Introducing Gary Gwilliam ...
"As a lawyer, you have to decide that there is something more important than money--there is something more important--it is about doing a case right and getting justice for your clients. But what we do is not just important for our clients, but for everybody..... and to make the world safer whether that be safer drugs or safer cars, or finances that people aren't getting cheated on......that is just the kind of work we do. I'm not just a plaintiff's lawyer-- I'm also a public interest lawyer and a consumer advocate."
- Gary Gwilliam
"Gary shines as the quintessential trial lawyer, a man whose humanity bursts through while he works endlessly to obtain justice for those victimized by the misconduct and negligence of some of the country's most powerful interests. America desperately needs trial lawyers like Gary who hold wrongdoers accountable."
- John Haber, CEO, American Association for Justice
"Gary is one of the great trial lawyers in this country."
- Edwin Train Caldwell, founder of The Other Bar, past president of San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award
"I found Mr. Gary Gwilliam of the law firm Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer. After talking to him, and explaining my case, he took the case. I felt so relaxed talking to Mr. Gwilliam. I knew I had found a firm that believed in my case and as importantly, in me. For the next 8 years and two trials, I would get to know Mr. Gwilliam and his firm very well. I can't say enough about this firm. They worked hard and we won both trials. During both of my trials, I was astonished by Mr. Gwilliam's charismatic demeanor. He would make Perry Mason look like an amateur. He never showed any disrespect for any witness, but had a way of finessing the truth. He stays calm under pressure. He was prepared each and every day. He helped me stay calm. To this day I look at Mr. Gwilliam as my friend, not just my attorney. If you are looking for a fantastic firm, take my word for it. You will never find a better group of attorneys. "
- D.K. [Former Client]
Professional Experience:
Principle and Founder, 1978-Present
Partner, 1966-1978
Chief Trial Deputy, 1963-1966
Education:
LL.B, 1962
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, 1959
Certifications
California State Bar, 33430
Associations and Memberships
AAJ
Member, 1966-Present
ABOTA
Leaders Forum
ACCTLA
President, 1974-1975
Board of Governors, 1970-Present
Member, 1970-Present
Alameda County Bar Association
American Bar Association
CELA
CAOC
Contra Costa Bar Association
National Board of Trial Advocacy
NELA
The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100
Public Citizen
The Public Justice Foundation (formerly Trial Lawyers for Public Justice)
Publications
“Am I Drinking too Much is a Rhetorical Question!” Multiple Publications, 2008- Present
“Professional Stress- Inebriation, Intervention and Insight”, Multiple Publications, 2009-Present
“Effectively Handling Multiple Plaintiff Employment Law Cases”, Wrongful Discharge Litigation Strategies, With Co-Author Randall E Strauss, 2013
Plaintiff Magazine Column featuring articles such as:
“Old Warriors”, Plaintiff Magazine, 2009
“Lessons from losing: How to beat defeat”, 2008
“Getting a Wining Verdict in My Personal Life: A Trial Lawyer Finds His Soul”, Pavior Publishing,2007
“Speaking About What’s Real”, Verdict 2007
“Peak Performance in Litigation Through Relaxation Techniques” Civil Trial Practice: Winning Techniques of Successful Trial Attorneys, 2000
Major Contributor/Editor/Interviewee to “Commitment to Justice: A History of the Consumer Attorneys of California”, 2000
“Scott Morris v. Weibel Wineries, Inc. - From Client to Friend”, American Board of Trial Advocates, Trial Magazine, 2000
“Lessons from Losing”, San Francisco Daily Journal, Verdicts and Settlements Section, 1999
“Are Trial Lawyers Becoming Extinct? A Look at Civil Litigation in the Next Millennium”, American Board of Trial Advocates, Voir Dire, 1999
An Historical Perspective of Consumer Attorneys of California and Me”, Forum, 1999
