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Wisner Baum, PC

United States 2024
5
Metro Rankings
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General Information

8
Practice Areas
6
Individuals recognized in Best Lawyers
241
Client Comments
Year founded: 1973
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
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Overview

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The award-winning plaintiff attorneys at Wisner Baum (formerly Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman) have earned a reputation for breaking new ground, holding Fortune 500 companies accountable, influencing public policy, raising public awareness, and improving product safety. They have won more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlement for their clients.

Wisner Baum is recognized as a preeminent plaintiff firm that has represented thousands of victims across the nation in aviation, bus, train, and trucking accidents, as well as those harmed by defective pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other consumer products. The firm also represents whistleblowers and litigates class actions.

The firm won the largest verdict in California and the second largest in America in 2019. The Pilliod verdict is also the ninth largest verdict in U.S. history. A team of Wisner Baum lawyers with Brent Wisner serving as co-lead trial counsel, tried the first and third of the first three Roundup cancer cases against agrochemical giant Monsanto Company (now Bayer) that resulted in two of the largest jury verdicts in recent history, worth a combined $2.344 billion. They also assisted with the second trial (Hardeman v. Monsanto Co.). The $289 million verdict in Johnson v. Monsanto Co. and the $2 billion verdict* in Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto Co. were hard-fought legal victories that will have a lasting impact not just for the plaintiffs and their families, but for public health and the environment.

In recognition of Wisner Baum's work in the Monsanto Roundup and other landmark litigation, the firm and individual lawyers have received numerous honors and awards including:

Best Lawyers in America®

U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms

Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest AV® Peer Review Rating available

Elite Trial Lawyers Mass Torts Law Firm of the Year, Finalist 2020 | ALM and The National Law Journal

Top 100 Verdicts 2019, ALM, National Law Journal, Verdict Search (Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto)

Civil Plaintiffs Trial Lawyer of the Year 2019 | National Trial Lawyers and ALM (Brent Wisner)

America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers, 2019 | Trial Lawyer Magazine and The National Law Journal (Brent Wisner)

Elite Trial Lawyers Mass Tort Trial Team of the Year 2019 | The National Law Journal and The Trial Lawyer Magazine

Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist 2019| Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (Brent Wisner)

Daily Journal Top Verdicts, 2019 (Pilliod et al., v. Monsanto listed #1)

California Top 100 Lawyers, 2019 | The Daily Journal (Brent Wisner)

The Round Table: America’s Most Influential Trial Lawyers, 2018 | National Trial Lawyers (Brent Wisner)

Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers in California (2019-lifetime award) | The Daily Journal (Brent Wisner)

Trial Team of the Year, 2019 | The National Trial Lawyers Top 100

Winning Litigators Titans of Industry, 2019 | The National Law Journal (Brent Wisner)

Top Plaintiffs Lawyers in California, 2019 | Daily Journal (Brent Wisner)

CVN’s Top 10 Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdicts of 2018 (Johnson v. Monsanto)

Rising Star, 2019 | Law360 (Brent Wisner)

Daily Journal Top Verdicts, 2018 (Johnson v. Monsanto)

Top 10 Verdicts, Personal Injury | TopVerdict.com, 2018

Wisner Baum has successfully litigated against some of the largest corporations in the world, including major airlines, rail organizations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, agrochemical corporations, and even the federal government. Thousands of people have entrusted Wisner Baum to represent their interests in lawsuits against major companies such as:

  • Ground Transportation Companies

Allied Waste Industries, Amtrak, CR England, CSX Corporation, Eagle Systems, Food Express Inc., Food 4 Less, Ford Motor Co., GARDA Inc., Greyhound, J.B. Hunt; Kimberly-Clark, Lucky’s, Metrolink, Roadway Express, Ryder Truck Rental, Schneider National Trucking, Swift Transportation, Tyson Foods, and Werner Enterprises.

