los Angeles, CA LES J. WEINSTEIN (A, M) Page 47 Maureen A. Summers San Diego, CA MAUREEN A. SUMMERS (M) Mayer & Glassman Los Angeles, CA ROBERT D. MAYER (M) McIvers & Slater Santa Barbara, CA KEVIN T. MCIVERS (M) Mehta & Mann Valencia, CA STEVEN G. MEHTA (M) Professional Mediation & Arbitration Los Angeles, CA EUGENE CHARLES MOSCOVITCH (M), DEBORAH J. ROTHMAN (A, M) Professional Mediation & Arbitration San Diego, CA SCOTT S. MARKUS (M) Settle It Now Dispute Resolution Services Los Angeles, CA VICTORIA PYNCHON (M) Thomas E. Sharkey Rancho Santa Fe, CA THOMAS E. SHARKEY (A, M) Antitrust Law All Litigation categories will be denoted with an * Listed lawyers with both will be denoted with ** Arnold & Porter Los Angeles, CA RONALD C. REDCAY* Baker & McKenzie San Diego, CA CHARLES H. DICK, JR.* Blecher & Collins Los Angeles, CA MAXWELL M. BLECHER* DLA Piper San Diego, CA JEFFERY M. SHOHET** Dorsey & Whitney Costa Mesa, CA JUAN C. BASOMBRIO* Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Irvine, CA JEFFREY T. THOMAS* Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles, CA ROBERT E. COOPER*, DANIEL G. SWANSON** Kaye Scholer Los Angeles, CA ATON ARBISSER** Law Office of Darryl Snider Rolling Hills Estates, CA DARRYL SNIDER* Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Costa Mesa, CA MARTIN J. THOMPSON Munger, Tolles & Olson Los Angeles, CA RONALD L. OLSON*, BRADLEY S. PHILLIPS Perkins Coie Los Angeles, CA CHARLES H. SAMEL* Sullivan & Cromwell Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL H. STEINBERG Appellate Practice Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Los Angeles, CA REX S. HEINKE, WILLIAM A. NORRIS Appellate Law Office of William J. Kopeny Irvine, CA WILLIAM J. KOPENY Baker & Hostetler Los Angeles, CA THOMAS D. WARREN Boyce & Schaefer San Diego, CA LAURA G. SCHAEFER Charles Sevilla Law Office San Diego, CA CHARLES M. SEVILLA Charlotte E. Costan Burbank, CA CHARLOTTE E. COSTAN Dennis A. Fischer Santa Monica, CA DENNIS A. FISCHER Edward J. Horowitz Los Angeles, CA EDWARD J. HOROWITZ Ferguson Case Orr Paterson Ventura, CA WENDY C. LASCHER Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles, CA THEODORE J. BOUTROUS, JR. Grassini & Wrinkle Woodland Hills, CA ROLAND WRINKLE Page 21 Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland Los Angeles, CA IRVING H. GREINES, ROBIN MEADOW, ROBERT A. OLSON, MARC J. POSTER, BARBARA W. RAVITZ, KENT L. RICHLAND, MARTIN STEIN Haight Brown & Bonesteel Los Angeles, CA RITA GUNASEKARAN Horvitz & Levy Encino, CA PETER ABRAHAMS, DAVID M. AXELRAD, FREDERIC D. COHEN, CURT CUTTING, DAVID S. ETTINGER, DANIEL J. GONZALEZ, ELLIS J. HORVITZ, BARRY R. LEVY, LISA PERROCHET, JOHN A. TAYLOR, JR., MITCHELL C. TILNER, S. THOMAS TODD, H. THOMAS WATSON Irell & Manella Los Angeles, CA GREGORY R. SMITH Jones Day Los Angeles, CA ELWOOD LUI Karcher Harmes San Diego, CA KATHRYN E. KARCHER Kendall Brill & Klieger Los Angeles, CA LAURA W. BRILL A Special Advertising Supplement Law Office of Barry Fischer Beverly Hills, CA BARRY FISCHER Law Office of Lynda Romero San Diego, CA LYNDA A. ROMERO Law Office of Robert S. Gerstein Los Angeles, CA ROBERT S. GERSTEIN Law Offices of Martin Buchanan San Diego, CA MARTIN N. BUCHANAN Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith Los Angeles, CA ROY G. WEATHERUP Lightfoot & Steingard Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL J. LIGHTFOOT Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps San Diego, CA CHARLES A. BIRD Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL M. BERGER Mark A. Hart Northridge, CA