Atty. Doris Cheng
Doris Cheng has been ranked as one of the top 10 lawyers in Northern California. She is listed among the Best Lawyers of America®, LawDragon 500 Leading Lawyers, SuperLawyers® and San Francisco Best Lawyers.
Profile Summary
About Doris Cheng at a glance
Doris Cheng is a medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability attorney based in San Francisco, California, practicing at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. Educated at University of San Francisco (—, 1998) and University of California Davis (—, 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026). Serands clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Doris Cheng has been ranked as one of the top 10 lawyers in Northern California
- She is listed among the Best Lawyers of America®, LawDragon 500 Leading Lawyers, SuperLawyers® and San Francisco Best Lawyers
- She was chosen as Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers of America for 2017
- Specializing in complex injuries caused by third-party negligence, Ms. Cheng has obtained multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of disabled plaintiffs
- She obtained a $15,000,000 verdict on behalf of a young man who suffered brain injuries due to the delayed diagnosis of a stroke
- She completed a $19,000,000 settlement for parents whose son was crushed by a defective gate in a school yard
- She secured a $13,500,000 settlement on behalf of pilot who suffered severe brain damage due to carbon monoxide poisoning
- She obtained a $9,000,000 award to care for a severely disabled boy in a wrongful life action
- A frequent guest lecturer and adjunct professor, Ms. Cheng has trained lawyers and judges nationally and internationally
- As part of the Rule of Law Initiative, she has had the privilege of training trial lawyers and judges in Mexico, Kosovo, and Macedonia
- She has also collaborated and trained with civil practitioners in Singapore and Belfast
- She regularly directs trial skills training programs for criminal prosecution offices in Scotland and throughout the Caribbean Basin
- Ms. Cheng is the Program Director of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Western Region Advocacy Teacher Training Program
- She is a past recipient of the Robert E. Keeton Award for outstanding service by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a past recipient of the University of San Francisco Professional Achievement Award
- She is the inaugural recipient of the American Board of Trial Advocates' Champion of Justice Award (2022)
- Ms. Cheng is involved in local bar associations and community organizations
- She was the 106th President of the Bar Association of San Francisco
- She is a past President of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, and Justice and Diversity Center
- She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocacy, and International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- She serves on the Kaiser Arbitration Oversight Board and is a Board Trustee of the University of San Francisco
- She is a co-author of the eminent Rutter Group California Practice Guide on Personal Injury, and the trial practice guide, Mastering the Mechanics of Civil Jury Trials
Practice Areas Explained
Doris Cheng's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Doris Cheng handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.
Doris Cheng is one of 49,086 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in California →
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.
Doris Cheng is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Doris Cheng is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability 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.
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