Hamilton Arendsen founded Arendsen Cane Molnar LLP after a distinguished career with the Justice Department, having served as a Deputy Chief in the Trial Section of the United States Attorney's Office here in San Diego. In addition to trying his own cases, Mr. Arendsen supervised a team of prosecutors and received the Certificate of Congressional Recognition for his work prosecuting violent crime and drug trafficking cases. An experienced trial lawyer with over 30 jury trials to his credit, he now puts his advocacy skills to work representing individuals and corporations accused of crimes and victims of catastrophic injuries and their families. Hamilton has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer, Lawyer of Distinction and Outstanding Trial Lawyer. He is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Mr. Arendsen grew up in Wisconsin and then attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science in 1997, earning honors from Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key National Honor Society. Mr. Arendsen then attended the University of Illinois College of Law, where he served on the Law Review, the board of the Public Interest Law Foundation, and provided free legal services to victims of domestic abuse and low-income families through the school's clinic. In 2000, Mr. Arendsen graduated summa cum laude and Order of the Coif, and then began a clerkship with the Honorable Henry A. Politz on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
After his clerkship, Mr. Arendsen joined the nationally renowned law firm of Gibson Dunn as a litigation associate in their San Francisco office. While at Gibson, Mr. Arendsen focused on high profile antitrust cases, securities fraud, and other areas of complex litigation. He also dedicated a portion of his practice to pro bono projects, earning the Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award from the San Francisco Bar Association. Mr. Arendsen left Gibson in 2004 to join the United States Attorney's Office in San Diego, where he took numerous difficult cases to trial and earned a reputation as a tenacious courtroom advocate. In 2007, Mr. Arendsen returned to Wisconsin for two years, supplementing his civil litigation and white collar experience while working at Godfrey & Kahn in Madison.
Mr. Arendsen then returned to the United States Attorney's Office in San Diego in 2009, where he became a Deputy Chief in the Trial Section of the office. In addition to trying his own cases, Mr. Arendsen supervised a team of prosecutors. He also received the Certificate of Congressional Recognition and the Police Department Meritorious Unit Citation for his work prosecuting violent crime and drug trafficking cases.
In 2012, Mr. Arendsen left government service to hone his civil trial skills at Gomez Trial Attorneys. While working with the Gomez firm, Mr. Arendsen built a reputation as a compassionate, zealous, and trusted advocate for his clients. His successes included helping secure a $5,000,000 settlement in a federal wrongful death case and obtaining a million dollar judgment after a jury trial for a well-deserving client who suffered a significant ankle fracture after being struck by a car in downtown San Diego.
In addition to helping his clients in the courtroom, Mr. Arendsen continues to focus on public service. He currently serves on the Board of Second Chance, an organization dedicated to providing job training and life skills to disadvantaged youth and individuals coming out of custody. Mr. Arendsen also enjoys presenting at local grade schools for Constitution Day, working with law school moot court teams, and participating in community outreach programs put on by the Federal District Court and other organizations. He is an active member of the Lawyer's Club and the Federal Bar Association, and teaches a trial advocacy course at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He also acted as the emcee for the annual Trial Stars dinner hosted by the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.
Mr. Arendsen lives with his wife, Anne, and two young boys in the Scripps Ranch community of San Diego. In addition to spending time with their boys, Mr. Arendsen and Anne enjoy jogging around Mission Bay and dining out with friends. Mr. Arendsen also plays in the San Diego Men's Adult Baseball League and loves motorcycle riding. The family stays active in community events and attends St. Gregory the Great church, where Anne works with the Ministry of Moms.
California, 2001
Wisconsin, 2008
University of Illinois College of Law, Juris Doctor, Summa Cum Laude, 2000
Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, 1997
California State Bar Association
San Diego County Bar Association
North County Bar Association
Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
Consumer Attorneys of California
Lawyers Club of San Diego
Federal Bar Association
