Best Lawyers in California, United States for Professional Malpractice Law
Injury & Malpractice Legal Guide 2025
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Philip Michels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Professional Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. Philip, who practices law in Santa Monica, California, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matthew C. Smith has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Matt represents individuals and business clients on a wide variety of professional and business litigation matters. He has served as lead counsel or co-counsel in more than a dozen trials and arbitrations. Matt also handled several successful appeals and has argued before the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Matt earned his Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee Univer...
PRACTICE AREAS Trials Commercial Litigation Intellectual Property Securities Insurance Recovery/Bad Faith White Collar Criminal Defense Legal Malpractice Entertainment/Sports EXPERIENCE Jennifer Keller is one of America’s most successful trial attorneys. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of high-stakes commercial litigation and white collar cases. Chambers USA and Chambers Global rank her among the top commercial litigators in the nation, quoting sources who...
Scott B. Garner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Scott B., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Andy has more than 40 years of experience as a civil trial lawyer defending insurance companies, financial institutions, and other businesses against a wide variety of claims. With decades of experience litigating insurance bad faith claims, Andy’s capabilities are in high demand. He has successfully tried cases throughout California and in seven other states. He also tries cases before the United States Court of Federal Claims which hears monetary-related claims against the federal gov...
Robert Frank, Senior Trial Lawyer, joined Neil Dymott in 1980. He has been a shareholder in the law firm since 1988. Mr. Frank specializes in civil litigation defense trial work and administrative licensing hearings for various types of healthcare professionals, with an emphasis on medical, dental, chiropractic and nursing specialties. He also handles a variety of other general civil litigation including, professional liability, medical malpractice and administrative licensing matters as well...
Kevin V. Desantis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants and Transportation Law. Kevin V., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic a...
Michael S. LeBoff brings more than 25 years of trial practice to Klein & Wilson, handling and winning high-stakes trials and arbitrations. Michael represents clients of all sizes in a wide variety of business cases, including shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes, trade secret claims, fraud, breach of contract, business torts, real estate, attorney fee disputes and legal malpractice actions. Michael attended Loyola Law School on a full academic scholarship, graduating second...
Douglas A. Pettit has extensive trial and litigation experience in the areas of civil litigation, business litigation, and professional liability. He has tried over 50 cases in California. His extraordinary record of favorable outcomes and exemplary client service has resulted in recognition by his peers over the years. He was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2007 as the youngest member of the San Diego Chapter and has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating f...
Aaron Burden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law and Professional Malpractice Law. Aaron, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mark C. Krok is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law. Mark C., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.