Super Lawyers - Northern California 2011

Boies and who, incidentally, beat him in Bush v. Gore), communicated with the city and county of San Francisco (which intervened as a plaintiff), took and defended depositions, and assisted with legal findings, including a response to a 100-page summary judgment filed by Prop 8 proponents. As second chair to Boies at trial, he was integral to trial strategy.

“Our plan was to really advance three themes,” Goldman says. “One, gay marriage does not harm heterosexual marriage in any way. Two, Prop 8 harms gay and lesbian individuals. It works great harm on them. Three, it also works harm on the children that are being raised by gay and lesbian couples.

“The nice thing about a trial, as opposed
to a political campaign, is you can explore
what stands behind the argument. During
the campaign you saw the yard signs,
bumper stickers, claims made with no
evidence. Trial is where you have to support
your claim with evidence. Going through
the trial revealed that there was nothing
behind these arguments.”
Right now, the case is on appeal. After
the oral argument in the 9th Circuit in
December, the court asked the California
Supreme Court to answer a question
dealing with the proponents’ standing
to appeal. The proponents filed their
opening brief in March, and the answering
brief was filed in April, with oral argument
expected as early as September and a
decision within 90 days. Then it’s back to
the 9th Circuit.

Of course, there’s more to his practice than Prop 8. “The general area is complex commercial litigation,” he says, “but our firm really places a value on developing litigation skills that you can bring to different areas of law.” He’s handled cases involving federal securities, RICO, allegations of unfair competition, and breach of contract under common law. He has also helped clients respond to government investigations.

Goldman saves time for his family and for playing the piano. He plays classical and is trying to learn jazz. “You spend all day at the office thinking about things, and it’s hard to turn that off,” he says. “The nice thing about playing the piano is it takes you someplace else. It’s something that you can get lost in.”

Inventors and start-ups are the engine of American innovation. When giant corporations infringe inventors’ rights – unfairly profiting from the work of others – Christopher Banys and The Lanier Law Firm stand up for clients by taking corporate infringers to task. We’re proud to see Chris honored on the 2011 Northern California Rising Stars list. He leads the firm’s Silicon Valley office with a focus on the core principles of honesty, integrity and fierce advocacy. Like all the lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm, he knows it’s not just a case, it’s a cause. , 7· 6;127;-867;$;&$6(;;, 7· 6;$;&$86(