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Gary A. Watt

Gary A. Watt

Partner
(415) 995-5004

Intro

Gary serves as Chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice. He is a State Bar approved Certified Appellate Specialist, handling writs and appeals in all of the California appellate courts, including the California Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. His practice also includes dispositive motions such as SLAPP, summary judgment, and post-trial motions. His appellate experience gives him unique insights into complex cases and esoteric disputes. He excels at issue spotting and arrives at thoughtful solutions to business problems. His practice includes risk management such as interpreting contracts, indemnity provisions, and more.

A passionate appellate lawyer and law professor, Gary has been on the faculty at U.C. Hastings College of the Law since 2001 teaching various appellate law courses and coaching intercollegiate moot court competition teams. Consistent with Hanson Bridgett’s commitment to pro bono work, Gary currently serves as General Counsel and Chief Supervising Attorney for U.C. Hastings’ Ninth Circuit clinical program: the Hastings Appellate Project. As General Counsel and Chief Supervising Attorney, he supervises law students in the pro bono legal representation of appellants. He is also a frequent lecturer at MCLE presentations throughout the Bay Area, and has taught hundreds of lawyers over the years on a vast array of appellate and litigation best practices.

Gary is also Chair of the Contra Costa County Bar Association’s appellate practice section. A prolific writer, Gary is a frequent contributor to the Daily Journal, The Recorder, and other legal publications, with over 75 published articles to date.

Education

J.D. University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) ( 1997 )
B.S. cum laude California State University, Hayward ( 1992 )

Admissions and Courts

Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
California Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
California

Role

Appellate Practice Leader

Contra Costa County Bar Association, Chair: Appellate Practice Section

Member, California Lawyers Association’s Committee on Appellate Courts

Bar Association of San Francisco, Appellate Practice Section

"Court Revives California Public Beach Harassment Case," Law360 (March 2023)

Certified Appellate Specialist

California Lawyers Association, Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Legal Services Award (2020-2022)

Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Rating

Northern California Super Lawyers: Appellate (2011-present)

Galanti v. Nevada Department of Corrections, 2023 WL 3067036 (9th Cir. 2023) (civil rights)

Cory Spencer v. City of Palos Verdes Estates (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 849 (environmental; Coastal Act)

McWhinney Centerra v. Poag & McEwen, 486 P.3d 439 (Co. Court of Appeals 2021) (establishing that Colorado economic loss rule does not apply to intentional torts)

Diaz-Reynoso v. Barr, 968 F.3d 1070 (9th Cir. 2020) (administrative law)

Spencer v. Mowat (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 1024 (anti-SLAPP statute & conspiracy)

Schwan v. Permann (2018) 28 Cal.App.5th 678 (trust interpretation)

Barrientos v. Lynch, 829 F.3d 1064 (9th Cir. 2016) (administrative law)

Medina-Nunez v. Lynch, 788 F.3d 1103 (9th Cir. 2015) (administrative law)

Velasquez v. Centrome, Inc. (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 1191 (evidence law)

Castrijon-Garcia v. Holder, 704 F.3d 1205 (9th Cir. 2013) (immigration law)

Seabright Insurance Co. v. U.S. Airways (2011) 52 Cal.4th 590 (torts/administrative law)

Hernandez-Velasquez v. Holder, 611 F.3d 1073 (9th Cir. 2010) (administrative law)

Margaret W. v. Kelly R. (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 141 (torts)

Perez v. Roe (2006) 146 Cal.App.4th 171 (constitutional law)