Santa Monica Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

A tough, fearless and savvy federal criminal defense attorney since 1970. Forged in the trenches of the largest U.S. District Court in the U.S. – Los Angeles, California. Hardened by the toughest federal judges, Nixon appointees. Unrivaled credentials. 44 years of daily fighting against U.S. Attorneys. Recognized legal scholar with federal trial and appellate expertise. Proven by experience to be “par excellence” by judges, prosecutors and attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell's ratings and 35 published opinions in successful appeals. Joseph Shemaria graduated from U.C.L.A. Law School in 1969 with the most prestigious academic honors. He was a Senior Editor of the...

Joseph F. Klatt is a veteran California litigator with demonstrated expertise representing individual and institutional clients in complex civil litigation matters. He is skilled in handling all facets of litigation, including initiating and planning a case, managing discovery, drafting dispositive motions and briefs, conducting depositions, trying and resolving cases, handling complex writs and appeals, and negotiating significant settlements in high stakes cases. He is recognized for handling complex, unique, and troublesome cases, providing innovative litigation strategies, looking at legal issues from multiple and unorthodox angles, and cost-effectively achieving his clients’ objectives.

Joseph was the Valedictorian of his law school...

Jonathan A. Goldstein is the founder of the Law Offices of Jonathan A. Goldstein, Esq. (JAG Law Offices). He is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator with over seventeen years of experience in representing public and private sector clients while serving the public interest for the last eleven years in various pro bono and voluntary roles. Mr. Goldstein is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Political Science and a minor in Women’s Studies. He also received a Juris Doctorate with Honors from The George Washington University School...

Attorney Robert M. Bernstein provides representation for various criminal law related offenses throughout the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area. If you have been charged with sex crime, drug charge, DUI, white collar crime or any other criminal offense then you owe it to yourself to consult with a member of our legal team. Call the office to schedule an initial consultation.

JONATHAN A. GOLDSTEIN graduated with Honors form the George Washington University School of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University with a major in Political Science and a minor in Women's Studies. Mr. Goldstein served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Chief Justice A. William Maupin of the Nevada Supreme Court. Mr. Goldstein is licensed to practice law in the States of California, Nevada and in the District of Columbia. He is admitted to the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Southern District Court of California, the...

Yisrael is an appellate lawyer and litigator. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the 9th Circuit, the CAAF, and CDC. Yisrael is a talented legal writer, author, and contributor.

Corey Evan Parker is an attorney with a legal practice focused on criminal appeals, criminal post-conviction petitions and civil appeals. His clients have included parents engaged in divorce proceedings, a large petroleum distributor and prisoners sentenced to life without parole. After graduating from the University of Washington, Mr. Parker earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law where he graduated with honors. He is admitted to practice law in both California and Washington State and has also handled appeals in Oregon pro hac vice. His notable successes include obtaining, through an appeal, a reversal of civil judgment and...

Mike Arias is the senior and managing partner of the firm. He handles matters throughout the United States. Mr. Arias has litigated and tried matters from New York to Texas to California, in both state and federal court. He has resolved hundreds of matters, either by trial, arbitration, mediation or negotiated settlement, resulting in millions of dollars in recovery for the firm's clients. His most recent trial victory resulted in a judgment and subsequent settlement in excess of $19 million. His most recent settlements total well in excess of $50 million. Mr. Arias has also successfully defended and counseled many...

For more than 40 years, Randall Spencer has been protecting clients that have been in actual or threatened litigation. Mr. Spencer began his legal career in Chicago, where he was heavily involved in bankruptcy, creditors' rights, and business litigation in the state and federal courts. Mr. Spencer then moved to Southern California to become Assistant General Counsel to USA Petroleum, Inc.,where he represented the company in civil litigation, retained and monitored outside counsel, and advised senior management on company policy and regulatory compliance.
Mr. Spencer has a long history of...

James Decker is an appellate attorney and founder of Decker Law. Prior to forming his own firm, James was a partner at a boutique real estate and business litigation firm in Orange County, and before then he served as lead attorney for a mid-size firm’s appeal and complex motion practice group. James attended law school at Chapman University School of Law, where he graduated with cum laude distinction. He also served on the Chapman Law Review and earned CALI awards (i.e., top class grade) in several courses. As an attorney, James’s expertise and passion is legal research and writing....

Call (800) 274-4290 for your free private consultation today and put my knowledge and experience to work for you.
Criminal Defense - Appeals / Appellate law - Federal Criminal Defense


Shaun Khojayan and Associates, a Criminal Defense Law Firm, based in Los Angeles will help you early in your criminal defense matter. We provide criminal defense representation in California State Courts and all United States Federal Courts.

