Daily Journal Names Matthew and Patrick McNicholas to 2025 Top Plaintiff Lawyers List
Partners Matthew McNicholas and Patrick McNicholas were featured in the Daily Journal’s 2025 Top Plaintiff Lawyers report. The yearly supplement recognizes California’s top advocates who defend consumers in personal injury, mass torts, and civil rights cases.
Matthew’s feature includes his ongoing advocacy for first responders facing workplace retaliation and discrimination. He first represented a police officer in 1999 and has since championed hundreds. Notable successes include securing an $11.56 million verdict for a former bomb K9 trainer, $13.1 million for two officers targeted during an internal investigation based on gender bias, and $10.1 million for a lieutenant pushed out of her career after facing retaliation and discrimination. Matthew recognizes the institutional barriers involved in pursuing these cases, and his dedication continues to promote real change within agencies.
Patrick’s profile showcases his 30-year commitment to holding powerful institutions accountable. He has secured significant settlements in California while advocating for victims of wildfires and sexual abuse. One of his most prominent achievements is the $4 billion settlement he secured earlier this year for more than 7,000 survivors of sexual abuse at Los Angeles County juvenile detention centers, making it the largest municipal settlement in U.S. history for sexual abuse. Beyond providing compensation, Patrick has led policy reforms, including legislation that exempts wildfire victims from settlement taxes and mandates that utility companies implement essential changes.
See the full list of 2025 Top Plaintiff Lawyers here (subscription required).
