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.
Defective Products & More Attorney · Serving San Francisco, CA · 39+ Years Experience
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. Serves clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About 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
- 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 Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert J. Nelson handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in San Francisco.
Personal Injury in San Francisco
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 262,557 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Whistleblower & Retaliation in San Francisco
Robert J. Nelson is one of 3,523 whistleblower attorneys indexed nationally. Browse whistleblower attorneys in California →
Product Liability in San Francisco
Robert J. Nelson is one of 65,610 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in California →
Environmental Law in San Francisco
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Robert J. Nelson is one of 55,977 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in San Francisco
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 venue, 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.
San Francisco Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a San Francisco-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Francisco or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in San Francisco Choose Robert J. Nelson
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Robert J. Nelson's practice in the field of personal injury, whistleblower, product liability, and environmental.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Robert J. Nelson brings 39+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in California, California Supreme Court, and U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Robert J. Nelson can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering personal injury, whistleblower, and product liability, Robert J. Nelson can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in San Francisco
A San Francisco-based practice means Robert J. Nelson attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Robert J. Nelson Handles in San Francisco
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Robert J. Nelson has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Robert J. Nelson directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Robert J. Nelson Online
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Robert J. Nelson's Practice Areas & Specializations
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