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Greg May
About Greg
Biography
Greg May is Certified as a Specialist in Appellate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
My passion is the law itself, and nowhere does an attorney get to immerse oneself in the law more than in appellate practice.
Appeals are very different from trials and require a different set of skills. I love the appellate process because it plays to my interests and strengths, and because it focuses on the law without the dramatic sideshows that sometimes accompany trial practice. Research and writing, especially, are my stock in trade and are the cornerstones of any good appellate practice. Having the opportunity to defend my client's positions at oral argument is a bonus, for I have always enjoyed public speaking and debate.
Perhaps there is no better testament to my passion for appellate practice than my blog, The California Blog of Appeal, where I have hundreds of posts regarding the peculiarities of appellate practice, substantive developments in the law, court news, research, writing, and the impact of legal technology. I encourage you to take a look at the blog, especially at my series of posts on why it benefits litigants to engage appellate counsel rather than have their trial attorney handle the appeal. In a nutshell: the odds are against the party appealing, so engagement of appellate counsel is an important edge for dealing with the special rules on appeal.
If you feel you have been wronged by a court ruling in California, even if it occurs early in the case, give me a call without delay. Though appeals must usually wait until the end of the case, some rulings are immediately appealable, and those that are not are subject to discretionary appellate review if you initiate original proceedings in the Court of Appeal. (Of course, you should also call if your adversary is the one running to the Court of Appeal, in which case I can help you defend the judgment.) If you anticiapte an appeal from a final judgment, it makes sense to call me as the time for judgment approaches, because there are steps you can take in the trial court to increase your chances on appeal.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Appeals
90%
20 years
Litigation
10%
32 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 250-350 per hour
Contingency
5%-15%
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 33 years
State: California
Acquired: 1992
No misconduct found
Location
The Law Office of Greg May
P. O. Box 7027, Oxnard, CA, 93031
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Greg May's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | March 28, 2019 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Honest risk appraisal, and brilliant hard work
Greg May reviewed my case dismissed on summary judgment, gave me an honest assessment of its merits, the risks, and proceeded to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. His research was thorough but efficient; the resulting briefs read like a conversation between legal scholars, and the quality of hi...
Posted by Jackie | August 14, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Attorney
Greg has helped me with 5 cases in the past couple years and I have hit home runs each time. The first of these was a business/employment dispute which I was successful in trial. The defendants appealed, and we in turn also appealed the attorneys fees portion of the case. Greg wrote our appeal and...
Posted by Jeff | October 13, 2015 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
excellent appellate lawyer
Greg is experienced, knowledgeable, works hard for his clients and he is reasonable in his fees. I have referred to him and used his services and will in the future.
Posted by anonymous | October 2, 2015 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Greg May has the knowlege and heart
i just finished my trial. i got a bad decision. I asked him for advice. He gave me best advise while there was a deadline to ask for a statement of decision from the judge within 10 days after his judgement on bench to get details on his decision which would help with the appeal. This would help ...
Greg May
Replied last February 16, 2016Thanks for the kind comments, but in the interest of full disclosure, people reading your remarks have to know that you are not yet an actual client and that your comments are based only on an inquiry into representation.
Posted by Ron | August 13, 2015
Worked for me as Corp. legal advisor
Greg managed our considerable legal work from litigation to IP work thru several firms and dealt with much of the load himself. Found Greg to be effective and motivated.
Greg May's Lawyer Endorsements
"Recently, I had an occasion to contact Mr. May in connection with a matter in which a prospective client suffered an adverse decision in an MSJ. Mr. May was very helpful and quickly responded to my telephone message the same day. He freely spent 30 minutes discussing various options and strategies in my matter. I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Greg is consistently insightful, creative and pragmatic about solving legal issues, particularly in appellate matters."
"I endorse this lawyer. I went to endorse this lawyer, but then had to scroll thru his credentials. Despite my going to the same law school as he did (years later- I didn't know him), I nonetheless must admit that his reponses to inquiries are highly accurate and succinct: Both such qualities seem to be appreciated by judges. I thus have no choice but to genuinely endorse this lawyer."
"The answers of Mr. May are consistently accurate, analytic, pragmatic and customized to the needs of the Avvo asker. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when selecting an attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. May generously provides many helpful and informative responses to questions on Avvo. Lawyers who take the time to provide this free service are passionate about their work and care deeply about protecting their clients' rights. I have personally met Mr. May on a number of occasions and each time I was impressed with his intellect."
