LAWYERS. Mark P. Robinson

(1)

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

Southern California’S

Who are the

laWyerS of the year?

liSa helfend Meyer

fearleSS faMily laW

attorney

Shernoff Bidart

eCheverria

the inS and outS of

inSuranCe laW

the definitive Guide to leGal rePreSentation in Southern California

a S P e C i a l a d v e r t i S i n G S u P P l e M e n t t o t h e

thoMaS

Girardi’S

ClaSS aCtion Win

Brian PaniSh’S

18-year

(2)

R o b i n s o n , C a l C a g n i e & R o b i n s o n

T

he

firm

prides

itself

on

being

one

of

the

preeminent

plaintiff

products

liability

practices

in

the United States. The firm has been a leader in products liability litigation ever since Mark

P. Robinson Jr. was co-counsel in the landmark trial of

Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Company

,

which resulted in a $128 million dollar verdict. Since that time, the firm has represented

thousands of individuals, businesses and public entities in actions involving defective

products which have caused personal injuries, deaths, property damage or business losses.

t

he

firm

’

s

courtroom

successes

in

catastrophic

personal

injury

cases

include

several

noteworthy trials, and record setting verdicts. Mark and Jeoffrey Robinson were co-counsel

in

Anderson vs. General Motors

, an automotive crashworthiness case, which resulted in a

$4.9 billion dollar verdict. In August of 2006, Mark Robinson was lead trial counsel in

Barnett

v. Merck

, a prescription drug injury action which resulted in a $51 million dollar jury verdict.

In 2003, Jeoffrey Robinson and Allan Davis obtained a $31 million dollar verdict on behalf of

a worker injured in a ski-lift maintenance accident.

i

n

the

field

of

automotive

products

liability

,

the

firm

has

litigated

hundreds

of

cases

involving fuel system fires, SUV rollovers, occupant restraint system failures, roof crush,

seat failures, and tire design and manufacturing defects, and has obtained numerous

multi-million dollar jury verdicts, judgments and settlements, including a $15 million jury

verdict against Hyundai by Mark Robinson and Kevin Calcagnie.

t

he

firm

has

extensive

experience

in

mass

tort

litigation

and

class

actions

involving

pharmaceuticals, toxic exposure, medical devices, and military and commercial aviation disasters,

and has represented thousands of individuals harmed by defective prescription drugs. In federal

multidistrict litigation as well as state coordinated litigation, the firm has acted as liaison counsel or

as a committee member in several nationwide mass torts. The firm also represented the County

of Los Angeles in unfair business practices actions against the tobacco industry. Under the terms

of a settlement agreement the County will receive approximately $3.3 billion from tobacco

manufacturers over 25 years. In 2003 the firm obtained a $45 million settlement in a consumer

fraud class action.

t

he

firm

has

also

had

success

in

a

number

of

cases

against

public

entities

involving

dangerous conditions arising from the defective design and maintenance of public roads

and highways, including a $10.9 million verdict against the State of California Department

of Transportation obtained by Allan Davis and Jeoffrey Robinson.

The firm is listed in Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and is able to communicate in Spanish.

Mark P. Robinson, Jr.

Jeoffrey L. Robinson

Karen Barth Menzies

Kevin F. Calcagnie

Allan F. Davis

Daniel S. Robinson

Mark P. robinson

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

souThern california’s

selecTeD for inclusion in

620 Newport CeNter Drive 7th Floor

Newport BeaCh, Ca 92660 ph: 949.720.1288 www.orangecountylaw.com

(3)

From Left: William M. Shernoff, Michael J. Bidart, Ricardo Echeverria

“o

ur goal has always been to

hold insurance companies

accountable for their unfair

claims practices.”

–founding partner,

william m. shernoff

s h e R n o f f b i d a R t e C h e v e R R i a l l P

f

or

more

than

three

decades

, s

hernoff

b

idart

Echeverria has zealously fought against bad faith

insurance practices. The firm has also achieved

multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in personal injury

cases and helped ensure payment of those verdicts as

well as other insurance claims—successfully challenging

insurance companies on claim denials, policy rescissions

and other unfair conduct and seeking punitive damages

to deter future insurance bad faith practices.

f

ounder

W

illiam

m. s

hernoff

’

s

many

landmark

successes have included an $86 million settlement

related to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel fire, a jury

verdict and over $100 million in payment for the

American Samoa Government for hurricane-related

claims, an agreement from large health insurers to pay

over $50 million in damages to policyholders for

wrongful cancellation of health insurance policies

and recovered life insurance benefits on behalf of

holocaust survivors.

m

ichael

j. b

idart

leads

the

firm

’

s

c

atastrophic

i

njury

,

Duty to Defend and HMO Litigation Departments and

secured a $120.5 million wrongful death jury verdict

against Aetna (the largest jury verdict ever rendered

against an HMO regarding denial of medical benefits).

He is a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates,

American College of Trial Lawyers, and International

Academy of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Bidart has been

recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers

in California” by The Los Angeles Daily Journal legal

publication, as well as being selected for inclusion in the

Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers and, along

with Mr. Shernoff, in The Best Lawyers in America

®

.

Additionally, he was selected as Best Lawyers

®

’ 2011

Riverside Area Personal Injury Litigator of the Year.

r

icardo

e

cheverria

handles

insurance

bad

faith

and

catastrophic injury cases. His distinguished trial record

includes a recent $25.7 million jury verdict on behalf of a

17-year old quadriplegic, a $7.2 million jury verdict in

Minnesota Federal Court for 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 $1.9 million verdict

on behalf of the City of Long Beach against their

insurance carrier and a $1.8 million jury verdict for a

computer software developer. He was recently named

the 2010 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer

Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, for which he had

been previously nominated 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 2009.

s

hernoff

b

idart

e

cheverria

laWyers

strive to level the playing field for

clients battling the enormous financial

resources of insurance companies.

“There is no greater satisfaction after

a long struggle than the feeling of

bringing some comfort to a family

whose life was turned upside down

through no fault of their own,” says

partner Michael J. Bidart.

F I R M F A C T :

Founding Partner

William M. Shernoff is

credited with pioneering

the practice of bad faith

insurance law with his

1979 landmark victory,

Egan v. Mutual of

Omaha

. The firm has

now recovered well

over $1 billion for their

clients on all types of

individual and business

insurance claims.

