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Robin Meadow

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Biography

Few appellate specialists have ever examined a witness, much less litigated multiple trials and arbitrations.  Robin Meadow did all of these things for over 20 years at a major commercial firm, while also handling all of the firm’s appellate work.  He joined GMSR when he decided to limit his practice to civil appeals.

Robin’s trial court experience gives him a unique perspective on appellate work.  He understands the demands and pressures trial lawyers face and the countless ways things can go wrong at trial.  He’s very much at home consulting with trial lawyers during trial and in the post-trial phase, helping them protect their appellate record so they’re well positioned to preserve a victory or challenge a defeat.

Robin’s practice at GMSR continues the substantive focus he developed in his earlier years—business disputes, real estate, partnerships, probate and entertainment.  But, like most appellate lawyers, he’s a generalist.  At GMSR, he has also handled significant appeals involving healthcare, family law, personal injury and bankruptcy.

When he isn’t practicing law, Robin enjoys spending time with his family, reading about history, and playing bass guitar.

High-Impact Wins

2022

Tufeld Corporation v. Beverly Hills Gateway, L.P. (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 12

Clarifies existing law involving 99-year term limits governing city-lot leases

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2022

Friend of Camden, Inc. et al. v. Brandt (2022) 81 Cal.App.5th 1054

Clarifies existing law governing LLC members’ right to dissolve the LLC of which they are members, over the objection of other members

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2021

Meridian Financial Services, Inc. v. Phan (2021) 67 Cal.App.5th 657

Comprehensive examination of when and how a court can apply issue preclusion notwithstanding the settlement of prior litigation

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2021

In re Castlepoint National Ins. Co. (2021) 65 Cal.App.5th 668

Extent to which orders in insurance company liquidation barred claims against the company’s principals

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2021

Southern California School of Theology v. Claremont Graduate University (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 1

Analysis of what constitutes an equitable servitude and when it can be enforced

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2019

Himelsein Mandel Fund Management, LLC v. Fortress Investment Group, LLC (Mar. 28, 2019, B281210) 2019 WL 1395963 [nonpublished opinion]

Court of Appeal reverses denial of jury trial, refusing to apply New York law

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2015

Estate of Duke (2015) 61 Cal.4th 871

California Supreme Court allows reformation of wills, overturning centuries of precedent

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2015

Sheridan v. Touchstone Television Productions, LLC (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 508

Employees of private companies urging retaliation claims need not exhaust administrative remedies before suing

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2015

Novak v. Fay (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 329

Court establishes procedure for enforcing attorney liens against decedents’ estates

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2015

Wilson v. Southern Cal. Edison Co. (2015) 234 Cal.App.4th 123

Court articulates new criteria for evaluating whether a defendant’s conduct creates a nuisance

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2012

Celador Internat., Inc. v. American Broadcasting Cos., Inc. (9th Cir. 2012) 499 Fed.Appx. 721

$300 million “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” verdict against Disney affirmed

