Public Counsel - Pro Bono Online

Daily Journal- October 29, 2001

The Top 100

California Law Business

Wylie A. Aitken
Partner of Santa Ana's Aitken Aitken & Cohn. He's a former president of the California Trial Lawyers Association and the most prominent Democrat in Orange County. The plaintiff's attorney belongs to the powerful six-member panel that selects federal judges for the Central District of California.

"He is looked upon as a political leader in Democratic circles in Orange County."

Mary E. Alexander
Partner at San Francisco's Alexander & Associates. This prominent plaintiff's attorney is president-elect of the 60,000-member Association of Trial Lawyers of America, which Congress has called upon to oversee distribution of money from the Sept. 11 Victims Fund to survivors of last month's terrorists attacks.

"Mary is a role model for women lawyers in America."

Gloria R. Allred
Partner at Allred Maroko & Goldberg in Los Angeles. This tireless champion of women and minority rights remained in the limelight this year, thanks to her local radio talk program and frequent appearances on nationally syndicated television show "Power of Attorney."

"She is outspoken, and she puts her money where her mouth is."

Ramon P. Arias
Executive director of Bay Area Legal Aid. After a lengthy career as a public interest lawyer, Arias recently was given the task of combining the legal-aid efforts of seven Northern California counties under one umbrella organization, Bay Area Legal Aid.

"He's always advocated very ardently on behalf of the most underrepresented communities - making sure they receive the highest levels of justice and access to justice."

Ian C. Ballon
Partner at Manatt Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles. He's a prolific writer on intellectual property, entertainment and Internet issues, including "E-Commerce and Internet Law: Treatise With Forms." Ballon also counsels notable companies such as Hewlett Packard Co. and EMI Recorded Music.

"He is, in fact, the leading trademark, copyright and Internet attorney. If an issue comes up, Ian is the person you look to for help with his Internet treatise."

Michael J. Bidart
Partner at Claremont's Shernoff Bidart & Darras. Known as one of the nation's leading bad-faith insurance litigators, Bidart this year helped secure passage of a law allowing claims against insurance companies over the 1994 Northridge earthquake. He's also suing HMOs to force them to cover cutting-edge treatment for prostate cancer.

"He has maintained a balance of zealously representing clients while maintaining civility and honesty that is really exemplary in the legal profession."

Brad D. Brian
Partner at Los Angeles' Munger Tolles & Olson. This commercial litigator and white-collar criminal defense attorney represents Fortune 500 companies, including Allstate Insurance Co. He convinced the government not to prosecute Allstate amid allegations of mishandling 10,000 insurance claims from the Northridge earthquake.

"He's got it all. Brian is an extremely polished, articulate trial lawyer who is a very creative thinker.''

Harry M. "Skip" Brittenham
Partner at Los Angeles' Ziffren Brittenham Branca & Fischer. Brittenham remains one of Hollywood's top dealmakers. His client list says a lot about his clout: actors Harrison Ford, Eddie Murphy and Bruce Willis; Revolution Studios head Joe Roth; and the creators of TV shows "Spin City" and "The Drew Carey Show." He does his best to keep a low profile.

"Skip probably represents the highest class of talent clients [in Hollywood]."

Bruce A. Broillet
Partner at Santa Monica's Greene Broilet Taylor Wheeler & Panish. Outgoing president of Consumer Attorneys of California, Broiled staunchly supports disclosing documents used in secret settlements. His organization sponsors SB 11, which, if passed by the state Legislature, would allow the release of documents about defective products that kill or injure consumers.

"He's not giving up. Bruce will always fight for the rights of the consumer.''

John L. Burton
President pro tem of the California Senate. Not a single legislative matter or gubernatorial appointee avoids the scrutiny of this Democratic senator, who chairs the rules committee and heads the majority Democratic Caucus. Elected by the counties of San Francisco, Sonoma and Marin, Burton is one of the most passionately liberal politicians in the state.

"He is somebody who champions the underdog - the voice of the poor and the disabled."

Jane W. Carney
Partner at Riverside's Carney & Delaney. An extremely intelligent civil practitioner who immerses herself in civic organizations, Carney helped secure financing and approval for the U.S. District Court in Riverside, which opened this year. She also helped spearhead massive renovation of the city's historic civil courthouse.

"She does a wonderful job of fulfilling her obligation as a lawyer to give back to the community."

Erwin Chemerinsky
University of Southern California law professor. He's a consummate advocate for constitutional rights, this year arguing two cases challenging the application and fairness of California's three-strikes law, for example. Also, the publicity-hound law professor continues to publish books and articles at a rabid pace.

"He is quite influential in terms of being outspoken and available to the media ... . [H]e has done a lot to educate the general public about how constitutional law works."