MARK A. HART Morrison & Foerster Los Angeles, CA SHIRLEY M. HUFSTEDLER, MIRIAM VOGEL Niddrie Fish and Adams San Diego, CA MICHAEL H. FISH Richards, Watson & Gershon Los Angeles, CA MITCHELL E. ABBOTT Robert E. Hinerfeld Santa Monica, CA ROBERT E. HINERFELD Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman Venice, CA PAUL L. HOFFMAN Sedgwick Los Angeles, CA CHRISTINA J. IMRE Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton San Diego, CA KARIN DOUGAN VOGEL Snell & Wilmer Costa Mesa, CA RICHARD A. DEREVAN, MARY CHRISTINE SUNGAILA Tarlow & Berk Los Angeles, CA BARRY TARLOW Banking and Finance Law All Litigation categories will be denoted with an * Listed lawyers with both will be denoted with ** Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis Los Angeles, CA PAULINE M. STEVENS Bingham McCutchen Los Angeles, CA ANTHONY R. CALLOBRE Cappello & Noël Santa Barbara, CA A. BARRY CAPPELLO* Dorsey & Whitney Costa Mesa, CA DENNIS WONG Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles, CA DENNIS B. ARNOLD Harry C. Sigman Los Angeles, CA HARRY C. SIGMAN Hennigan Dorman Los Angeles, CA J. MICHAEL HENNIGAN* Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Los Angeles, CA BARRY V. FREEMAN K&L Gates Los Angeles, CA WILLIAM P. WADE Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, CA GLEN B. COLLYER, JOHN E. MENDEZ Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps San Diego, CA KURT L. KICKLIGHTER Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Costa Mesa, CA ELLEN R. MARSHALL, THOMAS D. PHELPS, DEAN J. ZIPSER* Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Los Angeles, CA GORDON M. BAVA, T. HALE BOGGS III, GENE R. ELERDING, T. J. MICK GRASMICK, WILLIAM T. QUICKSILVER, HAROLD P. REICHWALD, CHARLES E. WASHBURN, JR. Mayer Brown Los Angeles, CA BRIAN E. NEWHOUSE McDermott Will & Emery Los Angeles, CA GARY B. ROSENBAUM McGuireWoods Los Angeles, CA GARY D. SAMSON Morrison & Foerster Los Angeles, CA HENRY M. FIELDS, JOSEPH GABAI, KATHRYN I. JOHNSTONE, DONNA J. ZENOR O Melveny & Myers Los Angeles, CA MATTHEW T. KIRBY Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Los Angeles, CA ALAN G. BENJAMIN Paul Hastings Los Angeles, CA JOHN FRANCIS HILSON, WILLIAM F. SULLIVAN* Proskauer Rose Los Angeles, CA STEVEN O. WEISE 16 Southern California s Best Lawyers For more info go to

17 Callahan & Blaine Not Yet Approved From Left: Michael J. Sachs, Marc P. Miles, Brian J. McCormack, Daniel J. Callahan, Edward Susolik C o m m e r c i a l l i t i g a t i o n, p e r s o n a l i n j u r y l i t i g a t i o n, i n s u r a n c e l i t i g a t i o n California s Premier Litigation Firm with Record-Breaking Results Callahan & Blaine is California s premier litigation firm. Founded in 1984, C&B has been achieving record-breaking verdicts and settlements for more than 25 years in all areas of complex litigation. The firm has the highest jury verdict in Orange County history a $934 million jury verdict achieved after a three-month trial in a complex business litigation case entitled Beckman Coulter v. Flextronics. C&B also obtained a $50 million settlement in a complex municipal liability case that has been certified by West Trials Digest as the largest personal injury settlement in the history of the United States. Firm Leadership C&B is led by managing partner Daniel J. Callahan, who is known as one of the top trial lawyers in the United States. Callahan s honors and accomplishments include being named one of the Top 10 Attorneys in the United States by the National Law Journal and Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer magazine. Callahan has been featured in The Best Lawyers of America annually since Likewise, partners Edward Susolik, Brian McCormack, Michael J. Sachs, and Marc Miles are all highly experienced trial attorneys who have successfully handled hundreds of complex business litigation, catastrophic personal injury, and complex class action cases. For example, Susolik has been named as one of the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers since 2009 and has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers since In fact, of the seven attorneys from Orange County who made the Super Lawyers Top 100 in Southern California list for 2011, two Callahan and Susolik are from Callahan & Blaine. Experience and Excellence in Civil Trial Practice Each of the firm s 28 senior attorneys is an experienced and accomplished litigator. All of them have expertise in a broad spectrum of substantive complex litigation issues, including commercial litigation, intellectual property, trade secrets, For more info go to employment law, real estate, insurance law, business torts, catastrophic personal injury, and corporate governance. Moreover, every C&B attorney has at least seven years experience; in fact, the majority of the firm s lawyers have between 15 and 25 years of experience. The combination of this experience with the firm s overall efficiency means that C&B trial lawyers and litigators get better results at a greater value. Record-breaking Results and Accomplishments The firm s attorneys have achieved a number of record-breaking successes and accomplishments: Largest Jury Verdict in Orange County History: $934 million Highest Personal Injury Settlement in United States History: $50 million Highest Insurance Bad Faith Judgment in Orange County History: $58 million Largest Employment Settlement in Orange County History: $38 million C&B Brings Both Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives to its Cases C&B has extensive experience from both plaintiff and defense perspectives, and acts as defense counsel in hundreds of complex litigation matters. Whenever the firm defends corporations in complex litigation matters, it uses its extensive experience from the plaintiff s perspective to benefit its clients. 3 Hutton Centre Drive, Ninth Floor Santa Ana, CA ph: , ; fax: SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S E D I T I O N Daniel J. Callahan D. Bryan Garcia Brian J. McCormack Southern California s Best Lawyers 17

18 2012 Survey Results Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Costa Mesa, CA DEAN A. DEMETRE Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Los Angeles, CA DAVID J. MCCARTY Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton San Diego, CA DANA J. DUNWOODY* Stroock & Stroock & Lavan Los Angeles, CA JULIA B. STRICKLAND* Sullivan & Cromwell Los Angeles, CA STANLEY F. FARRAR, HYDEE R. FELDSTEIN White & Case Los Angeles, CA NEIL W. RUST Winston & Strawn Los Angeles, CA WARREN R. LOUI Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law All Litigation categories will be denoted with an * Listed lawyers with both will be denoted with ** Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Los Angeles, CA DAVID P. SIMONDS** Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis San Diego, CA DAVID L. OSIAS** Arent Fox Los Angeles, CA METTE H. KURTH Buchalter Nemer Los Angeles, CA PAMELA KOHLMAN WEBSTER David Gould Calabasas, CA DAVID GOULD Dewey & LeBoeuf Los Angeles, CA BRUCE BENNETT**, JAMES O. JOHNSTON* Ervin Cohen & Jessup Beverly