Robert Harrison

Robert W. Harrison
Partner
robert.harrison@wilsonelser.com

San Diego
p 619.321.6200
c 619.787.8388
f 619.321.6201


Robert W. Harrison is the Regional Managing Partner of the WILSON, ELSER, MOSKOWITZ, EDELMAN & DICKER LLP office in San Diego. He has extensive experience in civil litigation with emphasis in the defense of professional liability (health care, lawyers, accountants and brokers), business litigation, employment law and products liability matters. He has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict and also has considerable experience in administrative hearings before the professional licensing boards of the State of California. Robert Harrison is a past president of California Defense Counsel (the lobbying arm of the state's two defense associations in Sacramento), the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (the largest in- state defense organization in the country) and the San Diego County Barristers Club. He is a frequent speaker on trial tactics and other legal topics. He currently serves as a hotline consultant for a lawyer's professional liability carrier concerning risk management issues.

In 2004, Mr. Harrison was honored as the Defense Lawyer of the Year by the San Diego Defense Lawyers. In 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 he was named one of Southern California's Super Lawyers by the publishers of Law & Politics Magazine. Selection is limited to the top 5% of all attorneys licensed in a particular jurisdiction. In several years, he was among the top 50 vote recipients. In 2008 he was also selected for recognition as one of the Top San Diego Lawyers by the San Diego Daily Transcript. He also is listed in the 2010 and 2011 editions of America's Best Lawyers. He has been granted Tier 1 recognition by U.S. News and World Report in the defense of professional liability category. He enjoys the highest peer review rating of AV, issued by Martindale-Hubbell for legal skill and ethics.

He served as the Pacific Regional Director for the Defense Research Institute (DRI) representing California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii from 2007-2010.

He retired as a Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve and during his naval career he enjoyed the opportunity to serve in command of two Naval Reserve Force ships, USS Pluck (MSO-464) and USS Hepburn (FF-1055).

Education

United States Naval Academy, B.S. 1972
Brooklyn Law School 1978-79
University of San Diego School of Law J.D. 1981


Admissions

State Bar of California
California State and Federal Courts
United States Supreme Court

Professional Memberships

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA Advocate Rank)
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Pacific Regional Director 2007-2010
International Association of Defense Counsel
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
California Defense Counsel, Past-President (1998)
Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Past-President (2003)
San Diego Defense Lawyers
Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow
San Diego County Barristers Club, President (1986)

California

California State Bar

U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Wilson Elser

Current

United States Naval Academy

B.S

University of San Diego School of Law

J.D

1981

Current

Activities: Defense Research Institute - Director

Current

Activities: International Association of Defense Counsel

Current

Activities: Association of Defense Trial Attorneys

Current

Activities: Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Past-President

Current

Activities: San Diego Defense Lawyers