As the largest state in the U.S., California is often at the epicenter of the legal world. It’s no wonder that more than 150,000 attorneys are practicing in the state, which can make it difficult for consumers to determine which lawyer is the best option for representing them in their class-action lawsuit.
If you are considering filing or joining an existing class-action lawsuit, it’s important to have the best possible representation on your side. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best class-action lawyers in California. As you consider which attorneys or firms might be best for you, remember that in most cases, you won’t pay attorney’s fees unless you win your case, and initial consultations are often free.
If you’re affected by one of the numerous class-action lawsuits that are ongoing, then you can contact one of the firms below to help you on the path to a just outcome.
1. Girard Sharp
601 California St #1400, San Francisco, CA 94108
Practice Areas: Class Action, Antitrust, Investment Fraud, Sexual Abuse
Firm Size: Medium
Girard Sharp specializes in class-action lawsuits covering matters that range from consumer products to workplace violations. Attorneys at this San Francisco-based firm have recovered upwards of $1 billion in high-profile class-action claims against companies like Teva Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Sallie Mae, Hyundai, Kia, GM, Apple, and more. Over its 30-year history, Girard Sharp has proven its results as one of the best class-action law firms in the U.S.
Girard Sharp attorneys are continuing class-action investigations into consumer privacy violations by SunPower Corp., a data breach that struck the Washington State Auditor’s Office, a defect in the battery of Nissan’s Leaf vehicle, and potential battery defects in Apple’s iPhone 12, among many ongoing investigations that could lead to major settlements.
2. Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield
110 Laurel St, San Diego, CA 92101
Practice Areas: Class Action, Personal Injury, Asbestos and Mesothelioma, Product Liability
Firm Size: Medium
San Diego-based Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield, better known as CaseyGerry, is the oldest firm to make our list, with the medium-sized firm opening its doors in 1947. CaseyGerry attorneys have helped clients recover more than $25 billion in judgments, verdicts, and settlements.
Class-action results CaseyGerry attorneys have helped to achieve include a $300 million settlement against Chrysler Dodge Jeep, a nearly $400 million settlement with Wells Fargo, and a $118 million settlement with Yahoo over data breaches. CaseyGerry attorneys were also involved in securing a $5 billion settlement over the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, which illustrates the firm’s extensive history with major, complex litigation.
3. Frantz Law Group
402 W Broadway # 860, San Diego, CA 92101
Practice Areas: Class Action, Environmental Mass Torts, Truck Accidents, Product Liability, Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Firm Size: Medium
Frantz Law Group, a medium-sized law firm in San Diego, has been representing clients in class-action lawsuits, environmental mass torts, and personal injury claims for more than 40 years. In that time, the firm’s attorneys have helped win tens of millions of dollars in judgments, verdicts, and settlements on behalf of their clients. Spanish-language services are available.
Among the most notable cases attorneys at Frantz Law Group have been involved in include a $13.5 billion settlement against Pacific Gas & Electric over wildfires, a $24 million class-action settlement against Midland Credit Management and Encore Capital Group, and an $18.5 million class-action verdict related to a medication.
4. Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack
10100 N Santa Monica Blvd STE 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Practice Areas: Class Action, Pharmaceutical Litigation, Toxic Torts, Product Liability, Fire Litigation
Firm Size: Medium
Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack is perhaps the most famous firm on this list. The firm’s attorneys took the lead in the groundwater contamination cases in Hinkley and Kettleman, California, that served as the inspiration for the film “Erin Brockovich.” Those cases resulted in more than $700 million in damages.
Other mass-tort and class-action cases attorneys from the firm have been involved in include cases against other energy companies, Big Pharma, aircraft manufacturers, insurance companies, and more. The firm’s attorneys also helped secure a landmark 2006 $3.2 billion agreement to settle antitrust claims against several natural gas providers.
5. Nelson & Fraenkel LLP
Figueroa at Wilshire, 601 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Practice Areas: Class Action, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Maritime Law, Aviation Accidents, Securities Litigation, Multijurisdictional Litigation (MDL)
Firm Size: Small
Nelson & Fraenkel was founded in 2015, and today this small firm focuses largely on mass and individual lawsuits related to personal injuries of many varieties from its two offices — the primary one in Los Angeles and the second in San Francisco. The firm’s attorneys have taken on and are investigating potential class-action lawsuits in areas like healthcare, insurance, antitrust, consumer products, privacy, securities, deceptive business practices, and employment law.