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2012

Ginsberg v. Gamson (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 873

Court rejects claim that a lease allowed perpetual renewals

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2010

Greenspan v. LADT, LLC (2010) 191 Cal.App.4th 486

Made new law regarding the application of alter ego liability

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Publications

Speaking and Involvement

2023
MSJs: Strategic and Practical Considerations, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, 49th Annual Seminar
2021
Appellate Oral Argument: Creating the Presentation, Weighing the Precedential Impact, Preparing for Rebuttal
2020
Panelist, "Winning Remotely -- Trial and Appellate Arguments," Association for Business Trial Lawyers webinar
2020
What's New in Appellate Law and Technology and Brief Writing and Oral Argument Strategies, Pincus Professional Education
2019
The Argument Clinic, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Section
2019
What's New in Appellate Law and Technology and Brief Writing and Oral Argument Strategies, Pincus Professional Education
2018
What's New in Appellate Law and Technology and Brief Writing and Oral Argument Strategies, Pincus Professional Education
2017
What's New in Appellate Law and Technology and Brief Writing and Oral Argument Strategies, Pincus Professional Education
2016
What's New in Appellate Law and Technology and Brief Writing and Oral Argument Strategies, Pincus Professional Education
2016
Wills, Evidence and Henry VIII: A Discussion of Estate of Duke, Beverly Hills Bar Association
2016
Oral Argument: Mastering Techniques of Persuasion Clear Law Institute
2013
Preserving the Record on Appeal, Aviva K. Bobb Advanced Probate Volunteer Panel Attorney Training Symposium
2013
Protecting Your Client After Judgment: Enforcement, Appeal Bonds, and Other Options, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Section
2012
What Trial Lawyers Need To Know About Appeals, Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California chapter
2012
Everything Trial Lawyers Need to Know About Appeals, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
2011
The Appellate Process in California: An Interactive Workshop, Bridgeport Continuing Education
2010
The Appellate Process in California: An Interactive Workshop, Bridgeport Continuing Education
2009
The Complete Appeal Conference: Strategies from Start to Finish, Pincus Professional Education
2009
Internet Resources: Beyond Lexis and Westlaw
2009
Computer Forensics, UC Riverside series on Science for Lawyers
2008
What Trial Lawyers Don’t Know Can Hurt Them, Los Angeles Paralegal Association
2008
Winning Business Litigation Appeals in the California Courts, Orange County Bar Association
2008
The E-Future: How to Make E-Filing and E-Briefs Work for You, 2008 Appellate Justice Institute
2008
The Impact of Technology on Appellate Standards of Review, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
2008
Oral Argument for the Court’s Summer Externs, Second District Court of Appeal (program with Justices Arthur Gilbert and Steven Z. Perren)
2008
Practical Aspects of Appellate Practice, Second District Court of Appeal
2008
The Complete Appeal: Strategies from Start to Finish, Pincus Professional Education
2007
Appellate Law for Mediators, Second District Court of Appeal, Mediation Training Program
2006
Technology for Everyday Appellate Practice, State Bar of California 2006 Annual Meeting
2006
Winning Strategies Using Legislative Intent, State Bar of California 2006 Annual Meeting
2006
The California Supreme Court – A Justice’s Perspective (moderator), Association of Business Trial Lawyers
2005
Making The Best Trial Record for Appeal in a Complex Business Case, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
2004
Business Litigation in the Court of Appeal, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
2004
Summer Extern Program - Oral Argument, California Court of Appeal (2004-2011)
2003
Selected Insights on California Supreme Court Practice, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Committee
2003
Electronic Appellate Practice: Show and Tell, Riverside County Bar Association, Appellate Law Section (panelist)
2003
Common Errors on Appeal, California Center for Judicial Education and Research
2002
Electronic Appellate Practice: Show and Tell, Orange County Bar Association, College of Appellate Advocacy
2002
The Explosion of Litigation Arising from Employee Theft of Trade Secrets, Institute for Corporate Counsel
2001
Legal Research on the Internet, Appellate Judicial Attorneys Institute
2001
California Appellate Practice – A Primer for Trial Lawyers, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
2000
Bad Faith, Buss and the Duty to Defend, Title Insurance Subsection of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Real Property Section
2000
Thinking Ahead During Trial: How to Protect and Use the Record on Appeal, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section/Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
1999
Law and Motion, Los Angeles County Bar Association (May 1999 and May 2000)
1999
California Appellate Practice – A Primer for Trial Lawyers, North Santa Barbara County Bar Association
1999
How To Be an Effective Appellate Court Mediator, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Committee and Dispute Resolution Services
1999
California Appellate Practice, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
1999
The Virtual Brief, Center for Judicial Education and Research
1999
Electronic Appellate Advocacy, Orange County Bar Association, Appellate Law Section
1998
Written Advocacy/Law & Motion, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 16th Annual Las Vegas Convention
1997
Appellate Law for Trial Lawyers and for Those Who Supervise Them, Chicago Title Insurance Company
1997
Hot Issues from Trial to Appeal, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section
1997
Appellate Settlement Conferences – Different Strokes for Different Folks, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Committee
1996
Appellate Settlement Conferences – Techniques for Settlement Officers, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Committee
1995
Creating a Winning Record on Appeal: What Trial Lawyers Need To Know, San Fernando Valley Bar Association (March 1995) and law firm presentation
1995
What's New in Tort and Trial: 1994 in Review, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
1993
Ponzi Schemes and Trust Deed Fraud, Title Insurance Subsection of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Real Property Section
1993
Steering Through the Minefield: How to Protect the Record on Appeal, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Convention
1990
Protecting the Record on Appeal, California Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention
1985
Condominium Homeowners Associations, Continuing Education of the Bar (1985-1986)
1993
Condominium Homeowners Associations, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Benjamin S. Crocker Symposium

Professional Associations

California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (President, 2006 - 2007)
American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow
Los Angeles County Bar Association, President (2003 - 2004); Appellate Courts Committee (1978 - Present) Chair (2001 - 2003); Arbitration Executive Committee (1978 - 1983) Chair (1980 - 1983); Judicial Evaluation Committee (1979 - 1981 and 1983 - 1985) Chair (1983 - 1985); Juvenile Justice Committee Co-Chair (1988 - 1989); Association Representative to the Children’s Court Design Committee (1988 - 1992); Appellate Elections Evaluation Committee (1989 - 2001) Vice-Chair (1992 - 1994); Professional Liability Insurance Committee (1989 - 1993); Audit & Finance Committee (1995 - 2000) Chair (1997 - 2000); Ad Hoc President's Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession (2013)
Los Angeles County Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, funds law-related public interest programs (1989 - 1990)
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Appellate Advocacy Committee of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
Public Counsel (pro bono legal services), Board of Directors  (1988 - 1996); President (1994 - 1995)
California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Steering Committee and Mediator, Mediation Program
Chancery Club of Los Angeles
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Editorial Board
California Lawyers Association (CLA), Litigation Section