California stands at the forefront of class action litigation in the United States, thanks to strong consumer protections and progressive labor laws. In fact, an estimated forty percent of U.S. class action lawsuits originate in California’s state and federal courts. Over the past decade, plaintiffs in these cases have collectively recovered billions of dollars from prominent corporations in industries ranging from automotive manufacturing to technology and healthcare. Notable examples include the multi-billion-dollar settlements related to defective products and environmental claims, such as the historic $14.7 billion Volkswagen emissions settlement. Employment class actions are also common, reflecting California’s robust stance on employee rights, wage and hour disputes, and anti-discrimination laws. Whether it’s a breach of privacy by tech giants or a dangerous consumer product, California courts serve as a hub where large groups of plaintiffs unite to hold corporate defendants accountable. Below is a curated list of leading attorneys who have excelled in securing substantial outcomes for consumers and employees alike. Each lawyer or firm brings a wealth of experience, proven results, and an unwavering commitment to justice—making California’s class action landscape one of the most active and influential in the entire country.
Elizabeth J. Cabraser – Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Elizabeth J. Cabraser is renowned nationwide for her leadership in landmark class actions. Her firm played a pivotal role in the historic $14.7 billion Volkswagen emissions settlement, one of the largest consumer auto lawsuits in U.S. history. She also helped secure major results in cases involving GM ignition switch defects and opioid litigation.
Firm: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Phone: (415) 956-1000
Address: 275 Battery St #2900, San Francisco, CA 94111
Email: ecabraser@lchb.com
Steve W. Berman – Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Steve Berman is a managing partner at Hagens Berman, known for massive consumer and antitrust settlements. He has led high-profile litigation against Big Tech, Big Pharma, and automotive companies, securing multi-billion-dollar settlements that benefit tens of thousands of plaintiffs.
Firm: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Phone: (510) 725-3000 (Berkeley office)
Address: 715 Hearst Ave #202, Berkeley, CA 94710
Email: steve@hbsslaw.com
Joseph M. Alioto – Alioto Law Firm
Joseph M. Alioto has decades of experience focusing on antitrust class actions, challenging monopolistic practices across multiple industries. His work has contributed to significant settlements against some of the nation’s largest corporations for consumer harm and unfair competition.
Firm: Alioto Law Firm
Phone: (415) 434-8900
Address: One Sansome St #3500, San Francisco, CA 94104
Email: jmalioto@aliotolaw.com
Tina Wolfson – Ahdoot & Wolfson, PC
Tina Wolfson is a leading attorney in consumer privacy, data breach, and false advertising class actions. Her firm has secured substantial multi-million-dollar settlements in cases against major retailers, tech platforms, and product manufacturers.
Firm: Ahdoot & Wolfson, PC
Phone: (310) 474-9111
Address: 2600 W Olive Ave #500, Burbank, CA 91505
Email: twolfson@ahdootwolfson.com
James P. Sturdevant – The Sturdevant Law Firm
James Sturdevant is highly respected for his consumer protection and financial services class action work. He has been recognized with numerous Trial Lawyer of the Year awards for fighting predatory lending and corporate misconduct.
Firm: The Sturdevant Law Firm
Phone: (415) 477-2410
Address: 2727 Pierce St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Email: jsturdevant@sturdevantlaw.com
Michael W. Sobol – Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Michael W. Sobol serves as Chair of the firm’s Consumer Protection practice group. He has guided plaintiffs in major MDLs, securing large settlements against banks, telecommunications giants, and tech companies for unfair business practices.
Firm: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Phone: (415) 956-1000
Address: 275 Battery St #2900, San Francisco, CA 94111
Email: msobol@lchb.com
Kellie Lerner – Robins Kaplan LLP (Los Angeles)
Kellie Lerner is celebrated for her antitrust class action work on behalf of consumers, having taken on price-fixing and monopolization cases involving the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. She’s been repeatedly named a Super Lawyer for antitrust litigation.
Firm: Robins Kaplan LLP
Phone: (310) 552-0130
Address: 800 Wilshire Blvd #1320, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Email: KLerner@RobinsKaplan.com
Daniel L. Warshaw – Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP
Daniel Warshaw has successfully litigated antitrust, consumer protection, and wage-and-hour class actions. The firm’s notable achievements include major settlements against food manufacturers and automotive companies, leading to significant refunds for class members.
Firm: Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP
Phone: (818) 788-8300
Address: 15165 Ventura Blvd #400, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Email: dwarshaw@pswlaw.com
Gene A. Williams – Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Gene Williams works with one of California’s premier plaintiffs’ firms on cases involving corporate fraud, consumer rights, and antitrust violations. His team has secured substantial settlements and verdicts against major U.S. companies in nationwide class litigation.
Firm: Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Phone: (650) 697-6000
Address: 840 Malcolm Rd #200, Burlingame, CA 94010
Email: gwilliams@cpmlegal.com
L. Timothy Fisher – Bursor & Fisher, P.A.
L. Timothy Fisher has led class action suits involving false advertising, defective products, and privacy violations. His practice includes negotiating substantial multi-million-dollar resolutions that provide direct compensation to affected consumers.
Firm: Bursor & Fisher, P.A.
Phone: (925) 300-4455
Address: 1990 N California Blvd #940, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Email: ltfisher@bursor.com
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