WilliaM shernoff

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

600 South IndIan hIll Boulevard

Claremont, Ca 91711

Ph: 909.621.4935 Fax: 909.625.6915 301 n. Canon drIve, SuIte 200 Beverly hIllS, Ca 90210

Ph: 310.246.0503 Fax: 310.246.0380

www.shernoff.com

M I C h A e l b I dA RT

PeRsonAl InjuRy lITIgATIon

R I v e R s I d e

Bet-the-Company Litigation – Columbus, OH

Commercial Litigation – Columbus, OH

Amy

Cantr

(4)

P a n i s h , s h e a & b o y l e l l P

T

heattorneysat

p

anish

s

hea

& b

oyle

llp (ps&b)

getresults

for their clients–big results. The firm represents individuals who

have been injured or suffered the loss of a family member due

to the wrongful acts of others, including in truck, bus and auto

accidents, aviation and railway disasters, and because of

defective products, consumer fraud and other types of

negligence or intentional acts. In the past five years, the firm

has obtained more than fifteen verdicts and settlements in

excess of $10 million. Out of the four personal injury verdicts in

California history in excess of $50 million, three were handled

by PS&B attorneys—the landmark case Anderson v. General

Motors ($4.9 billion); Griggs v. Caterpillar et. al ($58 million);

and Lampe v. Continental Tires ($55 million). The firm’s

attorneys collectively have obtained more than two-hundred

verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million.

m

ostrecently

,

in

n

ovember

2010, ps&b

obtaineda

$6.45 million jury verdict in Kings County, California, the

largest personal injury verdict in the county’s history. In that

case, PS&B attorneys represented a fifty-five year old

correctional officer who was hit by a Land O’ Lakes truck

while riding his motorcycle. He suffered numerous broken

bones and fractures and was unable to resume his previous

occupation. The verdict included $3.25 million in past and

future pain and suffering. Prior to trial, Land O’ Lakes offered

to settle the entire case for $2.5 million.

t

hisyear

, ps&b

alsoobtainedWhatisbelievedtobethe

largest settlement in a wrongful death case in Santa Barbara

County history. There, PS&B represented the family of Jose

Vega who was killed on the 101 freeway by a wrong way

driver employed by Verizon. The Verizon driver was a diabetic

and was experiencing a hypoglycemic episode at the time of

the collision. The $7 million settlement was achieved on the

eve of trial, with PS&B poised to prove that Verizon was aware

of the driver’s medical condition and did nothing to protect

the public from the safety issues it presented, especially when

the employee was driving.

W

hen

ps&b

acceptsacase

,

itscommitstoits

clients and

their cause and take the steps necessary

to get them the compensation they deserve. The

firm’s attorneys and staff focus their efforts on each

client and his or her case and put in the time and

resources it takes to achieve the best possible result

—whether through settlement or at trial. The firm’s

track record of landmark verdicts and settlements

is testimony to this commitment.

F I R M F A C T :

Among numerous other

records, PS&B has

obtained the largest

product liability verdict

in U.S. history and the

largest single-plaintiff

personal injury verdict

in California history.

kevin r. boyle

(l)

brian J. Panish

(M)

adaM k. shea

(r)

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

11111 SaNta MoNiCa BlvD. Suite 700 loS aNgeleS, Ca 90025 tollFree: 1.877.800.1700 Fax: 310.477.1699 psblaw.com Amy Cantr ell

(5)

g i R a R d i

|

K e e s e

i

tisthemoral

,

ratherthanthefinancial

,

bottomlinethat

has driven the attorneys at plaintiff’s personal injury firm

Girardi | Keese. Founded in 1965, the firm continues to stand

up for those individuals that have been seriously injured,

whether by physical harm, property damage, or damage to

economic interests. Most famously known for its work in the

contaminated drinking water lawsuit that was the basis of the

movie “Erin Brockovich”, the firm has continued to obtain

substantial verdicts and settlements in some of the most

significant lawsuits in the country’s history.

t

hefirm

’

sroleinprotectingconsumershasexpanded

over the years and it is always identified as being on the side

of the “good guys”. Tom Girardi and Graham LippSmith just

settled a $545 million putative nationwide class action against

Farmers Group and and Zurich Financial Services Group on

behalf of current and former policyholders; the firm also

finalized a $2.2 billion settlement with Sempra Energy on

behalf of California consumers who were defrauded by the

manipulation of natural gas prices. “There is a moral

component to almost each and every one of our cases.

I’m really proud of this place, and I’m really proud of the

lawyers,” says Mr. Girardi.

t

heopportunitytomakeadifferenceinthelivesofothers

has helped it to attract some of the country’s brightest legal

minds, most of whom spend their careers with the firm. Most

recently, Girardi | Keese was fortunate to have Stephen Larson

join its ranks; he now heads up the firm’s antitrust litigation

and assists with its intellectual property work. Mr. Larson spent

ten years as a U.S. District Judge in the Central District of

California, and his arrival was a great honor for the firm’s

founder. “When he came to the firm, I felt like I was the owner

of the Yankees, signing Babe Ruth,” says Mr. Girardi.

f

ormer

s

upreme

c

ourtclerk

h

oWard

m

iller

,

Whoheadsup

the firm’s intellectual property litigation, just finished a year as

President of the California State Bar, a role he managed while

remaining fully active at Girardi | Keese. Members of the firm

have also taken on such leadership roles as President of the

Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles (CAALA),

a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar, and

service on the Executive Board of the American Board of Trial

Advocates (ABOTA), of which 12 of the lawyers are members.

Mr. Girardi is a past-President of the International Academy of

Trials Lawyers, a past-National President of the American Board

of Trial Advocates, and most recently, completed a term on the

Judicial Counsel, which acts as the governing body of the

entire California court system.

p

erhapsoneofthemostuniqueaspectsofthefirmisits

division of focus within the civil litigation arena, in which each

specialty area is headed by one of the firm’s attorneys, who

steep themselves in legal and technical aspects of the field.

David Lira handles the firm’s products liability work; Keith

Griffin takes care of aviation cases; Graham LippSmith works

on class action litigation; Amy Solomon handles medical

malpractice cases; and three separate attorneys—David

Bigelow, James O’Callahan, and Amy Solomon—manage the

firm’s pharmaceutical and medical device practices. The firm is

currently acting as lead counsel in major pharmaceutical trials

against the makers of Avandia, Yaz, and Byetta; against

Johnson & Johnson and Zimmer in the litigation surrounding

their hip implant devices; and is a national counsel in the suits

against the makers of Accutane.

