A leader in the firm and within the profession, Alan is an experienced trial lawyer esteemed by peers and clients alike. Alan devotes his practice to complex civil litigation, including business and intellectual property disputes, product liability claims and employment matters. He has tried more than 60 cases to verdict in federal and state courts. He has served as president of the San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a past-president of CAL-ABOTA, one of the regional organizations of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the premier association of American trial lawyers. Alan has received an AV© Preeminent© rating (highest legal competence) from Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America© for 20 years. He has also been recognized in each edition of San Diego Super Lawyers®. Alan is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, an association of lawyers and judges experienced in the trial of cases who are dedicated to improvement of the standards of trial practice. Admission to the American College is by invitation only. Alan is also a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers, admission to which is by invitation only. In 2015, Alan received the Daniel T. Broderick III Professionalism and Civility Award, which recognizes a San Diego attorney who demonstrates the highest levels of civility, integrity and professionalism.
Licenses:
- State Bar of California 1976
- United States District Court for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California
- United States Supreme Court
Education:
- Juris Doctor in 1976 from University of San Diego School of Law
- Bachelor of Arts Degree, 1973, with high honors, from the University of California, Riverside
Professional Memberships and Affiliations:
- State Bar of California
- American Bar Association
- American Board of Trial Advocates, San Diego Chapter President, 2005. ABOTA is an invitation-only organization of experienced trial attorneys who advocate for the preservation of the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial.
- President, CAL-ABOTA, 2010
- Member of the National Board of American Board of Trial Advocates, 2010-2014
- San Diego County Bar Association, Vice President 1996
- San Diego County Bar Foundation, past Board Member
- San Diego Barristers Club, President 1982
- San Diego Defense Lawyers Association, Director 1988-1989
- Faculty in the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and San Diego Inns of Court
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers of San Diego
- Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Member
- Senior Master, American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter
- University of San Diego, Law School Alumni Association, Board of Directors; President 1998-1999
- University of San Diego Law School, Board of Visitors, current chair
- San Diego County Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service, past Board member
- Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, Board of Directors
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Special Counsel to the San Diego County Grand Jury (1998)
Recognition:
- 2021 Defense Lawyer of the Year, San Diego Defense Lawyers
- 2015 Daniel T. Broderick III Professionalism and Civility Award
- Obtained $33.7 million verdict featured in Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts of 2015
- Included in The Best Lawyers in America©, since 1995
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV© Preeminent© rating. This rating reflects a determination the attorney so recognized has demonstrated the highest legal competence.
- University of San Diego Law School Alumni Association, Recognized as Distinguished Alumnus of Year 2004
- San Diego Magazine “Best Lawyers in San Diego” since 2005
- 2007-2021 Editions of San Diego Super Lawyers®
- 2020 AVO Top-Rated Lawyer®
- 2020 Lawyers of Distinction®
- 2020 America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators®
Lecturer:
- Continuing Education of the Bar Programs
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- University of San Diego School of Law
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy
- American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter
- San Diego County Bar Association
Published Cases:
- Rudd v. California Casualty, 219 Cal.App.3rd 948 (1990)
- Ike v. Doolittle, 61 Cal.App.4th 51 (1998)