Donald S. Chisum
Law professor at Santa Clara University and of-counsel to Morrison & Foerster in Palo Alto. He is the author of the 15-volume reference guide, "Chisum on Patents." Chisum frequently testifies before Congress on patent issues and is the leading authority on intellectual property law.

"It's not just his extensive knowledge of patent law, but his superb judgment about which patent arguments courts will accept and which they won't accept."

Warren M. Christopher
Senior partner at Los Angeles' O'Melveny & Myers. The former secretary of state is the heavyweight of L.A. law. He led team Gore in its U.S. Supreme Court presidential bout against a tough Bush squad and has consulted on everything from police reform to diplomacy. He just finished dictating his bio, "Chance of a Lifetime,'' published this year, to tape.

"If there's a permanent member for this list, it's Chris. He has dedicated his professional life to those less fortunate. I can think of no better role model for young lawyers.''

Morgan Chu
Co-managing partner of Irell & Manella. The Los Angeles-based Chu specializes in complex commercial litigation for all types of businesses, including such high-profile companies as Hewlett Packard, Compaq and Texas Instruments. Recently, Chu represented City of Hope National Medical Center in a $500 million licensing rights lawsuit against biotech company Genentech. Never without his bow tie, Chu is the go-to attorney for intellectual property cases.

"He practices law at a higher level than the rest of us."

Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.
Partner at Cochran Cherry Givens Smith & Stewart in Los Angeles. The celeb lawyer has proven the O.J. Simpson case was not a fluke, going on to create the nation's largest plaintiffs' personal injury firm. This year, Cochran negotiated an $8.7 million settlement for a Haitian man brutalized by New York City police and filed a race and sex discrimination suit against Microsoft Corp. on behalf of African-American and female employees.

"He has an unequaled ability to communicate on behalf of his clients the suffering that they have endured."

Joseph W. Cotchett Jr.
Partner at Burlingame's Cotchett Pitre & Simon. This behind-the-scenes dealmaker was thrust into the limelight as Modesto Congressman Gary Condit's adviser during the Chandra Levy scandal. Cotchett looks after Gov. Gray Davis' interests in pending energy litigation.

"One of the best civil practitioners around, but was probably ill advised to take that little foray with Gary Condit."

Mary B. Cranston
Chair of San Francisco's Pillsbury Winthrop. Since taking the helm of centenarian Pillsbury Madison & Sutro two years ago, the tenacious Cranston has increased revenue 30 percent and orchestrated, at the time, the country's largest law firm merger.

"She undertook a major renovation of an aging law firm and brought it into the 21st century."

Gray Davis
Democratic governor of California. Davis' much-criticized handling of the state energy crisis has threatened his once-rosy political future. After losing prestige and power in this high-profile year, he is focused on rebounding before the 2004 campaign.

"Second term - very likely. The presidency, who is he kidding?"

Rockard J. Delgadillo
Los Angeles city attorney. The former economic development deputy to Mayor Richard Riordan is the first Latino elected to his post, but insiders say his political ambitions run higher - possibly statewide.

"Rocky Delgadillo never thinks outside the box because for Rocky there is no box."

Robert M. Dell
Managing partner of Los Angeles' Latham & Watkins, resident of San Francisco. Under his tutelage, the firm added 200 attorneys overseas in one year, opening offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Paris. He's equally credited with hiking firm revenue to the state's highest, $642 million, and surpassing 60 pro bono hours per attorney per year.

"He moved the future of the firm dynamically forward, very quickly.''

Joseph L. Dunn
Represents the Garden Grove district in the California Senate. This Democratic senator is winning an increasing piece of the state-budget pie for his Orange County constituency. He also has played a big role in the energy crisis as chair of the Senate Select Committee to Investigate Price Manipulation of the Wholesale Energy Market.

"He says what he thinks even if it will bring him political harm. That's something to appreciate among politicians today."

Russell J. Frackman
Partner at Los Angeles' Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp. This lawyer for the recording industry has taken on song-swapping service Napster, a case that will determine the fate of copyright law in the Internet frontier. Napster's two-year death rattle has occupied much of Frackman's time, and the battle could stretch even longer.

"He has a great sense of knowing when to fight ... and what's not worth fighting."

Florentino R. Garza
Partner at Redlands' Garza Garza & Pacheco. He is known as a "true gentleman" in the courtroom and praised for winning millions in high-profile personal injury verdicts. He also never brags about his wins. Last year, the American Board of Trial Lawyers selected him as trial lawyer of the year.

"He reflects the highest standards of civility, cordiality and professionalism."

