also known as Ahmmed Ilyas Akbari, Ilyas Akbari
A. Ilyas Akbari is the Founder and President of KENNEDY WILSHIRE PC. In addition to a trial lawyer, he is also a bioengineer. Ilyas was a Senior Shareholder and Senior Partner at two of the most prestigious law firms in the country prior to starting his own firm. He is an experienced aviation litigator, having worked on over 200 aviation cases since 2005. Ilyas has litigated crashes and incidents involving commercial airlines, charter operations, general aviation aircraft, military aircraft, seaplanes, and rescue and air ambulance aircraft, in addition to litigating product liability claims against many of the aircraft and component part manufacturers. He has worked on aviation crashes in Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, U.K., Brazil, Colombia, South Korea, Malaysia, China, and New Zealand, to name a few.
Ilyas has served in numerous leadership positions and has represented clients in most of the major airline disasters, including the September 11 Litigation, American Airlines Flight 587, Air Midwest Flight 5481 (resulting in first public apology by an airline), Southwest Airlines Flights 1248 and 1380, TACA Flight 390, Continental Airlines Flight 1404, Colgan Flight 3407, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 (only case proceeding to trial, settling prior to voir dire), Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370), Germanwings Flight 9525 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, among others.
Ilyas is a frequent speaker at aviation conferences and is currently Plaintiff's Vice Chair in the American Bar Association Aviation and Space Law Committee. He also serves as the Editor of the ABA Aviation and Space Law Committee Newsletter for the year 2020.
Best Lawyers in America® has named Ilyas Lawyer of the Year annually from 2019 through 2022 in the Consumer Protection category and, additionally, has recognized Ilyas in both the Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation category and Consumer Protection category since 2016; the Wall Street Journal® similarly named him Lawyer of the Year in Southern California in 2020 and 2021; Los Angeles Magazine recognized Ilyas as one of Southern California’s Top 100 Lawyers; Southern California Super Lawyers® has listed him as a top rated Aviation & Aerospace attorney since 2007.
Additionally, Ilyas has been honored as a Southern California Super Lawyers® - Rising Stars, Up and Coming 100; the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers; the Aviation Trial Lawyers Association: Top 10; and Nations Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel. He has earned the highest AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating through / Martindale Hubbell®, the highest Superb Score of 10; and is listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, Martindale Hubbell®.
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Chat withState: California
Acquired: 2003
No misconduct found
9701 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Beverly Hills, CA, 90212
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Teri | August 25, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Ilyas is very professional, caring and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him. He was there when I needed him most.
Posted by anonymous | May 26, 2016 | Hired Attorney
Mr. Akbari is a very knowledgeable and compassionate professional. My family are indebted for his dedication to serve our best interest which resulted in a positive outcome. He also showed emotional support, warmth, and compassion for my family while we were going through a very difficult time. I tru...
Posted by Lance | December 27, 2012
Mr. Akbari made a very difficult time in my life MUCH easier. He was very knowledgeable and constantly kept me updated. He did more than this though, he was always several steps ahead in the process and was able to convey what was happening now and what would/could be happening in the future as well...
"One of the nicest guys in the profession, he is well respected by both Plaintiffs' counsel and Defense counsel alike. He has significant settlements, verdicts and awards, and if he takes you on as a client, you are very fortunate. In the field of aviation-related personal injury, there is none more capable or knowledgeable, period. Endorsed as an elite level practitioner."
"As an attorney and colleague, I worked with Mr. Akbari on a legal matter. He demonstrated professionalism and kindness at every turn. I would trust Mr. Akbari with my clients."
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2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2015
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2014
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2013
AV Peer Review Rated, Lexis Nexis Martindale Hubbell
2013
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2012
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2011
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2010
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2009
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2008
Listed, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Lexis Nexis Martindale-Hubbell
2008
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2007
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers
2005 - 2020
Senior Partner, Baum Hedlund
2001 - 2002
President, Student Bar Association
1999 - 2000
Founding Vice President, International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers
2013 - Present
Leadership Member, Ad hoc, Asiana Airlines Flight OZ214 litigation, MDL-2497, in re Air Crash at San FranciscoMember
2010 - Present
North American Brain Injury SocietyMember
2010 - Present
California Brain Injury AssociationMember
2010 - Present
Brain Injury Association of AmericaMember
2009 - Present
Aircraft Owners and Pilots AssociationMember
2009 - Present
Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, MDL-1967 In Re: Bisphenol-A (BPA) Polycarbonate Plastic Products Liability Litigation, 2009Member
2009 - Present
Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, MDL-2085, In Re: Air Crash near Clarence Center, New York, on February 12, 2009Member
2009 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
2008 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
2008 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
2008 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
2006 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
2006 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
2003 - Present
Admission to U.S. District Court, Central District of California
2003 - Present
Admission to California
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
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This decision was honored as first runner up for case of the year in the Elite Trial Lawyers awards (2018) by the National Law Journal.
2003
JD - Juris Doctor
2000
BS - Bioengineering
2010
2010
Farsi