News Stories

 

Bentley & More LLP is proud to announce that eight of our attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in its 2027 editions, including seven attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America® and two attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

We are especially proud to announce that Keith Philip More has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Orange County—a distinction awarded to only one lawyer in a specific practice area and geographic region.

These recognitions are particularly meaningful because Best Lawyers awards are based on peer review—feedback from fellow attorneys regarding the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographic region and practice area.

2027 The Best Lawyers in America® Honorees

Bentley & More congratulates the following attorneys on their inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®:

• Gregory L. Bentley
• Matthew Clark
• Dane P. Gilliam
• Jose Gonzalez
• Clare Lucich
• Keith Philip More — 2027 “Lawyer of the Year,” Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Orange County

Each of these attorneys represents the qualities Bentley & More strives to bring to every client and every case: exceptional advocacy, preparation, integrity and an unwavering commitment to those we represent.

Keith More Named 2027 “Lawyer of the Year”

This year’s recognition is made even more significant by Keith Philip More’s selection as the 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Orange County.

According to Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year” recognition is awarded to the individual attorney who receives the highest overall peer feedback in a particular practice area and geographic region. Only one attorney receives the distinction for each specialty and metropolitan area in a given edition.

For Keith, whose career has been defined by fighting for injured individuals and workers, this recognition reflects the respect he has earned not only from his clients and colleagues, but from fellow members of the legal profession.

His selection is also representative of Bentley & More’s broader commitment to providing sophisticated, trial-ready representation to individuals and families facing life-changing injuries.

2027 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

Bentley & More is equally proud to congratulate two of our attorneys recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:

• Braydon Bentley
• Nico Mamone

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognizes outstanding professional excellence among attorneys earlier in their careers. Best Lawyers notes that recipients are generally attorneys in private practice who have been practicing for approximately five to nine years, and the recognition uses the organization’s Purely Peer Review® methodology.

The recognition of Braydon and Nico speaks not only to what they have already accomplished, but also to the strength of the next generation of trial lawyers at Bentley & More.

What Does It Mean to Be Named a “Best Lawyer”?

Best Lawyers has been recognizing legal talent for more than four decades. The Best Lawyers in America® was first published in 1983, and the organization has continued to use a peer-review-based process to identify attorneys recognized for excellence within their respective practice areas.

Unlike awards that rely primarily on applications or marketing submissions, Best Lawyers describes its recognition methodology as Purely Peer Review®. Its goal is to capture the consensus opinion of leading attorneys regarding the professional abilities of their peers practicing in the same legal field and geographic area.

In other words, the recognition comes from those who understand the demands of the profession firsthand: other lawyers.

That makes inclusion especially meaningful to our firm. Our attorneys routinely work alongside—and across the courtroom from—some of the most accomplished lawyers in California. To earn recognition through confidential evaluations from members of that same legal community is an honor we do not take lightly.

How Does the Best Lawyers Voting Process Work?

The Best Lawyers selection process begins with a nomination. Candidates then undergo peer review, during which eligible attorneys evaluate lawyers practicing within relevant specialties and geographic regions. Best Lawyers collects and analyzes that feedback, verifies candidates’ eligibility and good standing with their applicable bar associations, and ultimately publishes those selected for recognition.

For the traditional Best Lawyers awards, lawyers recognized in the current edition are eligible to vote for the following edition, and attorneys are not permitted to vote for themselves.

The peer evaluation gets to the heart of professional reputation. Best Lawyers explains that voters consider a fundamental question: If they were unable to handle a particular matter themselves, how likely would they be to refer it to the attorney being evaluated? Attorneys rate their peers on a five-point scale, with the opportunity to provide additional feedback or indicate that they are not sufficiently familiar with a nominee’s work.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America follows the same core peer-review philosophy, while focusing specifically on lawyers earlier in their careers.

A Recognition of the Entire Bentley & More Team

While these honors recognize individual attorneys, their success is inseparable from the people who stand beside them.

Every case at Bentley & More is a team effort. Our attorneys are supported by paralegals, legal assistants, case managers, administrative professionals and staff members who share a commitment to our clients and the work we do on their behalf.

Having nine Bentley & More attorneys recognized across the 2027 Best Lawyers publications is something our entire firm can celebrate.

It reflects the experience of our established attorneys, the promise of our next generation of advocates and, most importantly, a shared commitment to fighting for people whose lives have been changed by serious injuries.

Congratulations to Our 2027 Honorees

We congratulate Gregory L. Bentley, Matthew Clark, Dane P. Gilliam, Jose Gonzalez, Clare Lucich, and Keith Philip More on their recognition in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and Braydon Bentley and Nico Mamone on their recognition in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

And a special congratulations to Keith Philip More on being named the 2027 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Orange County.

We are proud to have each of these exceptional advocates representing Bentley & More—and even prouder of the work they do every day on behalf of our clients.

Congratulations to our 2027 Best Lawyers honorees!