ThoMas v. Girardi

david r. lira

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

1126 WIlShIre Blvd. loS angeleS, Ca 90017

Ph: 213.977.0211 Fax: 213.481.1554

www.girardikeese.com F_Srom leFt: JameS g. o’Callahan, thomaS v. gIrardI,

tePhen g. larSon, davId r. lIra

G | K

G I R A R D I | K E E S E

L A W Y E R S

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Amy

Cantr

(6)

d

a R R a s

l

a w

f

rank

n. d

arrasmadeadecision

,

nearlyaquartercentury

ago, that would affect tens of thousands of Americans.

Darras took the road less traveled to help the sick, disabled

and the elderly mount a heroic fight against billion dollar

insurance companies.

d

arras

’

lifeWorkisprotectingthedisabledandsenior

citizens. He founded DarrasLaw, the nation’s largest

insur-ance litigation, disability and long-term care practice in the

country. From the headquarters in Ontario, California, he is

able to help people from all walks of life; from professional

athletes, doctors, lawyers, business owners, to the blue collar

worker. Darras gives the same expert advice to the trucker,

dock worker or CEO. With Darras, policyholders recover the

insurance benefits they dearly paid for, and richly deserve.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s fifty dollars, or five million a

month. It’s never about the money. It’s always about helping

good, honest people,” Darras says.

m

r

. d

arrasrevieWs

2500

neWreferralsamonthfromall

over the country. This allows him to continuously monitor

insurance company claims, policies and procedures. If an

insurance carrier institutes an unreasonable new claim tactic

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, but it has helped him to earn

the respect of the insurance industry.

f

rank

n. d

arrashasbeenhonoredWith

t

op

500 l

aWyers

in America by LawDragon, Top 500 Litigators in America, Top

500 Plaintiff Lawyers in America, and The Best Lawyers in

America

®

. 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 “Top

Lawyers” by Corporate Counsel and named as one of The

American Trial Lawyer Association’s “Top 100 Trial Lawyers”.

DarrasLaw is the nation’s top disability and long term care

insurance litigation firm. He is AV preeminent rated by

Martindale-Hubbell. Darras has recovered more than a half a

billion dollars in wrongfully denied insurance benefits. He is a

member of the coveted 10 Million Dollar Annual Rainmaker

Circle, for lawyers who generate 10 million dollars in annual

attorney fees.

m

r

. d

arrashasseen

,

evaluated

,

litigated

,

andresolved

more disability and long term care cases than any firm in

America. His practice is 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.”

frank n. darras

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

3257 e. guaSti roaD, Suite 300 oNtario, Ca 91761 ph: 800.458.4577 Fax: 909.974.2121 www.darraslaw.com [email protected] Amy Cantr ell

(7)

12 SoutherN CaliForNia’S BeSt lawyerS For more info go to www.law.com/socalbest

t h e G u i d e t o S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a’ S t o P at t o r n e yS

t’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.

t

his 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 2011 edition of Best Lawyers, which will be published in November 2010, 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 integri-ty in lawyer ratings. The nomination pool for the 2011 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nomi-nated 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. 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 eval-uate 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 www.bestlawyers.com. “Best Lawyers” and “The Best Lawyers in America”are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc.

m e t h o d o l o g y

i

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

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R i n g l e R K e a R n e y a l v a R e z l l P

JeroMe l. rinGler

SeleCted for inCluSion in

633 w. FiFth Street, 28th Floor, loS aNgeleS, Ca 90071

Ph: 213.473.1900 Fax: 213.473.1919 • www.rkallP.com

a

lthoughformedonlyfiveyearsago

,

thesuccessof

the three name partners in Ringler Kearney Alvarez LLP

(RKA) is anything but recent. For almost 30 years, Jerome

Ringler has achieved a record of success in the courtroom

that is virtually unrivaled in California—and elsewhere.

Consider this: Of the 76 cases Mr. Ringler has tried to

ver-dict, more than 21 have resulted in awards in the seven-

and eight-figure range. One class action verdict totaled

$160 million, a recent personal injury verdict went for

$12 million, and a misappropriation of trade secrets verdict

was in the sum of $16 million. Remarkably, Mr. Ringler has

achieved in excess of $250 million in jury verdicts rendered

in favor of his clients where pre-trial offers were negligible.

But RKA’s success is hardly limited to its first named partner.

i

ntheirmorethan

20

yearstogetherbeforeteaming

with Mr. Ringler, Thomas Kearney and Paul Alvarez

specialized in complex and sophisticated business tort and

class action litigation. In just the three years alone before RKA

was formed, Mr. Kearney and Mr. Alvarez achieved settlements

totaling more than $60 million. Now, the champion trial lawyer

and these hard-nosed class action litigators have joined to

create a firm whose blend of talents is virtually unmatched in

the state. Indeed, there may be a handful of law firms that can

blackboard a list of verdicts comparable to Mr. Ringler’s, and

an equally select group of class action firms with success

comparable to Mr. Kearney’s and Mr. Alvarez’s, but no firm has

the class action capability and trial skills that RKA offers.

Illustrative of RKA’s class action capabilities, just recently RKA

achieved class certification in a business fraud class action

where the damages exceed $250 million.

m

r

. r

inglerhasbeenlistedin

T

he

B

esT

L

awyersin

a

merica®

for over a decade, and has been included in the Top 100

Southern California Super Lawyers list from 2004 to 2010.

Mr. Ringler was named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” on two

occasions, first by the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association

and later by Verdictum Juris. He also served as lead counsel

in four major railroad disasters involving Metrolink two of

which when they occurred were the largest commuter rail

disasters in our nation’s history. The combined settlements

in two of these cases alone approached $250 million.

p

artners

m

r

. k

earneyand

m

r

. a

lvarezhavebothbeen

featured as outstanding litigators in The Los Angeles County

Super Lawyer Magazine. Partners Thom Peters and Paul

Szumiak are both seasoned litigators with diverse talents and

experience that match the complex and significant cases

that RKA handles. Now with Ringler Kearney Alvarez, there is

a firm in town that can as readily whomp a defendant on the

way to class certification as close the deal in front of a jury.

And so it makes sense that the firm is highly selective in its

choice of clientele, representing only plaintiffs in significant,

high-stakes cases.

