Super Lawyers - Southern California 2017

SUPER LAW YERS HONOREES (L TO R): Howard B. Miller, John C. Courtney, James G. O’Callahan, Keith D. Griffin, Thomas V. Girardi Top 10, David R. Lira Top 100, Amy F. Solomon Top 50 Women, Robert W. Finnerty, John A. Girardi; NOT PIC TURED: David N. Bigelow, Robert M. Keese, V. Andre Sherman

Tom Girardi knows he can’t reverse the horrible inflictions suffered by his clients, but his quest for justice over the past five decades has proven he can certainly do a lot to help. “I can’t get a leg back or undo a heart attack, but the money goes a long way,” says the founder of Girardi|Keese, who’s no stranger to complex, high-profile cases that garner national media attention.

Girardi|Keese has exposed numerous corporations that have knowingly endangered the public for the sake of profit. One well-known pharmaceutical case, which involved anti-inflammatory medication that caused heart attacks, garnered a $4.85 billion settlement. Another famed case, involving personal injuries suffered by employees of a global IT company, earned a $785 million verdict.

“There’s good money to be earned as a plaintiff attorney,
but the job only pays about a dollar an hour,” Girardi jokes.

A RENOWNED LEGACY OF JUSTICE

“It requires an awful lot of time, and understanding people is
massively important. Jurors are smart. You have to emphasize
your positives but also admit your weaknesses.”
And although his victories are deeply gratifying, Girardi says
it’s not just the end result that matters. “We keep clients up to
speed throughout the process—the good, the bad and the ugly,”
he says. “They know we’re in their corner, and that makes a
huge difference in their experience.”
Though he’s earned near-celebrity status in the world of
trial litigation, Girardi graciously credits much of his firm’s
success to the exceptionally talented support staff and highly
specialized attorneys with whom he works. “Their dedication is
unbelievable,” he says. “The main reason our firm is so great is
because I get to work with great people.”