"Greg is a smart, experienced and knowledgeable appellate litigator."
"I endorse this lawyer, I have consulted and hired him on appeals. He is hard working, creative and fair about fees."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I'm pleased to endorse Greg May. I've consulted with Greg on a number of trial and appeal issues and his advice was always spot-on. He is quick to analyze issues, and frequently comes up with approaches I hadn't considered."
"Greg and I worked together on an appeal and, even from our initial discussion about the case, it was clear Greg is no ordinary appellate attorney. Greg does not approach cases in a cookie-cutter fashion. He is a master of legal analysis, and is not afraid to tackle tough issues and craft novel arguments. His passion about his craft and his clients transforms his exceptional analysis into stellar advocacy. I hope to work with him again, and recommend him without hesitation."
"Greg and I worked together on several complex litigation matters. Greg's research and writing skills were top-notch, and he was a very valuable member of our litigation team. I highly recommend Greg."
"Use this lawyer! I worked with Greg from almost the inception of his career. He invested his time and energy to understand each nuance of the issue at hand, and his unique legal mind and diligence led to positive results. Now he employs his style to prevail in appeals, along with litigation. In analyzing situations, he is accurate, quick and to the point. He will earn every dollar he is paid; he is honest and forthright, and has my utmost respect as a lawyer and a person. If I had to spend my money on a lawyer, I would call Greg."
"Greg May is a brilliant appellate lawyer with a keen sense of what is required to impress an appellate panel. Greg's timely articles and insight on the legal system and the appeals process in particular demonstrate that he is an excellent choice for all of your appellate matters. I would not hesitate to refer him my most important clients!"
"Working with Greg May on an appellate matter, I found him to be creative in his thinking, thorough in his research, articulate in court, and overall on top of his game. Greg is a conscientious lawyer, one who takes seriously his obligation to represent one's client zealously, and it was an absolute pleasure working with him professionally. I highly endorse him as a lawyer."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Certified Appellate Law Specialist, State Bar of California - Certified Specialist
1992
Order of the Coif, McGeorge School of Law
1992
Class Rank: 7 of 236, McGeorge Scool of Law
1991
Moot Court Best Brief Finalist, McGeorge School of Law
1991
Primary Editor, The Transnational Lawyer, McGeorge School of Law
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Of Counsel, Jones & Lester, LLP
2005 - Present
Owner, Law Office of Greg May
2002 - 2005
General Counsel, Market Scan Information Systems, Inc.
2001 - 2002
Associate, Koenig & Associates
1998 - 2001
Associate, D. Gerber Law Offices
1995 - 1998
Associate, Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP
1992 - 1995
Associate, Jones Day
Associations
2015 - Present
San Fernando Valley Bar AssociationMember
2013 - Present
Los Angeles County Bar AssociationMember
2013 - Present
LACBA Appellate Courts SectionMember
2013 - Present
The Esquire NetworkMember
2001 - Present
Ninth Circuit Court of AppealsAdmitted to Practice
1992 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
1982 - Present
United States Naval Academy Alumni AssociationMember
2013 - 2013
Venura County Mock Trial CompetitionJudge
Sample of Legal Cases
Christie v. Kimball
Order successfully defended on appeal
Education
1992
McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
JD - Juris Doctor
1982
United States Naval Academy
B.S
Speaking Engagements
2017
MCLE Event
Tips for the Trial Lawyers from an Appellate Guru
2014
TEN Camarillo Monthly Meeting
Attorney Networking - Moderator
2008
Business Litigation Section monthly meeting
Law Blogging
2002
MCLE Event
Changes in Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Publications
2015
Citations (VCBA)
Maybe iPad Judges Are Not Such a Good Idea
2008
Citations (VCBA)
"Pro Bono Attorney Fees" Is Not an Oxymoron
2008
Citations (VCBA)
The Blog and Short of It
2007
Los Angeles Daily Journal
Confronting Confrontation
2007
Website - continuing
The California Blog of Appeal
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
What does it mean when an appellate court disposition description reads “Non-Operative Original Proceeding.”
05 Jan 2019
Q&A
Do appelate attorneys stay in communication with the trial lawyer throughout the appeals process?
02 Nov 2017
Q&A
Can a state court case be forced into the MDL panel when it's not a class action?
20 May 2016