From Left: Paul G. Szumiak,

Thomas A. Kearney, Jerome L. Ringler,

Paul Alvarez, Thomas H. Peters

(9)

Shernoff Bidart echeverria on the inS and outS of inSurance Law

19

LiSa heLfend Meyer of Meyer oLSon Lowy & MeyerS: fearLeSS faMiLy Law attorney

27

Brian PaniSh on hiS 18-year win Streak

29

thoMaS Girardi’S cLaSS action win

33

2011 LawyerS of the year

34

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

20

Collaborative Law: Family Law

20

Commercial Litigation

20

Communications Law

22

Construction Law

22

Corporate Governance

and Compliance Law

22

Corporate Law

22

Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar

24

Criminal Defense:

White-Collar-Litigation

24

Derivatives and Futures Law

25

DUI/DWI Defense

25

Elder Law

25

Eminent Domain and

Condemnation Law

26

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

26

S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a ’ S b e S t l a w y e r S b y S p e C i a l t y

Energy Law

26

Entertainment Law

26

Environmental 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

30

Government Relations Law

30

Health Care Law

30

Immigration Law

30

Information Technology Law

30

Insurance Law

30

Intellectual Property Law

32

International Trade

and Finance Law

32

Labor and Employment Law

32

Land Use & Zoning Law

35

Legal Malpractice Law

36

Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity

Law

36

Mass Tort Litigation

36

Media Law

36

Medical Malpractice Law

36

Mergers & Acquisitions Law

36

Mortgage Banking

Foreclosure Law

36

Municipal Law

36

Mutual Funds Law

36

Native American Law

36

Natural Resources Law

36

Non-Profit/Charities Law

37

Personal Injury Litigation

37

Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law

38

Product Liability Litigation

38

Professional Malpractice Law

39

Project Finance Law

39

Public Finance Law

39

Railroad Law

39

Real Estate Law

39

Securities / Capital Markets Law

39

Securitization and

Structured Finance Law

39

Sports Law

39

Tax Law

39

Technology Law

42

Trusts and Estates

42

Venture Capital Law

42

Water Law

42

Workers’ Compensation Law

42

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N

®

(10)

M

eyer

, o

lson

, l

oWy

& m

eyers

,

LLP is one of the most preeminent

family law firms in Southern

California, and the only one led

entirely by female partners. The

boutique Century City firm equally

represents men and women in all

aspects of family law, including

complex marital dissolutions, high

conflict custody matters, business

valuations, pre- and post-nuptial

agreements, and mediation.

m

eyer

, o

lson

, l

oWy

& m

eyershas

established a reputation for taking

on complex cases. This year, the

firm made headlines and nightly

news with its representation of a

mother who suffered a

catastroph-ic injury and subsequent disability

during the birth of triplets, who is

now forced to vigorously pursue

visitation rights with her children.

The firm often represents parents

in international move away cases,

including currently representing

a mother who is seeking to return

to her home country of Israel

with her son of whom she has had

primary custody for most of the

child’s life.

W

hilethefirmisWell

-

knoWnfor

its aggressive litigation skills and

extensive trial work, all of its

mem-bers agree that it is better to settle

a case on the clients’ own terms,

rather than having a judge decide

the outcome. To this end, many of

its cases are resolved before trial at

a voluntary settlement conference,

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 in

different fields to obtain the best

outcome for its clients, including

mental health professionals, tax

attorneys, and accountants.

t

hefirm

’

sfourpartnersareall

leaders in the family law community, which the firm has been

a part of for over 25 years. Senior Partner

Lisa Helfend Meyer

is selected by her peers as a

Best Lawyer in America

®

and is frequently called upon by print and media outlets to comment

on high profile marital dissolutions and custody battles in the news. Partner

Felicia R. Meyers

is the former Chair of the Family Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and the 2009

recipient of the President’s Award for exemplary service to the Association. Ms. Meyers’ primary

focus in the firm is litigation. Partner

Doreen Marie Olson

has worked extensively on complex

child custody cases; and Partner

Dana Lowy

has expertise in mediation and the drafting and

negotiating of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements.

From left: Doreen Olson, Lisa Helfend Meyer, Dana Lowy, Felicia Meyers

M e y e R , o l s o n , l o w y & M e y e R s , l l P

10100 SaNta MoNiCa BlvD Suite, 1425 loS aNgeleS, Ca 90067

ph: 310.277.9747 www.molfamlaw.com

lisa helfend Meyer

Amy

Cantr

(11)

16 SoutherN CaliForNia’S BeSt lawyerS For more info go to www.law.com/socalbest

adMiniStrative / reGulatory laW

Fenigstein & Kaufman | Los Angeles, CA JAMES ROBERT LAHANA

Fenton Nelson | Los Angeles, CA HENRY R. FENTON

Law Office of John D. Harwell | Manhattan Beach, CA JOHN D. HARWELL

McDermott Will & Emery | Los Angeles, CA

TERESE A. MOSHER BELURIS, DONALD A. GOLDMAN, J. PETER RICH

Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman | 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

adr services inc. | los angeles, ca

eleanor barr,

denise r. madigan

310.201.0010 | page 40

adr services inc. | los angeles, ca

Victoria pynchon

213.683.1600 | page 41

ADR Services Inc. | Los Angeles, CA

EUGENE CHARLES MOSCOVITCH, RALPH O. WILLIAMS III Cerveris Mediation | Burbank, CA

STEVEN CERVERIS

factor mediation & arbitration | los angeles, ca

maX factor iii

877.678.1010 | Page 22

Fields Mediation | Los Angeles, CA JANET RUBIN FIELDS

First Mediation Corporation | Encino, CA JEFFREY KRIVIS, MARIAM ZADEH Fulbright & Jaworski | Los Angeles, CA RICHARD R. MAINLAND

Irell & Manella | Newport Beach, CA LAYN R. PHILLIPS

James n. adler mediation & arbitration | los angeles, ca

James n. adler

310.209.8548 | page 40 Jams | los angeles, ca

aleXander s. polsKy

714.501.1321 | Page 32

JAMS | Los Angeles, CA

GEORGE D. CALKINS II, RICHARD CHERNICK, STEVEN J. STONE, DICKRAN M. TEVRIZIAN

JAMS | Orange, CA JOHN K. TROTTER, JR. JAMS | Santa Monica, CA

VIGGO BOSERUP, KENNETH C. GIBBS Jeffrey G. Kichaven, Mediator | Los Angeles, CA JEFFREY G. KICHAVEN

Judicate West | Long Beach, CA

JAY CORDELL HORTON, MICHAEL D. MOORHEAD Judicate West | Los Angeles, CA

RUSSELL A. BOSTROM Judicate West | Santa Ana, CA TROY D. ROE, WILLIAM R. SHEFFIELD

Kaufer Mediation Services | Calabasas, CA LAUREL G. KAUFER

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear | Irvine, CA DON W. MARTENS

