Atty. Robert J. Nelson
Robert J. Nelson has played a leading role in the firm’s False Claims Act (fraud against the government law), automotive, defective products, mass torts, tobacco, consumer fraud and environmental cases, taking on many of the world’s largest corporations and holding them accountable.
Profile Summary
About Robert J. Nelson at a glance
Robert J. Nelson is a Partner based in San Francisco, California, practicing at Lieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp. They have 39+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1987. Their practice focuses on personal injury, whistleblower, product liability, and environmental. Admitted to practice in California (1987), California Supreme Court (1987), U.S. District Court, Central District of California (1987), and U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (1988). Educated at London School of Economics (Graded First, 1981) and New York University School of Law J.D. cum laude New York University School of Law J.D. 1987 Honors: Order of the Coif (—). Recognitions include Peer Reviewed. Serands clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
Über uns
- Robert J. Nelson has played a leading role in the firm’s False Claims Act (fraud against the government law), automotive, defective products, mass torts, tobacco, consumer fraud and environmental cases, taking on many of the world’s largest corporations and holding them accountable
- He has served as court-appointed Lead or Co-Lead Counsel in numerous state and federal coordinated proceedings, as well as in more than 40 class actions
- Robert likes to say that he specializes in fraud cases, whether by oil companies, tobacco companies, pharmaceutical companies, or insurance companies
- He also has led some of the most innovative cases that the firm has pioneered
- For example, he helped lead a RICO case against State Farm, in which the plaintiff class alleged that State Farm secretly helped finance the judicial campaign of an Illinois Supreme Court justice, then lied about doing so, all at the very same time that State Farm had a case pending before the Illinois Supreme Court in which State Farm had suffered a billion dollar judgment against it
- The justice was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court and then voted to overrule that billion dollar judgment
- Published Works •False Claims Roundtable, California Lawyer, June 2010, June 2011, April 2012, January 2013, August 2014 •Product Liability Roundtable, California Lawyer, December 2007, July 2009, June 2010 •Co-Author, “Class Action Treatment of Punitive Damages Issues after Philip Morris v
Williams
- We Can Get There From Here,” 2 Charleston Law Review 2, 2008 •Contributing Author, California Class Actions Practice and Procedures (Elizabeth J. Cabraser editor in chief, 2003) •“The Importance of Privilege Logs,” The Practical Litigator, ALI-ABA Publication, Vol
- II, No. 2, March 2000 •“To Infer or Not to Infer a Discriminatory Purpose: Rethinking Equal Protection Doctrine,” 61 New York University Law Review 334, 1986 Honors & Awards •Selected for inclusion by peers in The Best Lawyers in America in fields of “Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs” and “Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs,” 2012-2026 •“Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2020-2026 •“Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2025, 2026 •“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2021-2026 •“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2020-2026 •“Lawdragon Finalist,” Lawdragon, 2009-2011 •“Super Lawyer for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2004-2025 •“Environmental MVP of the Year,” Law360, 2023 •“Energy/Environmental Law Trailblazer,” National Law Journal, 2021 •“Top 100 Lawyers in California,” Daily Journal, 2020 •“2019 Trial Lawyer of the Year,” Public Justice •“Trial Lawyer Excellence Award,” Law Bulletin, 2019 •“California Litigation Star,” Benchmark Litigation, 2013-2016 •“Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist,” Consumer Attorneys of California, 2007, 2010, 2014-2015 •Legal 500 recommended lawyer, 2013-Present •“California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award,” California Lawyer, 2008, 2010 •“San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist,” San Francisco Trial Lawyers’ Association, 2007 In the News •March 27, 2026 Twenty-Three Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” List for 2026 •February 17, 2026 30 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2026 •January 9, 2026 Eleven Lieff Cabraser Partners Named to 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America” List •September 8, 2025 Twenty-Seven Lieff Cabraser Partners Named to 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America” List •August 21, 2025 36 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to 2026 Best Lawyers Listings
Practice Areas Explained
Robert J. Nelson's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert J. Nelson handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Robert J. Nelson is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Robert J. Nelson is one of 3,552 whistleblower attorneys indexed nationally. Browse whistleblower attorneys in California →
Robert J. Nelson is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in California →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Robert J. Nelson is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Francisco are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Francisco or all attorneys in California.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Robert J. Nelson
Where is Robert J. Nelson's law office located?
What practice areas does Robert J. Nelson handle?
How long has Robert J. Nelson practiced law?
Where did Robert J. Nelson go to law school?
How can I contact Robert J. Nelson for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Robert J. Nelson received?
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Bewertungen
No reviews yet.