Hills, CA PETER A. DAVIDSON Foley & Lardner San Diego, CA MIKEL R. BISTROW**, CHRISTOPHER CELENTINO, VICTOR A. VILAPLANA** Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Irvine, CA OSCAR GARZA, CRAIG H. MILLET Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles, CA DENNIS B. ARNOLD Greenberg Traurig Santa Monica, CA MICHAEL H. GOLDSTEIN** Irell & Manella Los Angeles, CA MILTON B. HYMAN Irell & Manella Newport Beach, CA JEFFREY M. REISNER Jones Day Los Angeles, CA RICHARD L. WYNNE Kaye Scholer Los Angeles, CA MARC S. COHEN** Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern Los Angeles, CA LEE R. BOGDANOFF**, DANIEL J. BUSSEL, KENNETH N. KLEE, THOMAS E. PATTERSON**, DAVID M. STERN*, MICHAEL L. TUCHIN Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, CA PETER GILHULY, ROBERT A. KLYMAN Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps San Diego, CA MICHAEL T. ANDREW Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Los Angeles, CA IVAN L. KALLICK* Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy Los Angeles, CA GREGORY A. BRAY, THOMAS R. KRELLER, ROBERT J. MOORE** Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo San Diego, CA JEFFRY A. DAVIS** Morgan, Lewis & Bockius Los Angeles, CA RICHARD W. ESTERKIN* Munger, Tolles & Olson Los Angeles, CA THOMAS B. WALPER** O Melveny & Myers Los Angeles, CA EVAN M. JONES, MATTHEW T. KIRBY, BEN H. LOGAN III**, STEPHEN H. WARREN Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones Los Angeles, CA ROBERT B. ORGEL, RICHARD M. PACHULSKI Peitzman, Weg & Kempinsky Los Angeles, CA LAWRENCE PEITZMAN**, HOWARD J. WEG** Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Costa Mesa, CA CRAIG BARBAROSH Proskauer Rose Los Angeles, CA MARTIN S. ZOHN** Ringstad & Sanders Irvine, CA NANETTE D. SANDERS RL Fein Los Angeles, CA RONALD L. FEIN Rus, Miliband & Smith Irvine, CA RONALD RUS* Page 36 Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek San Diego, CA DENNIS J. WICKHAM Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Costa Mesa, CA ALAN H. MARTIN** Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Los Angeles, CA RICHARD W. BRUNETTE, JR., ALAN M. FELD, DAVID J. MCCARTY** Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Santa Barbara, CA JOEL R. OHLGREN Sidley Austin Los Angeles, CA RICHARD W. HAVEL, SALLY S. NEELY**, RICHARD T. PETERS** Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Los Angeles, CA VAN C. DURRER II** Steptoe & Johnson Los Angeles, CA ROBBIN L. ITKIN** Stutman, Treister & Glatt Los Angeles, CA ANTHONY S. CASTANARES*, JEFFREY H. DAVIDSON**, HERMAN GLATT, ERIC D. GOLDBERG**, ROBERT A. GREENFIELD, EVE H. KARASIK, GARY E. KLAUSNER, JEFFREY C. KRAUSE, RALPH R. MABEY, ISAAC M. PACHULSKI, STEPHAN M. RAY, K. JOHN SHAFFER**, GEORGE C. WEBSTER II Sullivan & Cromwell Los Angeles, CA HYDEE R. FELDSTEIN*, ROBERT A. SACKS* The Lobel Firm Newport Beach, CA WILLIAM N. LOBEL Weiland, Golden, Smiley, Wang, Ekvall & Strok Costa Mesa, CA JEFFREY GOLDEN, EVAN SMILEY, PHILIP STROK Winston & Strawn Los Angeles, CA ERIC E. SAGERMAN Winthrop Couchot Newport Beach, CA PAUL J. COUCHOT, MARC J. WINTHROP Bet-the-Company Litigation Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis San Diego, CA VALENTINE S. HOY Bingham McCutchen Santa Monica, CA BRUCE A. FRIEDMAN, MARSHALL B. GROSSMAN, GWYN D. QUILLEN Blecher & Collins Los Angeles, CA MAXWELL M. BLECHER Browne Woods George Los Angeles, CA ALLAN BROWNE Cooley San Diego, CA MICHAEL ATTANASIO Crowell & Moring Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL L. CYPERS DLA Piper San