“Despite their vast resources, we take on the most powerful corporations in the United States and the world. Our attorneys make sure the truth is told and convince judges and juries that our client’s case is righteous.”
Robert J. Nelson
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"One of the nation's premier plaintiffs' firms."
American Lawyer
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"Representing the best qualities of the plaintiffs' bar."
The National Law Journal
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"Their effective and caring advocacy for clients has earned Lieff Cabraser its first-class reputation."
The Daily Journal
Attorneys
Holding Corporations Accountable
Robert has played a leading role in the firm’s tobacco, aviation, motor vehicle, defective products and qui tam (whistleblower) litigation over the past 16 years, taking on many of the world’s largest corporations and holding them accountable. Robert has served as court-appointed Lead or Co-Lead Counsel in numerous state and federal coordinated proceedings, as well as in more than 20 class actions.
Robert served as lead trial counsel in a wrongful death action involving a defect in Chrysler vehicles that resulted in a punitive damage verdict of $50 million against the company. For his work on the case, Robert received a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award and was Finalist for both the Consumer Attorneys of California Trial Lawyer of the Year award and the San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year award. California Lawyer called the victory against DaimlerChrysler, “one of the year’s largest personal injury verdicts,” and noted “this was the first park-to-reverse case against Chrysler in 25 years to make it to trial.”
In 2010, Robert accomplished the extremely rare feat of receiving a second CLAY award. He was recognized for his work as lead trial counsel in obtaining a $78.5 million whistleblower settlement against the University of Phoenix. The settlement is believed to be among the largest ever achieved under the False Claims Act in a case in which the U.S. Department of Justice did not intervene. Robert also played a lead role in litigation against the tobacco companies, which resulted in settlements valued at more than $200 billion, the largest settlement in history.
Robert is a frequent lecturer on various aspects of class action practice, as well as subject areas such as product liability and whistleblower cases. Before entering private practice, Robert served as a judicial clerk for Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and conducted numerous trials as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California.
Awards & Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America, based on peer and blue ribbon panel review, selected for list of "San Francisco's Best Lawyers," 2012
- "Lawdragon Finalist," Lawdragon, 2009-2011
- "California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY)" Award, California Lawyer, 2008, 2010
- "Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist," Consumer Attorneys of California, 2007, 2010
- "Northern California Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers, 2004-2011
- "San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist," San Francisco Trial Lawyers' Association, 2007
Practice Areas
Education
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New York University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1987)
Order of the Coif; New York University Law Review (Articles Editor); Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship Program
Cornell University (A.B., cum laude, 1982)
Phi Beta Kappa; College Scholar Honors Program
London School of Economics (General Course, 1980-1981)
Graded First
Memberships
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American Association for Justice
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American Bar Association
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Bar Association of San Francisco
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Consumer Attorneys of California
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San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
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State Bar of California
Admissions
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California
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
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U.S. District Court, Central District of California
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
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U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
Video
In the News
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8/31/2011
Twelve Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Selected By Their Peers For Inclusion In Best Lawyers in America 2012
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7/22/2011
17 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Selected as 2011 Northern California Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
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7/20/2011
Robert Nelson and Kelly Dermody Comment On Devastating Budget Cuts At San Francisco Superior Court
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6/1/2011
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6/1/2011
Robert Nelson Participates in California Lawyer Roundtable On State of Whistleblower Law
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