PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION & ACTIVITIES

• 2019-present. Member of American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
• 2015-2021 Top 10 Lawyers in San Diego (ranked number one, two, or three each year), San Diego Super Lawyers
• 2011-2014 Top 50 Lawyers in San Diego, San Diego Super Lawyers
• 2018 Southern California Lawyer of the Year in Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers
• 2017 Consumer Attorney of the Year, awarded by Consumer Attorneys of California
• 2012-2015 Top 4 Litigation Firms in California (only solo firm on the list each year), Super Lawyers Business Edition
• 2014 San Diego Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America
• 2013-present Best Law Firms in Appellate Practice, Tier 1 Metro Rating, U.S. News & World Report
• 2012 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY award) for Appellate Law, California Lawyer
• 2012 & 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Appellate Law, National Law Journal
• 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon 2011
• 2012 Outstanding Advocate Award, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
• 2012 Top Appellate Practices in California, The Recorder
• 2011 Attorney of the Year, The Recorder
• Top 100 California Lawyers of 2011, Los Angeles Daily Journal
• Member, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (2009-present)
• Master & Founding Sponsor, San Diego Appellate Inn of Court (2016-present)
• San Diego Best Lawyers in Appellate Law, San Diego Magazine (2009-present)
• Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Law (2009-present)
• Paul Bell Memorial Award for Appellate Advocacy (1998)
• Board Member, Appellate Defenders, Inc. (2010-present); Board President (2015-2019 & 2021-present)
• Board Member, Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. (2010-2016); Board President (2015-2016)
• Judge Pro Tem, San Diego County Superior Court (2007-2010)
• Volunteer Award, San Diego County Juvenile Justice Commission (2011)
• Award of Merit, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (2007)
• Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, State Bar of California (2007 & 2011)
• Board Member, Social Advocates for Youth – San Diego, Inc. (2006-2015); Board President (2011-2015); First Vice-President (2008-2011); Secretary (2007-2008)
• Volunteer Judge, San Diego Teen Court (2006-2012)
• Member, International Child Abduction Attorney Network for the United States Central Authority for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (2006-present)
• Member, Committee on Appellate Courts, State Bar of California (2004-2007)
• Directors Award for Excellence, San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association (1999)