  • Aviation Companies

Aerospatiale, Airbus, Alaska Air, American Airlines, Beechcraft, Bell Helicopter Textron, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Grumman, Heli USA Airways, Hughes Aircraft, JetBlue, McDonnell Douglas, Piper, Robinson Helicopters, Rockwell, Sikorsky, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways.

  • Defective or Dangerous Product Manufacturers

Alpha Therapeutic, Armour Pharmaceutical Co., Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Bayer Corporation, Boehringer, Covidien, Cutter Biologicals, Eli Lilly, Forest Labs, GlaxoSmithKline/SmithKline Beecham, Johnson & Johnson, Marion Merrell Dow/Richardson-Merrell, Medtronic Inc., Merck, Monsanto Company, Oclassen, Pfizer, Sanofi, Schering-Plough, Sigma Aldrich, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Stryker Biotech, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Wisner Baum has taken on the Zantac cancer litigation after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is investigating Zantac cancer risks after testing of certain Zantac (ranitidine hydrochloride) tablets found the commonly-used heartburn medication contains a cancer-causing chemical up to 3,000 times greater than the FDA’s daily intake limit. The carcinogenic chemical present in Zantac is known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (“NDMA”). Though the FDA has yet to issue an official Zantac recall, CVS and Walgreens have pulled Zantac and Zantac OTC generics from their shelves and Apotex has voluntarily recalled its ranitidine products from Rite-Aid and Walgreens.

The firm is also leading the Gardasil vaccine litigation against Merck. Thousands of adolescent boys and girls and young men and women have reported serious and disabling injuries after getting the Gardasil vaccine. These injuries range from auto immune diseases, disabling neurological side effects to reproductive disorders and even death. Wisner Baum has filed lawsuits on behalf of young women and men alleging Merck misled the FDA, legislators, doctors and moms about the safety and efficacy of its Gardasil vaccine. The lawsuit asserts Merck purposely downplayed the risk of Gardasil’s ingredients, including a proprietary aluminum compound (a potent neurotoxin) and secret and potentially hazardous DNA particles. ---------- *The verdicts in Johnson and Pilliod were reduced by the judges overseeing both cases but both are on appeal.

Firm News

September 19, 2023
Widow of Marine John Sax Considering Lawsuit After Military Finds Mechanical Failure Caused 2022 Osprey Crash
September 19, 2023
Parents of Brandeis Student Killed in Bus Crash File Wrongful Death Lawsuit
August 16, 2023
Could solo pilots soon be a reality overseas? - Tim Loranger
August 16, 2023
First man to successfully sue Roundup for causing cancer | 60 Minutes Australia - Brent Wisner
August 16, 2023
Groundbreaking legal battle seeks to show toxic metals in baby food can cause autism | Spotlight on America - Pedram Esfandiary
August 16, 2023
Lawsuits Filed in Deadly Santee Plane Crash - Tim Loranger
August 16, 2023
Questions about tree maintenance and safety - Tim Loranger
August 16, 2023
The secret tactics Monsanto used to protect Roundup, its star product | Four Corners - Brent Wisner

Rankings

Wisner Baum, PC is metro ranked in 3 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

