Patrick McNicholas

Partner

With more than 25 years’ experience as a trial lawyer, Partner Patrick McNicholas exclusively represents victims in catastrophic injury, product liability, sexual assault and other consumer-oriented matters, such as civil rights, aviation disasters and class actions.

Mr. McNicholas has tried and settled numerous noteworthy cases, including an $85 million class action settlement for an auto safety defect against Mercedes; $44 million settlement for air crash victims; $41 million class action settlement in a consumer fraud lawsuit (the largest ever in Orange County); $10.8 million jury verdict awarded to a minor molested by a school teacher; $10 million jury verdict to a construction worker who suffered a compound femur fracture; $6 million settlement on behalf of a family for the death of their father while working in an MTA tunnel and many more. He recently secured a $1 million settlement on behalf of a motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.

Over the last three decades, Mr. McNicholas has authored and lectured on a multitude of topics, including “The Effective Use of Your Expert Witnesses,” “Preparing an Employment Case for Trial” and “Cross-Examination of the Defense Expert.” He serves on the Board of Directors for Urban Compass, an organization he co-founded that works tirelessly to provide a continuum of stability and support through education for kids living in the inner city.

Among his scholarly endeavors, Mr. McNicholas served as Student Body President at his alma mater, University of San Francisco, and was an intern with the White House prior to law school. Mr. McNicholas has also been a guest lecturer at Pepperdine University and has taught Trial Advocacy at Whittier College School of Law.

Patrick Websized

Daily Journal Top 5 Appellate Reversals of 2019

Daily Journal Top Plaintiff Lawyers

National Law Journal Employment Law Trailblazers

$85 Million

Class action settlement for an auto safety defect against Mercedes.

$44 Million

Settlement for air crash victims.

$41 Million

Class action settlement in a consumer fraud lawsuit.

$10.8 Million

Jury verdict awarded to a minor molested by a schoolteacher.

$10 Million

Jury verdict to a construction worker who suffered work-related injury.

$6.6 Million

Settlement for shooting victims’ families in wrongful death lawsuit.

$6 Million

Settlement on behalf of a family for the death of their father while working in an MTA tunnel.

Education

Professional Associations & Memberships (Past and Present)

Honors & Awards

  • National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers Finalist
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”
  • The Best Lawyers in America©
  • Southern California Super Lawyers
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers
  • Benchmark Litigation California Litigation Star
  • Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment Litigation Star
  • Daily Journal Top 5 Appellate Reversals
  • Daily Journal Top Plaintiff Lawyers, 2022
  • Los Angeles Times Notable Personal Injury Lawyer 2022 List
  • The Recorder’s California Trailblazers
  • National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazers
  • National Law Journal Employment Law Trailblazers
  • National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers Finalist
  • National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Attorney Trailblazers, 2023

In the News

Patrick McNicholas Named Among Daily Journal’s Top Plaintiff Lawyers

June 19, 2020

Daily Journal named Partner Patrick McNicholas to its 2020 Top Plaintiff Lawyers list. McNicholas was recognized for being among the…

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Matthew McNicholas and Patrick McNicholas Ranked in National Law Journal’s 2020 Employment Law Trailblazers

March 6, 2020

Partners Matthew McNicholas and Patrick McNicholas were selected to National Law Journal’s 2020 Employment Law Trailblazers list for their repeated…

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McNicholas & McNicholas LLP’s Case Named Among Daily Journal’s Top 5 Appellate Reversals of 2019

February 26, 2020

Partner Patrick McNicholas’ landmark appellate reversal in Ward v. Tilly’s et al. has been recognized in Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts…

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Five McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP Attorneys Selected as 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers

January 15, 2020

Partners John McNicholas, Matthew McNicholas, Patrick McNicholas, Senior Lawyer Juan Victoria and Associate Jeffrey Lamb were selected as 2020 Southern…

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