“Techniques for Arguing Damages to a Jury”, Trial Magazine, 1999
“The Art of Losing”, Trial Magazine, 1998
“Go Easy on Yourself”,Trial Magazine, 1998
“In Memory of Bob Beloud”, Forum, 1998
“A Practical Presentation of the Use of Jury Consultants in Trial Preparation In Trial”, (With Karen Jo Koonan), Consumer Attorneys of California, 36th Annual Convention Syllabus, 1997
“How to Argue a Hand Injury Case”, Consumer Attorneys of California, 35th Annual Convention Syllabus, 1996
“CSAA Made to Pay”, Forum Magazine, 1995
“Holistic View of Witness Creditability”, National Employment Lawyers Association, 1995
“Power Anticipation”, Top Courtroom Performance, 1994
“Punitive Damages in Wrongful Termination Cases”, California Trial Lawyers Association, 29th Annual Tahoe Seminar Syllabus, 1994
“Ethics-How to Get a Winning Verdict in Your Personal Life”, California Trial Lawyers Association, 27th & 28th Annual Tahoe Seminars Syllabuses, 1992 and 1993
“Alternative Dispute Resolution”, Fiji Law Society Syllabus, 1993
“Arguing Damages: Turning Emotion Into Money”, California Trial Lawyers Association Syllabus, 1991
“Proposition 51: The Effect of the Abolition of Joint and Several Liability”, California Trial Lawyers Association Forum, 1986
“Dental Malpractice, Who Cares? (Fundamentals of Dental Practice)”, California Trial Lawyers Association Forum, 1985
“Liens for Medical Expenses in Personal Injury Actions”, California Continuing Education of the Bar Program Material, 1980
“Personal Injury Liens for Medical Expenses”, California Trial Lawyers Association Journal, 1977
References in Other Works:
“Soul Work to Find a Soul Mate”, It’s Never too Late to be What You Might Have Been, 2009
“Counselor, Heal Thyself”, You Turn: Changing Direction Midlife, 2008
“Courageous Captains”, Forum Magazine, 2007
Honors and Awards:
California Trial Lawyers Association, Presidential Award of Merit, 1988-2014
Northern California Super Lawyers, 2005-Present
Esteemed Lawyers of America, Admitted in 2014
Public Justice, Champion of Justice, 2009
CLAY Consumer Lawyer of the Year Finalist for Employment, 2002
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, nominated for Lawyer of the Year Award for work on Adams v. City of Fremont, 1996
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, nominated for Lawyer of the Year Award for work on Adams v. California State Automobile Association, 1995
Consumer Attorneys of California, Marvin E. Lewis Award, November 1996
California Trial Lawyers Association, Presidential Award for “How to Get a Winning Verdict in your Personal Life” seminars, November 1994
California Trial Lawyers Association, Edward I. Pollock Award, November 1990
Alameda County Lawyer’s Club, Lawyer of the Year Award, 1986
California Trial Lawyers Association, numerous awards of merit, 1985 to present
Speaking Engagements:
‘Mastering the Mechanics of Civil Jury Trials’, Santa Clara County Bar Association, 2015
‘Litigating High Profile Cases, ACBA MCLE, 2015
‘Substance Abuse/ Quality of Life’, San Mateo Bar CLE, 2014 and 2015
‘Substance Abuse/ Quality of Life’, McGeorge Annual Alumni MCLE, 2013-2015
‘Civility Matters ‘, ABOTA Presentation, 2014
‘Bias: Overcoming Barriers’, CAOC Annual Convention Presentation, 2014
Trial Techniques in Employment Litigation, 2014
Bar Association of San Francisco Substance Abuse CLE, 2014
‘Trial Techniques in Employment Law ‘, Alameda County Law Library MCLE Program, 2013
Presenter for Attorney Credits, Continuing Education Your Way:
‘Learning From Losing’, Commonwealth Club, 2008
‘Am I Drinking Too Much? A Rhetorical Question’, Continuing Education of the Bar, 2007
‘Getting a Winning Verdict in Your Personal Life: A Discussion of Preventative Ethics’, Continuing Education of the Bar, 2007
Stress Management, "How to Get a Winning Verdict in Your Personal Life" PLI, 2000 - 2002
Andrews, et. al. v. Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
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Case Article Press Release, January 2016
