Edward R. Hugo
Founding Partner
Edward R. Hugo
Founding Partner
Mr. Hugo is a trial attorney, appellate lawyer, litigator and litigation manager for cases involving products and premises liability, toxic torts, environmental claims, construction defect, personal injury, wrongful death, insurance, professional negligence, sexual molestation and criminal law. He has also been retained as an expert witness and testified in trial, arbitration and deposition regarding: the duties of defense counsel, the effectiveness of defense strategies, the reasonableness of settlement values and defense costs, and insurance coverage issues.
He gained his initial trial experience as a criminal prosecutor with the San Francisco District Attorney’s office where he held the highest court room ability rating in each of his assignments. Mr. Hugo left that office as a Senior Trial Attorney after trying more than 75 felony trials and 40 Municipal Court jury trials. He was undefeated in all Superior Court jury and bench trials.
Mr. Hugo is designated trial counsel for several corporations in
defense of products liability and toxic tort claims and has successfully tried to complete defense verdict scores of asbestos lawsuits.
He has served as a Superior Court Judge pro tempore and a member of the Bench/Bar Settlement Program. He regularly lectures in the areas of mass tort, environmental and products liability, and trial and deposition skills.
He is a Certified Civil Trial Specialist, accredited by the State Bar of
California; a “Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate,” National Board of Trial Advocacy; a “Board Certified Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate,” National Board of Trial Advocacy; Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America; Charter Member, Institute of Trial Presentation; Member, Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America; Member, The American College of Board Certified Attorneys; “Super Lawyer” Northern California, 19 consecutive years; Member, National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Nations Top One Percent; and “AV” Martindale-Hubbell rated 26 consecutive years.
Admissions
State Bar of California
State Bar of Colorado
State Bar of Hawaii
State Bar of Oregon
State Bar of Washington
United States Supreme Court
United States District Court, Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern
District of California
United States District Courts of Colorado, Hawaii and Washington
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuit
Education
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Juris Doctor, 1986
University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts – Economics, 1982