Metro Rankings

Los Angeles
Tier 1 for Aviation Law
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
San Francisco
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Highlighted Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Always friendly and helpful whenever I talk to anyone at this firm
Paulette Andrews
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
A group of exceptionally dedicated and skilled attorneys in the area of pharmaceutical and environmental litigation.
Tara Tabatabaie – Sill Law
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I have known the work of this firm for over thirty years and during that time they have consistently delivered top quality work for their clients.
David Rapoport – Rapoport Law Offices
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I am extremely grateful for this law firm! Compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated, they have chosen to be warriors in a major lawsuit for victims harmed by one of Merck's product. With this firm fighting the legal end of our nightmare, parents like me finally have hope that accountability will ensue and justice will prevail.
Jenn Otto
Aviation Law
For a high-power law firm, dealing both nationally and internationally, Baum Hedlund almost seems like a home town law office. The attorneys I have dealt with are, by and large, very personable, interested in their clients, sensitive to the needs of all involved, and willing to spend what might seem to be a excessive amount of time to make sure the job is done right. The Baum Hedlund attorneys and staff know the law, but they are also very good at understanding the role of aviation experts in litigation. I have worked for in excess of 50-60 law firms, mostly in the US, but somewhat internationally, and I would place Baum Hedlund easily in the top 5 of all the firms I have experienced.
William Lawrence – Consulair, Inc.
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I previously served as opposing counsel to BH in product liability litigation. After leaving the defense firm, I have had the opportunity to work as co-counsel with BH. In both contexts, I have found the lawyers to be outstanding lawyers with a passion about representing their clients. They are creative lawyers with an enormous depth of knowledge about the science underlying their legal positions.
Sam Griffin – Attorney at Law
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Baum Hedlund is a phenomenal law firm, at the cutting edge of product liability litigation. I have worked with them as a medical expert for decades. They do a masterful job leaving no stone unturned in discovery, crossing all the Ts and dotting all the Is. The lawyers are so intelligent and so committed to advocating for their clients. Michael Baum is an amazing human being and administrator. Brent Wisner is a phenomenal litigator. Cindy Hall is the glue holding the team together. The entire team from receptionists to partners is outstanding.
Joseph Glenmullen, MD – Harvard Medical School
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Real trial attorneys with experienced litigators. The firm also has seasoned attorneys with an uncommon level of expertise when it comes to product liability and mass tort settlement administration obligations.
Nick D'Aquilla – Pattern Data
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I hired Baum Hedlund as I had heard they were the best product liability law firm in the country. Baum Hedlund filed a lawsuit against GSK and it was never expected to even be heard by the courts. Their ability to uncover hidden documents that showed the fraudulent drug trials and deception was astonishing. We ended up going to trial and we won. The jury saw the original, hidden documents and understood the drug company's deceit and lack of transparency. GSK hired so many lawyers and tried to divert the jury but these lawyers could not compete with Baum Hedlund. The verdict was eventually overturned on pre-emption but no one ever disputed the lower court's accuracy. Baum Hedlund fought to the end including appealing it to the Supreme Court. Just as importantly to me, these lawyers became my dear friends. They treated this case as if my husband was their relative. This was an extraordinarily emotional time for my family. We felt their empathy, understanding and true passion for this case and our well being. I could not have imagined going through this experience for close to 10 years with any other firm. They are simply the best!
Wendy Dolin
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is one of the most innovative and effective group of trial lawyers on the entire west coast.
Mike Papantonio – Levin Papantonio
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Michael Baum, Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman’s senior partner, is both an exemplary attorney and human being. He has flawless integrity, compassion and relentless commitment to the highest ideals. Those qualities have become the aspirational virtues for all the attorneys in the firm. During my many interactions with Baum Hedlund lawyers, including multiple visits to their offices, this firm strikes me as an idyllic and joyful place to work. I have watched Michael and his partners during three month long trials and I have partnered with them in other lawsuits. They are all diligent, responsible and gifted attorneys. I want to say a word about one young partner, Brent Wisner. I have watched many of America’s greatest trial lawyers in action, but none better than Brent. Both judges and juries love him for his integrity, his lightening wit, easy humor, buoyant wit and infectious magnetism. His grasp of both science and law is encyclopedic. His greatest gift is his capacity to distill complexities into a simple and compelling cascade of moral outrage. His mesmerizing cross examinations begin as piercing and end in annihilation. Brent is a wrecking ball with charm. It’s no accident that all of the great plaintiff’s firms that are part of the Monsanto Multi-district litigation chose Baum Hedlund to try the first three cases.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Kennedy & Madonna
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
As one of the court reporters in the Monsanto Trials re RoundUp caused cancer, I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman. It was a career highlight for me to work with a trial team of this caliber. They are brilliant, passionate, and dedicated to justice for those injured by big corporations. They successfully presented difficult technical scientific evidence in toxicology and epidemiology in a method juries would understand. They are committed, tireless, true warriors for justice, and they win.