Ronald M. George
Chief justice of the California Supreme Court. Engaging, innovative and dedicated to court reform, George unified the courts of California. During the past year, he worked to improve court access by launching a Web site, making jury instructions easier to read and implementing one-day, one-trial juror assignments.

"With little doubt, he will go down in history as one of our best chief justices."

Thomas V. Girardi
Partner at Los Angeles' Girardi & Keese. A perennial monsoon-maker pursuing injustices against the little guy, Girardi settled three toxic cases against companies that dumped chromium and rocket fuel into groundwater. He represents the Los Angeles Unified School District in its highly contentious malpractice suit against O'Melveny & Myers.

"He is a man of his word who is not afraid to go in and try a case.''

Patricia L. Glaser
Partner at Los Angeles' Christensen Miller Fink Jacobs Glaser Weil & Shapiro. A hard-driving litigator known for winning the toughest matters, Glaser's cases range from legal malpractice to copyright disputes. She has sued some of the major Hollywood studios, like the Walt Disney Co., and represented the same.

"Patty's a tremendous trial lawyer. She can take chicken shit and turn it into chicken liver."

Barry P. Goode
Gov. Gray Davis' secretary of legal affairs. After 25 years in private practice with McCutchen Doyle Brown & Enersen, Goode waded this year into one of the state's stickiest affairs: energy. Davis also has tapped Goode for advice on issues ranging from Indian gaming to criminal law.

"We miss him here at McCutchen. The governor is lucky to have him."

Gigi Gordon
Director of Los Angeles County's Post Conviction Assistance Center. In her frying-pan-to-fire style, Gordon suspended her death penalty solo practice this year to review 2,500 tainted Rampart convictions and set up a DNA testing program for inmates. Her admirers in the criminal defense bar are far and wide.

"She is charming and relentless and it's a wonderful combination."

Browne Greene
Partner at Santa Monica's Greene Broillet Taylor Wheeler & Panish. California jurors hear this soft-spoken plaintiff's attorney loud and clear. This summer, Browne asked a Los Angeles jury for another multimillion-dollar verdict, this time for an avocado picker electrocuted by Southern California Edison powers lines. The jury gave him $21 million.

"His incredible, positive outlook, his willingness to take big risks and his ability to move juries to his clients' side have resulted in great verdicts."

Marshall B. Grossman
Partner at Los Angeles' Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan. This year, Grossman added "reviewing complaints against judges'' to the synopsis of his 37-year legal career after the governor appointed him to the Commission on Judicial Performance. To colleagues, Grossman is a "legal golem'' - the mythical figure known for relentless pursuit of his enemies.

"A fearsome litigator to his foes; a real mensch to his friends.''

Joseph A. Grundfest
Professor of law and business at Stanford Law School. Grundfest manages the Stanford Class Action Clearinghouse, the leading Web site that monitors class actions against public companies. One of the foremost thinkers on corporate and securities law, the former Securities and Exchange commissioner was under serious consideration - and some say declined to be - head of the SEC under the Bush administration.

"He's the most creative thinker on securities regulation in America today."

Daniel Grunfeld
President and chief executive officer of Los Angeles' Public Counsel. He leads the nation's largest public interest firm, which served 23,000 clients last year. He also helped create the Homeless Court to assist indigents in resolving minor infractions and Adoption Saturday, which has expedited the adoption of thousands of children.

"If you take the combined effect of any 10 attorneys you know, Dan's impact on the community good exceeds that."

Andrew J. Guilford
Partner in the Costa Mesa office of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton. As past president of the California State Bar, his influence extends statewide. His continuing impact is evident because the Orange County Trial Lawyers just awarded Guilford the "Business Litigation Trial Lawyer of the Year Award" for his general litigation expertise.

"If Andy's in an organization, he goes right to the top - and that's because people respect him."

James K. Hahn
Mayor of Los Angeles. Hahn spent 16 years as city attorney before beating Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa in the June mayoral election. The son of local political legend Kenneth Hahn, the younger Hahn faces immediate tests with the San Fernando Valley secessionist movement and the growing threat of terrorism.

"Not a flashy or flamboyant type, but he does make his mark."

Robert M. Hertzberg
Speaker of the California Assembly. Politicos credit this Democratic assemblyman from the San Fernando Valley for bringing more intelligence, focus and power to the Legislature. His unanimous election to the speaker position last year, an unprecedented feat, underscores his bipartisan popularity.

"He's extremely pragmatic, personable and is someone who is able to just get things done."

Ellis J. Horvitz
Partner at Encino's Horvitz & Levy. Big verdicts end up on the desk of appellate lawyer Ellis Horvitz. At 73, Horvitz is in his 50th year of overturning million-dollar verdicts and defining the California appellate specialty. Most recently, Horvitz reversed a $100 million judgment against General Dynamics.

