Shahrad Milanfar is a trial attorney and mediator who has focused his career on catastrophic personal injury, product liability, nursing home abuse, police brutality / civil rights, and truck accident cases. At heart, he is a storyteller who takes pride in becoming his client’s voice during the litigation and trial. His most recent success in achieving a $32,000,000 verdict highlights how Shahrad’s dedication to being an ever improving trial lawyer paid off for his client in a difficult case.
Since the beginning of his career, Shahrad has worked on catastrophic injury cases such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), serious orthopedic injuries, including quadriplegia and paraplegia. He has also worked with other law firms as a consultant for trials, litigation in personal injury, police brutality, and wrongful death cases that resulted in significant pre-litigation settlements. His wealth of high stakes litigation, trial, and mediation experience, gives Shahrad an edge in protecting his clients’ interests and telling their stories.
Shahrad gained his trial and courtroom experience while working with the district attorney’s office and as a civil trial attorney. He has handled cases from inception to verdict as the primary trial attorney. Over the past 22+ years, Shahrad has handled serious personal injury and product liability cases involving cars, tires, motorcycles, trucks, big rigs, buses, ATVs, as well as household and industrial products.
Shahrad has been at the forefront in promoting the use of technology and iPads in trial presentations and tried numerous cases to verdict with significant results. He developed one of the first comprehensive courses on how to effectively use an iPad in trial. Utilizing his research and understanding of human decision-making and technology, Shahrad has effectively told his clients’ stories in a compelling, human way.
Shahrad is also an experienced mediator who has effectively mediated over 115 cases involving personal injury, product liability, family, guardianship, property, business and community disputes. His trial and mediation experience make Shahrad a very effective advocate who can see cases from many angles. This provides him with significant advantage against his opponents and allows for a much more effective approach in presenting his clients’ cases.
As an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law, Shahrad taught trial skills and coached the Golden Gate trials teams between 2001-2014. Shahrad has taught mediation skills to attorneys, mediators, human resources, psychologists, and other professionals. He has taught in training programs for Rosenberg Mediation, Center for Human Development, and the University of San Francisco School of Law. He is also an instructor with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) teaching in NITA’s trial and deposition training programs. Shahrad is also a proud board member for Bay Area Legal Aid. He has also been selected as a Super Lawyers (2022-24) and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2022-2024).
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Trucking/Transportation
- Habitability
- Spinal Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Animal Attack/Dog Bite
- Nursing Home Litigation
- Vaping Injuries
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California
- University of California, Santa Cruz, California
Bar Admission
- California, 1999
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2000
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2011
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 2012
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2003
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1999
Honors
- Outstanding Alumni Volunteer Award, Golden Gate University School of Law, 2013
- Criminal Litigation Award, Golden Gate University School of Law, 1998
- Medal for Excellence in Advocacy American College of Trial Lawyers, 1998
Speaking Engagements
- iPad for Attorneys and Trial Lawyers, San Francisco Bar Association MCLE Event, 2019
- Mediation training, Rosenberg Mediation Annual Training, 2019
- Trial Training, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Regional Trial Training Program, 2019
- Future of Litigation, National Institute for Trial Advocacy Executive Director’s Roundtable, 2018
- How to Change the Conversation During Mediation , Rosenberg Mediation Training, 2018 & 2015
- Trial Training, University of San Francisco Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, 2016
- Habitability In California, Perrin Conferences, 2016
- Trial Training, National Institute for Trial Advocacy Trial Training Program, 2016
- Technology for Every Mediator, Mediation Society MCLE Lunch, 2015
- How to Deal with Anger in Mediation, CHD – Annual Mediation Training, 2015
- Utilizing Technology in Your Mediation and Law Practice, Alameda County Bar Association MCLE Series, 2015
- How to Change the Conversation During Mediation, Rosenberg Mediation Training, 2015
- iPad for Attorneys and Trial Lawyers, 2014
- Career Panel for Law Students, Golden Gate University School of Law Orientation, 2014
- How to Utilize Technology in Your Litigation and Mediation Practice, Contra Costa County Bar Association ADR Luncheon, 2014
- Mediation Training, Center for Human Development Annual Mediation Training, 2014
- Presenting Damages in the Post Howell Era, San Francisco Trial Lawyer’s Association – Presenting Damages in the Post Howell Era, 2013
- How to Use Your Trial Skills to Prepare for Mediation, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2013
- iPad for Attorneys & Trial Lawyers, 2013
- iPad for Attorneys & Trial Lawyers, Golden Gate University School of Law, 2013
- How to Effectively Prepare for Mediation, Golden Gate Univ. School of Law – Beat The Clock MCLE Event, 2013
- How to Deal with Anger in Mediation, CHD Annual Mediation Training Program, 2013
- Mediator/Judge – Representation in Mediation Competition, American Bar Association – Representation in Mediation Competition, 2013
- Trial Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Trial Training, 2012
- Trial Skills, Golden Gate University Trial Training Course, 2012
- Mediation Training, Center for Human Development Annual Mediation Training, 2012
- Deposition Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Deposition Training Program, 2011
- Mediation Strategy, Golden Gate University School of Law – Pre Trial Civ Lit Course, 2011
- What I learned from Bernard L. Segal, Gala in Honor of Bernard L. Segal, 2011
- Dealing With Anger in Mediation, CHD Mediation Training Program, 2011
- Trial Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Trial Training Program, 2010
- Deposition Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Deposition Training Program, 2010
- Dealing With Anger in Mediation, CHD – Mediation Training Program, 2010
- Trial Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Trial Training Program, 2009
- Deposition Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Deposition Training Program, 2009
- Effective Approach to Preparing for Mediation, In House Event, 2009
- Preparing for Mediation, Golden Gate University School of Law – Pre Trial Civ Lit Course, 2009
- Conflict Resolution, CHD-St. Mary’s College RA Conflict Resolution Training, 2009
- Dealing With Anger in Mediation, CHD – Mediation Training, 2009
- Trial Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Trial Training Program, 2008
- Deposition Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Western Deposition Training Program, 2007
Current Employment Position