Diego, CA JEFFERY M. SHOHET, SHIRLI FABBRI WEISS Drinker Biddle & Reath Los Angeles, CA HENRY SHIELDS, JR. Fulbright & Jaworski Los Angeles, CA RICHARD R. MAINLAND Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Irvine, CA ROBERT PALMER, WAYNE W. SMITH Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles, CA ROBERT E. COOPER Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger Los Angeles, CA HARVEY R. FRIEDMAN Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland Los Angeles, CA IRVING H. GREINES Hennigan Dorman Los Angeles, CA J. MICHAEL HENNIGAN Horvitz & Levy Encino, CA ELLIS J. HORVITZ Irell & Manella Los Angeles, CA MORGAN CHU, KENNETH R. HEITZ, DAVID SIEGEL, ALEXANDER F. WILES Irell & Manella Newport Beach, CA ANDRA BARMASH GREENE, RICHARD M. SHERMAN, JR. JAMS Los Angeles, CA JOHN J. QUINN Jane H. Barrett Los Angeles, CA JANE H. BARRETT Jones Day Irvine, CA MARTHA K. GOODING A Special Advertising Supplement Jones Day San Diego, CA ROBERT S. BREWER, JR. Kaye Scholer Los Angeles, CA LARRY R. FELDMAN Kendall Brill & Klieger Los Angeles, CA BERT H. DEIXLER, RICHARD B. KENDALL Kirby, Noonan, Lance & Hoge San Diego, CA DAVID J. NOONAN Page 38 Kirkland & Ellis Los Angeles, CA MARK C. HOLSCHER Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern Los Angeles, CA DAVID M. STERN Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, CA MILES N. RUTHBERG Latham & Watkins San Diego, CA STEPHEN P. SWINTON, MICHAEL J. WEAVER Loeb & Loeb Los Angeles, CA ROBERT A. MEYER Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Costa Mesa, CA DEAN J. ZIPSER Morrison & Foerster Los Angeles, CA SHIRLEY M. HUFSTEDLER, SETH M. HUFSTEDLER Morrison & Foerster San Diego, CA DON G. RUSHING, MARK C. ZEBROWSKI Munger, Tolles & Olson Los Angeles, CA BRAD D. BRIAN, RONALD L. OLSON, GLENN POMERANTZ, JOHN W. SPIEGEL, GREGORY P. STONE, JEFFREY I. WEINBERGER O Melveny & Myers Los Angeles, CA SETH ARONSON, DANIEL PETROCELLI O Melveny & Myers Newport Beach, CA MICHAEL G. YODER Paul Hastings Costa Mesa, CA DONALD L. MORROW Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan Los Angeles, CA JAMES R. ASPERGER, A. WILLIAM URQUHART Rus, Miliband & Smith Irvine, CA RONALD RUS* Page 36 Rutan & Tucker Costa Mesa, CA JOHN B. HURLBUT, JR. Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek San Diego, CA GERALD L. MCMAHON, REGINALD A. VITEK Sidley Austin Los Angeles, CA PETER I. OSTROFF Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Los Angeles, CA JOHN A. DONOVAN, RICHARD MARMARO, THOMAS J. NOLAN, ERIC S. WAXMAN Snell & Wilmer Costa Mesa, CA WILLIAM S. O HARE Steptoe & Johnson Los Angeles, CA MARK A. NEUBAUER Sullivan & Cromwell Los Angeles, CA ROBERT A. SACKS Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire San Diego, CA JOHN F. MCGUIRE, JR. Wright & L Estrange San Diego, CA JOHN H. L ESTRANGE Biotechnology Law Cooley San Diego, CA JANE K. ADAMS, L. KAY CHANDLER, THOMAS A. COLL, FREDERICK T. MUTO Goodwin Procter San Diego, CA STEPHEN C. FERRUOLO Jones Day San Diego, CA J. PATRICK ELSEVIER, ANTHONY M. INSOGNA Latham & Watkins San Diego, CA FAYE H. RUSSELL McKenna Long & Aldridge San Diego, CA STEPHANIE L. SEIDMAN Morrison & Foerster Los Angeles, CA KENNETH E. KOHLER Morrison & Foerster San Diego, CA PENG CHEN, KATE H. MURASHIGE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati San Diego, CA JEFFREY W. GUISE 18 Southern California s Best Lawyers For more info go to

