Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2009 
Thomas “Tom” H. Bienert, Jr. is a trial attorney with decades of experience handling complex litigation, investigations, and appeals in state and federal courts. Based in San Clemente, California, Tom represents businesses, executives, professionals, and individuals in matters involving Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Appellate Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. He is a founding partner of Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP (BKLW), a litigation-focused law firm he established in 2000 after serving as a federal prosecutor and practicing at a national law firm.
Over the course of his career, Tom has represented clients in high-stakes civil and criminal matters involving business disputes, civil rights claims, class actions, contract disputes, copyright infringement, defense contractor issues, environmental offenses, estate litigation, false advertising, fraud allegations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, healthcare investigations, money laundering allegations, personal injury claims, public corruption investigations, securities litigation, trade secret disputes, unfair competition claims, whistleblower actions, and wrongful termination cases. His practice includes trial work, internal investigations, appeals, and strategic counseling in complex litigation matters.
Before founding BKLW, Tom served for ten years as a federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office. During that time, he held leadership roles including Chief of the Orange County Office of the United States Attorney and Chief of Criminal Complaints in the U.S. Attorney’s Los Angeles Office. He also served as Associate Independent Counsel in Washington, D.C. His government service included work on several widely reported matters, including the Independent Counsel investigation involving President Clinton, the Orange County bankruptcy, the UCI fertility clinic matter, the Reginald Denny beating case arising from the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the “Operation Big Spender” public corruption investigation involving members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Tom later practiced at Irell & Manella before launching Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP. Since founding the firm, he has helped grow BKLW into a litigation practice serving clients in California and throughout the United States. His experience includes obtaining multi-million dollar verdicts in civil matters, defending clients in complex commercial disputes, and representing individuals and companies in white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Tom is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Orange County Bar Judiciary Committee. He previously served on the boards of the Orange County Criminal Defense Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), and the Constitutional Rights Foundation. From 2014 to 2015, he served as President of the OCBA. He has also served as a Lawyer Delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.
Tom has received recognition from legal industry publications and organizations throughout his career, including selection to Best Lawyers® each year since 2009 and Super Lawyers® each year since 2006. He has also been recognized by Best Lawyers® as Orange County’s “White-Collar Lawyer of the Year” and has received recognition from America’s Top 100 Attorneys and the National Trial Lawyers.
Tom earned his law degree from Tulane University School of Law, where he graduated with honors, served as an editor of the Law Review, and was a member of the Order of Barristers. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School and frequently lectures on litigation, trial practice, and legal issues.
