John Gomez is the firm’s founder and lead trial attorney.    John grew up in San Diego and attended Grossmont College and San Diego State before graduating from the University of San Diego.   At USD, he played football and was recognized as an Academic All American.

John worked as a social worker in Southeast San Diego and then attended Yale Law School, the nation’s top-ranked law school.    After graduating, he first clerked for a federal judge and then worked in downtown Los Angeles at Latham and Watkins, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious law firms.    There, he worked on billion dollar matters for some of the largest companies in the world.

John, however, knew he wanted to try cases and serve his community.   For that reason, he returned to San Diego to work as a federal prosecutor.    As a member of the United States Attorney’s Southern District Office, he served his country by trying border, narcotics and corruption cases.    After trying and winning twenty jury trials in a row, he decided he wanted to work for San Diegans and their families.

And so he next began working as a trial lawyer for people.   In his first civil jury trial he obtained a $1.6 million verdict in a zero offer case.   He then opened Gomez Trial Attorneys.   In his first trial with his new firm, he obtained a $106 million verdict in a second zero offer case.

In the twenty years since, John has established himself as one of our nation’s leading trial lawyers.   He has obtained jury verdicts in excess of one million dollars in more than 20 separate cases, and has been named San Diego’s Trial Lawyer of the Year two separate years.   He also has earned 12 different Outstanding Trial Lawyer awards, more than any lawyer in San Diego history.

John’s outstanding results have come in cases involving civil rights, sexual harassment and abuse, wrongful death, brain and other catastrophic injury and dangerous product cases.

His peers have recognized his excellence, voting him the number one lawyer in San Diego among all fields twice and a top 10 lawyer overall every year for the past 12 years running.    He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a former President of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.

Personally, John is a family man.   He is a devoted husband to Leah and the proud father of JD, Michael, Analise and Jolie.   He is also a devout believer, who leads a prayer and bible group each Monday at work.

Finally, John is extremely proud of his San Diego roots and Mexican American heritage.  He speaks, reads and writes Spanish fluently and frequently appears on both English and Spanish news networks.

John is a hands-on and present Firm leader.   He believes strongly in leading from the front and leading by example.   He believes that whatever gifts or blessings that God has provided him, he must share those gifts and blessings with those around him, including those in need.   For that reason, John is deeply involved in a number of charitable and community organizations. John is also a member of the Rock church, an active jiu jitsu practitioner and competitor and a proud Latino. 

Representative Matters:

$106 million jury verdict:  wrongful death

$16.2 million jury verdict:  slip and fall

$10.8 million jury verdict:  auto

$8.5 million jury verdict:  products liability