19 A Special Advertising Supplement R i n g l e r & A s s o c i a t e s For 30 years, Jerome Ringler has achieved a record of success in the courtroom that is virtually unrivaled in Southern California and elsewhere. Consider this: Of the 76 cases Ringler has tried to verdict, 21 have resulted in jury awards in the seven- and eight-figure range. Recent results include a class action verdict for $160 million, a misappropriation of trade secrets verdict for $16 million, and a personal injury verdict for $12 million. Illustrative of Ringler s class action capabilities, just recently while he was with Ringler Kearney he achieved class certification in a business fraud class action where the damages exceed $250 million. In the area of class action litigation alone, he has achieved verdicts and settlements that exceed $225 million. He has also served as lead counsel in four major railroad disasters involving commuter lines, two of which were the largest commuter rail disasters in our nation s history at the time they occurred. The combined settlements in these two cases alone approached $250 million. Jerome Ringler has received jury verdicts in excess of $250 million for his clients. Ringler has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than a decade and has been included in the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers from 2004 to 2007, then again from 2009 to Ringler was named Trial Lawyer of the Year on two occasions, first by the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association and later by Verdictum Juris. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN southern california S And so it makes sense that the firm of Ringler & Associates is highly selective in its choice of clientele, representing only plaintiffs in significant high stakes litigation E D I T I O N Jerome L. Ringler 233 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900 Santa Monica, CA ph: fax: jlr@ringlerandassociates.com

20 2012 Civil Rights Law Survey Results Law Office of Michael R. Marrinan San Diego, CA MICHAEL R. MARRINAN Collaborative Law: Family Law Mayer & Glassman Los Angeles, CA FREDERICK J. GLASSMAN Commercial Litigation Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis San Diego, CA VALENTINE S. HOY AlvaradoSmith Los Angeles, CA PATRICK A. CATHCART Arnold & Porter Los Angeles, CA LAURENCE J. HUTT Baker & McKenzie San Diego, CA CHARLES H. DICK, JR. Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann San Diego, CA BLAIR A. NICHOLAS Bingham McCutchen Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL A. SHERMAN Bingham McCutchen Santa Monica, CA BRUCE A. FRIEDMAN, MARSHALL B. GROSSMAN, FRANK KAPLAN Blecher & Collins Los Angeles, CA MAXWELL M. BLECHER Browne Woods George Los Angeles, CA ALLAN BROWNE, EDWARD A. WOODS Butz Dunn & DeSantis San Diego, CA DOUGLAS M. BUTZ Callahan & Blaine Santa Ana, CA DANIEL J. CALLAHAN Cappello & Noël Santa Barbara, CA A. BARRY CAPPELLO Chapin Fitzgerald Sullivan San Diego, CA EDWARD D. CHAPIN, KENNETH M. FITZGERALD Cooley San Diego, CA MICHAEL ATTANASIO, KOJI FUKUMURA, WILLIAM E. GRAUER, ANTHONY M. STIEGLER Crowell & Moring Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL L. CYPERS DLA Piper San Diego, CA JOHN ALLCOCK, WILLIAM S. BOGGS, ROBERT W. BROWNLIE, BRIAN A. FOSTER, JEFFERY M. SHOHET, SHIRLI FABBRI WEISS Douglas L. Thorpe Los Angeles, CA DOUGLAS L. THORPE Drinker Biddle & Reath Los Angeles, CA HENRY SHIELDS, JR. English & Gloven San Diego, CA DONALD A. ENGLISH Fish & Richardson San Diego, CA NANCY L. STAGG Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis Santa Barbara, CA THOMAS G. FOLEY, JR. Fulbright & Jaworski Los Angeles, CA ROBERT W. FISCHER, JR., RICHARD R. MAINLAND, PETER