Read More

You went down hard in a parking lot puddle, or on a wet tile floor near a store entrance, and the manager already told you it was "just the rain." That excuse doesn't hold up under California law.Property owners here owe visitors a duty to keep walkways reasonably safe in wet weather, not only on dry days. Rain doesn't erase their duty of care. It usually sharpens it, since a foreseeable hazard calls for a foreseeable fix.If you're hur... Read More

A CT scan or MRI can provide important information after a head injury, but normal imaging does not always mean your brain escaped injury.Many traumatic brain injuries, particularly mild TBIs and concussions, may not appear on routine scans even when symptoms are real and persistent.That distinction can become important if an insurance company points to "normal" imaging as evidence that your injuries are not serious. Brain injury claim... Read More

After a serious injury accident, California personal injury laws decide almost everything. These laws tell you how long you have to act, what happens if you were partly at fault, and what a jury can award for what you've lost. None of it is hidden, and none of it requires a law degree to follow at the level that matters to you right now.Bentley & More LLP has walked injured Californians through these exact questions for years, one case... Read More

An injury caused by someone else's negligence can change more than your physical health. It can interrupt your income, create unexpected expenses, limit the activities you enjoy, and affect nearly every part of your daily life.The compensation available in a personal injury claim should reflect those losses, not just the cost of your medical treatment.California law recognizes both the financial and personal impact of an injury. Depend... Read More

If you or a loved one recently suffered a personal injury because of another party’s negligence or misconduct, you may wonder about average personal injury settlement amounts in California and what type of compensation you may be able to claim from the defendant. The reality is that every case is unique, and while you may find “averages” online, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you build your case and claim appropriate compens... Read More

It is vital to understand the personal injury statute of limitations in California if you intend to claim compensation for damages from another party. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove fault for the injury you suffered, and it is vital to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your injury so you can meet the statute of limitations. Understanding the Pers... Read More

Electric vehicles are everywhere these days, especially here in California. From carpool lanes to freeway lanes along I-5, I-10, I-405, and SR-91, thousands of electric vehicles can be found driving across California every day. There are countless benefits to owning an electric vehicle. However, fires and explosions can occur if someone is in a collision or a defect or failure in the battery causes it to malfunction, causing electric vehicle b... Read More

Accidents involving commercial trucks may not be as common as passenger car accidents, but they are typically far more damaging. While most truck accidents happen for similar reasons as other accidents, it’s important to know the federal trucking regulation violations that cause accidents. If a truck driver and/or their employer violated any such regulations and this caused your accident, this variable could complicate your personal injury cla... Read More

Truck accidents are some of the most damaging vehicle accidents in California.  If you are injured in this type of accident due to another party’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages. Truck accident settlement amounts in California vary based on multiple factors. An experienced California truck accident attorney can help you assess the potential value of your case and pursue compensation from those responsibl... Read More

Truck accidents are some of the most damaging vehicle accidents in California, and resolving the legal aftermath of this type of crash is usually more difficult than resolving most other accidents, but how long do truck accident cases take in California? The answer varies from case to case, and it is important to know the factors that could potentially extend your case’s timetable. How Long Do Truck Accident Cases Take in California? Commerc... Read More

If you have recently lost a family member because of another party’s negligence or illegal misconduct, you are likely eligible to file a wrongful death claim against them. But how long does a wrongful death lawsuit take in California? The answer depends on several factors, such as whether liability is contested, the scope of damages you are seeking, and whether you hire a wrongful death lawyer to represent you and your family in this difficult... Read More

California law requires every driver to have auto insurance, but not all drivers meet this requirement. It’s vital to know your legal options after an uninsured motorist accident and the steps you could take today that may mitigate your frustration after such an accident. Every driver has options for purchasing auto insurance coverage in California, and adding uninsured motorist coverage to yours could be beneficial in the future. Recovering ... Read More

When a family member dies because of another party’s actions, this can form grounds for a wrongful death case, enabling the family to pursue accountability and compensation. While money cannot replace the victim, wrongful death damages in California can provide a sense of closure and help the family resolve the economic impact of the victim’s death. You should hire an experienced wrongful death lawyer to help with this difficult case. Claimin... Read More

Car accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths in California each year, and if you or a family member is injured in a car accident, understanding car accident fault laws in California will be crucial to your recovery efforts. If you think another driver caused the accident, proving fault will be an essential first step in recovering compensation for the damages you suffered, and this can be challenging in some accident cas... Read More

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages from the at-fault driver, but you have a limited time in which to do so. It’s vital to know the motorcycle accident statute of limitations in California and consult an experienced attorney to help you build your case. It’s a good idea to start building your case as soon as possible to ensure you meet the statut... Read More

When you have been harmed by another party’s actions, this can form the basis for a personal injury case, but to have the greatest chance of successfully recovering compensation, you need to know how to find a good personal injury lawyer in California. The right attorney can help you prove fault for the injury, assess the full extent of your claimable damages, and guide you through your case proceedings efficiently. How to Find a Good Persona... Read More

California law requires every driver to have auto insurance, and under the state’s fault-based system for resolving vehicle accidents, an at-fault driver’s policy can pay for damages another driver suffered because of the policyholder’s negligence. Auto insurance is the first option for recovery after most vehicle accidents, but when it comes to California motorcycle vs car insurance claims, it’s vital to know what to expect in either case. U... Read More

If you or a family member is injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s crucial to know how to prove fault in a motorcycle accident. In California, all vehicle accidents involving multiple parties are resolved on a fault basis. Whoever caused the accident is liable for the resulting damages, and the injured victim has a short time to gather the evidence needed to establish liability.Make sure you are aware of the strict motorcycle accident sta... Read More

Motorcyclists must comply with helmet laws, and motorcycle accident claims in California can be complicated when a rider was not wearing a helmet when their accident happened. Refusal to wear a helmet significantly increases the risk of catastrophic or fatal head injuries in an accident, and it is also a violation of California law.If you are unsure of your legal options, knowing what to do after a motorcycle accident in California is cruc... Read More