Indexed from official State Bar of California records · Identity verification · Updated regularly

The RegistryPractice Area · Statewide

Find Litigation Lawyers in California

Counsel for civil lawsuits: filing, defending, trying and settling cases in California courts. This is the statewide record for litigation in California: every attorney on the State Bar of California's official roll whose published practice reaches this area, shown in neutral directory order.

Californians search this field under many names · litigation attorney, litigation lawyer, civil litigation attorney, civil litigation lawyer, trial attorney · and the registry answers all of them from the same source. Below: the governing deadline with its citation, what to weigh as you read the record, the questions Californians ask with the code sections that answer them, and litigation coverage county by county, from Del Norte to San Diego.

The clock & the craft

Statute of limitations

Two years for personal injury (§ 335.1); four years on a written contract (§ 337); three years for property damage and fraud (§ 338); two years on an oral contract (§ 339).

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 335.1, 337, 338, 339

A defendant served with a summons generally has 30 days to respond (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)). Injury claims against a public entity first require a written government claim within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).

Reading the roster

Litigation is a process craft, and the useful questions are practical: how many cases like yours the attorney has taken through discovery and to trial or arbitration, which courthouse they appear in, and who will actually handle the hearings. Ask for an early read on likely cost against the amount in dispute, whether mediation is realistic, and how fees are structured: hourly, contingency, or a blend. If you have been served, bring the summons and complaint and note the date of service; the time to respond runs from service, not from when you read it.

Litigation · statewide roster

29,610 attorneys on the official State Bar of California roll list litigation among their practice areas, with an address of record in 55 of California's 58 counties.

28,939 of them hold an active licence; the remainder are recorded as inactive and are not currently eligible to practise.

The largest county rosters are Los Angeles (10,836), Orange (3,604), San Francisco (3,403), San Diego (3,044) and Sacramento (1,320).

374 hold a State Bar Certified Legal Specialist designation, a certification issued by the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization, and not a rating or a ranking.

For 2,350, the registry records a language other than English, almost always from a firm website published in that language; that describes the website, not an attorney's own ability.

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In the last 30 days attorneys have read 11 filed matters on the registry.

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Legal information, not legal advice

Litigation matters in California

The matters this field covers, as Californians search for them. Each attorney's own profile states which of these they take.

  • filing a civil lawsuit
  • defending a lawsuit
  • responding to a summons and complaint
  • discovery and depositions
  • motions and injunctions
  • jury and bench trials
  • mediation and settlement
  • arbitration hearings
  • limited civil cases up to $35,000
  • complex and multi-party cases
  • class actions
  • post-trial motions
  • enforcing and collecting a judgment

Litigation questions, cited

How long do I have to respond to a lawsuit in California?

Generally 30 days after the summons and complaint are served on you (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)). If nothing is filed in time, the plaintiff can ask the court to enter a default judgment (Code Civ. Proc. § 585). Eviction (unlawful detainer) cases allow far less time, so read the summons for the exact deadline.

What is the difference between small claims, limited civil and unlimited civil cases?

Small claims court hears claims up to $12,500 brought by an individual ($6,250 for a business), and attorneys generally cannot represent parties at the hearing (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 116.220, 116.221, 116.530). Claims up to $35,000 proceed as limited civil cases with streamlined procedures (§ 85); larger claims are unlimited civil cases with full discovery.

Who pays attorney's fees in a California lawsuit?

Usually each side pays its own unless a statute or contract says otherwise (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1021). A contract fee clause is made reciprocal by Cal. Civ. Code § 1717, so the prevailing party can recover fees even if the clause names only one side. The prevailing party can generally recover court costs such as filing fees (Code Civ. Proc. § 1032).

Can I be required to arbitrate instead of going to court?

Usually yes, if you signed an enforceable arbitration agreement: on a petition, the court must order arbitration unless the right was waived or grounds exist to revoke the agreement (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1281.2). California courts refuse to enforce unconscionable arbitration terms, and employment agreements covering statutory claims must meet minimum fairness requirements (Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83).

How is a court judgment collected in California?

A money judgment is enforceable for ten years and can be renewed (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 683.020, 683.110), through wage garnishment, bank levies and liens on real property. It accrues interest, generally at 10% a year, with a lower rate for many consumer-debt judgments (§ 685.010).

Legal information, not legal advice.