Kyriacou Mediation | Burbank, CA GIG KYRIACOU

Mayer & Glassman | Los Angeles, CA ROBERT D. MAYER

McIvers & Slater | Santa Barbara, CA KEVIN T. MCIVERS

Mehta & Mann | Valencia, CA STEVEN G. MEHTA

professional mediation & arbitration | los angeles, ca

deborah J. rothman

877.678.1010 | Page 22

professional mediation & arbitration | san diego, ca

scott s. marKus,

John m

c

cauley

877.678.1010 | Page 22

san diego | featured firm

Robert H. Logan | Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA ROBERT H. LOGAN

The Law Offices of Jonathan W. Biddle | Los Angeles, CA EMILY BOYLE

The Wagner Law Firm | San Juan Capistrano, CA JOHN LEO WAGNER

antitruSt laW

Arnold & Porter | Los Angeles, CA RONALD C. REDCAY

Blecher & Collins | Los Angeles, CA MAXWELL M. BLECHER Dorsey & Whitney | Irvine, CA JUAN C. BASOMBRIO

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | Los Angeles, CA ROBERT E. COOPER, DANIEL G. SWANSON Hughes Hubbard & Reed | Los Angeles, CA WILLIAM T. BISSET

Kaye Scholer | Los Angeles, CA ATON ARBISSER

Latham & Watkins | Los Angeles, CA CHARLES H. SAMEL

law offices of darryl snider | rolling hills estates, ca

darryl l. snider

310.265.4420 | page 41

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips | Costa Mesa, CA MARTIN J. THOMPSON

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips | Los Angeles, CA CHAD S. HUMMEL

Munger, Tolles & Olson | Los Angeles, CA BRADLEY S. PHILLIPS

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 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

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | Los Angeles, CA THEODORE J. BOUTROUS, JR.

grassini & wrinkle | woodland hills, ca

roland wrinKle

818.348.1717 | 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, MARY CHRISTINE SUNGAILA, JOHN A. TAYLOR, JR., MITCHELL C. TILNER, S. THOMAS TODD, H. THOMAS WATSON

Irell & Manella | Los Angeles, CA GREGORY R. SMITH

Iungerich & Spackman | Rolling Hills Estates, CA RUSSELL IUNGERICH

Jones Day | Los Angeles, CA ELWOOD LUI

Kendall Brill & Klieger | Los Angeles, CA LAURA W. BRILL

Lascher & Lascher | Ventura, CA WENDY C. LASCHER

Law Office of Barry Fischer | Los Angeles, CA BARRY FISCHER

Law Office of Harvey M. Grossman | Los Angeles, CA HARVEY M. GROSSMAN

Law Office of Robert S. Gerstein | Los Angeles, CA ROBERT S. GERSTEIN

Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith | Los Angeles, CA ROY G. WEATHERUP

Lightfoot & Steingard | Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL J. LIGHTFOOT

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

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, Detert, Moran & Arnold | Los Angeles, CA CHRISTINA J. IMRE

Seyfarth Shaw | Los Angeles, CA JAMES M. HARRIS

Snell & Wilmer | Costa Mesa, CA RICHARD A. DEREVAN

Stephen A. Kroft | Marina Del Rey, CA STEPHEN A. KROFT

Tarlow & Berk | Los Angeles, CA BARRY TARLOW

BankinG and finanCe laW

Bingham McCutchen | Los Angeles, CA ANTHONY R. CALLOBRE

Dorsey & Whitney | Irvine, CA DENNIS WONG

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | Los Angeles, CA DENNIS B. ARNOLD, BRIAN D. KILB Harry C. Sigman | Los Angeles, CA HARRY C. SIGMAN

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 M. JAMESON, JOHN E. MENDEZ Manatt, Phelps & Phillips | Costa Mesa, CA

ELLEN R. MARSHALL

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips | Los Angeles, CA

GORDON M. BAVA, T. HALE BOGGS III, GENE R. ELERDING, T. J. MICK GRASMICK, PAUL H. IRVING, THOMAS D. PHELPS, WILLIAM T. QUICKSILVER, HAROLD P. REICHWALD, CHARLES E. WASHBURN, JR.

(12)

f o R n o s l a w f i R M & h e i M b e R g l a w g R o u P

in 1979, Mayra Fornos’ husband Ralph sustained

a spinal cord injury in a surfing accident,

rendering him a quadriplegic. Facing these

new challenges, the two became lawyers,

dedicating themselves to fighting for other

severely injured persons. Following Ralph’s

passing many years later, Ms. Fornos wanted

to fight on, but knew she had to find someone

to fill the void in her legal team.

While she was representing a spinal-cord injured

client in a complex medical malpractice case, she

consulted with several lawyers as to who could best

assist her. She was repeatedly told the same name . . .

“Steve Heimberg.”

She already knew Steve Heimberg to be a nationally

recognized trial lawyer, but she then learned he was:

• A medical

doctor

as well as a

lawyer

• A six time nominee and winner of Los Angeles’

Trial Lawyer of the Year

award.

• A Top

100 Southern California

Super Lawyer

according to L.A. Magazine.

From Left: Theresa Sanchez, Anthony Orefice, Mayra Fornos, Steve Heimberg, Brianna Walker, Robert Rohan

www.fornoslaw.com

310.432.5880

“It’s no surprise that Steve has obtained the largest

medical verdicts and settlements for his clients in

California”, says Ms. Fornos. “But what really won

me over was his heart.”

For his part, Dr. Heimberg was awed not only

by Ms. Fornos’ legal skills, but also her dedication

and involvement as an advocate for the severely

injured. “Mayra started Ralph’s Riders Foundation,

dedicated to provide support to severely and

per-manently injured individuals. She understands the

challenges of the severely disabled. She has lived

the life and truly cares. It is a small wonder that the West Los

Angeles Chamber of Commerce just named her ‘Woman of

the Year’. I know of no other attorney who combines such

background and passion with

Best Lawyer’s

skills”.

Their philosophy is simple. “Representing a client doesn’t

end with the lawsuit. It’s just the first step in helping them

to reintegrate and to navigate life’s challenges”.

“i

tisourmissiontoprovideclientsnotonlyWithtoplegal care

,

buthumancare

;

tocombineouruniquebackgrounds toprovideclientsWithavoice

,

andapath

.”

