Nina Shapirshteyn

Nina Shapirshteyn is a partner at Abramson Smith Waldsmith and a former Superior Court judge. She represents individuals and families in injury and wrongful death cases throughout California.

As a litigator, Nina has secured numerous multimillion-dollar settlements and jury verdicts for her clients.  Nina has been recognized for her courtroom results. She was selected as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association for her work as lead counsel in Kuhlmann v. Ethicon-Endo Surgery, LLC, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Services, et al., in which a jury awarded $79.8 million, the largest verdict in California in 2015 and the 18th largest verdict in the nation.

The Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers’ Association again honored Nina as Trial Lawyer of the Year after she secured three separate multimillion-dollar jury verdicts for plaintiffs in a single year—an unprecedented achievement in the county’s history.
Nina is a member of the invitation-only national organization American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), limited to experienced trial lawyers who exhibit the virtues of civility, integrity, and professionalism. She is also a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL), whose mission is to protect and promote the rule of law. IATL is a group of elite trial lawyers in the nation. Fellowship is by invitation only, and trial lawyers are invited to become Fellows only after an extremely careful vetting process. Nina is a recognized Super Lawyer and holds the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards by her peers in the legal community. 

Before returning to private practice, Nina was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as a judge of the Superior Court, where she presided over a wide range of civil matters, including complex litigation and high-stakes injury cases. Nina brings thoughtful judgment, strategic approach to case preparation and courtroom advocacy, and a clear understanding of what matters most in the courtroom.
Nina is admitted to practice law in California and New York. She was born in Ukraine and speaks Russian fluently.

Nina’s results include:
• $36 million settlement involving a defective product.
• $30 million judgment for sexual abuse.
• $20 million settlement involving a burn injury by a defective product.
• $17 million settlement involving spinal injuries following a car collision.
• $10 million settlement for a brain injury in a car collision case.
• $10 million settlement in a wrongful death case.
• $5 million settlement in a wrongful death case.
• $4.6 million settlement for insurance bad faith following a trial.
• $2.35 million settlement involving hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
• $2.2 million verdict/judgment for a shoulder injury.
• $1.9 million settlement involving a spinal disc injury.
• $1.25 million settlement involving pelvic fractures in a car collision.
• $1.2 million for a woman who fractured her ribs and clavicle falling several feet due to a dangerous condition.
• $1.1 million judgment following a verdict for a back compression fracture.
• $1 million settlement involving a neck injury.
• $790,000 settlement involving a facial scar caused by a punch in the face.
• $750,000 settlement involving a hot drink spill and resulting burn.

Pro-Bono Activities
CEO and Founder of Fight With Ukraine, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Ukraine, 2022
CASA, 2008