Mary Hogan – Mary Hogan CSR
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Baum Hedlund is committed to the cause of their clients like very few other firms in the country.
Mark Burton – Audet & Partners
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
They are one of the best plaintiff's firms in the country. Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman is always on the cutting edge of creative legal theories, exciting cases, and are unmatched in talent and work ethic.
David Wool
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
When confronted by enormous opposition, Michael Baum of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman is the attorney I want fighting alongside me. He is professional, experienced, and fearless in the face of corporate corruption, and his leadership has helped us fight one of the biggest poison polluters in the country, Monsanto. His firm provides the resources, staff, and time-tested experience to fight the powerful for the powerless.
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I have worked with the Baum Hedlund law firm for over a decade. They are outstanding lawyers, extremely intelligent, thoughtful, thorough, with the highest ethical standards. They are extremely personable and easy to work with. I have done reports, depositions, and trials with them, all of which have been managed with the utmost professionalism and high standards.
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I have worked with some of the best trial and personal injury attorneys in the country, and Michael Baum at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman is a leading example of how to get the job done right. He wants to make a positive difference in the lives of his clients. His understanding and expertise in handling product liability and personal injury litigation makes it possible for him to succeed in accomplishing that goal. Michael Baum and the team at his firm have earned and exemplified what it takes to become and be considered as the best lawyers in their practice areas.
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I’ve worked on several large MDLs and Class Action suits with Michael Baum and his partners at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, including cases against Monsanto and the Pharmaceutical cartel. He is an idealist who fearlessly takes on hopeless causes, never gives up and accomplishes astonishing victories. He is a relentless litigator who has all the charisma and skills of a great trial lawyer. A tireless workhorse, Michael is always first to volunteer for the complex and difficult tasks that keep litigation moving. He is a natural leader who is content to be part of the pack. In a profession of sharp elbows and scathing tongues, I’ve never heard another lawyer say an unkind word about Michael Baum. He is univocally beloved as a partner who is reliably judicious, generous, humble and fair.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Kennedy & Madonna
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
What makes Wisner Baum the best? Brent Wisner and Michael Baum lead a team of lawyers and staff that are fantastic. They are masterful researchers and are able to uncover hidden information that companies hide and misrepresent. When they believe in your case, they will spend time and resources to discover the facts and hold companies accountable for the harm they have done to consumers. They never give up. They won a very complicated case. It was a rare case where the parent company was held accountable for the generic version of the drug. We won a jury verdict. Unfortunately, it was overturned on preemption and Wisner Baum didn't give up. For years, they battled to keep this verdict. Regardless of the outcome, we won our jury verdict that stunned GSK. On a personal note, Wisner Baum has become family. They always make you feel that your loss is their loss. I have never seen a more compassionate and caring group of lawyers. To this day, I still consider them all family. When you combine the brilliance of their capabilities, masterful trial skills with the compassion and commitment to making a difference in the world with their enormous heart, I cannot imagine a more perfect law firm. They are the best, any other law firm pales by comparison.
Wendy Dolin
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
No question, Wisner Baum is one of the best law firms around.
Tom Crowell
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Everyone at Wisner Baum that I have interacted with is kind, professional and very nice.
Michael Buyer
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Wisner Baum has great lawyers. Complete professionalism.
Daniel Dunbar – Panish, Shea & Boyle
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
I have worked with Wisner Baum for many years. Originally, I served as opposing counsel, and, more recently, as co-counsel. Wisner Baum’s lawyers are passionate about their work and their clients, they are very smart and driven lawyers.
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Amazing response time, extremely professional and very supportive! Wisner Baum is always available for any questions or concerns and treated me as though I’m the most important client they have!
Judith Miller
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Wisner Baum is the best law firm in the US. They are an advocate's law firm. Not only do they want to hold the companies accountable for the harms or tragedies, but they also want to work to change the system that created or allowed this harm. They work hard to expose bad behavior and people within the organizations as well as get internal company documents made public. Litigation is the only way to get inside these companies and why it is important that they also see themselves as part of the solutions. Wisner Baum absolutely knows the responsibility they have in righting a broken system.
Kim Witczak
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Wisner Baum attorneys are extremely talented, competent, and hardworking professionals. They have a winning team, as shown by the track record of their successes.
Tara Tabatabaie – Sill Law
Aviation Law
I have worked as an expert witness for Wisner Baum for aircraft-related cases and have found them to be one of the most professional, thorough, attentive and responsive firms I have ever worked with. I would recommend and refer any prospective client I come across to them for aircraft accident-related cases.
Colin Sommer – Aeroscope, Inc.

