Ed Chapin is a veteran civil trial lawyer whose abilities have been recognized by his peers and clients for many years. For over twenty years, he has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) a membership by invitation only organization comprised of plaintiff and defense attorneys and members of the bench. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America continuously since 1988 and currently specializes in commercial and personal injury litigation. Mr. Chapin was selected by Super Lawyers as one of the top fifty lawyers in San Diego for 2008 and 2011.
Mr. Chapin focuses his practice on complex civil trials. His practice spans multiple practice areas including business disputes, unfair business practices, professional negligence, insurance coverage and bad faith, toxic torts, serious personal injury and wrongful death, and class actions. He is the lead trial counsel for the chemical manufacturer featured in the Academy Award winning movie Erin Brokovich. During his career Mr. Chapin has taken upwards of 100 cases to trial in federal and state courts. He is admitted to practice before all of the state and federal trial courts in California in addition to the Court of International Trade.
Mr. Chapin's community service activities include two terms as president of Episcopal Community Services of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Irish 50, and service as a past co-chair of the San Diego American Ireland Fund's annual gala.
Before attending law school Mr. Chapin served for four years as a U.S. Army Infantry officer in Germany and the Republic of South Vietnam. He was trained as a paratrooper and is a decorated combat veteran. Following his military service Mr. Chapin attended the University of Missouri, School of Law, graduating in 1972.
Mr. Chapin has received significant professional awards including the Daniel T. Broderick Award for "epitomizing the highest principles of civility, integrity and professionalism" presented by the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, San Diego Defense Lawyers and the San Diego County Bar Association. He received the Lifetime Achievement award presented by the San Diego Defense Lawyers. His undergraduate alma mater, Missouri State University has recognized him with its Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Throughout his career Mr. Chapin has been involved in the leadership of both professional and civic organizations at the local, state, and national levels. He served as president of the San Diego Chapter and the California Chapters of ABOTA. For twenty years he has served on the ABOTA National Board, on which he has chaired committees that developed the ABOTA Principles of Civility, Integrity, and Professionalism and the ABOTA Protocol for Responding to Unfair Media Criticism of Judges. During his tenure as President of the California Chapters of ABOTA, Mr. Chapin served on the Supreme Court Select Committee on Judicial Retirement.
During his service as committee chair and Vice-President of the San Diego County Bar Association, Mr. Chapin chaired multiple committees including the committee that developed the bar's Principles of Civility, Integrity, and Professionalism. He was also instrumental in instituting an annual program to recognize a San Diego trial attorney who epitomizes the highest principles of civility, integrity and professionalism. This program is now in its 19th year. Currently, Mr. Chapin is a member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Chapin is a frequent speaker or participant at continuing legal education and trial advocacy seminars including those sponsored by the San Diego County Bar Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, California Continuing Education of the Bar, Litigation Section California State Bar Association, Association of Business Trial Lawyer Association, and the Rutter Group.
