Insights & News

Bartko LLP Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients

We’re proud to announce that four Bartko, LLP attorneys have been named in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service, using a peer-review process to ensure credibility and trust. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Bartko Wins Top Defense Verdict

San Francisco, CA — The Bartko trial team from the In Re Francesca Naify case received a Daily Journal award as one of California’s top five defense verdicts in 2023, and the top trust and estate case verdict. Ben Riley, Rob Bunzel, and Sony Barari tried the case over five weeks, with 93 hours of testimony.  The case involved deceased United Artists theater tycoon Robert Naify and claims by his step-daughter that Naify did not provide his deceased wife with her full share of his $2.3 billion in assets.  The trial presented cutting-edge principals of probate and community property law, and a total damages claim of $680 million.

Five Bartko Lawyers Recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients

Bartko LLP is pleased to announce that five lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Bartko Trial Team Named California Attorneys of the Year!

Bartko attorneys Ben Riley, Sony Barari, Rob Bunzel, and Gabriella Wilkins were named 2022 California Attorneys of the Year, following their complete trial victory in the Robert A. Naify Trust case. The petitioner in that case claimed that her step-father, Robert Naify, promised to leave her his golf course in Spain, and to treat her the same as his biological daughters in his final trust. After a three-week trial where the petitioner sought at least $250 million, Judge Richard Ulmer rejected the oral promise claim.The Daily Journal and California Lawyer magazine selected the Bartko Naify trial team as one of 12 California Attorneys of the Year. The pdf article can be viewed here.

American Heart Association Retained BartkoZankel To Represent It For Charity Family Trust

American Heart Association retained BartkoZankel to represent it in connection with a Trust which provided gifts to family members and three charities.  The family members claimed they should be entitled to the entire Trust, valued at $13.5 million.  In December 2011, Ben Riley and Kerry Duffy obtained an Order from the court granting the charities’ petition for distribution of approximately $8.5 million to the Charities, and $5 million to the relatives.  Thereafter, during the relatives’ appeal, the parties resolved the case to provide for immediate distributions to the Charities.

Bartko Clients Win $680 Million Francesca Naify Case

The San Francisco Superior Court entered its Statement of Decision and Judgment in favor of Bartko clients, the Co-Trustees of the Robert A. Naify Trust, and against Petitioner Christina Cortese.  Cortese had sought as much as $680 million in community property damages on behalf of her deceased mother.  The Court’s Statement of Decision rejected all of Ms. Cortese’s claims and damages, and Judgment has been entered for the Co-Trustees.

Bartko Secures Trial Victory in $250+ Million Alleged Oral Promise Case

Bartko clients, the Co-Trustees of the Robert A. Naify Trust, won a complete victory after a court trial held in February and March 2021.  The Petitioner, Christina Cortese, alleged that her stepfather, Robert Naify, orally promised to leave her a golf course in Marbella, Spain, and to treat her the same as his two biological daughters in his final trust.  Ms. Cortese, represented by Holland & Knight, sought recovery of the golf course and other assets worth between $250 million and $300 million.  The Bartko team argued that Ms. Cortese could not meet the required standard of clear and convincing proof, and put on substantial evidence from Robert Naify’s wills and trusts, actions, and documents disproving the petitioner’s claims.

Benjamin K. Riley Publishes Article in the Litigation Magazine on Trying a Trade Secret Case: A Road Map

Trade secret trials challenge and engage all of a trial lawyer’s essential skills and training. Dealing with state-of-the-art technology–intricate circuit designs, sophisticated manufacturing processes, or highly complex formulas–is often a huge challenge, but there are other pitfalls for the unaware lawyer. Special care must be given in these cases to issues of disclosure, discovery, the preparation of witnesses, the handling of experts and juries, and the use of graphics and technology in the courtroom. With legal and other barriers being erected in patent litigation and with the recent passage of the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, trade secret cases have moved to the forefront of technology litigation. Trade secrets litigators must understand the unique and critical strategies, requirements, and hazards presented by the trial of a technical trade secret case. View a PDF of the article.

Filing vaccine injury claims under the federal Vaccine Injury Act

On September 28, 2021, the Daily Journal published an article by Ben Riley concerning filing claims under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act.  The article discussed the Act, the requirements and procedures for claims, and the likelihood that injuries from the Covid-19 vaccines will soon be eligible for compensation. View a PDF copy of the article.

Saving the Japanese YWCA Building

Ben Riley published an article in the Daily Journal about Saving the Japanese YWCA building – a pro bono case in which he represented the Japanese-American community of San Francisco. View a PDF copy of the article.

Ben Riley Speaks About Federal Vaccine Injury Cases

On August 5, 2021, Ben Riley spoke on a Bar Association of San Francisco panel about Vaccine-Related Legal Issues concerning production, administration, and litigation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine-related issues have been elevated to front page news. As the international scientific community races to develop safe and effective vaccines, debates rage about the government taking over private manufacturing facilities for production of critical medical equipment and vaccines, employers mandating vaccination for its employees, and disease and disability claims arising from vaccines. Professor Dan Farber from Berkeley Law addressed the Defense Production Act and limits on the government’s ability to use private facilities for the public good, while Steve Hirschfeld spoke on employment law issues relating to vaccination requirements and status.

Ben Riley Speaks at LCA Trial Symposium

San Francisco:  Ben Riley was a featured speaker at the Renaissance Symposium sponsored by the Litigation Counsel of America.  The Symposium drew speakers and attendees from around the United States discussing various aspects of trying complex business and intellectual property cases.  Ben spoke on Trial Performance focusing on speaking and language techniques for Opening Statements, Direct and Cross Examination, and Closing Argument.  He also presented computer animations and graphics he has used in recent IP trials.

Ben Riley Speaks to Euroadvocaten

Ben Riley recently attended and spoke on U.S. Intellectual Property litigation at the Euroadvocaten semi-annual legal conference.  Euroadvocaten is a leading European legal network consisting of 23 independent law firms and over 800 lawyers based in 27 cities in 25 European countries.  BartkoZankel is one of only two U.S. legal firms to be invited to address the group.Mr. Riley’s presentation was highlighted in the November 2016 Euroadvocaten Newsletter