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Laurie J. Hepler

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Biography

Laurie Hepler is a leading San Francisco appellate lawyer, who collaborates with clients to address all aspects of the appellate process objectively and strategically.  For 30 years, Laurie has helped trial counsel, corporate counsel, insurers and individuals keep their wins, reverse their losses, and develop the law.  Successful first- and second-chair trial experience back up her appellate expertise.

Clients retain Laurie in state and federal courts throughout California and the U.S.  She has briefed and argued countless California appeals, including three California Supreme Court wins, and has argued in the highest courts of two other states and several federal circuits.

Laurie has been honored with two prestigious California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (“CLAY”) Awards, in 2000 and 2013.  Since 2005, she has been certified as an Appellate Specialist by the State Bar of California, and for 2023-24, she serves as President of the highly selective California Academy of Appellate Lawyers.  She is ranked by Chambers and Partners USA for California Appellate Law, and in 2020 was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

Her clients’ appellate matters span a wide range of subjects, including employment, product liability, insurance coverage, contract disputes, personal jurisdiction, and unfair competition.  But the subject counts less than the forum: appellate courts know Laurie, and she knows them.

She is Contributing Editor for the leading treatise on California appeals—Eisenberg, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Appeals and Writs (The Rutter Group).

Laurie’s community service includes serving on the Board of Trustees of her temple, and making weekend meals for Samaritan House.  From 2016 to 2022, she led a large mealmaking team that produced over 30,000 meals.

 

High-Impact Wins

2020

Ixchel Pharma, LLC v. Biogen, Inc. (2020) 9 Cal.5th 1130

Won Statewide Precedent

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2012

O’Neil v. Crane Co. (2012) 53 Cal.4th 335

Won Statewide Precedent

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2006

RLI Insurance Co. v. CNA Casualty of Cal. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 75

Established New Law

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2000

PLCM Group v. Drexler (2000) 22 Cal.4th 1084

Won Statewide Precedent

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Speaking and Involvement

2024
Panelist, "CAAL Presents: Careers In Appellate Law: Paths And Practices," McGeorge School of Law
2022
Moderator, "Where Do We Find the Next Generation of Appellate Advocates?" California Academy of Appellate Lawyers
2020
Panelist, "Master Class: Ethics on Appeal," California Lawyers Association
2020
Panelist, "California Civil Writs: Writ Deadlines and Best Practices For Writ Petitions," The Rutter Group Livestream Webinars
2019
Presenter, “ADR ‘TED’ Talks” segment on appeal rights, Bar Association of San Francisco
2019
Moderator, "Q&A with Court of Appeal Justices," California Academy of Appellate Lawyers
2018
Presenter, “The Year In Review,” Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California
2018
Presenter, “Establishing Favorable Precedent In Bad Faith Litigation,” Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
2018
Presenter, “Moot Courts: How to Get the Most Out of—and Give the Most to—Them,” California Academy of Appellate Lawyers
2018
Presenter, “Appellate Strategy For Repeat Commercial And Institutional Litigants,” Pincus Advanced Appellate Conference
2017
Presenter, “Use It Or Lose It: Pre-Judgment Appeal and Writ Deadlines,” Annual Meeting of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada
2017
Presenter, “Appeal Rights And Your Arbitration Case,” Bar Association of San Francisco
2017
Judge, 48th Annual Roger J. Traynor California Appellate Moot Court Competition
2016
Moderator, “Moral Character: Assessing the Supreme Court’s Role in Contested Bar Admissions,” California Academy of Appellate Lawyers
2012
Moderator, "Oral Arguments: When and How They're Important, and How to Make Them Successfully," First Appellate District Practice Symposium
2012
Presenter, "Strategic Legal Analysis: Begin With the End In Mind," presentation to in-house professionals
2008-11
Presenter, "The Seven Deadly Sins in a Case Headed for Appeal," presented annually to bar associations throughout California

Professional Associations

American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow
California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 2023-2024 President
Appointed to the State Bar's Appellate Law Advisory Commission (2013 - 2016)
Appointed to State Bar Committee on Appellate Courts (2006 - 2009)
Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Chair of Amicus and Public Policy Committee (2018 – 2020); Vice Chair of Appellate Law Section (2020-2022)