“Our passion is holding accountable those whose fraud and misconduct have robbed investors of billions, no matter how wealthy or powerful those responsible for the losses are.”
Richard M. Heimann
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"One of the nation's premier plaintiffs' firms."
American Lawyer
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"Representing the best qualities of the plaintiffs' bar."
The National Law Journal
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"Their effective and caring advocacy for clients has earned Lieff Cabraser its first-class reputation."
The Daily Journal
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Super Lawyers Nationwide
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A Lawyer’s Lawyer
Richard supervises Lieff Cabraser's securities and financial fraud practice. He began his legal career as a deputy public defender and later served as an assistant district attorney.
From this foundation, Richard has become one of the nation’s foremost trial attorneys and skilled negotiators, with unparalleled experience in complex securities and investor fraud, antitrust, consumer protection, and personal injury and mass torts cases. In 2010, the Daily Journal recognized Richard as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California, noting he possessed “a level of doggedness that is making him a feared litigator.”
Extraordinary Results
Richard supervised the firm’s landmark litigation against the tobacco industry on behalf of Massachusetts, California, and several other states. The litigation was resolved in 1998 as part of a record $206 billion master settlement agreement with the state Attorneys General.
Richard has also successfully tried over 30 civil jury cases, highlighted by the FPI/Agretech and Edsaco securities class action trials, the Wells Fargo Bank overdraft fees consumer protection class action trial, and the LCDs antitrust class action.
In Edsaco, the jury returned a $170.7 million verdict. Commenting on Richard’s advocacy in the case, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston stated,
For his work in the Wells Fargo case, California Lawyer magazine awarded Richard its prestigious California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) Award. Richard received a second CLAY award in 2013 for his outstanding success in the LCDs antitrust litigation, which resulted in settlements totaling over $470 million.
Video
Richard explains how Wells Fargo Bank manipulated the processing of debit card transactions to assess its customers greater numbers of overdraft fees.
Awards & Honors
- California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) Award, California Lawyer, 2011, 2013
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- "California Litigation Star," Benchmark Plaintiff (ranked as one of California's leading litigators in antitrust, personal injury and securities law)
- Best Lawyers in America, based on peer and blue ribbon panel review, selected for list of "San Francisco's Best Lawyers," 2007-2013
- "Northern California Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers, 2004-2012
- "Top Attorneys In Securities Law," Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, 2010, 2012
- "Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist," Consumer Attorneys of California, 2011
- "Lawdragon Finalist," Lawdragon, 2009-2011
- "Top 100 Attorneys in California," Daily Journal, 2010-2011
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Super Lawyers Nationwide
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