Fitzgerald Knaier LLP Announces New Firm Name

SAN DIEGO - May 4, 2015 - PRLog -- May 4, 2015 – San Diego, CA - Fitzgerald Knaier LLP Announces New Firm Name

Fitzgerald Knaier LLP announced its new name today, following the departure of former partner Edward D. Chapin.  Fitzgerald Knaier, a trial-oriented litigation boutique with deep roots in the San Diego business community and courts, was formerly known as Chapin Fitzgerald Knaier LLP.  Fitzgerald Knaier is led by trial attorneys Kenneth M. Fitzgerald and Robert G. Knaier.  Fitzgerald and Knaier formerly practiced together at the global law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP, where Fitzgerald was one of the firm’s most experienced jury trial lawyers, and where Knaier focused on complex commercial litigation matters and mass torts, and led the firm’s San Diego office’s pro bono practice.  At Fitzgerald Knaier, the attorneys focus on trial practice, and they devote their practice exclusively to litigation matters.

The firm started as Chapin Wheeler LLP, and was founded by Fitzgerald’s former mentor, the late Joseph J. (“Jay”) Wheeler and Chapin.  In January 2010, Fitzgerald left Latham to join the firm, motivated by a desire to represent more plaintiffs, employ more alternative fee arrangements, and spend more time in the courtroom with greater autonomy.  In 2012, after gaining trial experience at a leading San Diego plaintiff’s personal injury firm, Knaier joined Fitzgerald and quickly established himself as a pillar in the firm’s litigation and trial practice.  The firm was renamed Chapin Fitzgerald Knaier LLP in January 2015, in recognition of Knaier’s contributions and accomplishments.  Now, effective May 1, Chapin has joined the public interest class action firm of Sanford Heisler Kimpel, LLP.

“Bob and I are excited about our new name and this next phase in the firm’s evolution,” said Fitzgerald.  “We enjoy handling complex commercial cases, intellectual property disputes, and other business litigation, and we will continue representing clients in these areas, as we have done throughout our careers.”  In addition to business tort and contract litigation, Fitzgerald handles a variety of intellectual property disputes, and was named by Best Lawyers as the San Diego Lawyer of the Year in the Intellectual Property area in 2014.  In addition to his business litigation practice, Knaier adds the dimension of selectively representing plaintiffs in high-stakes personal injury cases.  “I try to apply the same discipline and intellectual rigor in my personal injury practice as I do in my most complicated commercial disputes,” said Knaier.  “In all areas of practice, our emphasis is on cost-effective representation of clients, and trying cases when they need to be tried.  We have been quite busy over the past few years, and we expect to remain in high demand in the coming months and years.”

Regarding Chapin’s departure, Fitzgerald said, “We bid a fond farewell to our former partner Ed Chapin, and we wish him every success as he moves to focus his practice on other areas.  We enjoyed practicing with Ed, and we will miss our collegial working relationship.”

Fitzgerald Knaier LLP is a trial oriented boutique law firm, focusing on business disputes, intellectual property litigation, and personal injury cases.  For more information, go to www.fitzgeraldknaier.com.