From the registry's blog

Litigation Attorney in California: What the Law SaysLearn what a California litigation attorney handles, the deadlines and rules that govern civil lawsuits, and where the public record shows who is licensed.

Litigation in all 58 counties

Litigation in Los Angeles CountySeat: Los AngelesLitigation in San Diego CountySeat: San DiegoLitigation in San Francisco CountySeat: San FranciscoLitigation in Alameda CountySeat: OaklandLitigation in Santa Clara CountySeat: San JoseLitigation in Sonoma CountySeat: Santa RosaLitigation in Humboldt CountySeat: EurekaLitigation in Shasta CountySeat: ReddingLitigation in Sacramento CountySeat: SacramentoLitigation in Yolo CountySeat: WoodlandLitigation in Monterey CountySeat: SalinasLitigation in Santa Barbara CountySeat: Santa BarbaraLitigation in Fresno CountySeat: FresnoLitigation in Kern CountySeat: BakersfieldLitigation in El Dorado CountySeat: PlacervilleLitigation in Riverside CountySeat: RiversideLitigation in San Bernardino CountySeat: San BernardinoLitigation in Orange CountySeat: Santa AnaLitigation in San Joaquin CountySeat: StocktonLitigation in Stanislaus CountySeat: ModestoLitigation in Ventura CountySeat: VenturaLitigation in Tulare CountySeat: VisaliaLitigation in San Luis Obispo CountySeat: San Luis ObispoLitigation in Alpine CountySeat: MarkleevilleLitigation in Amador CountySeat: JacksonLitigation in Butte CountySeat: OrovilleLitigation in Calaveras CountySeat: San AndreasLitigation in Colusa CountySeat: ColusaLitigation in Contra Costa CountySeat: MartinezLitigation in Del Norte CountySeat: Crescent CityLitigation in Glenn CountySeat: WillowsLitigation in Imperial CountySeat: El CentroLitigation in Inyo CountySeat: IndependenceLitigation in Kings CountySeat: HanfordLitigation in Lake CountySeat: LakeportLitigation in Lassen CountySeat: SusanvilleLitigation in Madera CountySeat: MaderaLitigation in Marin CountySeat: San RafaelLitigation in Mariposa CountySeat: MariposaLitigation in Mendocino CountySeat: UkiahLitigation in Merced CountySeat: MercedLitigation in Modoc CountySeat: AlturasLitigation in Mono CountySeat: BridgeportLitigation in Napa CountySeat: NapaLitigation in Nevada CountySeat: Nevada CityLitigation in Placer CountySeat: AuburnLitigation in Plumas CountySeat: QuincyLitigation in San Benito CountySeat: HollisterLitigation in San Mateo CountySeat: Redwood CityLitigation in Santa Cruz CountySeat: Santa CruzLitigation in Sierra CountySeat: DownievilleLitigation in Siskiyou CountySeat: YrekaLitigation in Solano CountySeat: FairfieldLitigation in Sutter CountySeat: Yuba CityLitigation in Tehama CountySeat: Red BluffLitigation in Trinity CountySeat: WeavervilleLitigation in Tuolumne CountySeat: SonoraLitigation in Yuba CountySeat: Marysville

Litigation by city

Litigation in Los AngelesLos Angeles County · Los AngelesLitigation in Long BeachLos Angeles County · Los AngelesLitigation in PasadenaLos Angeles County · Los AngelesLitigation in Santa MonicaLos Angeles County · Los AngelesLitigation in San DiegoSan Diego County · San DiegoLitigation in Chula VistaSan Diego County · San DiegoLitigation in San FranciscoSan Francisco County · Bay AreaLitigation in OaklandAlameda County · Bay AreaLitigation in San JoseSanta Clara County · Bay AreaLitigation in Santa RosaSonoma County · North CoastLitigation in EurekaHumboldt County · North CoastLitigation in ReddingShasta County · Shasta CascadeLitigation in SacramentoSacramento County · Sacramento ValleyLitigation in DavisYolo County · Sacramento ValleyLitigation in FolsomSacramento County · Sacramento ValleyLitigation in SalinasMonterey County · Central CoastLitigation in Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara County · Central CoastLitigation in FresnoFresno County · San Joaquin ValleyLitigation in BakersfieldKern County · San Joaquin ValleyLitigation in South Lake TahoeEl Dorado County · SierraLitigation in RiversideRiverside County · Inland EmpireLitigation in San BernardinoSan Bernardino County · Inland EmpireLitigation in IrvineOrange County · Orange CountyLitigation in AnaheimOrange County · Orange CountyLitigation in Santa AnaOrange County · Orange CountyLitigation in Palm SpringsRiverside County · DesertLitigation in StocktonSan Joaquin County · San Joaquin ValleyLitigation in ModestoStanislaus County · San Joaquin ValleyLitigation in OxnardVentura County · Central CoastLitigation in FremontAlameda County · Bay AreaLitigation in VisaliaTulare County · San Joaquin ValleyLitigation in San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo County · Central Coast