"He could have a seat on the Supreme Court by adverse possession."

Marilyn L. Huff
Chief judge of the U.S. District Court, Southern District. This former First Amendment lawyer has led the fight at home and on Capitol Hill to add judges to the San Diego federal court, which leads the nation in cases and trials per judge, but has not added a single judge in more than a decade.

"She's a full-time judge ... and a full-time lobbyist."

Beth J. Jay
Senior staff attorney to Chief Justice Ronald M. George. If it's George's problem, then it's probably Beth Jay's problem, too. Jay has been the voice of the court on such recent issues as Bar Exam waivers for out-of-state attorneys and judicial recusal.

"She's extremely bright, she's absolutely honest and she's a damned good lawyer."

Randy K. Jones
Assistant U.S. attorney in San Diego. Because of efforts spearheaded by this former president of the National Bar Association, the ethnic makeup of U.S. Supreme Court clerks is changing. For the 2000-01 session, the court hired two African-American law clerks. That may not sound like much, but from 1972 to 1998, seven African-Americans held the coveted posts.

"He has a real passion for what he's doing. A real commitment. And he is a worthy and tough adversary."

Michael P. Judge
Lead public defender for Los Angeles County. In his post since 1994, this 32-year veteran of the public defender's office thrives under the national spotlight. He recently played leading roles in unfolding the Rampart police scandal and implementing Proposition 36, which sends thousands of drug addicts to treatment programs instead of jail.

"He's shown that what the public defender does is both a constitutional and moral requirement."

Michael A. Kahn
Partner at San Francisco's Folger Levin & Kahn. This busy environmental law litigator also is chairman of the state's Commission on Judicial Performance and a top adviser to Gov. Gray Davis on the energy crisis, trying to recoup billions of dollars in fees from the nation's power generators.

"He is a dedicated public servant and a superb advocate. He exemplifies what we would like to see in every lawyer practicing in the state of California."

John W. Keker
Partner at San Francisco's Keker & Van Nest. A brilliant criminal defense attorneys and civil litigator, he is the lawyer's lawyer. Past victories include an acquittal for San Francisco defense lawyer Patrick Hallinan, who was charged with illegal possession of weapons, drug smuggling and other crimes in a headline-grabbing trial during the mid-1990s.

"An old-style counselor with white-collar panache."

Paul R. Kiesel
Partner at Beverly Hills' Kiesel Boucher & Larson. A tireless advocate of technology to make complex litigation faster and cheaper, he negotiated a $41 million settlement for 2,500 homeowners with poor plumbing - entirely via the Internet. He's also feared for his meticulous database of private judges.

"He is a repository of new ideas. I learn something new every time I talk to Paul Kiesel.''

Alex Kozinski
Judge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Romanian native became the maverick of the 9th Circuit through his incendiary prose and stiletto analysis. The conservative face of the reputedly liberal court gleans satisfaction from a good crop of backyard tomatoes - and castigating court officials who dare snoop on the e-missives of the federal court.

"Alex is so innovative, so prolific, so scholarly and so playful with use of vocabulary, it distinguishes him among the jurists."

Sheila James Kuehl
State senator representing the Los Angeles district. After six successful years in the California Assembly, this former civil rights attorney and law professor has taken her human rights and environment-oriented agenda to the Senate. The openly lesbian Kuehl always has been a strong voice for the underrepresented.

"One of the smartest members of the state Legislature. She made her mark in the Assembly and will do so in the Senate."

Stewart Chih-Ming Kwoh
Executive director of Los Angeles' Asian Pacific American Legal Center. He's the head of the nation's largest pro bono organization targeting the needs of the Asian-American community. He worked to create the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, a civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C.

"His vision is to one day forge a unified national group that has the same influence as MALDEF."

David A. Lash
Executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services in Los Angeles. A ubiquitous leader in Southern California's public interest bar, Lash oversees a pro bono law firm that services 10,000 poor and elderly clients a year. The organization recently grabbed headlines for its ongoing fight to clean up the act of Los Angeles' most notorious slumlord.

"He brings power to the powerless."

William S. Lerach
Partner at Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach in San Diego. Lerach is so famous - notorious, some say - for filing shareholder suits against corporate America that his name has been turned into a verb. To be "Lerached" is to be sued by him in a securities fraud case. Computer chipmaker Intel Corp., for instance, recently was Lerached for alleged securities law violations.

"He is probably one of the smartest and most ruthless lawyers that I've ever met."

Arthur L. Littleworth
Partner at Riverside's Best Best & Krieger. Littleworth is known as one of the most influential lawyers in the Inland Empire. He's also one of the most powerful environmental lawyers in the country thanks to his appointment by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987 to the role of special master overseeing water rights law and legal disputes between states.

