William Shapiro has handled catastrophic injury/wrongful death actions for over 4 decades obtaining numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. Honors include: 2022, 2016 and 2013 “Top Gun” Trial Lawyer of the Year, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA); 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Top 5 Finalist; Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC); 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Top 5 Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles (CAALA) ; 2016 Lawyer of the Year, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association (WSBCBA); 2015 Trial Lawyer of the Year, CAL-ABOTA; 2014 Trial Lawyer of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of the Inland Empire; 2021 & 2017 Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury; 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Western State College of Law, 2016 ; 2011 Hall of Fame, Western State College of Law; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Society of Barristers; Diplomat, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); Board Certified Trial Advocacy Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy; Specialist in Trial Advocacy, State Bar of California; 2016 National Secretary, ABOTA, Trustee, ABOTA Foundation; 2021 Arthur Kelly Civility Award, ABOTA, “Tier 1, Best Law Firms” Best Lawyers in America and U.S. News; AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell, “10″ AVVO; “Top 100,” SuperLawyers; Past President, San Bernardino/Riverside ABOTA; Past President, San Bernardino County Bar Association; Past President, Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire; Past President, Joseph. B. Campbell American Inn of Court; 2012- Current, Adjunct professor, Civil Trial Practice Western State College of Law.
AWARDS “2022 Personal Injury Top Gun, Trial Lawyer of the Year” Orange County Trial Lawyers Association’s. “2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist” Consumer Attorney of California “Lifetime Achievement Award,” 2018 Western State College of Law “Lawyer of the Year” “Best Lawyers in America” US News & World Report, IE. “Lawyer of the Year” 2017, Inland Empire, “Best Lawyers in America,” U.S. News & World Report “Top Gun, Trial Lawyer of the Year” 2016, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association “Trial Lawyer of the Year” 2016, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” 2015, CAL ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” 2014, Consumer Attorneys of the Inland Empire “Trial Lawyer of the Year 2013 & 2014 nomination, CAL ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) “John B. Surr Award,” 2013, presented by the San Bernardino County Bar Association: “Awarded to the Member of the Legal Community who has Best Exemplified the High Standards of the Profession and the Administration of Justice.” “Top Gun, Trial Lawyer of the Year,” 2013, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association “Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2013, 2014 nomination, CAL ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” 2013 nomination, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles “Access to Justice Award,” 2012 presented by San Bernardino Legal Aid Society “For exceptional service in providing access to the courts for those in need.” “Hall of Fame,” Western State University College of Law. Inducted 2011 “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” nomination 2011 & 2012, Consumer Attorneys of CA, IE “President’s Award,” (2011 & 2012) Consumer Attorneys of CA, IE “President’s Award,” (2011) American Board of Trial Advocates, IE “Consumer Attorney of the Year” 2010 nomination, Consumer Attorneys of California “Matthew Kearney Award,” (1999) presented by SBCBA & Legal Aid Society, Awarded to the Member of the Community who has best Exemplified the High Purposes of the Legal Aid Society “Kleps Award” (1996 & 2002) presented by Presiding Justice Manual Ramirez of the 4th DCA, For improvement in the administration of the courts.
LEADERSHIP American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA): National Secretary 2016 – 2017; National Board of Directors, 2009 ‐ 2017; National Awards Committee Chair, 2014‐Current; San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter, President, 2008; Executive Board 2004 – Current; ABOTA Foundation, Trustee, 2011 – 2014 John Lewis King Scholarship Board of Directors, 2012‐Current International Academy of Trial Lawyers Board of Directors, 2011‐Current Consumer Attorneys of California Board of Governors, 2009‐Current Joseph B. Campbell, INN of Court, “Master,” President, 1996 Consumer Attorneys of California, Inland Chapter President, 1984‐1986; Executive Board, 2009‐Current Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Executive Board of Directors, 1980 ‐Present Western State University College of Law, Deans Counsel, 2012‐Current University of Laverne Law School Board of Visitors; 2014- 2017 Western State University, College of Law President, Student Bar Association, 1977‐78.
BAR ADMISSIONS State Bar of California, 1979 District Court Central District of California United States Federal, 1979 Bankruptcy Court Central District of California, 1979 Tax Court United States Federal, 1982 9th Circuit Court of Appeals United States Federal, 1986 United States Supreme Court, 1986 6th Circuit Court of Appeals United States Federal, 2013 Member of the Washington D. C. Bar Association
REPORTED CASES Lobo vs Tamco (2014) 230 Cal App 438 Lobo v Tamco (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 297 Thompson v Mercury Casualty Co, (2000) 84 Cal App 4th 90 Jimenez v Protective Life (1992) 8 Cal App 4th 528 Horvatin v Allstate 848 F2nd 1012 (9th Cir 1988) Horvatin v Allstate 631 F Supp. 1271 (C.D. Cal 1986)
PUBLICATIONS 2018 The Gavel – Effective Cross-Examination 2017 The Gavel – Balancing Defense Medical Examinations 2016 Riverside Lawyer – Opposing Counsel San Diego Attorney Orange County Attorney 2014 Orange County Attorney
EDUCATION Western State University College of Law Fullerton, California Juris Doctor, 1978 Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Charter Member California State University Fullerton, California State Teaching Credential, K‐12, 1975 California State University Fullerton, California Bachelor of Science, Physical Education, 1974 Chaffey College Alta Loma, California; Associate of Arts, General Education 1972
