Atty. John S. Clifford
John S. Clifford is a shareholder at Smith LC with a focus on complex trial work, including matters on behalf of individuals, corporations, fiduciaries, and governmental entities.
Profile Summary
About John S. Clifford at a glance
John S. Clifford is a Shareholder based in Irvine, California, practicing at SMITH LC. They have 32+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1994. Their practice focuses on trusts, personal injury, business, real estate, and litigation. Admitted to practice in California (1994) and Utah U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for the Te (2005). Educated at Western State University J.D. (—) and Western State University B.S. (—). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of State Bar of California American Bar Association Orange County Bar Association Utah Bar Association. Serands clients in Irvine, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- John S. Clifford is a shareholder at Smith LC with a focus on complex trial work, including matters on behalf of individuals, corporations, fiduciaries, and governmental entities
- Some of Mr. Clifford’s notable trial results include: ● A defense verdict in favor of his clients and against Bank of America in a $90,000,000 trust and community property claim (see article)
- ● A trial verdict in resulting in the immediate turnover of an Orange County business to his client (see article)
- ● A defense verdict in favor of an employer accused of sexual harassment in a case highlighted by the Los Angeles County Daily Journal as a top employment verdict
- ● A $4.2 million verdict for the wrongful death of a client’s husband killed in the Chatsworth Metrolink train crash
- ● A defense verdict against a multi-million dollar construction claim, and a corresponding counter-claim verdict of over one million dollars
- ● A defense verdict against a multi-million dollar claim for unfair business practices, wherein Mr. Clifford not only successfully maintained the verdict on appeal, but also obtained the first published case in California holding that California’s unfair business practices laws do not apply to securities transactions (Bowen v
- Ziasun Technologies, Inc., 116 Cal.App.4th 777)
- ● Mr. Clifford has also obtained a non-dischargeable judgment after trial of just under one million dollars in an adversarial proceeding in bankruptcy court
- and ● A Defense verdict in a $6 million trademark infringement claim in Federal Court
- In addition to his trial work, Mr. Clifford has successfully argued multiple cases before the California appellate courts as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Mr. Clifford also acts as outside general counsel for multiple companies with more than 3,000 employees in California and Utah, including medical groups and doctors serving more than 30,000 patients
- Mr. Clifford has also served as general counsel for a Utah based insurance company since 1999, and an Irvine based manufacturing company with sales in excess of $120,000,000 per year since 2013
- Mr. Clifford’s focus on corporate, fiduciary, and medical matters, combined with his extraordinary trial results provide a unique perspective for his clients and allow Mr. Clifford to help his clients assess risk and avoid litigation
- Where litigation is unavoidable, Mr. Clifford is a powerful and successful trial advocate on his client’s behalf
Practice Areas Explained
John S. Clifford's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John S. Clifford handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
John S. Clifford is one of 104,171 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts 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.
John S. Clifford is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
John S. Clifford is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
John S. Clifford is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in California →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
John S. Clifford is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation 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 Irvine 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 Irvine or all attorneys in California.
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