MichaelMcNamara

Chambers USA 2026 guide once again recognized Jenner & Block as a leader in the California legal market, highlighting the firm’s excellence across its general commercial, white collar, media and entertainment, and intellectual property practices, with 13 lawyers earning individual recognition.

The Daily Journal has recognized Partner Michael McNamara as a Top Professional Responsibility Lawyer for the fifth year in a row. The list honors the top performing attorneys in legal malpractice matters and ethics.

The Chambers USA 2025 guide has recognized Jenner & Block’s excellence in its California practice rankings. Chambers now has repeatedly ranked Jenner for its general commercial, white collar, media and entertainment, and intellectual property practices. Chambers also recognized seven California partners in its band of rankings and four California partners as “up and coming” in its rankings.

For the fourth year in a row, Partners Michael McNamara and Kirsten Hicks Spira have been recognized as 2025 Top Professional Responsibility Lawyers by the Daily Journal. The annual award highlights the “top performing attorneys in legal malpractice matters and ethics.”

Partner Michael McNamara was recognized as a 2025 Leading Commercial Litigator by the Daily Journal for the second year in a row. The annual award honors the “top performing bet-the-company litigators across the country.”

Jenner & Block is pleased to announce its Law Firm and Professional Services Defense Practice achieved a Nationwide Band 1 ranking in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA. This marks the first year that Chambers has included a Nationwide Law Firm Defense category among its rankings.  

In an article for the Daily Journal, Partners Michael McNamara and Alexander Smith discuss the Court of Appeal’s Decision in Escamilla v. Vannucci, which held that the one-year statute of limitations in Section 340.6 of California Code of Civil Procedure applies to malicious prosecution claims against attorneys.

For the third year in a row, Partners Michael McNamara and Kirsten Hicks Spira have been recognized as 2024 Top Professional Responsibility Lawyers by the Daily Journal. The annual award highlights the “top performing attorneys in legal malpractice matters and judicial representation.”

On February 2, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted asylum to a pro bono client who was evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW).

Jenner & Block Partner Michael McNamara was recognized as a 2024 Leading Commercial Litigator by the Daily Journal. The award honors “the best attorneys working within the broad scope of commercial and bet-the-company litigation across the country.”

CENTURY CITY AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 13, 2023 – Jenner & Block has expanded its presence in California, opening its third office in the state in Century City and more than doubling its footprint in San Francisco. With these additions – at 2029 Century Park East in Century City and 525 Market Street in San Francisco – the firm is poised to support its booming California practices and exciting lateral growth.

Partners Michael McNamara and Kirsten Hicks Spira have been recognized as 2023 Top Professional Responsibility Lawyers by the Daily Journal for the second year in a row. The annual award highlights the “top performing attorneys in legal malpractice matters and judicial representation.”

The American Lawyer recognized Jenner & Block Partners Reid J. Schar and Michael McNamara as 2022 West Trailblazers, “professionals in the West who have moved the needle in the legal industry.”Mr. Schar’s profile highlights his recent investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks and its significance for the future. “We need a cultural shift, particularly in professional sports, that emphasizes player safety – both physical and mental – and produces an environment where employees, whether in uniform

Chambers and Partners published the 2022 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, recognizing 59 Jenner & Block lawyers in 39 categories.

Diverse, Cross-Office Elevations Bolster Key Groups

Two clients, Aide Herrera and Robert Bacette, recently won the right to become US citizens thanks to pro bono representation by Jenner & Block lawyers. Partner Mike McNamara prepared Ms. Herrera’s application, and Partner Howard Symons prepared Mr. Bacette’s. Staff Attorney Michael DeMar prepared both of them for their citizenship interviews. Ms. Herrera was sworn in as a US citizen on March 23, and Mr. Bacette was sworn in on April 12. This representation was part of our pro bono partnership

Partners Michael McNamara and Kirsten Spira have been recognized as Top Professional Responsibility Lawyers by the Daily Journal. They serve as co-chairs of Jenner & Block’s nationally recognized Professional Responsibility Practice.

The Pro Bono Institute (PBI) honored Jenner & Block with its Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) Partner Award for the collaborative efforts with McDonald’s Corporation and the National Immigration Justice Center (NIJC) in achieving asylum for several pro bono clients.For several years, volunteers from the legal department of McDonald’s have partnered with Jenner & Block and Goldberg Kohn Ltd. on approximately 20 cases referred by NIJC, working collaboratively to represent immigrants applying for asylum.B

LOS ANGELES – JULY 21, 2021 – Jenner & Block announced that Brandon D. Fox, former chief of the Criminal Division for the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, has rejoined the firm as a partner in Los Angeles. Starting August 16, he will also serve as the managing partner for the Los Angeles office and a co-chair of the Investigations, Compliance, and Defense Practice.