"Art is sort of the dean of all lawyers in Riverside County. He's a real leader and a class act."

Bill Lockyer
California attorney general. This former, longtime state senator spent years pushing liberal causes. But as attorney general, he has been praised and knocked for cozying up to police and prosecutors. Others acknowledge his commitment to civil rights, environmental issues and consumer protection.

"He was a liberal who doesn't seem to be a liberal anymore. Now he's law enforcement's best friend."

Jack W. Londen
Partner at San Francisco's Morrison & Foerster. A high-powered patent and securities litigator, Londen is one of the state's best-known advocates for legal services to the poor, serving as chair of Californians for Legal Aid and co-lead counsel on a case representing school children denied equal access to basic educational necessities.

"Jack balances an incisive legal mind with a considerable measure of perspective. To this he adds an incredible record of pro bono and community service; he is what a litigator should be."

Elwood Lui
Partner at Jones Day Reavis & Pogue in Los Angeles. He's the legal community's Mr. Insider. The White House asked him to lead the interview process for potential federal judges and U.S. attorneys in Los Angeles. Following 13 years on the bench, Lui established a top appeals practice. Last year, he persuaded a judge to set aside $88 million in legal fees the state of California was ordered to pay in a dispute over vehicle smog fees.

"He's the go-to guy in California. The governor calls him all the time."

Loretta M. Lynch
President of the California Public Utilities Commission. The former partner at San Francisco's Keker & Van Nest is one of the few people standing between consumers and dreaded electricity rate hikes. She's fought to keep the beleaguered utilities commission in the game as Pacific Gas & Electric struggles to reorganize its debts.

"[The PUC needs] somebody with policy antenna, someone who's served somewhere else. Someone who is not afraid to vote. She meets the criteria."

Thomas R. Malcolm
Partner at Jones Day Reavis & Pogue in Irvine. A towering presence in Orange County politics and one of the state's pre-eminent business litigators, Malcolm has established himself as a straight-forward, no-nonsense guy who can be trusted. Former Gov. Pete Wilson relied on him to recommend judges. Now President Bush calls on him for the same.

"Mr. Orange County."

Don W. Martens
Partner of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear in Newport Beach. An Orange County fixture for more than 35 years, Martens specializes in intellectual property litigation and has represented American Airlines, Noble BioCare and Carl's Jr. He is internationally known for his patent expertise.

"Don has provided an eloquent presence, a clear headed point-of-view and undoubtedly good results for his clients."

Michael D. McKee
Vice chairman and chief operating officer of the Irvine Co., Orange County's biggest real-estate developer. This year, he was promoted to the No. 2 spot at the company responsible for the development of the city of Irvine, a huge master-planned community.

"His meteoric rise at the Irvine Company is well-deserved and respected in the community."

Michael E. Meyer
Managing partner of Pillsbury Winthrop's Los Angeles office. A national authority in leasing law, Meyer has led Pillsbury's 100-lawyer Los Angeles office since 1999. His client list reads like a who's who of the commercial real estate industry: Nestle, MGM, The Gap, Merrill Lynch and Ticketmaster to name a few.

"He's truly a legend in the Southern California community. I'm a huge fan of Michael's. It's hard not to be."

Dennis Montali
Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District. The former Pillsbury Madison & Sutro partner presides over the largest utility bankruptcy in the nation's history. He has sweeping power to help Pacific Gas and Electric Co., including scrapping a consumer rate freeze so the troubled San Francisco utility can recoup billions of dollars it spent buying power during the state's energy crisis.

"He has control over all our destinies."

Richard B. Murphy
Mayor of San Diego. Murphy, a former San Diego Superior Court judge, beat such consummate politicians as Rep. Bob Filner and San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts for the mayoral slot. In office since 2000, Murphy has launched a 10-point plan for the city, with goals such as cleaning up the beaches and finishing the San Diego Padres ballpark.

"His legal savvy is helpful for what the city wants to do."

Thomas J. Nolan
Partner at Palo Alto's Nolan Armstrong & Barton. A prominent criminal defense lawyer, Nolan takes the impossible cases and makes the best of them. He reduces verdicts along the way in such high-profile cases as People v. Fitzhugh in which Nolan got charges against a Palo Alto man accused of killing his wife reduced to second-degree murder.

"He's such a true believer that some prosecutors become annoyed by him. But, he's such an advocate, you've got to admire him."

Pierce H. O'Donnell
Partner at O'Donnell & Shaeffer in Los Angeles. This litigator and former newspaper publisher won a $230 million settlement against the U.S. government for cleanup costs of Burbank groundwater contamination. O'Donnell also scored a major victory in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when it affirmed a ruling for MGM and United Artists over rights to the James Bond movie franchise.

