Legal Services & Lawyers

Ms. Benedict grew up in San Diego, California. Throughout her childhood and into her adult life, Ms. Benedict has been an avid athlete. Her passion for athletics has shaped Ms. Benedict's life and approach to the practice of law.

Ms. Benedict completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and received her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

While Ms. Benedict was attending law school, she worked for the non-profit appellate law firm, Appellate Defenders, Inc. (ADI.) ADI administers the appointed counsel system in the Fourth Appellate District for indigent defendants on appeal. As a clerk at ADI, Ms. Benedict received extensive training in appellate brief writing. Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Benedict stayed on at ADI as a staff attorney. During her time as a staff attorney at ADI, Ms. Benedict represented in excess of 100 clients on appeal and presented numerous arguments at the Court of Appeal and three appearances at the California Supreme Court. Additionally, Ms. Benedict supervised the work of other appellate practitioners appointed to represent defendants on appeal.

In the summer of 2005, Ms. Benedict opened her own private practice. The focus of Ms. Benedict's practice remains appellate representation, both civil and criminal, as well as providing legal research and writing services to trial attorneys. However, Ms. Benedict's passion for athletes and her joy of cycling, led to the deveoplement of a niche practice of representing cyclists who have been injured.

Martin B. Snyder of the Allan Law Group has over 30 years of experience as a litigation attorney. Mr. Snyder is a seasoned trial lawyer, who has tried over 200 cases in State & Federal Court. He also has extensive Mediation, Arbitration, and Appellate experience.

Mr. Snyder's considerable experience in representing individuals and corporations in trial, Arbitration and Appellate levels of the State and Federal courts has proved to be an invaluable combination. He has represented companies in contract and tort matters, including fraud litigation, contract disputes, appeals, including family law appeals, as well as professional negligence suits. Mr. Snyder has recently expanded his practice into Predatory Lending and is already a leading practitioner in this fast-growing area of law.

Mr. Snyder has successfully tried many cases to verdict in both jury trials as well as bench trials. He has also obtained numerous favorable decisions in Arbitration proceedings. Mr. Snyder has been responsible for complex State bad faith insurance defense, including drafting of insurance coverage opinions, pleadings, law and motions matters, summary judgment motions, discovery, and appeals.

Mr. Snyder's Appellate work includes preparation of writs of mandate/prohibition, motions for stay, appeals, and oral arguments before Courts of Appeal. Mr. Snyder recently obtained a significant reversal in the California Court of Appeal in a case involving a $65 million dollar judgment against his client. Mr. Snyder is currently working with Alan Dershowitz on an appeal in the New York Court of Appeal on a $100 million dollar judgment.

Mr. Snyder's previous case responsibilities at Jones & Lester included all facets of complex State and Federal Court litigation, including the drafting of pleadings, preparation of oral arguments and motions. He also has an extensive background in discovery practice, trial preparation as well as trial, post-trial proceedings and appeals.

As the sole litigation associate at Goldfarb, Sturman & Averbach Mr. Snyder had complete case management responsibility for the firm. Subsequently as senior litigation partner at Goldfarb, Sturman & Averbach, Mr. Snyder had supervisory oversight of all associates. He also handled all facets of client representation, from initial interview and fee arrangements through trial and post-trial matters, including appeals in State and Federal Courts.

Mr. Snyder has also done extensive legal research and drafting of pleadings, written discovery, and motions, including demurrers, Federal Court "Rule 12" motions, discovery and sanction motions, ex parte applications, provisional remedy and injunctive relief applications, and motions for summary judgment/summary adjudication.

I have been a highly successful trial lawyer for 30 years, with extensive experience in many different areas. My primary focus, however, is civil and business litigation.

MY CLIENTS

I have represented hundreds of businesses and individuals in matters ranging from simple contract or business disputes, to matters as complex as patent and antritrust litigation, and everything in between.

No case is too small or simple, or too large or complex. If I choose to take a case, I will give that case my utmost attention and interest regardless of its size or complexity.

ACCOLADES

There is nothing I value more than my reputation.

I humbly like to think I have attained a high level of respect from my peers and clients, as well as from the judges I have been appearing before for the past 30 years.

As a former clerk for the California Supreme Court, and judge pro tem of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, I have a unique appreciation for what makes a compelling presentation, and winning case.

I was once described by a senior federal district court judge as one of the top three attorneys who had ever practiced before him.

I valued that endorsement, as much as the praise I received from the late Stanley Mosk when I clerked under him on the California Supreme Court, and as much as the honor I had in being an associate editor of the California Law Review while attending the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall Law School.

TOUGH, BUT FAIR

I am a tough, battle-hardened trial lawyer who has passion for the practice of law.

I am fierecly competitive, and have a have frequently been described by both clients and adversaries as a " "bulldog'.

While I fight hard to win cases, I also consider myself to have good common sense and a modicum of fairness. These skills help me quickly size up a case, and know when to fight, and when to settle.

It is at least as satisfying for me to settle a case fairly, and without large fees, as it is to win after a long and difficult trial. Thus, I will try hard to settle a case, but only on terms I belive are fair to my clients.

OTHER INTERESTS

While I enjoy the practice of law, and devote whatever time is required to achieve success, I have many other interests as well.

I have two sets of twin boys, all of whom are in elementary school, and a beautiful wife, who in her former life was an excellent family law lawyer. I treasure the time I get to spend with all of them.

I am also an avid sports fan, and would-be athlete. In my younger days, I played a lot of tennis, basketball, and baseball. Nowadays, the most exercise I get is chasing, or being chased, by my four boys.

All in all I consider myself fortunate to have an excellent law practice and a great family.

WHY I AM SELECTIVE ABOUT THE CASES I TAKE

Clients frequently ask why I don't work for a firm, or hire a bunch of associates, and run a law mill that cranks out the cases and billable hours.

After being an associate at a huge law firm, and a partner in a boutque Westside firm, I have come to realize I am better able to serve my clients by handling the cases myself.

In that manner, I can control both the quality of the work, as well as the billable hours.

I practice civil and criminal law in California. This practice includes appellate work in the Courts of Appeal, and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. I am an independent attorney, known as a sole practitioner.

I provide a wide range of services to my clients, including preparation of documents and estate planning. I perform trial work, and motion work. I work personally with my clients, and do not assign their cases to paralegals or special appearance attorneys. The work that I perform is focused on resolving the client's legal issues permanently, rather than taking a client on an expensive ride that goes nowhere.

I have created a practice that is very mobile and client centered. I am willing to travel to client's homes or their offices to meet, discuss, and work out solutions to their legal issues. Feel free to browse this site. If you have a question, please do not hesitate to contact me via either an e-mail through this site, or a telephone call.