Elise R. Sanguinetti

Elise’s main focus of expertise is serious injury, wrongful death cases, sexual assault and products liability. She exclusively represents plaintiffs in civil litigation, holds an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a California Super Lawyer every year since becoming eligible.

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 and the Marvin E. Lewis Award from the Consumer Attorneys of California.

Elise is a past-president of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), a past-president of the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), and a past president of the Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association. She is a founding partner at Arias Sanguinetti with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Montreal.

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 (2016-2017)
• Consumer Attorneys of California, President-Elect (2014-2015)
• 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- 2019, 2022- 2023; 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 2015-2016, 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

• Marvin E. Lewis Award, Consumer Attorneys of California 2022
• Marin County Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Lawyer of the Year 2021
• San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist 2021
• Joe Tonahill Award, Outstanding and Dedicated Service Award, American Association for Justice, 2010
• Daily Journal Top 100 Attorneys in California 2022
• Top Plaintiff Attorney in California – Daily Journal 2022
• Best Lawyers 2023
• 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers – LawDragon 2019 – 2023
• Top Women Lawyers, Daily Journal 2019, 2022
• California Trailblazers – The National Law Journal 2019
• Weidemann & Wysocki, Citation of Excellence American Association for Justice, 2004
• Weidemann & Wysocki, National Finance Counsel Award, American Association for Justice, 2007, 2013
• Woman Consumer Advocate Award, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2012
• Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 & 2017
• 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 – 2022
• Northern California Rising Star 2009 – 2010
• Women Leaders in Law 2012, The Recorder
• New Lawyers Division Colton Award 2013-2014

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.
• Provided free legal representation to individuals seeking to remove racist language from their California Real Property Title documents.