"He loves the law, his wife, his kids and his friends - not necessarily in that order.''

Ronald L. Olson
Partner at Los Angeles' Munger Tolles & Olson. Few players in last summer's electricity crisis came out unscathed, but Olson's representation of Southern California Edison only bolstered his reputation among the state's premier litigators. Besides representing major corporations, Olson sits on the boards of several Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit entities.

"He's very much an old-fashioned lawyer. His word is his bond."

Richard M. Pachulski
Partner at Los Angeles-based bankruptcy boutique Pachulski Stang Ziehl Young & Jones. When companies hit the skids, Pachulski's name is among those at the top of the list. He was on the forefront of recent telecom reorganizations such as Covad and Northpoint. Pachulski also was instrumental in the firm's opening of a Delaware office last year. Go ahead - file it in Delaware.

"Richard sees things that other people don't see."

JosØ R. Padilla
Executive director of California Rural Legal Assistance in San Francisco. A client of the organization while growing up in the Imperial Valley, Padilla heads the group that serves a population of 400,000 rural poor in 23 counties. He has been a lawyer for CRLA for 23 years, during which he has fought to secure state and federal funding.

"You don't find dedicated people like JosØ Padilla anymore. He's a true leader to farm workers and the rural poor."

Brian J. Panish
Partner at Santa Monica's Greene Broillet Taylor Wheeler & Panish. A products liability litigator, Panish has won scores of multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, including a $55 million jury verdict in April against Continental General Tire. Panish proved the company liable for a tread-separation accident that rendered the driver a quadriplegic.

"He treats his adversaries and his co-counsel with equal dignity and respect. He is truly a credit to the plaintiff's bar."

Gerald L. Parsky
Chairman of Los Angeles' Aurora Capital Group. When Parsky speaks, George W. Bush listens. The wealthy financier chaired the president's California campaign. Bush since has turned to Parsky for advice on everything from the energy crisis to Social Security reform. He oversees the selection of nominees for federal judgeships and U.S. attorney posts throughout California.

"Gerry has become California's statesman."

Marilyn Hall Patel
Chief judge for the U.S. District Court, Northern District. Last year, this San Francisco federal judge became the nemesis of the Internet generation when she enjoined Napster from allowing consumers to download copyrighted music. If Patel delivers a final ruling that permanently shuts down the popular service, a whole generation could return to record stores.

"She's not afraid of controversy and she calls them as she sees them."

Eva J. Paterson
Executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco. She has devoted her career to providing free legal services to low-income people, supporting affirmative action and promoting social justice. Paterson also is co-founder of an Oakland battered women's shelter, A Safe Place.

"Eva is the rare person who views her work with a vision emanating from her heart, her soul and her spirit."

Burt S. Pines
Judicial appointments secretary to Gov. Gray Davis. Second only to the governor in appointing California judges, Pines is methodical in his research, resulting in what some say is a slow pace of filling vacancies. But most observers agree that he picks first-rate jurists.

"The caliber of appointments [under the Davis administration] has been extraordinary, and judges point to Burt Pines as the reason for that."

Michael J. Piuze
Los Angeles sole practitioner. This plaintiff's attorney puts fear in the tobacco industry and with good reason. Piuze made legal history this summer when he won the largest punitive damage award for an individual in America: $3 billion for a smoker suffering from lung cancer. The award against Phillip Morris was reduced to a "mere" $100 million, but remains one of the largest California has seen.

"He's a big risk taker - he loves to try the impossible case."

Carl R. Poirot
Executive director of San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. During his 15 years as director, the organization has seen increases in its annual budget, from $100,000 to $1.25 million, and number of clients, from 200 to 6,000 per year. Poirot garners strong support from private lawyers citywide, who eagerly denote their money and time to the organization.

"He has been able to expand the program in a time of diminishing federal and state funding support."

Matthew D. Powers
Managing partner of the Redwood Shores office of Weil Gotshal & Manges. A trial lawyer for patent and trade secret cases, Powers boasts Intel, Cisco and Micron as clients. He also has helped Northern California federal courts create an instruction manual for judges and juries on handling patent cases.

"He's an extremely able litigator and also someone who has devoted a great deal of time to making sure courts get the law right."

John B. Quinn
Managing partner of Los Angeles' Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges. Quinn has overseen the expansion of the high-powered business litigation firm to 120 attorneys and six offices, while remaining one of the most renowned trial attorneys anywhere in the world.

"He's smart, very practical and an excellent litigator - no question about it."

John J. Quinn
Managing partner of Los Angeles' Arnold & Porter. Under this litigator's leadership, the firm has added 21 lawyers to its Century City office, bringing the total in the Los Angeles area to 90. The continued expansion began with last year's acquisitions of intellectual property and technology boutiques.