Mayra fornos

sTeve heiMberG

Southern California’S

more

than

just

the

best

legal

qualifications

www.heimberglaw.com

Christopher

(13)

18 SoutherN CaliForNia’S BeSt lawyerS For more info go to www.latimes.com/bestlawyers

2011

s u r v e y r e s u l t s

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, PAULINE M. STEVENS, DONNA J. ZENOR O’Melveny & Myers | Los Angeles, CA

MATTHEW T. KIRBY

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe | Los Angeles, CA ALAN G. BENJAMIN

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker | Los Angeles, CA JOHN FRANCIS HILSON, JENNIFER ST. JOHN YOUNT Proskauer Rose | Los Angeles, CA

STEVEN O. WEISE

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton | Costa Mesa, CA DEAN A. DEMETRE

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton | Los Angeles, CA JOHN D. BERCHILD, JR., DAVID J. MCCARTY Snell & Wilmer | Costa Mesa, CA

JOSEPH L. COLEMAN

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

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | Los Angeles, CA DAVID P. SIMONDS

Arent Fox | Los Angeles, CA METTE H. KURTH

Buchalter Nemer | Los Angeles, CA PAMELA KOHLMAN WEBSTER

David Gould | Calabasas, CA DAVID GOULD

Ervin Cohen & Jessup | Beverly Hills, CA

PETER A. DAVIDSON, BYRON Z. MOLDO, DAVID SEROR 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

Hennigan, Bennett & Dorman | Los Angeles, CA BRUCE BENNETT

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, MICHAEL S. LUREY 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 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

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

949.752.7100 | Page 18

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 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, MARK S. WALLACE, GEORGE C. WEBSTER II

Sullivan & Cromwell | Los Angeles, CA HYDEE R. FELDSTEIN

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

Amy Cantrell

l

ocal business leaders and lawyers turn to Rus,

Miliband & Smith when faced with complex, high

stakes litigation. The Orange County based firm

focuses its practice on difficult cases that often threaten

their clients’ very existence. With a history of successes

since the firm’s founding three decades ago, a

significant portion of the firm’s cases result from

refer-rals by former adversaries and opposing counsel as

existing clients. The firm has become known as lawyers

that lawyers go to, having successfully represented

prominent law firms in sophisticated malpractice cases.

“We take a common sense, results-oriented

team approach to problem-solving,” says

founding member, Ronald Rus. The firm’s

eleven lawyers pool their knowledge and

experience to tackle the complex legal issues

facing their clients. Rus, Miliband’s lawyers have

prosecuted and defended class actions in the

financial industry, defended and prosecuted

cases involving antitrust, insolvency, real estate and other complicated commercial issues. The firm does not

limit its practice to any single industry, instead serving business enterprises involved in varied endeavors from

solid waste recycling to banking to real estate development, winning multimillion dollar jury verdicts as well as

complete defenses to “bet-the-company” claims.

Rus, Miliband & Smith lawyers effectively lead not only their clients but their profession with the firm’s ranks

including two past-Presidents of the Orange County Bar Association, past vice president of the State Bar of

California, former member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California and a current and two

former lawyer representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

From Left: Ronald Rus, Randall A. Smith, Joel S. Miliband

R u s , M i l i b a n d & s M i t h

R

us

, M

iliband

& s

Mith

2211 MiChelSoN Drive, 7th Floor

irviNe, Ca 92612 ph: 949.752.7100 Fax: 949.252.1514 www.rusmiliband.com ronald rus

B

LAWYERS

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N ®

SeleCted for inCluSion in Southern California’S

“A

mong

the

e

lite

B

usiness

l

itigAtion

F

irms

in

s

outhern

C

AliForniA

.”

(14)

SoutherN CaliForNia’S BeSt lawyerS 19 For more info go to www.law.com/socalbest

t

hink about the last time you purchased an insurance policy.

Did you read it thoroughly and negotiate with the insurance

company to get a policy that met your needs?

“No one does,” says Michael J. Bidart, senior and managing

partner of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP. “You get insurance

because you have to. You fill out the paperwork, send in your

money and then they send you a policy. You put it away and

pray to God that you never have to use it.”

When most people purchase a product, they intend to

consume it or obtain some benefit from it. But the opposite is

true for insurance. Bidart believes that no industry exists where

the playing field is more uneven for consumers than in the world

of insurance.

“Insurance companies have all the

resources, they draft the policies the

way they want them and give them to

consumers on a take-it-or-leave-it

basis,” he says.

Insurance is supposed to give you

peace of mind that you will be

protected when things go wrong—but sometimes the unthinkable happens.

A mother was horrified to find out that her son, a Little League coach, abused

a minor in her home when she was not present. As if the revelation of the

allegations wasn’t devastating enough, counsel for the plaintiff argued that the

acts occurred as a result of woman’s negligent supervision.

The woman’s homeowner’s insurance included liability coverage to defend

her for personal injury or property damages arising from occurrences at her

home, but the company denied her coverage in relation to the case. Bidart

represented the woman in court.

The court opined that the mother would have reasonably expected her

insurance policy to cover her separately for her independent acts or omissions

causing injury or damage. The insurance company had to honor the policy

that the woman purchased.

“We prevailed for the mother who was the insured; she didn’t have anything

to do with the harming of the child,” Bidart says. “Lack of insurance coverage

COVER

SPotLiGht

Shernoff Bidart echeverria

on the inS and outS of inSurance Law

for something like this deprives innocent victims of a

source of recovery.”

William M. Shernoff, the founding senior partner of

Shernoff Bidart Echeverria is known as the “pioneer” of

bad faith law. A bulk of his practice involves rescission

cases in which insurers cancel policyholders’ coverage

after they become injured, sick or hospitalized.

One day after a woman underwent a gallbladder surgery, she had to return to

the hospital due to a collapsed lung. The woman’s insurance provider rescinded

her policy and refused to pay her medical bills, saying that she did not provide

complete and accurate information on her application. Shernoff represented the

woman in her complaint against the insurance company. The court ruled

that the insurance company failed to conduct a reasonable underwriting

investigation and was still obligated to honor her policy.

“If they rescind the policy, the companies get out of paying not only those

bills, but also ongoing treatment the policyholder may need,” Shernoff says

He has achieved positive results for his clients in cases involving bad faith

health and insurance cases, and now “junk” insurance cases, in which consumers

purchase what they believe to be comprehensive health insurance, but is really

just a bare bones policy. In addition, Shernoff has tackled cases involving

insurance companies that overrule treating physicians’ decisions regarding

necessary medical procedures.

–Ashley Cisneros

“

I

nsuRanCE COmpanIEs haVE all thE

REsOuRCEs, thEy dRaft thE pOlICIEs thE

way thEy want thEm and gIVE thEm tO

COnsumERs On a takE-It-OR-lEaVE-It basIs.”