Mr. Khojayan earned his J.D., with Distinction, from the University of the Pacific. He has conducted complex federal felony trials with most resulting in not guilty verdicts. Mr. Khojayan has also written and argued appeals...

Serving Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Fernando Valley, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara and Riverside. I am a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law. I am an "AV"* rated attorney with 40 years of experience in solving bankruptcy problems. I am a Mensa certified genius with a strong ability to analyze and solve problems. If you are being hounded by creditors, I can legally erase your debts and get you a fresh start. If your business needs reorganization, I can give you protection from your creditors while you reorganize. If you have a claim against an individual or company that has filed...

Jeffrey Lewis has been practicing law in Southern California since 1996. Mr. Lewis' current practice is limited to handling civil and criminal appellate proceedings as well as select business litigation matters in courts throughout Southern California. Mr. Lewis is a certified appellate specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. California attorneys who are certified as specialists have taken and passed a written examination in their specialty field, demonstrated a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their...

For over 30 years, Mark Anchor Albert has consistently achieved outstanding results for his clients in complex business litigation and trials. He has been instrumental in obtaining hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries for his clients from corporations and their insurance carriers in difficult cases involving complicated liability, damages, and related insurance coverage issues. He also has successfully defended companies and individuals facing hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars in potential liability, often succeeding in having difficult cases dismissed by motion before trial, or otherwise obtaining deeply discounted settlements on favorable terms.

Mr. Albert provides sophisticated legal services for...

Scott Tillett co-founded Pine Tillett Pine LLP in 2016 where he handles civil appeals, specializing in plaintiff-side appeals with an emphasis on employment matters. Mr. Tillett is recognized as a Certified Appellate Law Specialist by the State Bar of California and he has been named to the Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars list consecutively since 2016. He was selected as one of five finalists for the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles's (CAALA) Appellate Attorney of the Year Award in 2019. Along with his partner, Norman Pine, Mr. Tillett was a recipient of the Daily Journal's 2020 California Lawyer...

Sacramento attorney Timothy Kassouni founded Kassouni Law on the belief that property rights and personal freedom are intertwined. He passionately considers it his duty and mission to rigorously defend property rights against government and private abuse. Mr. Kassouni has many years of experience litigating against private and public entities at all levels of court, including the United States Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to name a few. His litigation expertise in land use, appeals, business, and property rights law has led to legal victories and the setting...

For nearly 25 years, Sa'id Vakili has represented businesses and individuals in litigation matters involving complex business and contract disputes, business torts, direct and derivative shareholder disputes, intellectual property disputes, and all forms of employment claims. He has also handled a variety of serious injury tort claims including those arising under maritime and aviation law. Mr. Vakili is admitted in California, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. and has handled cases in various other jurisdictions such as Florida, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia through associations with local law firms in those locations. Mr. Vakili has also served...

Norvik Azarian is the Managing Attorney at Tact Law Firm, APC.  His practice focuses on assisting individuals with long-term disability and short-term disability ERISA claims, personal injuries, and appellate matters. While advocating for his clients, Norvik draws on his past experiences to provide unique insights to their cases and level the playing field.  Prior to starting Tact Law Firm, Norvik worked at two prestigious defense firms in Los Angeles, where he defended major insurance companies, ERISA benefits administrators, managed care entities, and Fortune 500 corporations. During his time as a defense attorney, Norvik represented many ERISA benefits lawsuits involving claims for long-term...

A skilled attorney with litigation, appellate, and transactional experience in areas such as real property, contracts, business and corporate governance, business entity formation, and bankruptcy. Currently counsels Common Interest Developments on a wide range of matters, including operational issues, corporate governance, interpretation of governing documents, corporate matters, dispute resolution, litigation, and general transactional matters. Obtained very favorable outcomes for clients as both plaintiffs and as defendants, and is also one of the few attorneys knowledgeable of the unique issues surrounding homeowner associations as bankruptcy creditors. Obtained Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. Licensed to practice...

I help clients by protecting the positive results they achieve in court or – when a trial has gone against the client – vindicating the client’s rights and getting them a second chance. High stakes litigation is like chess played in three dimensions. While the trial team works to win the case at trial, I focus on what will happen afterwards. Beginning even before the jury is chosen, I work to ensure that the clients’ themes and points are presented in the best way to persuade an appellate court, and that the client’s objections to any adverse decisions have...

