William Shapiro

William Shapiro has handled catastrophic injury/wrongful death actions for over 4 decades obtaining numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. Honors include: 2022, 2016 and 2013 “Top Gun” Trial Lawyer of the Year, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA); 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Top 5 Finalist; Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC); 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Top 5 Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles (CAALA) ; 2016 Lawyer of the Year, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association (WSBCBA); 2025 Charles Althouse Lifetime Achievement award (WSBCBA); 2015 Trial Lawyer of the Year, CAL-ABOTA; 2014 Trial Lawyer of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of the Inland Empire; 2021 & 2017 Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury; 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Western State College of Law, 2016 ; 2011 Hall of Fame, Western State College of Law; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Society of Barristers; Diplomat, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); Board Certified Trial Advocacy Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy; Specialist in Trial Advocacy, State Bar of California; 2016 National Secretary, ABOTA, Trustee, ABOTA Foundation; 2021 Arthur Kelly Civility Award, ABOTA, “Tier 1, Best Law Firms” Best Lawyers in America and U.S. News; AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell, “10″ AVVO; “Top 100,” SuperLawyers; Past President, San Bernardino/Riverside ABOTA; Past President, San Bernardino County Bar Association; Past President, Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire; Past President, Joseph. B. Campbell American Inn of Court; 2012- Current, Adjunct professor, Civil Trial Practice Western State College of Law.

Awards

• “2024 Marvin E. Lewis Award”
• Consumer Attorney of California.
• “2022 Personal Injury Top Gun, Trial Lawyer of the Year”
• Orange County Trial Lawyers Association’s.
• “2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist”
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• “Lifetime Achievement Award,”
• 2018 Western State College of Law
• “Lawyer of the Year” “Best Lawyers in America”
• US News & World Report, IE.
• “Lawyer of the Year”
• 2017, Inland Empire,
• “Best Lawyers in America,”
• U.S. News & World Report
• “Top Gun, Trial Lawyer of the Year”
• 2016, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year”
• 2016, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year,”
• 2015, CAL ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates)
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year,”
• 2014, Consumer Attorneys of the Inland Empire
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year 2013 & 2014 nomination, CAL ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates)
• “John B. Surr Award,”
• 2013, presented by the San Bernardino County Bar Association:
• “Awarded to the Member of the Legal Community who has Best Exemplified the High Standards of the Profession and the Administration of Justice.”
• “Top Gun, Trial Lawyer of the Year,”
• 2013, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2013, 2014 nomination, CAL ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates)
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year,”
• 2013 nomination, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles
• “Access to Justice Award,”
• 2012 presented by San Bernardino Legal Aid Society
• “For exceptional service in providing access to the courts for those in need.”
• “Hall of Fame,”
• Western State University College of Law. Inducted 2011
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year,”
• nomination 2011 & 2012, Consumer Attorneys of CA, IE
• “President’s Award,”
• (2011 & 2012) Consumer Attorneys of CA, IE
• “President’s Award,”
• (2011) American Board of Trial Advocates, IE
• “Consumer Attorney of the Year”
• 2010 nomination, Consumer Attorneys of California
• “Matthew Kearney Award,”
• (1999) presented by SBCBA & Legal Aid Society, Awarded to the Member of the Community who has best Exemplified the High Purposes of the Legal Aid Society
• “Kleps Award”
• (1996 & 2002) presented by Presiding Justice Manual Ramirez of the 4th DCA, For improvement in the administration of the courts.

Recognition

• “Americas “Top 100” Attorneys”
• National Lawyers of America
• “Best Lawyers in America,”
• U.S. News & World Report
• “Top One Percent in the Nation”
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel
• “SuperLawyer.”
• Los Angeles Times Magazine
• “Best Lawyers in Orange County,”
• Orange County Register, Metro
• “Best Lawyers in Inland Empire,”
• Inland Empire Magazine
• “One of Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers”
• ALM Publications
• “Top 100 Trial Lawyers,”
• America’s Top 100
• “Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers,”
• American Law Magazine, published in LA Times
• “Top 500” in the Nation,”
• RCRSD, Lawdragon
• “Best Firms in America,”
• Tier 1; U.S. News & World Report
• “Top 20 Leaders,”
• RCRSD, Newsweek Magazine
• “Top Ranked Law Firm”
• RCRSD Martindale‐Hubbell, Fortune Magazine
• “Most Elite Trial Lawyers in America,”
• RCRSD, National Law Journal
• “Top 50 list for Orange County”
• Los Angeles Times
• A‐V, Preeminent, “One of the Pre‐eminent lawyers in America,” Martindale‐Hubbell
• Recognition for expertise in Bad Faith, Personal Injury & Product Liability Trials, Consumer Attorneys of California (formerly CTLA)
• California Judicial College.

Memberships

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• Board of Directors; International Relations and Site Committees
• International Society of Barristers, Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Diplomat
• National Secretary, (2016- 2017) Past President San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter; National Representative, 2010‐Current; National Committees: Civility, Professionalism and Ethics, Awards (Chair), Trial College, Chapter Relations; ABOTA Foundation, Legacy Fellow; Trustee, 2009‐2013; Co‐chair 2010 Leadership Conference, New Orleans, LA
• National Board of Trial Advocacy,
• Board Certified, Civil Trial Advocacy
• State Bar of California,
• Certified Legal Specialty: Civil Trial Advocacy
• American Bar Association,
• Faculty: ABA TIPs Trial Academy, Reno, NV. Committees: Trial, Torts and Insurance Section
• Consumer Attorneys of California,
• State Board of Governors (2009‐Current)
• Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire
• Past President (1982‐1984) Executive Board (2009‐2017)
• Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles
• American Association for Justice
• San Bernardino County Bar Association
• Past President (2008), Fee Dispute Arbitrator, Medical Legal Committee
• American Inns of Court, Joseph B. Campbell Chapter
• Past President, 1996 “Master”
• Riverside County Bar Association
• Orange County Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
• Western Trial Lawyers Association
• Million and Multi‐Million Dollar Verdict Forum
• United States Supreme Court Historical Society

Leadership

• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA):
• National Secretary 2016 – 2017; National Board of Directors, 2009 ‐ 2017; National Awards Committee Chair, 2014‐Current; San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter, President, 2008; Executive Board 2004 – Current; ABOTA Foundation, Trustee, 2011 – 2014
• John Lewis King Scholarship
• Board of Directors, 2012‐Current
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Board of Directors, 2011‐Current
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• Board of Governors, 2009‐Current
• Joseph B. Campbell, INN of Court, “Master,” President, 1996
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Inland Chapter
• President, 1984‐1986; Executive Board, 2009‐Current
• Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
• Executive Board of Directors, 1980 ‐Present
• Western State University
• College of Law, Deans Counsel, 2012‐Current
• University of Laverne Law School
• Board of Visitors; 2014- 2017
• Western State University, College of Law
• President, Student Bar Association, 1977‐78.

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of California, 1979
• District Court Central District of California United States Federal, 1979
• Bankruptcy Court Central District of California, 1979
• Tax Court United States Federal, 1982
• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals United States Federal, 1986
• United States Supreme Court, 1986
• 6th Circuit Court of Appeals United States Federal, 2013
• Member of the Washington D. C. Bar Association

Education

• Western State University College of Law
• Fullerton, California Juris Doctor, 1978 Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Charter Member
• California State University
• Fullerton, California State Teaching Credential, K‐12, 1975
• California State University
• Fullerton, California Bachelor of Science, Physical Education, 1974
• Chaffey College
• Alta Loma, California; Associate of Arts, General Education 1972