San Diego Attorney Dick Semerdjian Elected Vice-chair of American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

SAN DIEGO, February 6, 2010 - Schwartz Semerdjian Haile Ballard & Cauley, LLP is proud to announce that at the American Bar Association (ABA) mid-term meeting in Orlando Florida, partner Dick Semerdjian was elected vice-chair of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS). Semerdjian, who specializes in civil litigation and trial practice, will begin his one-year term at the close of the ABA Annual Meeting in August, 2010.

The ABA is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world, boasting more than 400,000 members. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

The ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section is a national source of expertise in tort, trial and insurance law and brings lawyers together to share information and speak out on issues of importance. The section has more than 32,000 members and 34 general committees that focus on substantive and procedural matters in areas across the broad spectrum of civil law and practice.

“It’s an honor to take this new position,” states Semerdjian. “I’ve enjoyed my service to the ABA, and specifically the TIPS section, for nearly two decades. I consider this an opportunity to take my leadership to the next level.”

Semerdjian has been a dedicated member of the ABA since 1986 when he first began practicing law. In 1994, he was appointed by the State Bar of California to the ABA House of Delegates where he served for nine years and gained insight into the policy and legislative arm of the association. Today, he continues as Vice-Chair of the Business Litigation Committee – one of the most successful groups in the TIPS section.

Over the years, Semerdjian has made positive contributions to the many TIPS General and Special Standing Committees in which he’s been involved. In addition, he has served as a faculty member for the National Trial Academy in Reno, Nevada, and in 2009, he addressed the ABA/TIPS International Law Committee in Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, speaking on the subject of Legal Challenges to Chinese Companies doing business in the United States. He is currently a liaison for the ABA Standing Committee on Judicial Independence and serves on the Task Force on a Leadership-Diversity Initiative.

On a local level, he has been on the Board of Governors for the San Diego County Bar Association, and acted as Chairman for the San Diego International Sports Council and Foundation (now the San Diego Sports Commission/Hall of Champions where he remains as a trustee) and Chair of the UCSD Athletic Board.

“It’s a passion for Dick to give back to the legal profession and to be involved with attorneys from all over the country on issues important to our firm’s practice, explains Ross Schwartz, managing partner of the firm. “I’m speaking of substantive and procedural issues which really make a difference in the way our law firm lawyers seek excellent outcomes for our clients. We are proud of Dick’s accomplishments”

Attorney Peter Bennett, former TIPS Chair and president of The Bennett Law Firm in Maine, encouraged Semerdjian to seek the vice-chair position because of his proven commitment and leadership to the ABA and to TIPS. “Dick is personable and engaged. He cares, he listens and he’s good at building consensus. This is the only true national bar association that brings together plaintiff, defense, insurance and corporate counsel in one place, and does so on a grand scale. To be able to lead this organization means that you not only have to be good at what you do, you have to be respected by your peers and your opponents.”

Respect and professional acknowledgement have been plentiful for Semerdjian throughout his career. In August 2009, he was included in the 2010 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” – an honor based on an extensive review by peers, including more than 2.8 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys in the United States. And in San Diego, he was named as a 2009 semi-finalist for top Civil Litigator in San Diego County by the San Diego Transcript. The Transcript also recognized him in 2006 and 2008 as a Top Influential and in 2006 as one of the Ten Best Attorneys in San Diego. In April 2010, San Diego Magazine will name Semerdjian as one of the Top Attorneys in San Diego County.

Semerdjian says he is excited to begin what will be a three-year commitment to TIPS, eventually taking over Chair of the organization in 2012. “I thoroughly enjoy helping to shape policy for our profession. And in my experience with TIPS, I have met excellent attorneys throughout the country and our clients know that our firm’s reputation extends far beyond San Diego County and that judges and attorneys throughout the country recognize our name and accomplishments.”

Schwartz Semerdjian Haile Ballard & Cauley LLP, located in downtown San Diego, has served its clients since 1998. The firm represents clients across a spectrum of specialized areas, throughout California and the United States. Schwartz Semerdjian is a member of Legus – an association law firms world-wide, which focuses on legal and educational programming to improve the quality of legal performance.

Semerdjian and his wife Peggy live in Carmel Valley with their three children; Alyssa, a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Tyler, a senior at Torrey Pines High School; and Trevor, a sophomore at Santa Fe Christian High School.