Glaser Weil “Highly Recommended” By Benchmark Litigation

In its 2018 publication, Benchmark Litigation has again distinguished Glaser Weil with its foremost ranking of “Highly Recommended”. Glaser Weil is among only 24 law firms throughout California to earn this elite status. The Firm is praised for having "built a really terrific litigation group that handles a host of fascinating matters, and they do this strategically. They don't need to throw 5,000 people at a case in order to win it." 

Benchmark Litigation is known as the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys. It is the only publication to focus exclusively on U.S. litigation. The guide’s results are the culmination of a six-month research period that allows researchers to conduct extensive interviews with litigators and their clients.

Seven Glaser Weil Partners received individual Benchmark distinctions, ranking them among the top litigators throughout California.

Patricia Glaser, Litigation Department Chair, continues to earn high praise from her peers and is described as "a fierce zealot who fights really hard." Ms. Glaser is further depicted as, "a 'pound-the-table' type who can make the other side's life complete misery – if you're going scorched-earth, there is no one better suited for it. But she also knows how to settle reasonably. It all depends on what the client's chosen tack is." Ms. Glaser has been labeled a "trial icon" with clients including Fortune 500 companies, major studios, real estate investors and developers, financial institutions and high-profile entertainers, and public figures. She is also recognized on Benchmark Litigation’s lists of “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America” and “Top 250 Women in Litigation” for all U.S. regions and Canada.

Jill Basinger earned her fifth recognition by Benchmark Litigation, this year being named as a “Local Litigation Star” by the publication. Ms. Basinger is an experienced trial lawyer with a reputation for being aggressive and effective to garner many favorable verdicts, including lucrative settlements for her clients. Her practice includes many sophisticated commercial cases, including fraud, breach of contract, defamation, employment, trade secret theft, invasion of privacy, unfair competition, unfair business practices and other complex business torts. Variety named Ms. Basinger to its “Legal Impact Report” in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and the Daily Journal listed Ms. Basinger as one of its 2016 "Top Women Lawyers."

Andrew Baum earned the coveted “Local Litigation Star” ranking in Commercial Litigation. He has litigated and resolved multi-million dollar claims in a wide variety of business and litigation matters, including partnership disputes, construction matters, employment actions, consumer and class action claims, as well as securities and white collar criminal matters. Benchmark highlights his representation of actress Susan Sarandon in a lawsuit against her former business and investment manager for professional malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty.  

Michael Cypers maintains his recognitions as both a “Local Litigation Star” and “Litigation Star” in his second year on Benchmark Litigation's lists. With a focus on complex financial cases, Mr. Cypers is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried multiple cases dealing with civil securities, corporate, partnership, financing and fiduciary duty. Benchmark features Mr. Cypers’s representation of three of the four primary owners of a top Hollywood entertainment companies in a litigated dispute. His successful trial work on behalf of a private equity fund that rescinded investment contracts earned a “Top High Impact Verdict” in California distinction by the Los Angeles Daily Journal.  

Garland Kelley ranks as a “Local Litigation Star” in Business & Commercial, General Commercial, and Securities Litigation.  His primary practice involves complex commercial litigation – state and federal court – and securities litigation, including complex class action and derivative matters, defense of shareholder litigation against publicly held companies and SEC-related matters.  His experience includes trial, appellate, arbitration, mediation, insurance and settlement aspects, and often includes transnational elements including matters relating to Germany, Japan, China, South Korea and numerous U.S. jurisdictions.

Sean Riley, named a “Local Litigation Star,” is a veteran litigator with a track record of winning the pretrial stages through compelling and persuasive briefs or, where the need arises, at trial or arbitration, with aggressive presentation of the client’s case.  He represents a wide array of clients in high stakes cases in the fields of entertainment, intellectual property, real estate, securities, banking, insurance coverage and bad faith. Mr. Riley is sought after for his consistent success as a commercial litigator in attaining favorable outcomes in complex and contentious cases.

Robert Shapiro is an internationally renowned litigator with a reputation for being a zealous advocate for his clients. He earned a “Local Litigation Star” distinction from Benchmark Litigation for the fifth year in a row.  His success in trying cases has allowed him to negotiate settlements and bring resolution without going to trial; his abstract imagination gives him the ability to analyze facts from all sides. Mr. Shapiro has represented a number of high-profile corporations, as well as many celebrity clients. He has also received many accolades, including recognition as one of "The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" by National Law Journal, one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers and was ranked as one of the “Nation's Top 100 Attorneys” by National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

In addition to the Firm's 2018 “Litigation Star” recognitions, Glaser Weil Litigation Partner Rory Miller was recently selected by Benchmark Litigation for its 2017 “Under 40 Hot List.”  This was only the second year the publication had awarded this honor, which commended the significant legal achievements of Partners 40 years old or younger.