–mIChaEl J. bIdaRt

Amy

Cantr

(15)

2011

Bet-the-CoMPany litiGation

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

Crowell & Moring | Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL L. CYPERS

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, Bennett & Dorman | Los Angeles, CA J. MICHAEL HENNIGAN

Hillel Chodos | Los Angeles, CA HILLEL CHODOS

Horvitz & Levy | Encino, CA ELLIS J. HORVITZ, BARRY R. LEVY Howrey | Irvine, CA

MARTHA K. GOODING 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 Jones Day | Irvine, CA THOMAS R. MALCOLM Kaye Scholer | Los Angeles, CA LARRY R. FELDMAN

Kendall Brill & Klieger | Los Angeles, CA RICHARD B. KENDALL

Kirby noonan lance & hoge llp

daVid noonan

619.231.8666 | Page 37

san diego | featured firm

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

Loeb & Loeb | Los Angeles, CA ROBERT A. MEYER

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips | Costa Mesa, CA DEAN J. ZIPSER

Morrison & Foerster | Los Angeles, CA

JANE H. BARRETT, SETH M. HUFSTEDLER, SHIRLEY M. HUFSTEDLER

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, Janofsky & Walker | Costa Mesa, CA DONALD L. MORROW

Proskauer Rose | Los Angeles, CA BERT H. DEIXLER

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan | Los Angeles, CA JAMES R. ASPERGER, JOHN B. QUINN, A. WILLIAM URQUHART

rus, miliband & smith | irvine, ca

ronald rus

949.752.7100 | Page 18

Rutan & Tucker | Costa Mesa, CA JOHN B. HURLBUT, JR. 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

Stephen A. Kroft | Marina Del Rey, CA STEPHEN A. KROFT

Steptoe & Johnson | Los Angeles, CA MARK A. NEUBAUER

Sullivan & Cromwell | Los Angeles, CA ROBERT A. SACKS

CollaBorative laW: faMily laW

Mayer & Glassman | Los Angeles, CA FREDERICK J. GLASSMAN

CoMMerCial litiGation

Adorno & Yoss | Los Angeles, CA PATRICK A. CATHCART Arnold & Porter | Los Angeles, CA LAURENCE J. HUTT

Bingham McCutchen | Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL A. SHERMAN

Bingham McCutchen | Santa Monica, CA

BRUCE A. FRIEDMAN, MARSHALL B. GROSSMAN, FRANK KAPLAN, GWYN D. QUILLEN

Blecher & Collins | Los Angeles, CA MAXWELL M. BLECHER

Borchard & Callahan | Mission Viejo, CA MAUREEN E. CALLAHAN

Browne Woods George | Los Angeles, CA ALLAN BROWNE, EDWARD A. WOODS Burke Williams & Sorensen | Los Angeles, CA RAYMOND E. HANE III

Callahan & Blaine | Santa Ana, CA DANIEL J. CALLAHAN

Cappello & Noël | Santa Barbara, CA A. BARRY CAPPELLO

Crowell & Moring | Irvine, CA STEVEN P. RICE

Crowell & Moring | Los Angeles, CA MICHAEL L. CYPERS

Cynthia L. Gibson | Los Angeles, CA CYNTHIA L. GIBSON

Douglas L. Thorpe | Los Angeles, CA DOUGLAS L. THORPE

Drinker Biddle & Reath | Los Angeles, CA HENRY SHIELDS, JR.

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, MERYL L. YOUNG

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | Los Angeles, CA

THEODORE J. BOUTROUS, JR., JAMES P. CLARK, ROBERT E. COOPER, DEAN J. KITCHENS, GAIL E. LEES, STEVE SLETTEN Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard & Shapiro | Los Angeles, CA BRIAN C. LYSAGHT

Glassman, Browning & Saltsman | Beverly Hills, CA ANTHONY M. GLASSMAN

Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger | Los Angeles, CA HARVEY R. FRIEDMAN, ARTHUR N. GREENBERG, NORMAN H. LEVINE

Greenberg Traurig | Irvine, CA FRANKLIN D. UBELL

Greenberg Traurig | Santa Monica, CA FRANK E. MERIDETH, JR., JEFF E. SCOTT Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland | Los Angeles, CA IRVING H. GREINES

Hennigan, Bennett & Dorman | Los Angeles, CA J. MICHAEL HENNIGAN

Herbert Hafif | Claremont, CA HERBERT HAFIF

Hillel Chodos | Los Angeles, CA HILLEL CHODOS

Horvitz & Levy | Encino, CA ELLIS J. HORVITZ, BARRY R. LEVY Howrey | Irvine, CA

MARTHA K. GOODING Irell & Manella | Los Angeles, CA

MORGAN CHU, KENNETH R. HEITZ, ANDREI IANCU, DANIEL P. LEFLER, STEVEN A. MARENBERG, DAVID SIEGEL, ALEXANDER F. WILES

Irell & Manella | Newport Beach, CA

ANDRA BARMASH GREENE, MELISSA R. MCCORMICK, RICHARD M. SHERMAN, JR.

JAMS | Los Angeles, CA JOHN J. QUINN

Jasper & Jasper | Irvine, CA STUART P. JASPER

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell | Los Angeles, CA ROBERT E. MANGELS

Jones Day | Irvine, CA

RICHARD J. GRABOWSKI, THOMAS R. MALCOLM, RICHARD S. RUBEN

Jones Day | Los Angeles, CA

ALAN E. FRIEDMAN, FREDERICK L. MCKNIGHT K&L Gates | Irvine, CA

WILLIAM B. GRENNER

Katten Muchin Rosenman | Los Angeles, CA BRUCE G. VANYO

Kaye Scholer | Los Angeles, CA LARRY R. FELDMAN

Keesal, Young & Logan | Long Beach, CA

SAMUEL A. KEESAL, JR., SCOTT T. PRATT, TERRANCE P. ROSS, J. STEPHEN YOUNG

Kendall Brill & Klieger | Los Angeles, CA RICHARD B. KENDALL

King Parret & Droste | Newport Beach, CA ALAN J. DROSTE

Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert | Santa Monica, CA DALE F. KINSELLA, HOWARD L. WEITZMAN

Kirby noonan lance & hoge llp

michael l. Kirby

daVid noonan

619.231.8666 | Page 37 san diego | featured firm

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, CHARLES H. SAMEL

Law Office of Edward M. Medvene | Thousand Oaks, CA EDWARD M. MEDVENE

Loeb & Loeb | Los Angeles, CA

ROBERT A. MEYER, ANTHONY MURRAY, PETER S. SELVIN 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, KEVIN O’CONNELL McDermott Will & Emery | Los Angeles, CA

