Elise R. Sanguinetti

Elise Sanguinetti is a founding partner at Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Torrijos LLP with offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Montreal.  Ms. Sanguinetti’s main focus of expertise is serious injury, wrongful death cases, civil appeals and legal malpractice. She exclusively represents plaintiffs in civil litigation, and holds an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a California Super Lawyer every year since becoming eligible.  The last four years Elise was named one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in the Bay Area.

Elise graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.).  She was admitted into the California state bar in 1997. When not in the courtroom, she is a frequent speaker at seminars and writes articles that are featured in various legal publications.  Her copious amount of work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors including the prestigious, Joe Tonahill Award from the American Association of Justice. 

Ms. Sanguinetti is the President of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), is a past president of the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), and a past president of the Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.

Leadership Positions

• American Association for Justice, President (2018-2019)
• American Association for Justice, President-Elect (2017-2018)
• American Association for Justice, Vice President (2016-2017)
• Consumer Attorneys of California, President (2016)
• Consumer Attorneys of California, President-Elect (2015)
• American Association for Justice, Secretary (2015-2016)
• American Association for Justice, Treasurer​ (2014-2015)
• American Association for Justice, Parliamentarian​ (2013-2014)
• Past Co-chair of the National College of Advocacy
• American Association for Justice New Lawyers Division, Chair (2006-2007), Executive Committee (2004-2008),
• Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers’ Association, President (2008) Board of Governors (1998-present), Editor of The Verdict (2003-2005), Executive Committee (2005-2009)
• Contra Costa County Bar Association, Women’s Section Board of Directors (2003-2009)
• Robert G. McGrath American Inns of Court, Executive Committee (2001-2005)

Associations

• American Association for Justice (Executive Committee member 2007-2008, 2009- Present; New Lawyers’ Division Chair, 2006 – 2007; Board of Governor, 2007 – 2010; Chair, National Finance Council 2011-2012, Co-Chair 2014-2015, member 2008 – Present; Budget Committee member, 2007 – 2009; National College of Advocacy Board of Trustee, 2007 – 2013, Co-Chair, 2010 – 2012; PAC Board of Trustees, 2009 – 2013; Justice List Committee member, 2007 – 2013; Membership Oversight Committee ,Member, 2007- 2009, Co-Chair, 2009-2010, Chair, 2010 – 2011; Exchange Advisory Committee, Vice-Chair, 2008 – 2013)
• Alameda – Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association (President, 2008; Board of Directors, 1998 – Present)
• Consumer Attorneys of California (President 2016, President-Elect 2014 – 2015, First Vice-President North, 2012-2013, Executive Committee member, 2011-2012; Board of Directors, 2008 – 2009; Board of Governor, 2008 – 2012)
• Contra Costa County Bar Association (Member, 1997 – Present; Women’s Section, Board of Directors, 2004 – 2009)
• Robert G. McGrath American Inns of Court (Executive Committee, 2001 – 2005)
• San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (Member, 2008 – Present)
• Public Justice Foundation (Member, 2008 – Present)

Awards

• Joe Tonahill Award, Outstanding and Dedicated Service Award, American Association for Justice, 2010
• Weidemann & Wysocki, Citation of Excellence American Association for Justice, 2004
• Weidemann & Wysocki, National Finance Counsel Award, American Association for Justice, 2007
• Woman Consumer Advocate Award, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2012
• Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2010, 2011, 2014 & 2015
• Distinguished Service Award, American Association for Justice, 2010 & 2011
• Outstanding Service Award, Trial Lawyers Care, 2004
• Outstanding Contributions Award, New Lawyers Division, American Association for Justice, 2003 – 2004, 2011
• AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed by Martindale-Hubbell in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
• Top 50 San Francisco Women Lawyers (2013, 2014 & 2015)
• Northern California Super Lawyer (2011 – 2015)
• Northern California Rising Star (2009 – 2010)
• Women Leaders in Law 2012, The Recorder
• New Lawyers Division Colton Award (2013-2014)

Classes and Seminars

• Changes in the Law that Could Affect Your Practice, Mt. Diablo Legal Secretaries, Walnut Creek, CA, 2003
• How to attack Discovery Abuse: Dealing with the Overly Aggressive and the Obstructionists, California Local Trial Lawyer Association Joint Program, Santa Barbara, CA, 2005
• How Can I Lobby on Behalf of My Clients?, Contra Costa County Bar Association, Women’s Section Seminar, 2007
• I’ve Made Partner: Now What? Gender Issues in a Small Firm, Successful Women Trial Lawyers: Rising Above and Staying There, Fort Myers, FL, 2007
• Direct Examination of a Damages Expert, American Association for Justice (AAJ) 2008 Winter Convention, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2008
• Developing and Executing a Deposition Plan and Cross-Examination of the DME, Trial Advocacy College: Essentials of Civil Litigation, University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, AL, March 15, 2008 – March 18, 2008
• Gender Issues in a Small Firm, Connecticut Civil Justice Foundation: Successful Women Trial Lawyers: Gaining the Competitive Advantage & Winning in All Arenas, 2008
• Demonstrative Evidence in Auto Litigation, Jazz Fest Seminar: Litigating Auto Collision Cases, New Orleans, LA, 2008
• Navigating the Ranks of Leadership, Women’s Leadership Summit, Philadelphia, PA, 2008
• Technology’s Impact on the Attorney-Client Relationship and How to Protect Yourself, AAJ 2008 Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA, 2008
• Support Staff Role in a Catastrophic Injury Case, New Jersey Association for Justice: 2010 Annual Boardwalk Seminar, Atlantic City, NJ, 2010
• How to Write an Effective Trial Brief, AAJ 2010 Annual Convention, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2010
• 10 Rules for an Effective Deposition, Trial Advocacy College: Depositions, Washington, DC, June 7, 2012 – June 9, 2012
• Later Use of Depositions, Trial Advocacy College: Depositions, Washington, DC, June 7, 2012 – June 9, 2012
• Direct Examination of a Damages Expert in Personal Injury Cases, American Association for Justice (AAJ) 2012 Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, 2012
• Building Credibility with Judges, Mediators and Opposing Counsel, Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) 2013
• 10 Best Deposition Tips, Western State Trial Lawyers Association, Winter Ski Seminar, 2013
• Structured Settlements and the Plaintiff’s Practice, National Structured Settlements Trade Association, October 29, 2014
• Direct Examination of Damages Experts and Cross Examination of the Defense Medical Examiner, Winter Convention, Mississippi Association for Justice, December 10, 2015

Articles

• Civility in Depositions, Forum Magazine, March/April, 2013
• How to Take a Tough Slip and Fall Case and Get Big Results, Advocate Magazine, Nov, 2012
• How to Take a Tough Slip and Fall Case and Get Big Results, Plaintiff Magazine, Nov, 2012
• Our Work Speaks for Itself, Trial Magazine, American Association for Justice, Volume 40, No. 7, Jul, 2004
• The View from the First Chair – Review, Trial Magazine, American Association for Justice, Volume 47, No. 6, Jun, 2010
• Protect Client Confidentiality in E-Mail, Trial Magazine, American Association for Justice, Volume 44, No. 10, Oct, 2008
• Profile:  Knowing the Importance of What She Is Doing Gets The Future President of CAOC Through Long Days and Nights, Plaintiff Magazine, March 2014
• Fighting against forced arbitration, Daily Journal, March 24, 2015

Pro Bono

Provided free legal representation for a surviving family and one injured victim of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks to recover through the Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.