"Jack Quinn can get more with a smile than most lawyers in this town could get with 20 sets of interrogatories and 10 depos.''

Bruce M. Ramer
Partner at Beverly Hills' Gang Tyre Ramer & Brown. Rated one of the top five transactional entertainment attorneys in Hollywood, Ramer has represented Steven Spielberg for decades. He puts in a lot of time on boards ranging from the American Jewish Committee to KCET.

"He's bright. He's aggressive for his clients. The classic story about him is that the shark in 'Jaws' was named after him."

Karen Randall
Executive vice president and general counsel of Universal Studios Inc. She once managed the lawyers at entertainment powerhouse Katten Muchin Zavis & Weitzman. Now, this savvy businesswoman oversees the legal department of Hollywood's top-grossing studio.

"She is bright, innovative, highly effective and always on top of her game.

Michelle A. Reinglass
Laguna Hills sole practitioner. This employment law litigator who pulls in multimillion-dollar verdicts is a need-to-know person if you want to become a judge in Orange County. She has served on Sen. Barbara Boxer's selection committee for federal magistrate judges and counts Gov. Gray Davis' judicial appointments secretary, Burt Pines, among her friends. The one-woman show also is respected by big business and is a tireless advocate of the poor.

"Rich or poor, she's your gal."

Constance L. Rice
Partner at Los Angeles' English Munger & Rice. Her peacekeeping work with former South Central gang members led to efforts last year to end racial violence in California prisons. The former western regional counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund plans to launch the Urban Peace Awards in April to honor those who promote social and racial justice.

"Connie is able to figure out what the problem is, and she's incredibly creative and strategic about how to solve it."

Richard J. Riordan
Former mayor of Los Angeles and founder of Los Angeles' Riordan & McKinzie. Although he finished up an eight-year stint as mayor this summer, Riordan's political career may be far from over. The popular, moderate-to-liberal Republican is becoming his party's best chance to unseat Gov. Gray Davis in 2004.

"He was a pretty arrogant mayor, never grasping that he needed the City Council to be effective. It takes a different style to become governor."

Mark P. Robinson Jr.
Partner at Newport Beach-based Robinson Calcagnie & Robinson. He may be best known for his role in gigantic verdicts against Ford and General Motors, but Robinson leads the product liability charge on fronts such as faulty pharmaceuticals and tobacco as well. Meanwhile, his close relationship with Gov. Gray Davis extends his influence to every corner of the state.

"He appears to have a genius-level IQ, with a unique overachiever's personality. It's a rare combination."

Mark D. Rosenbaum
Legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of of Southern California. Since last year's presidential election debacle, the shrewd and feisty lawyer has led the ACLU's federal lawsuit to force California to update its antiquated punch-card system to tally votes. He continues to be an outspoken champion of better schools for the state's poor, disabled and special-need children.

"He's a combination of a cast-iron butt and a brilliant mind."

Kelli L. Sager
Parter at Davis Wright & Tremaine in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times, CBS and Conde Naste Publications are among the major media outlets that call this First Amendment expert when they need access to a courtroom or court papers. Since Sept. 11, she has been in even greater demand as journalists seek information that the government prefer the public not have.

"She is a bulldog that acts like a ballet dancer until the fight is on."

Pamela Samuelson
Law professor at University of California, Boalt Hall. A peace-keeper between Silicon Valley tech companies and the legal community, Samuelson supports a balance between copyright protection and digital free speech. A civil liberties advocate, she founded the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic. Launched in January, the clinic combines technology law with public interest law.

"Not only has she pioneered the idea that intellectual property has civil liberty implications, she has been the driving force in implementing this."

Lynn A. Schenk
Chief of staff for Gov. Gray Davis. Despite her efforts to keep a low profile, Schenk is viewed as the only person in the governor's administration who can speak on his behalf. Davis once described her as the person in his administration who most closely shares his philosophy.

"What distinguishes her is when you are talking to her, you are talking to the governor."

Peter A. Schey
Founder and executive director of the Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law. The Los Angeles lawyer has enforced the rights of immigrants for almost 30 years, not always the most popular cause. Most recently, he successfully argued against the implementation of Proposition 187, which denied immigrants certain state benefits.

"His creativity and tenacity have benefited tens of thousands of immigrants, while helping the courts ensure that the INS follows the law."

John A. Schulman
Senior vice president and general counsel to Warner Bros. in Los Angeles. Hollywood is fickle, but not when it comes to Schulman - he's been general counsel at the studio for 17 years. These days, Schulman is helping the studio ease into the digital age and the new AOL Time Warner.

