Your Ally
In Complex Litigation And Transactions
In Complex Litigation And Transactions
Michael P. Verna
Michael P. Verna
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Practice Areas
- Wrongful Death
- Catastrophic Personal Injury
- Business/Commercial
- Aviation
- Insurance Bad Faith
Biography
Michael P. Verna’s legal practice has focused on complex civil trial work since 1978. He has been recognized by his peers with admission to a number of exclusive trial lawyer organizations and by several legal publications. His track record of accomplishments range from recovering well over $100 million for his plaintiff clients to obtaining defense verdicts in multi-million dollar claims against his corporate and government clients. Mr. Verna is board certified in civil trial and pre-trial advocacy, and routinely handles cases in courts throughout the United States.
To visit Mr. Verna's Best Lawyers profile, click here.
Education
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), San Francisco, California
- J.D. - 1978
- University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California
- B.A. - 1975
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
- Major: Pre-Law
Bar Admissions
- California, 1978
- Supreme Court of California, 1978
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1978
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1998
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2006
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2009
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2002
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Vice-Chairman of Aviation and Space Law Committee
- American Association for Justice
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
- Contra Costa County Bar Association
- National Italian American Bar Association
- State Bar of California
Honors
- Faculty: National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1987
- Best Lawyers in America, 2006-present, Peer-reviewed recognition by Best Lawyers legal publication as among top 5% of lawyers in civil litigation in the U.S.
- Super Lawyers of Northern California, 2005-present, Peer-reviewed recognition by Thompson Reuters legal publication as among top attorneys in commercial trial litigation in California
- National Trial Lawyers Association, Peer-reviewed invitation only admission to elite trial lawyers organization recognizing top 100 business tort litigation attorneys
- American Board of Trial Advocacy, 1999, Peer-reviewed invitation only admission to elite trial lawyers organization for only those attorneys meeting stringent criteria of demonstrated skill, expertise, and ethical standards in trial work
- Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Admitted as Charter Fellow to peer-reviewed invitation only legal organization for trial attorneys with demonstrated track record of accomplishment
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell legal rating service designation for only those attorneys with highest possible peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member, Admission limited to attorneys who have routinely obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements
- American Inns of Court, Master of the Bench, Member Hon. Robert G. McGrath Chapter of Inn of Court, which is invitation only professional legal organization
- The American College of Master Advocates and Barristers, Senior Counsel, Peer-reviewed invitation only admission to civil trial attorneys society promoting highest standards of ethics and litigation skill
- American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, Diplomate, Peer-reviewed invitation only legal organization for limited number of attorneys demonstrating expertise in professional liability litigation, 1992
- "Top Attorney in Northern California" designation from San Francisco and Oakland magazines for accomplishments as trial attorney
Classes & Seminars
- Panelist on numerous presentations to ABA members on issues related to civil trial law, American Bar Association
- Guest speaker at comparative law forum in Munich, Germany dealing with litigation systems of the U.S. and the E.U., European Air Law Association, 2007
- Lead panelist on doctrine of forum non conveniens and jurisdictional disputes in international litigation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Multiple presentations over several years dealing with civil litigation and trial tactics and practices, Contra Costa County Bar Association
Pro-Bono Activities
- Judge Pro Tempore, Appointed by Contra Costa and San Francisco Superior Courts to act as temporary and special assignment judge
- Arbitrator, Appointed by American Arbitration Association to periodically act as arbitrator in complex litigation matters.
- Mediator, Routinely retained by private parties and counsel to assist in resolving complex disputes
Past Positions
- Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon, Associate/Partner, trial attorney on complex civil litigation matters, 1978 to 1986