ROBERT P. MALLORY

Minyard Morris | Newport Beach, CA KATHLEEN O. PETERSON Morrison & Foerster | Los Angeles, CA

JANE H. BARRETT, SETH M. HUFSTEDLER, SHIRLEY M. HUFSTEDLER, CHARLES E. PATTERSON

Munger, Tolles & Olson | Los Angeles, CA

BRAD D. BRIAN, RONALD L. OLSON, GLENN POMERANTZ, JOHN W. SPIEGEL, GREGORY P. STONE, PETER R. TAFT, JEFFREY I. WEINBERGER

Newmeyer & Dillion | Newport Beach, CA THOMAS F. NEWMEYER

Nossaman | Irvine, CA HOWARD F. HARRISON

O’Melveny & Myers | Los Angeles, CA SETH ARONSON, DANIEL PETROCELLI O’Melveny & Myers | Newport Beach, CA MICHAEL G. YODER

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker | Costa Mesa, CA GLENN D. DASSOFF, DONALD L. MORROW Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker | Los Angeles, CA RONALD M. OSTER, WILLIAM F. SULLIVAN Payne & Fears | Irvine, CA

DANIEL L. RASMUSSEN

Price, Postel & Parma | Santa Barbara, CA J. TERRY SCHWARTZ

Proskauer Rose | Los Angeles, CA BERT H. DEIXLER

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan | Los Angeles, CA JAMES R. ASPERGER, JOHN B. QUINN, A. WILLIAM URQUHART

Reid & Hellyer | Riverside, CA TERRY D. BRIDGES, DAVID G. MOORE

rus, miliband & smith | irvine, ca

ronald rus

949.752.7100 | Page 18

Rutan & Tucker | Costa Mesa, CA

MICHAEL T. HORNAK, JOHN B. HURLBUT, JR. Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton | Los Angeles, CA JOSEPH F. COYNE, JR., JAMES E. CURRY, GREGORY A. LONG

(16)

From Left: Lars Johnson, Roland Wrinkle, Kathleen Grassini, Lawrence Grassini, Don Liddy and Jamie Kurtz.

G r a S S i n i & W r i n k l e

t

heonlytWopersonalinjurylaWyersfromthe

San Fernando Valley selected by their peers for inclusion in the

Best Lawyers in America

®

, Larry Grassini and Roland Wrinkle

have offered their respective one-two punch of trial and appellate

work throughout 40 years of practice together. The first page of

the firm’s biography really says it all. Entitled, Our History of Setting

the Standards, the page lists just a handful of the personal injury

firm’s successes, but they’re pretty remarkable. The law firm of

Grassini & Wrinkle can best be summed up by its firsts, including

the largest personal injury award in the history of California, the

largest personal injury award in the history of the United States,

the largest punitive damage award affirmed on appeal, the largest

sexual harassment award in California, and the largest award for

the death of an adult child. The list goes on— but the point is

clear; the partnership between Larry Grassini and Roland Wrinkle

has produced results for clients that are nothing short of amazing.

“W

e

’

vecertainlyhadsomegreatsuccessesovertheyears

,

and that’s because we have combined our distinct talents for the

benefit of the clients we represent,” says Mr. Grassini. “It’s an

unusual combination, where we have a trial attorney with an

experienced and well-respected appellate lawyer.”

l

aWrence

g

rassiniisamemberofthe

i

nner

c

ircleof

Advocates, an invitation-only group of the top one hundred trial

lawyers in the country, and last year was the ninth person inducted

into the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association Hall of Fame.

He is also one of only two trial lawyers to be named twice as the

Association’s “Trial Lawyer of the Year.” He was listed in Los

Angeles magazine as one of the top 25 lawyers in the state and

named as one of the 18 most respected plaintiff personal injury

lawyers in California Lawyer, the official publication of the state bar.

This year, he was voted by his peers and this magazine as “Best

Personal Injury Lawyer 2011.”

r

oland

W

rinklehasreceivedthe

t

ed

h

orn

m

emorial

a

Ward

for the education of trial lawyers by the Los Angeles

Trial Lawyers Association and was voted Appellate Lawyer of

20750 veNtura BoulevarD, Suite 221, wooDlaND hillS, Ca 91364

Ph: 818.348.1717 Fax: 818.348.7921 • www.grassiniandwrinkle.com

roland Wrinkle

lawrence P. grassini

Personal injury litigation l o s a n g e l e s

Bet-the-Company Litigation – Columbus, OH Commercial Litigation – Columbus, OH

the Year by the Consumer Attorneys Association

of Los Angeles.

a

ttheendoftheday

,

Whatmotivatesthepair

the

most isn’t recognition. “The best part of trying cases

is knowing that we’re able to change lives for the

better,” says Mr. Grassini. “Our clients and our cases

allow us to force corporate America to make changes

that protect and preserve a safer environment for

con-sumers.” This year the firm represented a couple who

lost their two daughters in a lengthy struggle against

Enterprise Rent-A-Car who rented the girls a car

knowing it was subject to a safety recall. When that

case went to trial and the jury rendered a $15 million

verdict, there was national press. The public’s recognition of

Enterprise’s egregious acts caused the Federal Trade Commission

to file a complaint forcing Enterprise and other rental companies to

ground recalled vehicles until repaired.

t

heotherlaWyersat

g

rassini

& W

rinklearebuilding

considerable reputations in their own right. Katie Grassini and Lars

Johnson just won a seven-year battle that ultimately went to the

Supreme Court and changed the law to better protect victims of

HIV. The decision, which then resulted in a $12.5 million verdict at

trial, allows an innocent victim who contracts HIV from a spouse or

other to seek recovery if they are able to show that the defendant

“should have known” that he or she might have been infected.

W

henaninsurancecompanyrefusedtodealfairlyWith

a family injured in an auto accident, Don Liddy and Jamie Kurtz took

them to trial and persuaded a Simi Valley jury that they were entitled

to a multi-million dollar verdict, exactly the amount they had

demanded from the insurance company.

(17)

2011

Sidley Austin | Los Angeles, CA

MICHAEL C. KELLEY, PETER I. OSTROFF, DEBRA E. POLE Silver & Field | Los Angeles, CA

LAWRENCE SILVER

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom | Los Angeles, CA JACK P. DICANIO, JOHN A. DONOVAN, RICHARD MARMARO, THOMAS J. NOLAN, ERIC S. WAXMAN Snell & Wilmer | Costa Mesa, CA

STEVEN T. GRAHAM, WILLIAM S. O’HARE Squire, Sander