H. MASON Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Irvine, CA ROBERT PALMER, WAYNE W. SMITH, JEFFREY T. THOMAS Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles, CA THEODORE J. BOUTROUS, JR., JAMES P. CLARK, ROBERT E. COOPER, DEAN J. KITCHENS, GAIL E. LEES, STEVE SLETTEN Goodwin Procter San Diego, CA DAVID E. KLEINFELD Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger Los Angeles, CA HARVEY R. FRIEDMAN, ARTHUR N. GREENBERG, NORMAN H. LEVINE Greenberg Traurig Santa Monica, CA FRANK E. MERIDETH, JR., JEFF E. SCOTT Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland Los Angeles, CA IRVING H. GREINES Hennigan Dorman Los Angeles, CA J. MICHAEL HENNIGAN Herbert Hafif Claremont, CA HERBERT HAFIF Hooper, Lundy & Bookman San Diego, CA CARY W. MILLER Horvitz & Levy Encino, CA ELLIS J. HORVITZ, BARRY R. LEVY Hughes Hubbard & Reed Los Angeles, CA WILLIAM T. BISSET Irell & Manella Los Angeles, CA MORGAN CHU, KENNETH R. HEITZ, DANIEL P. LEFLER, STEVEN A. MARENBERG, DAVID SIEGEL, ALEXANDER F. WILES Irell & Manella Newport Beach, CA ANDRA BARMASH GREENE, MELISSA R. MCCORMICK, JEFFREY M. REISNER, RICHARD M. SHERMAN, JR. JAMS Los Angeles, CA JOHN J. QUINN Jane H. Barrett Los Angeles, CA JANE H. BARRETT Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Los Angeles, CA ROBERT E. MANGELS Jones Day Irvine, CA MARTHA K. GOODING, RICHARD J. GRABOWSKI, RICHARD S. RUBEN Jones Day Los Angeles, CA ALAN E. FRIEDMAN, FREDERICK L. MCKNIGHT Jones Day San Diego, CA ROBERT S. BREWER, JR. K&L Gates Irvine, CA WILLIAM B. GRENNER Kaye Scholer Los Angeles, CA LARRY R. FELDMAN Kelley Drye/White O Connor Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL J. O CONNOR Kendall Brill & Klieger Los Angeles, CA RICHARD B. KENDALL Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert Santa Monica, CA DALE F. KINSELLA, MICHAEL KUMP, HOWARD L. WEITZMAN Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge San Diego, CA MICHAEL L. KIRBY DAVID J. NOONAN Page 38 Kirkland & Ellis Los Angeles, CA JEFFREY S. DAVIDSON, MARK C. HOLSCHER Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern Los Angeles, CA DAVID M. STERN Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, CA MILES N. RUTHBERG Latham & Watkins San Diego, CA STEPHEN P. SWINTON, MICHAEL J. WEAVER Law Office of Kathleen O. Peterson Newport Beach, CA KATHLEEN O. PETERSON Levine & Miller San Diego, CA HARVEY R. LEVINE Loeb & Loeb Los Angeles, CA ROBERT A. MEYER, ANTHONY MURRAY, PETER S. SELVIN Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps San Diego, CA CHARLES A. DANAHER, CHRISTOPHER J. HEALEY, ROBERT G. STEINER, EDWARD PATRICK SWAN, JR. Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Costa Mesa, CA THOMAS J. UMBERG, DEAN J. ZIPSER Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Los Angeles, CA CRAIG J. DE RECAT, CHAD S. HUMMEL McDermott Will & Emery Los Angeles, CA TERESE A. MOSHER BELURIS Morrison & Foerster Los Angeles, CA SHIRLEY M. HUFSTEDLER, SETH M. HUFSTEDLER, CHARLES E. PATTERSON Morrison & Foerster San Diego, CA ERIC M. ACKER, SEAN T. PROSSER, DON G. RUSHING, MARK C. ZEBROWSKI Munger, Tolles & Olson Los Angeles, CA BRAD D. BRIAN, GLENN POMERANTZ, JOHN W. SPIEGEL, GREGORY P. STONE, PETER R. TAFT, JEFFREY I. WEINBERGER Newmeyer & Dillion Newport Beach, CA THOMAS F. NEWMEYER O Melveny & Myers Los Angeles, CA SETH ARONSON, DANIEL PETROCELLI O Melveny & Myers Newport Beach, CA MICHAEL G. YODER Paul Hastings Costa Mesa, CA GLENN D. DASSOFF, DONALD L. MORROW Paul Hastings Los Angeles, CA RONALD M. 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