"He's a smart, tough, knowledgeable, pragmatic guy who treats the studio's money as if it were his own."

J. Tony Serra
Criminal defense attorney with Serra Licther Darr Bustamante Michael Gilg & Greenberger in San Francisco. Serra, controversial for his clients and revered for his courtroom style, will co-defend alleged bomber-turned-housewife Sara Jane Olson in Los Angeles Superior Court - if, after five postponements, the case ever goes to trial.

"He will conduct voir dire of a jury that makes even you, as a prosecutor, want to jump up, and say 'I am an American - I am voting not guilty.' "

Larry W. Sonsini
Chairman of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. During the 1960s, Sonsini started a technology practice in Palo Alto before the phrase Silicon Valley entered the vernacular. Since then, the firm has grown from four to 800 attorneys, making it the state's largest. In June, the New York Stock Exchange named him to its board of directors, a rare accomplishment for a West Coast lawyer.

"Larry Sonsini is a true visionary of the modern-day legal market."

Donald H. Specter
Director of the Prison Law Office in San Quentin. Specter is the leader of a tiny band of lawyers who advocate for the rights of California's most underrepresented citizens - prison inmates. Among his successes during the past 20 years, Specter brought numerous federal and state class actions to reform conditions at the state's 32 prisons, including poor food quality, overcrowding, inadequate wheelchair accessibility and lack of beds.

"A very dedicated and tenacious lawyer who works in a very difficult area of litigation where tenacity is essential."

Lisa Specht
Partner at Manatt Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles. The darling of Los Angeles liberals, Specht served as outside counsel to the Democratic National Convention Committee during last year's presidential race. Most recently, she assumed the presidency for the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, making her a power player in city sports.

"She combines great instinct with excellent analytical skills. She is street smart, effective and tenacious."

Kathleen M. Sullivan
Dean of Stanford Law School. This year the constitutional law expert argued the first major challenge by free speech advocates to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, which allows movie studios to encrypt DVDs to protect copyrights. After the 2000 presidential election, she was vice chair of a national commission to suggest reforms for federal elections.

"She is an extraordinary combination of brilliant legal scholarship, common sense and a killer sense of humor."

Michael T. Thorsnes
Partner at San Diego's Thorsnes Bartolotta & McGuire. This plaintif's lawyer has brought in more than $250 million for his clients, leaving little wonder why the San Diego plaintiff's bar has honored Thorsnes as its best trial lawyer not once, but twice.

"His string of wins in very complex cases shows he is a tremendous attorney."

Louis L. Touton
General counsel for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in Marina del Rey. As the World Wide Web's sole overseer, ICANN manages the domain name system. Touton helped draft its controversial dispute-resolution policy to avoid lengthy and costly court battles over Web addresses.

"ICANN is a lightening rod for all who are dissatisfied with the Internet. Louis Touton has demonstrated incredible grace under relentless fire."

John F. "Jack" Walker Jr.
Partner at Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles. This chairman of the Public Counsel Law Center made his mark as Latham's leader during the early 1990s. Since then, he has worked to improve the local business infrastructure as a board director of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, his firm exported him (temporarily) to Germany to integrate 50 lawyers in Hamburg and Frankfurt.

"If you need one person to help you make the most important professional decision of your life, you would choose Jack Walker.''

Steven O. Weise
Partner at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe in Los Angeles. The architect of the revised Article 9, which regulates secured transactions, this brilliant but low-key lawyer reigns as the authority of commercial law.

"He spends endless hours on law reform projects. ... I am just in awe of his energy."

George H. Williamson
Deputy district attorney, Solono County. Prosecutors statewide call upon Williamson when they need to send a murderer to death row. Known for his intellect and charm, this death penalty expert is seeking the ultimate sentence against the killer of three Yosemite tourists, a case that has garnered national attention.

"He is the most valuable player year after year. He is Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken and Randy Johnson all in one."

Nick E. Yocca
President and co-founder of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth in Newport Beach. Yocca built a four-attorney technology boutique in 1975 into a full-service firm that boasts 110 lawyers. Yocca promotes business growth for the Orange County technology community. Just as Larry Sonsini reigns over the Silicon Valley, Yocca is the unofficial tech king of Orange County.

"He has been a tremendous influence on the landscape of the Orange County community."

Kenneth Ziffren
Partner in Los Angeles firm Ziffren Brittenham Branca & Fischer. The alphabet may put him last on the list, but his Hollywood clout is unquestioned. Best known as a television and movie dealmaker, Ziffren, a devoted oenophile, has spent much of this year clearing away some of the entertainment business' dot-com wreckage. He's always on the hunt for a hit and a deal.

"He's rich as all get out. He's the king."