Michael von Loewenfeldt, a partner in WVBR, regularly appears in both federal and state appellate courts, and has argued more than 40 appeals. Michael is certified as a specialist in appellate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Michael handles appeals in a wide variety of civil cases on both a fee and contingency basis. He also regularly assists parties and co-counsel with trial court motion practice, preservation of the record during trial proceedings, and presenting or resisting interlocutory writs. In addition to cases where Michael is hired as lead appellate counsel, he is frequently hired by parties or their counsel to analyze appellate strategy and to assist with appellate briefs and preparation for oral argument. Michael has also presented amicus briefs in state and federal courts on behalf of organizations and other interested parties.
Before focusing his efforts on appellate work, Michael had substantial trial court experience on both the plaintiff’s and defendants’ side of individual and class actions concerning consumer rights, employment, and insurance. He also has significant experience with municipal liability and civil rights, defamation, wrongful death, and other forms of complex litigation.
Michael is currently the Chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Appellate Section, and has been on that section’s executive committee since 2018.
After receiving his J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1995, Michael served as a law clerk to the Honorable Saundra B. Armstrong, United States District Court for the Northern District of California. He was also a member of the California National Guard (Mechanized Infantry) from 1987 until 1994.
Upon completion of his clerkship with Judge Armstrong, he became an associate at the San Francisco office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal. Michael joined Kerr & Wagstaffe in November 1999 and became partner in February 2001. Michael worked with Kerr & Wagstaffe until December 2018, when he co-founded WVBR.