Adjacent shelves of the law

Business LawCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337Personal InjuryCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1EmploymentCal. Gov. Code § 12960

Full Litigation rosters, by surname

Aaron – Davis · Alameda County216 attorneysDay – Itaev · Alameda County216 attorneysJackmon – Mckenna · Alameda County216 attorneysMckennedy – Scarlett · Alameda County216 attorneysSchacht – Zuckerman · Alameda County215 attorneysAbbasi – Dunn · Contra Costa County183 attorneysDurham – Lee · Contra Costa County182 attorneysLemmons – Rathfon · Contra Costa County181 attorneysRatner – Zmrzel · Contra Costa County181 attorneysAdams – Zoldoske · Fresno County272 attorneysAghishian – Zimmer · Kern County110 attorneysAaronian – Allred · Los Angeles County202 attorneysAllyn – Ash · Los Angeles County201 attorneysAshai – Barela · Los Angeles County201 attorneysBarenfeld – Berberich · Los Angeles County201 attorneysBerberoglu – Bonilla · Los Angeles County201 attorneysBonn – Brown · Los Angeles County214 attorneysBrowne – Carpenter · Los Angeles County189 attorneysCarpenterbridwell – Chernoff · Los Angeles County200 attorneysCherry – Cohen · Los Angeles County206 attorneysCohn – Cruz · Los Angeles County198 attorneysCsillag – Denlinger · Los Angeles County199 attorneysDennis – Duvanclarke · Los Angeles County201 attorneysDworsky – Fabian · Los Angeles County201 attorneysFaccone – Floratos · Los Angeles County201 attorneysFlorence – Gale · Los Angeles County200 attorneysGalicki – Gillen · Los Angeles County201 attorneysGiller – Gorman · Los Angeles County202 attorneysGorry – Gutierrez · Los Angeles County200 attorneysGuyon – Hartmann · Los Angeles County201 attorneysHartney – Hilvert · Los Angeles County201 attorneysHimmelfarb – Hughes · Los Angeles County203 attorneysHuizar – Javaheri · Los Angeles County201 attorneysJavaherian – Kang · Los Angeles County200 attorneysKangavari – Khalaf · Los Angeles County200 attorneysKhalatian – Koltun · Los Angeles County201 attorneysKolvek – Lancaster · Los Angeles County201 attorneysLandau – Leeker · Los Angeles County201 attorneysLeen – Liu · Los Angeles County207 attorneysLiubicic – Mader · Los Angeles County196 attorneysMadero – Martirosyan · Los Angeles County200 attorneysMartorell – Meagle · Los Angeles County201 attorneysMeans – Mirzakhanian · Los Angeles County201 attorneysMitch – Moulton · Los Angeles County201 attorneysMoura – Nguyen · Los Angeles County208 attorneysNguyenduy – Onayemi · Los Angeles County194 attorneysOneal – Park · Los Angeles County209 attorneysParker – Philipson · Los Angeles County193 attorneysPhillips – Pulido · Los Angeles County201 attorneysPullano – Renta · Los Angeles County201 attorneysRenwick – Rollens · Los Angeles County201 attorneysRomain – Sacks · Los Angeles County203 attorneysSacro – Schantz · Los Angeles County199 attorneysSchapiro – Shah · Los Angeles County201 attorneysShaheen – Simmons · Los Angeles County203 attorneysSimon – Sorley · Los Angeles County199 attorneysSoroush – Strabo · Los Angeles County201 attorneysStraight – Taylor · Los Angeles County204 attorneysTcheng – Treystman · Los Angeles County198 attorneysTreyzon – Vegh · Los Angeles County201 attorneysVeis – Watson · Los Angeles County201 attorneysWatts – Wilson · Los Angeles County204 attorneysWilton – Yeremenko · Los Angeles County198 attorneysYeremian – Zysman · Los Angeles County201 attorneysAcosta – Lampart · Marin County166 attorneysLamphere – Zinn · Marin County166 attorneysAlexander – Yoneda · Monterey County116 attorneysAarons – Beal · Orange County197 attorneysBeall – Butler · Orange County199 attorneysButman – Cole · Orange County196 attorneysColeman – Donoghue · Orange County196 attorneysDorey – French · Orange County197 attorneysFrey – Guess · Orange County197 attorneysGuevara – Homrighausen · Orange County197 attorneysHonarfar – Kashefipour · Orange County197 attorneysKashima – Lam · Orange County199 attorneysLamar – Mahrouyan · Orange County194 attorneysMai – Mircheff · Orange County197 attorneysMirhosseini – Odegaard · Orange County197 attorneysOdell – Preciado · Orange County197 attorneysPrescott – Rydstrom · Orange County197 attorneysRynerson – Simon · Orange County198 attorneysSimonian – Tarvin · Orange County196 attorneysTashjian – Wang · Orange County200 attorneysWare – Zwick · Orange County193 attorneysAdams – Ziring · Placer County229 attorneysAbbott – Leblanc · Riverside County232 attorneysLee – Zurcher · Riverside County231 attorneysAbasi – Clark · Sacramento County216 attorneysClary – Graves · Sacramento County216 attorneysGray – Lewallen · Sacramento County215 attorneysLewis – Parandes · Sacramento County216 attorneysParker – Sobel · Sacramento County216 attorneysSolinsky – Zurmati · Sacramento County215 attorneysAarvig – Lew · San Bernardino County164 attorneysLizarraga – Ziprick · San Bernardino County163 attorneysAannestad – Benito · San Diego County199 attorneysBenjamin – Carosi · San Diego County199 attorneysCarothers – Delange · San Diego County200 attorneysDelariosheiman – Field · San Diego County199 attorneysFindley – Grimes · San Diego County198 attorneysGrinberg – Howell · San Diego County199 attorneysHoy – Knapp · San Diego County199 attorneysKneisel – Mani · San Diego County199 attorneysManifold – Moreau · San Diego County199 attorneysMoreira – Parker · San Diego County201 attorneysParkman – Rhoads · San Diego County197 attorneysRicardo – Scott · San Diego County200 attorneysSeal – Stones · San Diego County198 attorneysStormoen – Walter · San Diego County200 attorneysWalters – Zuspan · San Diego County197 attorneysAbbey – Bell · San Francisco County198 attorneysBellows – Busch · San Francisco County197 attorneysBushchavey – Conlon · San Francisco County196 attorneysConn – Eberlein · San Francisco County196 attorneysEbrahamian – Galdo · San Francisco County197 attorneysGallagher – Hanson · San Francisco County201 attorneysHara – Jaffe · San Francisco County192 attorneysJafri – Knowles · San Francisco County197 attorneysKnox – Little · San Francisco County197 attorneysLiu – Mcguckian · San Francisco County197 attorneysMcguire – Nedeau · San Francisco County196 attorneysNeerhof – Peters · San Francisco County197 attorneysPetersen – Ross · San Francisco County201 attorneysRossi – Silverman · San Francisco County192 attorneysSilverstein – Taylor · San Francisco County198 attorneysTenoriokutzkey – Wayne · San Francisco County196 attorneysWeatherford – Zweier · San Francisco County196 attorneysAalaei – Gherardi · San Mateo County200 attorneysGilbert – Nolanstevaux · San Mateo County199 attorneysNolley – Zweig · San Mateo County199 attorneysAdams – Zonen · Santa Barbara County233 attorneysAbate – Danjou · Santa Clara County219 attorneysDavid – Hum · Santa Clara County219 attorneysHume – Menchaca · Santa Clara County219 attorneysMendezmazariegos – Schwartz · Santa Clara County221 attorneysSchwinn – Zumwalt · Santa Clara County217 attorneysAbaci – Zyromski · Sonoma County224 attorneysAbanonu – Macfarlane · Ventura County217 attorneysMaguire – Zulmanschlosser · Ventura County216 attorneys

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279,000+ attorney records · 58 counties · Official State Bar records