Glaser Weil Recognized as a Top Tier Litigation Firm by Benchmark Litigation 2017

Glaser Weil has once again been recognized by Benchmark Litigation with its preeminent ranking of “Highly Recommended” in its 2017 publication. This accolade distinguishes the Firm as one of only 26 California law firms to garner this top status. 

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 attorneys received individual Benchmark distinctions, ranking them among the top litigators throughout California. Partner and Litigation Department Chair Patricia Glaser, along with Partners Robert Shapiro and Sean Riley, maintained their positions on this prestigious list of Litigation Stars; Jill Basinger is distinguished as a Future Star for a fourth year in a row; and Andrew Baum, Michael Cypers and Garland Kelley are honored as Litigation Stars in their inaugural rankings. Ms. Glaser is also recognized on Benchmark Litigation’s lists of “Top 250 Women in Litigation” and “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.”

Patricia Glaser continues to earn high praise from numerous peers as “everything you want in a trial lawyer and nothing you don't. She is unflinching and hard as nails but always conscientious, and she is straight-talking and direct without all of the bluster and noise that some other trial lawyers are prone to." Ms. Glaser has been described as 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.

Jill Basinger earned her fourth recognition as a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation. She is an experienced trial lawyer with a reputation for being aggressive and effective to garner many favorable verdicts, including lucrative settlements for her clients. Ms. Basinger’s 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 both 2014 and 2016, and the Daily Journal listed Ms. Basinger as one of its 2016 "Top Women Lawyers."

Known as a vigorous advocate for his clients, 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.  

Michael Cypers joins his colleagues as both a “Local Litigation Star” and “Litigation Star” in his first 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. 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. He has tried several disputes before juries involving financial statements, including a seven-month class action alleging $1 billion in damages that resulted in a defense verdict for Mr. Cypers’ client.

Benchmark Litigation ranks Garland Kelley as a “Local Litigation Star” in Business & Commercial, General Commercial, 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.

Clients describe Sean Riley to Benchmark researchers as "very smart, thoughtful, properly aggressive when needed, diligent, and well-rounded." This “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. 

An internationally renowned litigator with a reputation for being a zealous advocate for his clients, Robert Shapiro earned a “Local Litigation Star” distinction from Benchmark Litigation for the fourth 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.