Stephen Blitch, Esq.
A trial lawyer for more than 32 years, Mr. Blitch emphasized business
litigation, personal injury (including product liability, mass torts and
medical malpractice), class actions, construction, real estate,
financial services and environmental litigation. He tried many
significant jury and court trials in state and federal courts throughout
California and in other states, in both state and federal courts.
He has lectured often on the subjects of trial evidence, trial practice,
ethics and civility, and has taught for the National Institute for Trial
Advocacy (NITA). He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
and an associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is
also listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2004-2010 for personal
injury and commercial litigation, including Oakland Trial Lawyer of the
Year in Bet-the-Company Litigation for 2009), Northern California
Superlawyers (2004-2010), and the International Who’s Who of Product
Liability Lawyers (2000-2010).
Mediation and Arbitration Experience and Training
• Mediator, Settlement Commissioner, Judicial Arbitrator, Early
Settlement Panelist and Early Neutral Evaluator for Alameda County, San
Francisco County and Contra Costa County Superior Courts, and the United
States District Court for the Northern District of California
• Trained by Alameda, San Francisco and Contra Costa County Superior
Courts, the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California, and Harvard Law School in arbitration, mediation and neutral
evaluation
Legal Experience
2003 Reed Smith
1977 Crosby Heafey Roach & May (combined with Reed Smith in 2003)
Education
2000 Certification, Harvard Law School, Program of Instruction for
Lawyers in Mediation
1977 M.C.P., University of California, Berkeley, City and Regional
Planning
1976 J.D., University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall)
1972 A.B., University of California, Berkeley, Architecture
Recent Publications
California Trial Objections, California Continuing Education of the Bar
(2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Book Chapter, Ch. 21 Relevance, Jefferson’s California Evidence
Benchbook, California Continuing Education of the Bar (2009)
Professional Affiliations
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (former member, Board of
Governors, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter)
Alameda County Bar Association: co-founder and former Chair, Trial
Practice Section; Past Chair, Judicial Candidates Evaluation Committee;
former member, Board of Directors
State Bar of California, member, Litigation Section
Bar Association of San Francisco
Honors and Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury
Litigation, 2004-2010
Lawyer of the Year in Oakland for Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2009
Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, Business Litigation, 2004-2010
Court Admissions
California State Courts
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. District Court - Central District of California
U.S. District Court - Northern District of California
U.S. District Court - Southern District of California
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of California
This page was last modified in February 2010
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