Rankings

Metro Rankings

Los Angeles
Tier 1 for Aviation Law
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
San Francisco
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
  • Aviation Law
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Consumer Protection Law
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Railroad Law
  • Transportation Law

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

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Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Awards

Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
  • National Trial Lawyers of America - Top 10 Aviation Trial Lawyers
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers 2019- 2023
  • California Powerhouse - Regional Powerhouse Series 2021, Law360
  • National Trial Lawyers of America - Top 10 Trucking Lawyers
  • Best Wrongful Death Lawyers of Los Angeles, Tim Loranger and Stephanie Sherman | Forbes Advisor
  • Clarence Darrow Award 2021, R. Brent Wisner | Mass Torts Made Perfect
  • The Top Southern California Personal Injury Attorneys, R. Brent Wisner and Michael Baum | Los Angeles Times
  • National Trial Lawyers of America - Civil Plaintiff Top 40 Under 40
  • 2019 Trial Team of the Year | The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
  • California Top 100 Lawyers 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, R. Brent Wisner | Daily Journal
  • Titan’s of the Plaintiffs Bar, R. Brent Wisner | Law 360
  • Elite Trial Lawyers, First Place Mass Tort Litigation, 2019 | National Law Journal, ALM Media
  • Elite Trial Lawyers, First Place Pharmaceutical Litigation, 2018 | National Law Journal, ALM Media
  • America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers, R. Brent Wisner | National Law Journal, Trial Lawyer Magazine
  • Winning Litigators, R. Brent Wisner | National Law Journal
  • The Best Lawyers in America
  • Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
  • U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms
  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale Hubbell®
  • National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Leader's Forum, The American Association for Justice
  • Aviation Counsel Magazine's List of Recommended High Flyers
  • National Air Disaster Foundation Safety Award
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Client Distinction Award, Honor Based on Client Review Ratings
  • Avvo.com Superb Score 10 out of 10
  • Southern California Super Lawyers
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars
  • Avvo Clients’ Choice Award
  • Nation’s Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
  • Top 10 Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdicts of 2018 | Courtroom View Network

Main Location

Los Angeles, CA
11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1750
Los Angeles, CA 90025
United States
855-948-5098 Get Directions

Office Locations

Greenbrae, CA
100 Drakes Landing Road, Suite 160
Greenbrae, CA 94904
United States
415-873-4775 Get Directions
Washington, DC
2101 L Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20037
United States
202-759-2225 Get Directions

Contacts

Marketing Department
Robin McCall

Significant Matters

Below are matters chosen by the firm to highlight.

Our law firm has taken on the Zantac cancer litigation after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is investigating Zantac cancer risks after testing of certain Zantac (ranitidine hydrochloride) tablets found the commonly-used heartburn medication contains a cancer-causing chemical up to 3,000 times greater than the FDA’s daily intake limit. The carcinogenic chemical present in Zantac is known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (“NDMA”).

Learn more here: https://www.wisnerbaum.com/blog/2022/september/zantac-cancer-lawyers-file-lawsuits-for-over-7-0/

We also continue to handle commercial transportation accidents involving aviation, boat, bus, Lyft, train, truck and Uber accidents, as well as litigation involving class actions, pharmaceutical product liability, agricultural mass torts and whistleblower claims.

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