Another primary focus area for Nelson & Fraenkel attorneys are lawsuits related to airline accidents and collisions. The team of attorneys at Nelson & Fraenkel are experts in aviation law and have successfully handled about a dozen lawsuits related to high-profile crashes, including ones in California and around the world.
6. Joseph Saveri Law Firm
601 California St #1000, San Francisco, CA 94108
Practice Areas: Class Action, Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Complex Business Disputes, Multijurisdictional Litigation (MDL)
Firm Size: Medium
The attorneys at Joseph Saver Law Firm, a medium-sized San Francisco-based firm, are experts in virtually every variety of complex litigation. This runs the gamut from class-action lawsuits to multijurisdictional litigation to mass torts and antitrust violations. The firm opened its doors in 2012, and since that time, Joseph Saveri attorneys have helped secure more than $4 billion total in settlements, verdicts, and judgments. In addition to their main office in San Francisco, the firm also operates a branch in New York City.
A sampling of major class-action lawsuits Joseph Saveri attorneys have handled includes antitrust lawsuits filed on behalf of tech employees against Apple and Google, unfair-practices claims against drug manufacturers Bayer and Barr Laboratories, and price-gouging complaints against the window and door company Jeld-Wen.
7. Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood
4900, 55 Harrison St #400, Oakland, CA 94607
Practice Areas: Class Action, Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Firm Size: Medium
Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood is a unique firm on this list thanks to the attorneys’ niche focus on one specific area of class-action and mass tort lawsuits — asbestos and mesothelioma. The only cases Kazan attorneys take on are on behalf of people who have developed asbestos-related illnesses, including the rare-but-often-deadly cancer mesothelioma.
Since it was founded in 1974, the Oakland-based firm has been involved in asbestos-related claims pertaining to product liability and negligence, as well as bankruptcy trust cases. In addition to taking on cases of those stricken with asbestos-related illnesses, the firm provides grants to medical research into curing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
8. Robinson Calcagnie, Inc.
19 Corporate Plaza Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Practice Areas: Class Action, Product Liability, Personal Injury, Big Pharma, Medical Devices
Firm Size: Medium
Robinson Calcagnie opened its doors in 1978 with a high-profile case — the landmark case against Ford Motor Co. over its Pinto car, which had a faulty gas tank that could catch fire in collisions. That case resulted in a $128 million verdict, and since then, attorneys with the firm have helped secure tens of millions more dollars in major personal injury and class-action lawsuits.
Attorneys at this Newport Beach-based firm are currently investigating potential class-action claims related to data breaches, including one affecting UCLA Health patients, and the firm has filed two class-action lawsuits against the Volkswagen auto manufacturer over claims that the company installed devices designed to cheat emissions testing.
9. Blood Hurst & O’Reardon, LLP
501 W Broadway #1490, San Diego, CA 92101
Practice Areas: Class Action, Consumer Protection, Drug and Food Safety, Data Breaches, Vehicle Defects
Firm Size: Small
Blood Hurst & O’Reardon is a San Diego firm that focuses solely on class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of consumers. Attorneys at Blood Hurst & O’Reardon have been involved in cases against companies like Johnson & Johnson, Apple, Skechers, and Reebok, and they were part of the team that secured a $3.4 billion settlement with the Toyota car company.
Other prominent cases have involved claims against real estate developers, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, utility providers, Big Pharma, tech companies, and more. The firm’s case against the Skechers company resulted in a $40 million settlement, at the time the largest consumer recovery for false advertising in U.S. history.
10. Andrus Anderson
155 Montgomery St STE 900, San Francisco, CA 94104
Practice Areas: Class Action, Consumer Protection, Equal Pay, Patient Safety
Firm Size: Small
Andrus Anderson is a small firm based in San Francisco that has a sole focus on protecting consumers, employees, investors, and others from corporate malfeasance and greed. One of the biggest focuses for Andrus Anderson attorneys is equal pay. In fact, the firm’s attorneys were involved in helping secure a $4 million settlement from Farmers Insurance over gender discrimination allegations.
Other major focus areas include individual and class-action claims related to antitrust violations, dangerous drugs, personal injuries, medical malpractice, and more.