Admitted to the California Bar in 2001, I aggressively advocate for clients with Civil Rights, Employment, Constitutional, Personal Injury and General Civil law needs. I represent individuals, business and government entities in the State of California, the 9th Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as U.S. District Courts throughout California.

I am an accomplished attorney with proven results including settlement, trial and appellate cases. With innovative and effective litigation strategies, I aggressively pursue justice for my clients. I am dedicated to outstanding service and representation focused on the best possible outcomes.

Visit my website for more information and to see recent cases....

Matthew's practice is diverse. From the plaintiff's world of class action, mass torts, product liability, and catastrophic injury, to civil appellate practice over a wide range of subject. He also acts as an on-call "in-house counsel" to growing businesses. Matthew spent the first 15 years of his career in Boston and Los Angeles as a marketing and management executive, before graduating summa cum laude from the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was also editor in chief of the Nova Law Review and received the Student Bar Association's Award for Academic...

Practice Areas: Estates & Trusts, Trust and Estate Litigation, Elder Abuse, Conservatorships, Real Property, Business Litigation, Family, Divorce, Custody, Support Ms. Wickers handles clients legal needs including representing clients in trial, and appeals. In 2020, Christina Wickers obtained a Top Attorney Avvo Rating of 10/10 and was selected by Super Lawyers, Rising Stars List, for Southern California, in both 2020 and 2022 – a top rated Trusts and Estates Attorney in Southern California. No more than 2.5% of attorneys in the State of California are named to the Super Lawyers, Rising Star List. Similarly, she has...

I represent corporate and individual clients in a wide range of business and real estate litigation matters.

Mr. Goodstein has more than 26 years experience representing corporations, individuals and municipalities in real estate, business, tort, employment and insurance litigation matters. He regularly appears in state and federal courts throughout California, and is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Published opinions include Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. v. Ensley, 174 F.3d 977 (9th Cir. 1999); Stuart v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, 217 F.3d 1145 (9th Cir. 2000); Hub City Solid Waste Management, Inc. v. City of Compton, 186 Cal. App. 4th 1114 (2010).

Mr. Goodstein is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell,* a peer-review...

Attorney Zein Obagi and friend Seth Stodder founded Obagi Law Group. P.C. in 2013, having worked previously with Allen Matkins LLP and Jones Bell LLP. Attorney Obagi focuses on several areas of the law, in particular litigation, debt collection, and bad faith insurance cases. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, Attorney Obagi is admitted to practice law in California and in the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California. For your no-cost case evaluation to discuss your issue with the firm, call Attorney Obagi today at (310)...

A highly experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, David D. Diamond has dedicated his legal practice to defending the rights of clients throughout the Los Angeles area who have been arrested for or accused of all types of criminal offenses. Mr. Diamond provides aggressive representation to clients throughout the criminal court process and also handles criminal appeals and expungements as well. By providing his clients with personalized attention, aggressive representation and one-on-one service through every step of their cases, our firm strives to provide our clients with the best legal counsel possible.

Mr. Walmsley is a partner with law firm of Jarrette & Walmsley, LLP. He has practiced law in the area of family law, and related matters, for over 30 years. He also practices in the fields of adoptions, dependency, surrogacy/reproductive rights, and guardianship of children. He handles appeals and has over 15 published appellate and supreme court decisions. He has written, and actively promoted, numerous statutes concerning family matters. Has been a presenter, nationally and internationally, almost annually for approximately 30 years.

For almost 32 years, I have represented consumers and small business owners in lawsuits against insurance companies, insurance agents, banks, government entities, and attorneys. My practice is primarily focused on protecting people and businesses against insurance industry abuses. Over the years I have handled numerous cases involving non-payment or underpayment of homeowners claims and commercial property claims; insurers that refuse to defend liability claims; and insurers that unreasonably delay or deny uninsured motorist and automobile property claims.

Practicing attorney providing litigation services for clients across a variety of industries and jurisdictions. Admitted to practice in all California courts, the District of Columbia, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. ** Posts are not legal advice and may constitute attorney advertising

I am a civil trial lawyer and am driven by the strong desire to enforce the rights of injured victims. I like to see level playing field regardless of socioeconomic condition of the parties. To that end, I almost exclusively represent the regular folk, consumers, injured victims against insurance companies, corporations and conglomerates. There is nothing more satisfying to me when we obtain fair compensation and achieve justice in a David v. Goliath context.

I am a post-conviction and appellate attorney licensed to practice in California and Pennsylvania, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of California and the Western District of Pennsylvania.